Looking for fun-filled ideas or professional support?
KidActivities.net (formerly After-School-Care.com) is dedicated to school-age care professionals--additionally it is a resource for pre-school thru high school educators, parents, and program directors--in short anyone who loves engaging children.

This website is a rich supply for curriculum planning. It has more than 245 categories loaded with activities to enrich your school-age and pre-k experience - along with tips, articles, training topics, inspiration and valuable reader input. As the late American actor Danny Kaye said, "Life is a great big canvas, and we should throw all the paint on it we can. "  By sharing ourselves, talents, skills and hobbies in our classrooms, programs and homes, we can give children a gift they will carry into the rest of their lives! 

The best thing about this site??? Categories change and grow each week. You'll find current content is frequently updated with a variety of activities and ideas---usually 25 to 50 a week! Be sure to check out your favorites --they just may not be the same today--as they were yesterday!

May the path you've chosen be rewarding and a journey of delight! 

Barb Shelby 

• Wow! During the Month of March ~ 106 NEW IDEAS HAVE BEEN ADDED SO FAR!
• Purple~Purplicious Theme  for parties and child care programs!
• Get Creative! Extend simple activities
• Popcorn Theme (Great all year long!)
• Warm Weather Snacks-Lots of New ideas!
• Games for Small Sized Groups of Kids
• Circus & Carnival Theme
• St. Patrick's Day Theme
• Be sure to check out "Doing the Days of March!"

_________________

2010

Make your monthly planning easy!
Look at what's going on each day and do something to recognize or celebrate it.

Put "what the day" is on your entrance white board-- along with the rest of the plans for the day!

_______________________

Flower: Jonquil
Birthstone: Aquamarine
Astrological Sign:
Pisces: February 20 to March 20
Aries: March 20 to April 19 

__________________________
 
March is:

National Craft Month (See all the Craft Categories!)
Women's History Month
American Red Cross Month
National Peanut Butter Month (See below)
Kite Month (See below) 
Frozen Food Month
Help Someone See Month (For Comunity Service-collect old eye glasses and donate)
Irish-American Heritage Month  
St. Patrick's Day (See Categories)
International Listening Awareness
Noodle Month (See Noodle Category)
Non-Fiction Reading & Writing Month
Nutrition Month
Optimism Month
Poetry Month (See below)
Play the Recorder Month
Spring Month
Umbrella Month (See page bottom)
Poison Prevention Awareness Month

Music in our School Month! Ideas Here!

_________________________

 DOING THE DAYS...

1.   Yellowstone National Park Anniversary
       Pig Day (See Pig Theme)
      Peanut Butter Day (See below)
      Smile Day (See Two Smile Ideas in October)
      St. David's Day in Wales
      Nebraska Admission Day-1867
      Ohio Admission Day- 1803
2.   Dr. Seuss' Birthday-1904 (See Dr. Seuss Categories)  and Read Across America Day! (See below)
       National Banana Cream Pie Day        
3.    Bonza Bottler Day: Just a reason to celebrate. This happens each month when the month and date are the same  number.    
        Doll Festival in Japan (Hinamatsuri) This nationwide event  takes place and sees girls set up red platforms, on which they display dolls.  costume.
       Florida Admission Day
      Alexander Graham Bell Birthday-1847          
4.   National Pound Cake Day   
      Us Constitution in effect-1869
      National Anthem Day 
      Vermont Admission Day
5.   Parachute invented  (Visit Parachute Games)
      Stop the Clocks Day
      National Chocolate Cheesecake Day
      Artist Diego Velazquez Born 
6.   Iditarod Race begins
      First Electric Power plant opened
      Oreo Cookies first go on sale (Serve Oreo cookies!)
       Michelangelo Born 1475  
7.  Telephone patented 
       Coca-Cola Bottler's association formed
       Artist Piet Mondrian Born - 1872
8.    National Peanut Cluster Day
       Farmer's Day (See Farm Category )
       International Women's Day    
9.     National Crabmeat Day    
        V-8 Engine built 
        Barbie's Birthday
10.   National Blueberry Popover Day
         First Paper Money issued
         Harriet Tubman Day
        Johnny Appleseed Day (See Apple Theme and Apple Snacks)

