mystery. Make it even more fun by having Jewish clues. Tell very , energetic little ones to "jump up and down 10 times for every Jewish holiday." This might even help them go to sleep on time this evening, but we're not promising. Some of these children have more stamina than an entire football team. Pass The Pita Play favorite games like .hot potato, but give them a Jew- ish theme. Instead of passing the "hot potato," pass the "hot pita." All About Israel You Auto Consider This If you're planning a car trip, here are some ideas to help entertain children along the way: • Spell out Jewish words using let- ters you see on billboards, license plates, etc. • Ask older children, "If you could go back to any time in Jewish histo- ry, when would it be and why?" • Write (and then read aloud) a script for a favorite Jewish story, or imagine a favorite one told in modern jargon. (Sure, King Ahasereus may have said, "Thy beauty is immeasurable!" to Queen Esther, but doesn't it sound a little more, well, hip, to have him say, "You are one fine-looking woman!") • Play "Name That Jewish Tune." Back In The Yard Find fun ways to act out stories from the Torah in your very own 7/16 1999 74 Detroit Jewish News back yard. One requirement: You can use only.objects found there naturally. For example, make Joseph's coat of many colors with a green leaf, and a yellow one, and a red flower and a bit of broken robin's egg. Create the Garden of Eden in a little corner where children can set up a tree made from a fallen branch, and a snake from a piece of dandelion stem. Bury A Jewish Treasure This is great fun for children of any age, just adapt appropriately. For little ones, a parent can make a treasure with some Jewish-theme stickers. Middle-size children might like a tasty treat and a nice new Jewish CD. Older children might like a book. The parent should bury the trea- sure in the back yard, then leave clues to help children unravel the See how many cities in Israel children can name. • What Jewish adventures can you come up with in your own back yard? Remember when you were lit- tle and attended carnivals put on by friends? They were the greatest thing in the world, and they still are. Why not help older children make their own in your backyard, and give everything an Israel theme? Here are a few ideas: Have visitors dig in the "Sinai • Desert" (a bucket filled with sand) for pennies. • Make a floor maze going from your city to Jerusalem. • Play pin-the-tail on the camel. • See how many cities in Israel children can name. You might want to give them start letters. • Pour salt into a bucket of water to create your own Dead Sea. Give children items of various weights to see which will sink. • Blow up photos of your favorite figures from Jewish history, then attach to a large piece of cardboard and draw a body. Next to this, draw another body with a hole cut out at the face. Guests can stick their faces through the hole to pose for a photo with lots of famous faces. • Have blue-and-white snow cones for a snack. ❑