HOME PROJECTS

                                        Catch a Snowflake

     Put a piece of felt or a strip of velvet ribbon in the refrigerator.   The next time it snows big, fluffy flakes, take the felt or ribbon outside to catch a snowflake.   Since the felt is already cool, the snowflake will not melt immediately and you will have time to study the design of the snowflake!

    Snow Dough

      ***This is my favorite recipe for play dough. . .foolproof!

2 cups flour                                6 tbls.    cream of tartar

1 cup salt                                    2 cups water

2 tbls. oil

        Mix dry ingredients in a large saucepan.     Add water and oil.   Cook over MED. heat until dough pulls away from sides of pan.   Stir constantly.    Let dough cool on waxed paper.   Knead dough.   Sprinkle with white, angel dust glitter for a snow effect.  Store in airtight container.   No need to refrigerate.

 Butterfly Breakfast

            ***Thanks, Mrs. S. for this fun recipe!

            We loved making this delicious snack!

1 round waffle cut in half for wings

assortment of fresh fruit  (mandarin oranges, kiwi, bananas, sliced strawberries, sliced grapes)

fruit dip to 'stick' the decorations to the wings

Optional:  add a gummy worm for butterfly body or antennae

Johnny's Applesauce Recipe

1.  Wash hands and apples.

2.  Peel and chop apples.

3.  Add extra water.     Cook in crock pot on low until apples are soft.    Mush the apples with a spoon or fork.

4.   Add cinnamon and/or sugar if you like!

                               Apple Smiles

1.  Each child needs 2 red apple slices for lips.

2.  Spread peanut butter inside lips.

3.  Add marshmallow teeth!     Yum!

        Recipe for Colored Noodles  -  Not  Edible

                  (for necklaces, crafts, etc.)

     In a large bowl add several tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and mix in liquid food coloring.   Slowly stir in noodles (uncooked) until they are coated with color.   Spread noodles on newspaper or paper towels to dry.

                       Pumpkin Pudding Recipe

              1 large box instant vanilla pudding

              2 cups milk

              1 cup pumpkin pie MIX (includes spices)

              Stir, chill, enjoy!

                                    Mrs. O.'s Pumpkin Pancake Recipe

2 eggs         3 cups whole wheat pastry flour   (available=Common Ground/Meijers)

1 T oil          2 T baking powder               few dashes of salt

milk = enough for the thickness that you like            1/2 cup pumpkin

cinnamon/nutmeg/cloves to taste

                               COLORS  

     We are learning about the primary colors (red, blue, yellow), the secondary colors (second most important colors), and neutral colors.

     Try these simple activities at home:

1.  Pudding paintings  -  vanilla pudding, add red, blue, and yellow food coloring to the pudding.   Your child will enjoy finger painting and blending new colors with the pudding paint.

2.  Coffee filter colors  -  fold a white coffee filter into a cone shape.   Use washable markers, red, blue, and yellow to color the cone shape.  Dip the cone in a little water so that the filter absorbs the water and the colors blend together.  Open filter and allow to dry on a paper plate.

3.  Frosting colors  -  Save a little vanilla or white frosting next time you bake a cake.   Add blue, yellow, and red food coloring to the frosting.  Your child will enjoy mixing new frosting colors for a vanilla wafer, graham cracker, etc.

M&M Science                

     We predicted what would happen when we dropped a red M&M into a glass of water.    We watched carefully and shared our observations with the class.

     Then we added another M&M, either a yellow one or a blue one.   (We talked about the primary colors.)   We took turns walking around to each table to study what had happened.   We had a third M&M to eat!

     Questions to ask your child:

     -How did the water change?   How did the candy change?

     -What happened to the "m" when the candy soaked in the water?

     -What two M&M colors did you have?

                                Easy Pizza Recipe

Biscuit dough

Pizza sauce

Cheese, pepperoni, any other favorite toppings

      Spread individual biscuits for pizza dough.   Add sauce and your favorite ingredients.    Bake on ungreased sheet  at 350 for 12-15 min.