12. Girl Scout Day
       Anniversary of the death of Ann Frank
13. Uncle Sam's Birthday (See Patriotic Category)
       Uranus discovered-1781
       Earmuff Day   
14.  Albert Einstein's born-1879
      National Potato Chips Day and Baseball Cap invented-1860
15.  Beware of the Ides of March
       Julius Caesar Assassinated 44BC
       Maine Admissions Day-1820
16.  Buzzard Day 
        National Artichoke Day
       Everything you do is Right Day
17.  St. Patrick's Day (See Categories)
         Submarine Day    
18.    Pillsbury Doughboy's Birthday
         National Lacy Oatmeal Cookie Day
         Canberra Day in Australia
         Forgive Mom and Dad Day
         Aruba Flag Day
         Las Fallas de San Jos--
This is a huge Fiesta in Valencia and Benidorm, which culminates in the burning of huge cardboard models and amazing fireworks displays, a visual  feast. This Fiesta is to celebrate the beginning of spring.
        Grandparents and Grandchildren Day (Make a craft and card before this day!)
19.   National Chocolate Caramel Day
        Sparky the Firedog's Birthday
        Wyatt Earp Born
        National Agriculture Day (See Farm Category)
        Swallows Return Day
20.   First Day of Spring! On March 20, 2010, at precisely 1:32  P.M. EDT (about 09:00 Universal Time), the Sun will  cross directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known  as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the autumnal equinox.  AND...Big Bird from Sesame Street's Birthday
        Agriculture Day (See Farm Category)
        Mr. Rogers Born
         Independence Day in Tunisia    
21.   California Strawberry Day (See below)
        National French Bread Day
       Children's Poetry Day (Below)
        First US Zoo Opened
       Pizza Day-Be sure to have pizza! Any kind! Bagel, English Muffin, Bobili, French Bread, etc.
       Fragrance Day (See Crafts that Smell Good) 
       Absolutely Incredible Kid Day (Today-Let the kids know how fantastic they are!) Can you come up with a special phrase for  each child?!
       Single Parents' Day
        Iranian New Year
       Teen-Agers Day
22.  National Bavarian Crepes Day
         United Nations World Water Day
         As Young as You Feel Day!
23. Toast Day (See below)
        Cable Car Patented
        National Energy Education Day 
        Elevator Day
        Liberty Day-Patrick Henry's Famous Speech- "Give me liberty  or give me Death" 1775
24.   National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day (Make some trail-mix and add chocolate covered raisins!)  
        Independence Day in Philippines
        International Day of the Seal
25.   Lobster Newburg Day 
        Independence Day in Greece
26.   Cape Cod named-1602
         Dunkin Hines Birthday-1880 (Make a Dunkin HInes cake!)
          Robert Frost Born-1874
         Independence Day in Bangladesh
       Make up your own Holiday! (Below)
27.   First Fire Engine Tested
        National Spanish Paella Day
        Education and Sharing Day
       Happy Birthday to You Day (Have a Happy Un-birthday Party for the entire group!)     
28.  National Black Forest Cake Day
        Qing Ming Festival in China
       Holi in China
      Morione's Festival in Philippines
29. National Lemon Chiffon Cake Day
      Oscar Mayer Born (Have an Oscar Mayer snack!)
      Youth Day in Taiwan
30. Doctor's Day
     National Hot Dog Day (Make hot dogs or one of these Crock Pot Recipes)
      Eraser-topped pencil patented-1858
     Artist Vincent van Gogh Born - 1853 (See Van Gogh Sunflow Art Ideas)
     Artist Francisco Goya Born-1746
31. Tater Day (How about a potato bar with all the toppings!)
      Oranges and Lemons Day (Have orange juice and lemonade for snack! Cut up some oranges)
      National Clams on the Half-Shell Day
      Eiffel Tower Anniversary 

_______________________________

 IDEAS FOR SPECIAL DAYS OF MARCH!

 MARCH IS NATIONAL PEANUTBUTTER MONTH!

 These are a few of the "Peanut butter" food ideas collected from the site... You could also make Peanutbutter Play Dough!

PEANUT BUTTER BALLS (24 balls)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup nonfat dry milk
1 cup quick cooking oats
Wax paper
Mix all ingredients and then roll the mixture into 1" balls.
Lay the balls on waxed paper. Refrigerate until set.

_________________

BUMPS ON A LOG...
1 celery stalk, washed and ends trimmed
2 tablespoons creamy or chunky peanut butter
10 Raisenettes Milk Chocolate-Covered Raisins

____________

ANTS ON A LOG
Celery sticks
Peanut butter or cream cheese
Raisins

Wash the celery and cut it into pieces about 5 inches long.
Spread peanut butter over the entire length of the celery.
 Press raisins into peanut butter.

_______________

MAKE AN ANT FARM
Ingredients: Peanut Butter, Graham Crackers and Raisins.
On a plate  spread peanut butter
In the middle you erect a tunnel from the broken graham crackers. Then you place the raisins on the peanut butter to look like Ants. Eat the raisins and peanut butter with either the graham crackers or pieces of celery.

_______________

"DOMINOES" (Put dominoes out for children to see what they look like! Afterward play dominoe game!)

