#museumathome

Where are Rosy Boas from?

You can find Rosy Boas throughout the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Their habitats can include rocky hillsides, deserts, dry shrub lands, and agricultural areas.

How big do they get?

Even though they are in the same family as the anaconda, which can get over 20 feet long and weigh several hundred pounds, adult rosy boas average 2-3 feet in length. They are considered the smallest members of the boa family.

Are they diurnal (active by day) or nocturnal (active at night)?

It actually depends on the local weather conditions. When the weather is too warm, they are active at night. During cooler times of the season they will be more active during the day.

How do they defend themselves?

When a rosy boa is threatened it rolls into a ball to protect its head. It makes it more difficult for predators to kill, because it will mostly take bites to the tail and body. It can also release a foul-smelling substance from glands near the base of its tail, which can also repel predators.

What do they eat?

In the wild, they eat small mammals, lizards, frogs and even birds. Here at Kidspace we feed ours small mice.

How long do they live?

In the wild their average lifespan is unknown. In captivity they live an average of 15-20 years.

We have been missing our Imagination Workshop this last few weeks, and even though we don't have access to our workshop, we DO have our imaginations!

That got us thinking – let's do an Imagination Workshop challenge from home! To get us started making at home this week, we invite you to participate in the... dun Dun DUUUUN...

The Toilet Paper Tube Challenge!

This challenge is all about one of our favorite Imagination Workshop FUNdamentals – embracing our limitations to inspire creativity (learn more about our FUNdamentals here!) How can our “lack of” materials inspire our ingenuity?

There are Two Rules:

1. A toilet paper (or paper towel) tube has to be the main material – but you can use other tools or supplies you have in the house to create with, and the paper doesn’t have to stay a tube.

2. Create something that makes you smile.

When you are done - share your creation with us! Post a pic of your work and tell us about what you created, one thing that you found frustrating when making it, and one thing you are really proud about! Be sure to tag us using #kidspaceathome OR #kidspacechallenge so we can find it.

Creating a Maker Supply Kit at Home We’ll be posting more challenges soon – so use this week to start putting together your very own Maker Supply Kit. Here is how to start:

First, see what craft or making materials you already have. This might include things like:

▫ Ribbon

▫ String

▫ Tape

▫ Glue

▫ Various art materials to paint, color or draw with

▫ Paper (construction, printer, newspaper...)

▫ Paperclips

▫ Scissors

Next, find a container to keep your supplies in. This might be a designated a box, bag, or even a (neatly stacked) corner.

Finally, look for interesting materials! We recommend checking out recyclables, old office supplies, and even old toys that you were going to donate. If it helps, think about the Imagination Workshop challenges, and look for items that you might have seen at Kidspace.

In our home Maker Supply Kits, we have things like:

• Empty boxes from things like tissues or cereal (these are usually easy to cut with regular household scissors.)

• Toilet paper rolls

• Newspapers

• Twist ties or bread bag clips

• Wires from an old spiral bound notebook

• Empty tape dispensers caps

• Old dried up markers and pens

• Tin cans (be careful about sharp edges!)

• Bottle and jar lids

• Corks • Rubber bands

• Disposable chop sticks, or skewers

• Q-tips • Coffee filters

• The list goes on!

You can use whatever inspires you and your creativity (and is okay with the adults you live with to use)!

At Kidspace, we love to take real world challenges and tackle them in the Imagination Workshop. This time is a perfect example of how maker spaces encourage us all, child and adult alike, to use our imaginations, think creatively, problem solve, and work together.

We'll be posting updates about what we are working on from our homes, and hope you have some time to share with us what you are creating too!