Share a Cool Fact or Skill You Learnt from an Unlikely Source
Share a cool fact or skill you learned from an unlikely source; write and draw it, and explain where you learned it and why.
About this activity
Share a cool fact or skill you learned from an unlikely source; write and draw it, and explain where you learned it and why.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Pick one unlikely source where you learned something cool like a friend a cartoon a neighbor or a garden.
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Step 2
Think of one clear cool fact or skill you learned from that source.
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Step 3
Write a short fun title at the top of your paper that names the fact or skill.
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Step 4
Write the fact or skill in one clear sentence under the title.
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Step 5
Write two sentences that say where you learned it and who taught you.
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Step 6
Write one sentence that explains why this fact or skill is cool or useful.
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Step 7
Draw a picture that shows the fact or how to do the skill.
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Step 8
Add simple labels or arrows to your drawing to show important parts.
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Step 9
Color your picture using your coloring materials.
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Step 10
Decorate the rest of the page with patterns stickers or borders to make it bright.
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Step 11
Write your name and the date at the bottom of your page.
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Step 12
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do you do the 'Share a Cool Fact or Skill You Learned from an Unlikely Source' activity?
Start by explaining the prompt: pick a surprising place you learned something (grandparent, neighbor, pet, book, video, or day-to-day object). Ask the child to write one clear sentence describing the fact or skill, then draw a picture that shows it. Have them add a short note saying where they learned it and why it stuck with them. Finish by letting them present to family, classmates, or post on a bulletin board for feedback and conversation.
What materials do I need for the 'Share a Cool Fact or Skill You Learned from an Unlikely Source' activity?
You'll need paper or a simple printable template, pencils or pens for writing, and crayons, markers, or colored pencils for drawing. Optional extras: stickers, glue, scissors for collage elements, a clipboard or hard surface, and a camera or tablet if you want to record or digitize entries. For younger children, have an adult nearby to scribe their words or help with letters and cutting.
What ages is this 'Share a Cool Fact or Skill You Learned from an Unlikely Source' activity suitable for?
Suitable for ages about 4–14 with adjustments. Preschoolers (4–5) can dictate a sentence and draw; early elementary (6–8) write simple sentences and colorful pictures; upper elementary (9–11) add details and reasons; teens (12–14+) can research, cite sources, or turn it into a mini-presentation. Adapt expectations for fine motor and writing skills, and offer scaffolding like word banks or sentence starters as needed.
What are the benefits of doing the 'Share a Cool Fact or Skill You Learned from an Unlikely Source' activity?
This activity builds curiosity, communication, and reflection by getting children to notice where learning happens. It strengthens writing and drawing skills, boosts confidence when sharing, and encourages listening and empathy among peers. It also teaches attribution—recognizing and naming sources of knowledge. As a safety tip, remind kids to avoid sharing personal contact details when describing people they learned from, and check online sources with an adult.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have paper, stickers, or specific coloring materials listed in the instructions?
Use recycled cardboard or a cereal-box panel for the page, torn magazine pictures or hand-cut shapes instead of stickers, and pencils, crayons, or colored scraps glued down to color your drawing and decorations, then photograph the finished page if you can't upload directly to DIY.org.
What should we do if the child can't decide on one clear fact or their drawing doesn't show the skill well?
Have them make a quick list of unlikely sources (friend, cartoon, neighbor, garden), pick one, use the instruction 'Write the fact or skill in one clear sentence' as a fill-in-the-blank template, and lightly pencil the drawing first so they can erase and add labels or arrows to clarify the skill.
How can the activity be adapted for younger or older children?
For preschoolers, an adult can write the title, one-sentence fact, and name/date while the child draws and sticks simple decorations, and for older kids have them add a detailed labeled diagram, two-sentence source explanation, or a short video to upload to DIY.org.
How can we extend or personalize the finished page beyond the basic instructions?
Turn your drawing into a step-by-step mini-poster or comic with extra labels and arrows as the instructions suggest, add mixed-media borders or patterns for decoration, and attach a short video or QR link showing you doing the skill before sharing on DIY.org.