Spread peanut butter on graham crackers (broken into the small rectangles) and top with either chocolate chips or raisins so that they look like 'dominoes'.

_________________

SANDWICH FACE
Just put out the ingredients and let kids take and make!
Peanut Butter
Bananas -sliced
Raisins
Bread (1 slice each child)
M&M's candy
Spread the peanut butter on the slice of bread. Next, put 2 banana circles on the bread to look like eyes. Use a raisin as a nose.
Last, make  mouth out of M&M's candy.

_________________

THIS IS UMBRELLA MONTH

 TISSUE PAPER COLORED UMBRELLAS

 Materials:
Sheet of white or manila oak tag (heavy paper)
Art tissue paper of various colors cut up into small pieces
Black felt tip permanent marker
Scissors
Squirt bottle of water

 Make umbrella shape templates. Trace the shape on oak tag as large as you would like -- but no smaller than half of the sheet. Cut it out. Using the marker, draw the umbrella ribs on the shape.

In a colorful arranegement, have children place pieces of art tissue all over the oak tag.
Gently squirt the "papered umbrella" with the water;it's a SPRING SHOWER.
Lay it flat to dry. As the tissue dries,the colors will adhere to the oak tag.

While drying-trace and cut out a handle.This can be stapled to the dry umbrella. The tissue will fall off when dry.
 
__________________________

UMBRELLA PICTURES #1
Need: Cupcake liners, Scissors, Glue, Crayons or Paint Pipe Cleaners

Cut several Cupcake liners in half (these will be umbrellas).
Glue the umbrellas onto a sheet of paper.
Use pipe cleaner to make the umbrella handles.
Glue on the handles. Add clouds and rain drops.
 
______________________________________________
UMBRELLA #2
 
Have  children cut individual egg-carton cups in half.
Glue the halves onto a sheet of construction paper.
Add pipe cleaners for handles.
 Draw pictures around the umbrellas with crayons or paint.
 
_________________________
ORANGE UMBRELLA SNACKS
 
Slice an orange into 1/4" thick round slices. Cut each round slice in half to form a half round umbrella shape. Place each orange umbrella on a small plate.

Have each child choose an "umbrella handle" from thin sliced cheese, pretzel sticks, thin celery sticks, or thin apple slices.
_______________

UMBRELLA PAINTING
 
Rainy days on the way?
Have interested children bring a solid color umbrella.
Cover floor; open umbrella; decorate each section with fabric paint or pens.
Let dry for a day before closing or using.

___________________________

MARCH IS NATIONAL KITE MONTH!
 
Beside making your favorite kites... here are two ideas for younger children!

PAPER PLATE KITE
Materials: Paper Plate, Tissue Paper, Streamers, Crayons/markers,
String, Craft Sticks
1. Have  children draw a design (or make one with tissue paper) on the paper plate.
2. Next have them glue foot long streamers on the paper plate.
3. Punch a hole at the nose of the plate and tie a piece of yarn through it.
4. Wrap additional yarn around a craft stick and then tape the yarn on the plate to the stick. The kite will really fly on a windy day.

______________

SPRING-TIME MATCH GAME: WALL PAPER KITES...
 
1. Cut kite shapes out of different patterned wallpapers; cut the kites in half.
2. Have children match the kite halves by the design.

__________________

THIS IS POETRY MONTH! HOW ABOUT POETRY PEBBLES? Grade: 4-8
Materials:
Small rocks or pebbles
Small paint bushes
Water and water containers
Magic markers
Paint (make tempera paint thicker by adding glue or flour)
A covered work area
A shoebox, yogurt or empty "Jiffy Pop" popcorn container
Hairspray or a spray varnish

      •  Make sure your pebbles are clean.
      •  Paint words onto your pebbles. You could also use markers instead of paint.
      •  Choose a number of words-people, places, things, action words etc. Example: 
    1. he
    2. she
    3. to
    4. love
    5. dog
    6. went
    7. walk
    8. you
    9. happy
    10. in
    11. to
    12. a
    13. my
    14. your
    15. orange
    16. red
    17. blue
    18. purple
    19. green
    20. swim
    21. bike

• Use your imagination and make sure you draw some punctuation marks on some pebbles as well (comma, exclamation point, period, question mark etc.)
• Once the pebbles are painted, let them dry and seal them with hairspray or spray varnish.
• Put all the pebbles into a show box or Jiffy Pop container. You can decorate your container with paint or markers as well.
• Play a game of poetry pebbles. Each player chooses a number of pebbles from the box and tries to come up with a poem or story.
  Makes for a great way to begin a short story for those times when you have writers block! 
  Source: Kinderart.co

________________________

READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY
MARCH 2, 2010

The National Education Association annually sponsors Read Across America. Now in its thirteenth year, the program focuses on how important it is to motivate children to read, in addition to helping them master basic skills. The nationwide reading celebration takes place each year on or near March 2, the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss.  Thousands of schools, libraries and community centersparticipate by bringing together kids and books. You can too!

