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Columbus Day
by W.Holidays

Crafts
Homemade Compass
skill level: easiest
cost: under $5
craft time: 5-10 minutes

magnet
steel sewing needle
piece of thin plastic foam (like from a fast-food container)
have on hand
paper clip
masking tape
shallow glass or plastic bowl filled with water

Pull the sewing needle toward you across the magnet 20 times to magnetize it.
Test the needle on the paper clip.  It it doesn't attract the clip, repeat the first step.
Tape the needle to a the small piece of plastic foam.
Float the magnet in the dish of water.
Where is it pointing?
Spin it and watch to see where it stops.

Juicebox Sailboat
skill level: easy
cost: under $5
craft time: 20 minutes

scrap plastic (like from a milk jug)
stickers or permanent markers
drinking straw
empty juice box
also needed
hole punch
scissors or small knife

Cut a rectangular sail from the scrap plastic.
Decorate it with stickers or markers.
Punch a hole in the center of each end of the sail.
Push the straw though.
With scissors cut a small "x" in the center of the juice box and insert the straw (with the sail).
Have sailboat races!

Spyglass
skill level: easy
cost: under $5
craft time: 15 minutes

paper towel tube
plastic wrap
construction paper, 2 colors

Cut the plastic wrap to fit over one end of the paper towel tube and tape into place. (the lens)
Glue and wrap the outside of the paper towel tube with construction paper.
Cut a strip of contracting colored construction paper to wrap around the end where the "lens" is, this is the "focus".  It should be about 1-1/2-2 inches think.  Glue it into place.