I’ve been struggling to pump out gift wrapping videos lately in lieu of what is happening in the world. I just feel like it might be in poor taste with everything that is going on.

However, I came up with an idea to help out teacher’s looking to facilitate a home school program and parents that are going crazy trying to implement it! I used to love riddles and word problems when I was a kid. I was thinking back to when I taught grade two and this fun activity that we used to do with paper bags. We called them “Mystery Bags” and the kids loved to write and solve each others riddles by trying to guess what was in their friend’s bag. I decided that I could use the same concept but develop a “Mystery Box” that I could share on my YouTube channel. I will use clues/riddles to describe something that is hidden in my “Mystery Box”. Students (probably 5 to 8 years old I’m guessing) can use the clues to try and solve the riddle. I will only give a few moments to solve on the video, but participants are encouraged to pause the video and take all the time they need to solve it. They can work on their own or with a parent or older sibling to help them.

I will then reveal what is hidden in the box. My hope is that the kids will be engaged and find it fun to solve the riddles. The idea is to promote critical thinking, problem solving, listening skills and some vocabulary development. The videos are short and I hope to release one a day during the school closure. Please feel free to SHARE the videos.

Below is Mystery Box Riddle #1.

I will be back with more great gift wrapping tutorials when things have settled down and there is at least some state of normalacy.

Stay home and stay safe!