Your reading event can be as simple or elaborate as time and inclination allow. Whether you choose to scale up or down, keep in mind the basic premise and it's almost sure to be a success:
On March 2, the National Education Association is calling for every child to be reading in the company of a caring adult.

ACTIVITY...TRAVELING ACROSS AMERICA--BOOK BY BOOK

This is a great way to kick off and celebrate! (However, ANYTIME is a good time to start this activity!) 

Encourage reading books about our 50 states and earn mileage to move across a map of the U.S. for each book read.
 
You "travel" across a map of the U.S. by reading a book that takes place in each of the states. (A variation is to read a book whose author lives in a particular state, or a book about a particular state.
 You can develop your own mechanism for tracking readers...

FOR BOOKS THAT FEATURE titles about America VISIT Here... There is a long list of books for each state from Alabama to Wyoming!

Example:
ALABAMA

   •Picture Book of Rosa Parks by David Adler 
   •Watsons Go to Birmingham by Christopher Curtis 
   •Run Away Home by Patricia McKissack 
   •Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph by Katharine E. Wilkie

ALASKA

  •Kiana's Iditarod by Shelley Gill 
  •Williwaw by Tom Bodett 
  •Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George 
  •Child of the Wolves by Elizabeth Hall 
  •Call of the Wild by Jack London 
  •The Eagle's Shadow by Nora Martin 
  •Gentle Ben by Walt Morey 
  •Kavik the Wolf Dog by Walt Morey 
  •The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto by Natalie Standiford
    and so on...

_______________

 MARCH 21 IS  FRAGRANCE DAY! Visit crafts that smell good! Lots of ideas...

Example: NON-SEW SACHETS

Materials: Fabric scraps, Fabric glue, Potpourri

• For each sachet, place 2 matching 5-inch fabric squares back-to-back and glue the edges together on 3 sides. Spread the glue close to the edges to prevent fraying.
• Once the glue is dry, fill the sachet with about 1/2 cup of potpourri.
• Glue together the open edges and again let the glue dry.
• Arrange the finished sachets in multicolored stacks and tie them together with a festive ribbon or yarn. 

______________

 

March 21 is CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRY DAY!
MAKE STRAWBERRY MICE (Ingredients: Fresh strawberries, Mini chocolate chips, Black decorators' icing, Almond slivers, Toothpick, Red lace licorice
Cheese (Your choice)

1. For each mouse, slice a small section from the side of a strawberry so it sits flat.
2. Press a mini chocolate chip into the tip for a nose, using a small dab of icing to secure it in place, if needed.
3. Add icing eyes and stick 2 almond slivers into the top of the berry for ears.
4. For a tail, use a toothpick to carve a small hole in the back of the berry and push the end of a piece of licorice lace into the hole.

Serve these cute Berries with small triangles of cheese and maybe crackers...I made these with my 4 and 6 year old grandchildren and they loved them! Submitted by Cassie/Michigan

__________________

MARCH 23 is TOAST DAY!  TOAST, ART AND SNACK ALL IN ONE! If you haven't done this one with the kids yet--now is the time! 

Ingredients: Bread, Milk, Food coloring, cinnamon sugar, butter, small paper cups,thin brushes or cotton-tipped swabs

Mix “paint by combining food coloring with milk. Paint designs on one side—try and be creative with stripes, stars, designs. When changing colors be sure to remind kids to use different brush or swab. When complete-toast in toaster on light or under broiler. Can eat as is----or while still hot butter and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar.

_______________

MARCH 26 IS MAKE YOUR OWN HOLIDAY! How cool is that?

Challenge kids to come up with ideas-- pick one idea in a method that works for you and celebrate it! Could it be "National Happy Unbirthday Day?"- "Everyone Wear Their Shirts Backwards Day? " -"We have to have Pizza Day or______!

Celebrate and have fun! The kids will love you for it! Make it a yearly event!

 _________________________________

 OTHER MARCH CATEGORIES TO VISIT!

• WINDSOCKS and CHIMES
• RAINBOWS
• RAIN AND CLOUDS
• FLOWERS
• JUMPROPE
• WARM WEATHER SNACKS

________________________________

 

 

 

SHAMROCK BOUNCE

Paint an old tennis ball green.
Set five pie tins on the floor, number ed 1-5.
Give each child five bounces to land in the pie tins.
Add up the total numbers to see who wins.

