Alphabet Hunt

This was one of the quickest "game/activity" I have set up in a long time and it has produced the most interest, too.
I was inspired by a big stand-up sand table that is in Maya's kindergarten classroom. Instead of sand (WAY too messy) they filled it up with rice and then added some fun little trinkets, glitter and beads. Kai goes straight for this table every time I go to volunteer and he comes along with me.
So I searched the Internet to see how much one would cost.....$350 bones! NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
Then it came to me...why can't I make something like it here at home? SO, I did.....

STUFF YOU WILL NEED:

I just found one of my large plastic storage boxes that I had laying around the house. I didn't want it to be too big because I, 1) didn't have that much rice and 2) I wanted it to be easy to bring out to the table and just as easy to stow away somewhere when it is not in use.
Then i just feeled 'er up with the rice.
I then added in some way cute pasta that we have readily on hand in our house (because it is healthy and Kai LOVES the abc's). I found this pasta at Trader Joe's (and my kids love it as a healthy meal BTW). Who knew it would have so many uses.
I went to google on the Internet and typed in alphabet grid and clicked on "images" from that search and printed one out that I thought would work the best.
as a final touch I added a cup, big spoon and a funnel for added fun.
Kai LOVES this thing.

The neighbor kids came over later to play and they all loved it too. I might have to find a bigger box, though! I am not gonna lie, I can be a bit messy. BUT rice is so easy to just scoop up into a pile and push it all back in to the box. Although, (as you can see from the pic.) it got a bit hairy when all the friends came over. I actually had to get the broom out that time...