You volunteer your time to help with your child's class activities, along with several other parents

Her teacher tells you that you'll be working on a free craft for kids with the students. Two days before the scheduled activity, your phone begins to ring…. “Sorry, I won't be able to help that day, something's come up…a doctors appointment, a manicure appointment, a long-lost relative is suddenly coming to visit,” any of the usual excuses rendered by parents who decide not to honor their commitments.

Discouraged, but undeterred, you call your child's teacher to let her know that the group of volunteers has dwindled. She's both understanding and unsurprised. Since you'll be winging this one on your own, you ask her about the free craft for kids that you'll be doing with the students. “Ooops, the chairman must have forgotten to tell you, you'll be supplying the free craft for kids that the students will make, sorry, thought for sure you knew.”

“G-u-l-p” a free craft for kids…you thought that meant that someone had donated a free craft for kids to your child's class. Think again…if it says “free” that means there's no funding in the budget for the project and you're probably going to be the resource for the free craft for kids. Don't jump ship just yet, here's a rescue line or better yet, a free craft for kids that you can grab to pull you right to the shore…an empty two-liter soda bottle.

An empty two-liter soda bottle? How's that going to help you? Take a look at these easy ideas.

1. Rain gauge

Cut the two-liter soda bottle in half, keep the bottom part, dispose of the top part.

Fill the bottom part with three inches of gravel.

From the top of the gravel, measure and mark upwards in ¼ inch increments.

Fill the bottle with water just to the top of the gravel.

The students can place their rain gauges outside. When it rains, all the water above

the gravel measures the amount of rainfall.

1. Terrarium

Cut the two-liter soda bottle in half, keep the top half and the bottom half.

Fill the bottom part with three inches of potting soil.

Plant flower seeds 1-inch deep (most dollar variety stores have them year-round).

Pour ½ cup water over the soil after planting the seeds.

Place the top of the soda bottle over the bottom.

The students can place their terrariums in sunlight and see the miracle of nature happening right before their eyes.

1. Aquarium

Cut the two-liter soda bottle in half, keep the bottom half, and dispose of the top.

Fill the bottom part with two inches of rocks or marbles

Fill halfway with distilled water

Gently deposit a live goldfish

The students will love being able to learn about responsibility by having their own goldfish.

In case you're thinking we may have gotten a bit off base here since we're talking about a free craft for kids, yes, we did say a free craft for kids. Invite your community to participate by donating the goldfish. Who could possibly turn you down for one tiny goldfish? You never know, there may be a local pet shop who would love to donate goldfish for your project. You'll never know unless you ask.

What about your local plant nursery? Those folks would probably be glad to donate a bag of potting soil or seeds for your free craft project. Try checking with a local paving contractor for some gravel or neat rocks. A variety store might have a surplus of marbles it would be willing to donate. It's a tough time economically for many of us, businesses included. Even though monetary donations are not possible, many businesses have in-stock resources that they'd be happy and willing to donate for your free craft project for kids. After all, many of them have children of their own sitting right beside our own children.