_______________

SHAMROCK AND STRAW TABLE GAME

1. Divide groups into equal teams and sit them at table or desks that have been pushed together.
2. Pass out a drinking straw to each child.
3. Place 2 inch Pre-made green tissue-paper shamrocks -in front of  the first player of each team.
4. Have children clasp their hands behind their backs.
5. At "Go!" the first player picks up the shamrock by inhaling it onto the straw.
6. That player keeps the shamrock in the straw until he/she places/drops it down in front of the next player's area.
7. If the shamrock falls off, it must be sucked up again--The game continues until each team player has had a turn.
(Remember...no hands!)

__________________

 TOP OF THE MORNIN!

1. Children stand in a circle around a blind-folded child--who is the "leprechaun".
2. The leprechaun holds a paper-towel tube (that can be previously covered in green construction paper) and SLOWY turns.
3. The tube is in a stretched out arm pointing to the circle of children Play Irish music and when the music stops the leprechaun stops.
4. The child standing opposite the pointed tube goes to the leprechaun and says, "A Top of the morning to you," INTO the TUBE. (Have children change their voices if they are able to.)
5. The leprechaun has 3 chances to guess who the voice belongs to.
6. If the leprechaun is correct--the child saying "Top of the Mornin" is the new leprechaun.

___________________

ST. PATRICK'S DAY RELAY RACE 

1. Cut out a large number of SHAMROCKS; write a different instruction on each one for a relay race ---
Such as: skip, crawl, crab walk, hop, walk backwards, etc. 

2. Duplicate the words for the number of Teams you will have playing. (Example: Three teams equal three sets of instruction words.
 
3. Divide the children into groups (if not even, have one child go twice)
 
4. Put the SHAMROCKS at the end of the room in a pile for each team.

5. On go, the first player on each team runs up to the pile and takes a SHAMROCK. They do what the Shamrock shape instructs.

6. When the first players get back-- the next players run to the shamrocks--and play continues...Return the shamrocks to the bottom of the pile until ALL have had a turn.

Tip: Laminate the shamrocks for FUTURE St. Paddy's Days.
(This game can also be a adapted to other themes such as Valentine's Day-- with hearts instead of shamrocks.

________________________

THEMED BANNER RACE WORD RACE
Challenge  friends to a race of the minds.

♣ Prepare two banners (or as many as you need for each team) that say whatever you want them to say.
Example: Happy St. Patrick's Day! Kiss Me I'm Irish! Luck of the  Leprechaun, etc. (The words can be themed to any holiday!)

♣ Also prepare a set of letters for the same words cut out in two different colors (for two teams) hidden randomly around the area.

♣ Divide the group into teams with captains--the captains sit and wait for their teammates to bring the letters for their banner. If a student is on the "gold" team and sees a letter for the "green" team he/she just leaves it alone. The first team to cover their banner letters wins.

___________________

IRISH HOT POTATO--A traditional game of hot potato using a real potato.
Play a CD of Irish music while the kids pass the potato around the circle. The player holding the potato when the music stops, will be in charge of the CD player for the next round.

Variation: Pass the BLANRNEY STONE
Play the same game using a "BLARNEY STONE" (a regular old rock).

______________________

POT OF GOLD DRAMA GAME
You say, "If I found a pot of gold at the foot of the rainbow, I'd buy this..."
Then you show by acting out what you would buy. The others try to guess what you bought, and the first one to guess becomes the new actor.

______________

Draw a HOPSCOTCH "course" that ties in with your party theme.

For a St. Patrick's Day Party draw a leprechaun in the start box...
    ♣ A pot of gold in the end box...
    ♣ A rainbow from one end to the other
    ♣ Have children toss a gold coin on the course to play.

___________________

PLAY HURLEY-A GAME OF IRELAND

Need 10 or more players, aged 8 and up, played indoors and outdoors.

Hurley is an old game which can be tracked back to ancient Rome, and has been played throughout Great Britain for hundreds of years. However, Hurley is  popular in Ireland, and it is believed to be the ancient ancestor to modern football.

Players form two equal teams, each taking one half of a gymnasium or a large field. One team begins with a medium sized ball (eg: football), with the object of moving the ball over the opposing teams End, which is simply the rear boundary of that teams half.

The defending team may tag an approachable player, whereupon that player must stop and immediately pass the ball, or give the ball up. The ball may be passed or run with, but it may not be kicked and no rough play should be allowed. Essentially the same game may be played indoors, but with a goal, into which the ball may be thrown, and defended by a goalie. No goalie is required for the outdoors version. Source: Thunder Bay Multicultural Association.