                                                     Pizza Song

                                      (Tune:    Bingo)

We made a treat on a special day,

We made our own pizzas,

First comes the crust and then the sauce,

And then lots of chees -a!

P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A

Pizza, pizza everyday

We put it in the oven to bake and bake,

And then we had to wait!

When the pizza was baked and done,

Then began the fun!

P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A,

Pizza, pizza everyday!

We ate and ate and ate and ate,

Oh it was so yummy,

We ate and ate and ate and ate,

Oh, my poor tummy!

P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A, P-I-Z-Z-A

Pizza, pizza everyday!

Space Food

     As we learned about the Night Sky in science, we did some simple experiments with gravity.   We tried to jump and stay in the air as long as we could.   We tried to blow a feather and keep it from touching the ground.

     We talked about the challenges that the astronauts would face during weightlessness.    One student reported that he had seen astronauts eating M&M's in space.   The astronauts  would toss the M&M's into the air and chase after them to eat them.  

     We decided to try our own version of 'space food'.    We put ice cream into ziploc bags and used a straw to 'drink' the ice cream.   We shared many scientific observations while we tried this technique.

     Try these 'space food' ideas at home:

          -chicken noodle soup in a baggie

          -pudding

         -cream of wheat

                                        Birdfeeders

     1.  Cut an orange in half and remove the fruit from the peel.    Save the peel in one piece so that it makes a little bowl.   Fill the peel with nuts, seeds, raisins, popcorn etc.   Hang your birdfeeder in a place where you can watch the birds.    Keep a tally or record of the birds that you see.

     2.  Use a 1/2 of a bagel.   Spread peanut butter on the bagel and press it into a plate of birdseed.   Hang with a piece of yarn.

     3.   Pine cone feeder:    Spread peanut butter around cone and then roll it in birdseed.

                                           Clock Treat

     Use a large rice cake.   Spread with butter, cr. cheese, or p. butter.  Use pretzel sticks for the hands of the clock.  Add mini choc. chips for the minute marks.   With the pretzel sticks, show your favorite time of the day!

 Has your family visited the McLean Co. Humane Society?   It is easy to sign up to be volunteers!   The kitten room is really fun!  

Fire Engine Snack

graham cracker

red frosting

pretzels for ladder

mini cookies or M&Ms for wheels

                 Recipe for Gingerbread

1 box Betty Crocker mix

2 tblsp  melted butter

1/2 cup hot water

Stir ingredients.   Grease cookie sheet.    Add dough in the shape of a gingerbread man.  Decorate with M&M's or raisins.   Bake at 350 for 15-20 min.   Don't let him run away. . . .!

***This year I found a whole grain G-Man mix at Jewel!   I think it was the best gingerbread man ever!

Maps and Globes

1.  During our search for the gingerbread man, we studied the USA and world maps.    We wondered if the G-Man could run so far that he would be in a different state or country.

We used flashlights to point to the different countries as we sang this song:

"Oh where, oh where is the Gingerbread Man?

Oh where, oh where can he be?

Is he North, or South, or East, or West?

Oh where, oh where can he be?"

Try this song at home and use a flashlight to point to the different directions in your home.

2.  Draw a map of your house.   Pretend that the G-Man comes to your home!   Where does he hide 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.?   Show his path on your map.   Show your map and talk about it with someone else.

Science:    Will a gingerbread cookie sink or float in a glass of milk?

First we predicted whether the cookie would sink or float.   We made a picture graph of our predictions:

Then we dropped the cookie into the glass and observed carefully.   Was your prediction the same as the result?    Color a picture of what happened to the cookie.

Variations:  Use Teddy Grahams or goldfish crackers.    Add a drop of blue food coloring to the milk to make 'river water'.

    In math we have used a balance scale to compare the weights of different objects.    Before we use the balance scale our students become "HUMAN BALANCE SCALES'!   They select 2 objects and hold them in each hand.  Their arms are out to their side.  If one object feels heavier, that hand 'pulls' down while the other hand goes up with the lighter object.   Then we test the same objects in the balance scale to see if our prediction was accurate.

     Home activity:   Practice being a "HUMAN BALANCE SCALE" using objects around the house!