Adventures in Challenge Here is a list of 25 challenges for you to try with your family during this school year. This is completely optional; it is not a required assignment for E.A.G.L.E. students or 5th graders in Thinking Skills class. The purpose of these challenges are to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and regularly try new things. Also, most of these activities encourage you to get involved with your family members and friends in different ways, so you can find new ways to enjoy the great people in your life. To begin, prepare some way to record your challenge experiences. This could be a full-out scrapbook, a three-ring binder with or without plastic sleeves, or a spiral bound notebook. For each challenge, write a brief description of what you did, the date(s) you did it, and quotes or descriptions of your reaction to the experience. At least one photo, as well as related items, such as tickets, menus, maps, and so on, should be included with each challenge entry you complete. The audience for this Challenge Record will be yourself (in years to come). If you are allergic to scrapbookish things, please feel free to participate and enjoy creating a record with a minimalist decorating style. Have a challenging, learning-filled, and wonderful year! The Challenges Culture and Cuisine Go out for dinner and try cuisine from a new culture. Extra Challenge: Write a restaurant review. Live On Stage See a live theatrical production Extra Challenge: Audition for a show, or take (new) theatre or dance classes Taste Test Compare three brands of a food item by organizing a taste test and graphing your results Book Club Choose a book your friends and family would like, then read and discuss it Extra Challenge: Have each person make a snack that ties in with the book theme Build a Model Build a vehicle, building, or other structure, and paint if desired Extra Challenge: Design and build a model with recycled or recyclable materials Make It, Bake It, or Cook It Find a new recipe, and prepare it and share it Extra Challenge: Plan a menu of healthy dinners for one week, or one month One Week Unplugged Spend one week away from electronic leisure items, including TVs, iPods, computer and video games, web surfing, texting, etc. Plan what fun things you'll do instead Get Moving Take a martial arts class, yoga, or some other kind of new sports or exercise program at least 20 minutes a day for two weeks Personal Challenge Try something you've always wanted to do, but never have, like running in a race, singing on stage, or going to a new place to sightsee or shop Picnic Make the food yourself or with your family--don't forget sunscreen and bug spray! Extra Challenge: Go to a park or outdoor spot you've never been to before Random Acts of Kindness Donate to Locks of Love, donate toys and clothes, leave mystery positive notes, or give your time or money to a good cause 50 New Words Learn how to count to ten in five languages besides English (If you can already do it in other languages, you can't count those) Get Crafty Make a mosaic stepping stone, tie dye shirt, greeting cards, soap, origami animals, doll house, bird house, or fairy cottage Scavenger Hunt Organize a scavenger hunt for your family, friends, or neighbors Learn Something Specific Learn a new song on an instrument, learn four yo-yo or magic tricks, learn how to juggle, or how to shoot from the free throw line Field Trip 1 Go to a museum, a zoo, a concert, a dinner theatre, a sporting event, an observatory, or a garden you've never visited Field Trip 2 Go to a farmer's market, an auction, an amusement park, an art gallery, a fair, a fashion show, a fire station, or a recycling center you've never visited Art for Kids' Sake Write a picture book, chapter book, comic book, or play for kids Book/Movie Record Keep a record of how many books you've read or movies you've seen from August, 2007 through April, 2008 Spotlight Peform a play, a dance recital, a rock concert, a poetry reading, or an exhibition game for people you know Family Tree Investigate and chart your past Party Time Have or attend a party with: costumes, karaoke, digital camera assignments, a pool (plastic ones count), or a birthday party for someone when it isn't his/her birthday Gone Fishing (or something) Go fishing, hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, swimming, or walking over a period of time, and chart how far or where you go Adventures with Cameras Take at least 25 pictures in one day: your backyard, your town, your family, nature, you and a friend as different characters, things that are blue, "found" letters (a la Alphabet City) Contests Organize a contest to build with Legos, raise money for a good cause, decorate cakes, shoot free throws, race wearing only green, create a recipe, or name an ice cream flavor Have fun!