_______________________

A game of LEPRECHAUN, LEPRECHAUN, WHERE'S YOUR SHAMROCK?
(A version of Doggy, Doggy where's your Bone? Pre-K to grade 1)

One child, who is the leprechaun, sits in the middle of the circle with their eyes closed. One of the children in the circle hides a paper shamrock shape behind their back - the group together says,

 "Leprechaun, Leprechaun where's your shamrock? Somebody has it in their Pocket! Guess who?
Maybe you... Maybe a monkey from the zoo.
Come on Leprechaun where's your shamrock?"

The Leprechaun opens his/her eyes and has three guesses to who is holding the shamrock behind their back. Whether a right or wrong guess...the child with the shamrock is the next leprechaun.

______________________

FIND THE FOUR LEAF CLOVER

 

   ♣ Prepare pictures or cutouts of green clovers (have one for each child.)
   ♣ All Clover's should have 3 leaves except one, which would be a 4-leaf clover.

Children take turns passing around the clovers to music.
When the music stops, the child who has the 4-leaf clover gets a special treat (sticker, etc.)
Tell children that the person with the 4-leaf clover is lucky -- that is why they get the special treat.
Continue on until ALL KIDS have gotten the 4-leaf clover and special treat.(Or pass out treat to those who did not receive one in the game)

________________

SOME ACTIVITIES THAT ARE A LITTLE DIFFERENT...

GOLDEN THOUGHTS

When I first started working with children--one year for St. Patrick's Day, the children painted a big, paper black pot. They then cut out large circles and painted them yellow (Or you can use yellow/gold construction paper)
 
On the circles, each child wrote  their 'Golden Thought.' Some were:
BULLETING BOARD IDEA...(Also great for connecting and feeling good) 

♣ I wish my grandpa could see
♣ My new dog makes me happy
♣ I want to be a doctor when I grow up
♣ I like it when my dad plays ball with me
♣ Any "Golden Thought" children wished or makes them happy works!

These then were stapled onto the black pot. The remainder of the wall was decorated with St. Patrick Day shamrocks, etc. The Parents "did stop" and read what their child wrote. They often were touched by what the wishes revealed...Barb

________________________

 

THE LEPRACHAUN LOST HIS GOLD!

I have this in my file, but don't remember where I copied it from...Sounds like fun!!!! Kudos to the creator and also an apology for not giving you credit...

Tell the children-

"Two weeks ago, a leprechaun 'lost' all his gold in your play spaces, he left you his pot and a reward notice saying that if you could find all his gold and refill his pot by St. Pats Day, he would leave you a reward!"

Let the children find the gold that is hidden about (gold spray-paint items - anything you can think of - rocks, corn pops, buttons, keys, spoons, etc.).
Each time they find a piece of gold, they place it in the leprechaun's pot and they receive a "Lucky Shamrock" sticker to put on-- or stick on a sticker page. (Or not, your choice...)

On St. Pats Day, the leprechaun will return and pick-up his small pot full of gold - and in return -- he will leave a large pot (a Halloween witch's cauldron) full of a reward. (Their reward can consist  of shamrock shaped cookies, a pitcher of lemonade tinted green, festive cups and napkins, and a goodie bag for each child. You can fill it with whatever you'd like!

Some of the other things to do- Have the leprechaun leave a GREEN FOOTPRINT TRAIL to the pot...

____________________

ST. PADDY DAY PARADE! Great for all ages!

You Need:
Poster board, paint sticks, cardboard tubes, paint, pattern templates, heavy cardboard, gold glitter, glue, cans, and home-made musical instruments and noise makers

I work in a program that has kindergarten kids in the half-day when there is no class for them. We do this for the school--going around the halls and in and out of the rooms..... BUT.....This would also be fun for pre-school!

I have a friend WHO PRESENTED THIS IDEAS TO THE PRINCIPAL AND NOW SACC LEADS THE PARADE around the block and this is what they do-- The week prior to St. Patrick's Day, students begin making a variety of items to be used in the annual parade. They make very large shamrocks and paint them green; they attach these to paint sticks and long cardboard tubes. They also make large pots of gold and shamrocks out of heavy cardboard which they paint and decorate with glitter. (Many of the decorations are stored and can be used form year to year) Students decorate tin cans, washtubs, etc. (anything will do) to use as drums and instruments.(See the Home-made Instrument Category)

On St. Patrick's Day the entire school (dressed in green!) gathers. Signs, poster, instruments, hats, etc. are passed out and they hold the annual parade.
 The students and the teachers love this event. The kids and teachers walk around the block while the neighborhood and non-teaching building staff watch the parade. (It's advertised on the school marquee)

When weather is bad---the kids by lower and upper grades walk around the school. (Don't forget the Irish music!!!)

