Inventors Day ideas for OSHC
41 DIY activities for a inventors day at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around August or 17 July. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Block and Plank Bridges
Children build bridges from blocks and planks and test how much weight they hold, exploring strength and design.
Gaming Day · Board Games Day · Inventors Day +1Board Game Design Lab
Groups invent a board game and play-test it with friends, refining the rules based on feedback.
Spy School · Science Week · Detective Day +1Box Periscope
Older children build a periscope from a milk carton and two small mirrors to peek over walls like a spy.
Brick Building Day · At the Building Site · Science Day +2Brick Bridge Strength Test
Children build bridges between tables with building bricks and test how many coins they can hold.
Brick Building Day · Puzzle Day · Inventors Day +2Brick Marble Maze
Children build a maze on a baseplate and tilt it to roll a marble through.
Mini Golf Day · Cardboard Box Day · Maker Day +2Build a Putt-Putt Course
Groups design and build mini golf holes from boxes, tubes and pool noodles, then play the whole course together.
Cardboard Box Day · Robot Day · Recycle Day +3Cardboard Box Robots
Children build their own robots from small boxes and decorate them with bottle caps, fabric scraps and other recycled bits.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles · Wheels Day · Cardboard Box Day +2Cardboard Car Racers
Children build cars from boxes, bottle caps and skewers, then race them down a ramp. Hands-on design and testing.
Science Week · Science Day · Inventors Day +1Coin Battery LED
Older children stack coins, foil and vinegar-soaked card to build a simple battery that can light a small LED.
Challenge Day · Games Day · Teamwork Day +2Create Your Own Game
Small groups invent a brand-new game, write the rules and teach it to the rest of the group to play.
After School Quick STEM · Science Week · Science Day +3Cup Tower Book Challenge
Children engineer a tower from cups and card strong enough to hold a book, testing ideas about balance, load and stable bases.
Wheels Day · Inventors Day · Planes, Trains and Automobiles +2Design a Dream Vehicle
Children draw or build futuristic vehicles from boxes and bottle caps, adding wheels that really turn.
Emoji Day · Inventors Day · Art Attack DayDesign a New Emoji
Children invent an emoji that does not exist yet and pitch it to the group, explaining when people would use it.
Toy Day · Inventors Day · Maker Day +1Design a New Toy
Children invent a brand new toy, drawing and labelling their design and explaining how it works and who it's for.
Science Day · Inventors Day · Science Week +3Egg Drop Challenge
Older children design a protective package so a raw egg survives a drop from height, testing their engineering ideas.
Polar Day · Winter Wonderland · Inventors Day +1Explorer Sled Design
Children design and build a sled from pop sticks to carry a toy explorer across the snow. Engineering with a story.
Vikings Day · Science Week · Water Play Day +1Floating Longship Challenge
Children build Viking-style longships from foil and pop sticks, then test whether they float and how much cargo they can carry.
Games Day · Board Games Day · Inventors Day +1Invent a Board Game
Groups design, make and play-test their own board game, complete with rules, pieces and a board.
Silly Stories Day · Chocolate Day · Inventors Day +1Invent a New Sweet
Children dream up a brand new lolly or chocolate, give it a silly name and describe how it tastes and what it does.
Inventors Day · Maker Day · Game Show Day +2Invention Pitches
Groups invent a new product, build a model and pitch it to the room, practising teamwork and confident speaking.
Inventors Day · Maker Day · Show and Tell Day +2Inventor Showcase
Children present their inventions to the group, explaining what problem they solve and how they work.
Inventors Day · Maker Day · Recycle Day +3Junk Invention Lab
Children turn recyclables into new gadgets and inventions, testing and improving their designs.
Recycle Day · Cardboard Box Day · Maker Day +3Junk Sculpture Challenge
Children use clean recycled boxes, bottles and tubes to design and build robots or sculptures, solving building problems as they go.
Kite Day · Flying High · Inventors Day +2Kite Making
Children build simple kites from paper, dowel and string, then test them outside.
Milk Day · Science Week · Science Day +1Milk Plastic Experiment
Children watch warm milk and vinegar turn into curds, then mould the curds into shapes that dry into a hard plastic-like material.
St Patrick's Day · Inventors Day · Maker Day +1Mischief Maker Traps
Children design and build a trap to catch a mischievous little creature from Irish folklore using boxes and recyclables.
Big Kids Club · Inventors Day · Robot Day +2Old Electronics Pull-Apart
Children use screwdrivers to take apart old radios and gadgets, discovering the parts inside. A hands-on look at how everyday technology works.
Big Kids Club · Maker Day · Inventors Day +2Paddle Pop Stick Engineering
Children design and build bridges, boxes and catapults from paddle pop sticks. Test how strong or far their creations go.
Flying High · Science Week · Rocket and Plane Day +2Paper Helicopter Spinners
Children make paper spinners that twirl like falling seeds and test how design changes the drop time.
Holidays and Travel Week · Flying High · Rocket and Plane Day +2Paper Plane Airlines
Children fold paper planes and decorate them with their own airline name and logo, then test how far they fly.
Photography Day · Science Day · Science Week +1Pinhole Viewer
Children make a simple box viewer that projects an upside-down image through a tiny hole. A hands-on look at how cameras work.
Medieval Times · Science Week · Science Day +3Pop Stick Catapults
Children build simple catapults from pop sticks, rubber bands and plastic spoons, then test and improve how far they can launch a soft missile.
Loose Parts Day · Maker Day · Recycle Day +3Reverse Garbage Maker Day
Children design anything they like from tables of clean recyclables, tape and tools, turning waste into creations.
Robot Day · Inventors Day · Maker Day +2Scribble Bots
Older children build a wobbly drawing machine from a cup, a small motor and markers, then watch it scribble patterns across paper.
Inventors Day · Big Kids Club · Teamwork Day +1Solve a Real Problem
Older children identify a real problem at the service and design practical solutions to present to educators.
Challenge Day · Science Week · Science Day +3Spaghetti and Marshmallow Tower
Teams race the clock to build the tallest freestanding tower from dry spaghetti and marshmallows, testing engineering ideas.
Inventors Day · Challenge Day · Teamwork Day +3Spaghetti Marshmallow Tower
Teams build the tallest freestanding tower from dry spaghetti and tape that can hold a marshmallow on top.
Challenge Day · Science Week · At the Building Site +3Straw Bridge and Tower Challenge
Teams build the strongest bridge or tallest tower using only straws and tape, then test it to see how it holds up.
Fairy Tale Day · At the Building Site · Science Week +1Three Little Pigs Build
Children build houses from straws, sticks and blocks and test which one survives the big bad wolf's fan.
Inventors Day · Maker Day · Science Day +3Tube Marble Run
Children connect cardboard tubes on a wall or board to build a marble run, testing and adjusting until the marble makes it through.
Flying High · Rocket and Plane Day · Planes, Trains and Automobiles +2Wing Design Challenge
Children design and test paper wings and gliders to see which shape flies the furthest.