PALZ Newsletter: May

Hey Kids! Bart here. A couple months ago we helped you get ready for your family’s PCS. Moving to a new place is a lot of work for you and your family. After all the boxes are unpacked, it’s important to get out and explore your new home. So Smilla created a special scavenger hunt to help you do that!

Having fun at home is also easy when you have lots of empty boxes. The team has searched for things you can create using those boxes. Are you ready to “unpack” some fun in your new neighborhood and with empty boxes? Well then lads and lasses, let’s get to it!   

Activities

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Lucky's Laughs

What do you call a box that never stops talking? A chatter box!

What dance do boxes like to do together? The box step!

What did the wrapping paper say to the box? I’ve got you all wrapped up!

Miss Kitty’s Intel

Hello everyone! My team leader Bart sent me on a mission to find fun things you can make with empty cardboard boxes. There will be lots of empty boxes after your family unpacks from your move.

Did you know you can make a tic-tac-toe game from an empty box? I even found directions for you! Please have an adult or older sibling help you create this fun game.

PALZ Newsletter May 2025 | PCs Adventures

Supplies:

  • big piece of cardboard
  • smaller strips of cardboard
  • scissors
  • box cutter or craft knife
  • ruler
  • pencil
  • marker
  • small cup or lid

Step 1

The biggest piece of cardboard will be used for the game board. The board in the picture is 18” in width and length. Your game board can be any size you want.

Next, use a ruler to measure lines for the squares on the game board. Measure down 6 inches from the top and mark a line with the pencil. Then use the ruler and a marker to draw a horizontal line across the board to the pencil mark.

To draw the next line, use the ruler and a pencil to mark 6 inches below the first horizontal line. Then draw a second horizontal line using the ruler and marker help you draw across to the second pencil line.

Step 2

Next measure 6 inches from the left of the board and mark the space with a pencil. Then use the ruler and marker to draw the first vertical line to the pencil mark.

Next measure 6 more inches from the first line and mark the space with a pencil.  Then draw the second vertical line to the pencil mark using the ruler as a guide.  When you have finished drawing all the lines on the board it will look like the one pictured.

Step 3

Use a small cup or a lid for a pattern to make the game pieces. Place the cup or lid on the smaller strip of cardboard and use a pencil to draw around the cup. (If you use a cup, make sure to draw around it with a pencil. A marker could leave permanent marks on the cup!)

Step 4

You can use scissors, a craft knife or a box cutter to cut out the circles. After you cut out the first circle you can use it as a pattern to draw the other circles. You will need a total of 10 circles.

Step 5

Draw an X on five of the circles and draw an O on the other five circles. Now you’re ready to play the game!

Directions:

  • 2 players take turns placing one of their X or O pieces on the board inside a square.
  • Players can use their pieces to block their opponent’s pieces when it is their turn.
  • The first player to get three of his or her pieces in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) on the board wins the game.
  • If nine game pieces are used and no pieces are in a line, the game is a tie.

Have fun making and playing tic-tac-toe!

Smilla’s Adventures

Hi kids! My adventure today is playing with empty boxes! You’ll have lots of empty boxes after your family unpacks. There are so many creative ideas of what to make out of those boxes. Ask your parents if it’s OK to use an empty box and then take a look at this list of ideas I made for you.

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