NEW FOR THIS YEAR---My friend saw the idea about the Mardi Gras Parade on the former site.  Diorama floats are made from shoe boxes and and then carried in the parade by the kids who made them. It adds a whole new dimension to the fun! Their SAC program is going to make the floats and then display them for school and parents to look at during the week!  Submitted by Casey in California

_______________________

LEPRECHAUNS INVADE THE PROGRAM!
(For Pre-K to Grade 2)

Make mischief! For St. Paddy's week, when the children go outside to play, turn chairs and tables upside down.
Or, when children take naps--the leprechauns switch shoes around.
 
On St. Patrick's Day the leprechaun should write a note saying he's sorry for the mischief he has caused. He'll also tell the children that he has left them a treasure and  has hidden a pot of gold for them to find.
Kids follow the clues around the center/school, until they find the surprise.
(Take a black cauldron Halloween pot and fill with goodies!) Submitted by teacher #1 in Ohio

__________________

MAKE A LEPRECHAUN TRAP!

Begin your celebration by building a Leprechaun trap. I read of this a few years ago and it has become a "tradition" in our program ever since.

Round up supplies you decide to use...such as a shoe box, pipe cleaners, markers, glitter, construction paper, wrapping paper, tape, glue, egg cartons, etc. Kids will have fun designing the trap, making it, and the anticipation of the day it is used.
Can you design one with a trap door?

Because Leprechauns are smart and quick--you'll have to lure them in with something.
Maybe a piece of gold coin candy, a shamrock, clover or penny?
When I read the original idea--Lucky Charms cereal was mentioned as bait.
  
1. Leave your trap out the night before St. Patrick's Day and in the morning the kids will get a surprise!
2.The day before (when you leave work,) put little green foot prints and chocolate coins or treats in the "cage"! A nice touch could be a note saying that he (the Leprechaun) couldn't stay and needed to get back to the Rainbow)!
3. If you have a Before AND After School group---be sure to make two traps---one for the "morning" and one for the afternoon groups

Of course you'll never catch a leprechaun...but a really fun tradition!!!    Submitted by Cassie in Michigan

____________________________

GREEN BUBBLES IN SENSORY TABLE (Pre-K-K)

Have fun with green water!
Simply add a few drops of green food coloring to the water-table... it only takes a few drops of color. Add child-safe bubbles as well!
Advise to wear cover-shirts but there is no staining of the skin, table or towels. Cassie/Michigan

_________________

ST. PATRICK'S DAY SCIENCE

GREEN BEANS

 

Have each child plant their own green beans.
Start well in advance so the beans will start to come up before March 17!

♣ Beans are the color green and the children will love watching them grow. They are also a great way to introduce children to gardening and the connection between food and the earth.

 You need is  bean seed, small garden pot (3 inch across) some soil and water. You will also need a place  to put the pot where it will get 4-6 hours of sunlight. Fill the pot with soil; make a small hole using the little finger about 1/4 inche deep--put in the bean cover over, water. Place the pot in a sunny spot and watch it grow. Be sure the planter has drainage and be sure to place a saucer to catch the excess water.

 ♣ If children are younger--end the activity with READING JACK AND THE BEANSTALK.

 ___________

Also see the three LEPRECHAUN GROWING GRASS ideas in the St. Patrick's Day Arts and Crafts section!

__________________________

FOUR SONGS FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY (Pre-K and K)

#1 Lucky Leprechaun to tune of Jingle Bells

Leprechaun, Leprechaun,
Oh, where can you be?
Come a little closer now,
Don't be afraid of me.
Leprechaun, Leprechaun,
You bring luck my way.
I'd really like to see you
On this St. Patrick's Day!

___________________

St. Patrick's Day Song Tune to "Mary Had a Little Lamb"

I'm looking for a leprechaun,
Leprechaun, leprechaun.
I'm looking for a leprechaun.
Do you know where he's gone?

He wears a suit that's made of green,
Made of green, made of green.
He wears a suit that's made of green
Do you know where he's gone?

He lives by a rainbow and hides his gold,
Hides his gold, hides his gold.
He lives by a rainbow and hide his gold.
Do you know where he's gone?

If you see a leprechaun,
Leprechaun, leprechaun.
If you see a leprechaun,
Please tell me where he's gone!

Originally from Sue Goodman
Hillcrest School, Morristown, TN

______________________________

If You're Wearing Green Today
By Elizabeth McKinnon
(Sung to 'If You're Happy and You Know It')

If you're wearing green today, dance a jig.
If you're wearing green today, dance a jig.
If you're wearing green today,
Dance a jig, then smile and say,
Have a very Happy St. Patrick's Day!

_____________________________

I'm a LIttle Leprchaun--Sung to 'I'm a Little Teapot')

I'm a little Leprechaun short and green,
Here is my shamrock but I can't be seen,
When you pull my feather, hear me scream (everyone scream)
I'm a little Leprechaun, short and green.

PAPER PLATE SHAMROCKS
Materials: 3 paper plates, Green Crayons or paint, Green Construction paper, glue, scissors

1. Color or paint all three paper plates green.
2. Cut a stem from green construction paper.
3. Glue the three paper plates together in a triangle type shape.
4. glue the stem at the bottom.

_____________________

This would be nice on a poster/board or in your March Newsletter!

AN IRISH BLESSING
 
Leprechauns, castles, good luck and laughter...
Lullabies, dreams and love ever after.
Poems and songs with pipes and drums
A thousand welcomes when anyone comes...
That's the Irish for you!

__________________

HAND HELD RAINBOW
Materials:
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple crepe paper streamers
Paper plates
Scissors
Stapler

1. Cut the center out of a paper plate.
2. Cut long pieces of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple crepe paper streamers. Each streamer should be about two to three feet long.
3. Staple a rainbow of streamers onto the paper plate. You now have a Rainbow Streamer to help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

__________________

SHAMROCK GREEN PEPPER PRINTS
Materials: Green Pepper, Paper, Green Paint
 
1.Cut the pepper in half. Remove all the seeds.
2. Children dip the cross section pieces of the green pepper into green paint and use it to create shamrock prints on paper

______________

IRELAND AND POTATOES...

1. Talk abut Ireland and the importance of the potato.
2. Cut some potatoes in half and carve out coin shapes, shamrocks, and a kettle.
3. The children can use these "stamps" to make colorful prints. Tip: Make a bulletin board border by having kids stamp sheets of long paper...

SHAMROCK POTATO PRINTS IDEA #2
Paper
Paint
Paring knife and or plastic knifes-- (Depending on the ages of the children, adults may have to use the knives to create the potato "printers")

1. Cut the ends from the potato.
2. On the cut end of the potato---draw the outline of a shamrock. The potato AROUND the drawing on the potato is removed so that only the shamrock remains raised on the surface.
3. Use the potato like a stamp dipped in paint -- to decorate paper or create prints cards for St. Patrick's Day.
(This is using two St. Paddy Day things; potatoes and shamrock shape!)

_____________

POTATO PLAY DOUGH
Potatoes are commonly associated with Ireland.
Making homemade play dough out of mashed potatoes connects the Irish theme to a creative activity.

Mix mashed potatoes with flour to create a workable consistency. A good ratio for the dough is three-parts flour to four-parts potatoes. Another option is to use instant mashed potato flakes. Make them according to the directions but use less water so they have a stiffer consistency.
__________________

NOISEMAKER FOR DRIVING OUT THE SNAKES

1. Place some pebbles, dry beans or gravel-inside of a small milk carton - secure it shut with a glue gun.
2. Cover the carton with construction paper that is glued and fitted to it.
3. Force a craft stick into the bottom of the carton and hot-glue it in place.
4. Decorate the milk carton with yarn, markers and streamers of crepe paper.
(For younger children you may need to cover the cartons--- and then have them decorate it)

WANT TO MAKE SOME SNAKES TO GO WITH THE NOISEMAKER? (This is from the Recycled Materials Craft category)

 

MAKE A SNAKE
Materials:
Paper towel tubes, paint, google eyes, decorations of choice

•Cut the paper towel roll into six sections of similar width.

•Paint the sections- decorating with glitter glu, and other details as desired.
•Once the paint is dry, apply googly eyes and glue a red felt forked tongue to the 'head' tube section.
•Loop yarn around last section and tie
•Thread the yarn through the rest of the section, leaving it loose at the head as a leash to pull the snake. Idea/Photo is from FreePreschoolCrafts by Devanie Angel

______________

 

GREEN COLLAGE

1. Cut out shamrock shapes
2. PUT a box of green collage materials such as yarn, fabric, ribbon, buttons, glitter, pom poms, etc.
3. Add green coloring to glue and have kids decorate to make a St. Patrick's Day collage.

_____________

ST. PADDY DAY POM-POM PIN
Materials:
green pom-pom's, green paper or craft foam sheet, green pipe cleaner, pin back and either hot glue or craft glue

1. Cut a circle from the green paper; make sure it's large enough to hold all three pom-poms in a "Shamrock shape cluster".
2. Glue the pom-poms to the paper, to form a cluster.
3. Next cut the green pipe cleaner into thirds. (Each pin will use 1/3 of a pipe cleaner.)
4. Push the pipe cleaner through the paper or craft foam (this is done at the bottom of the pom-pom shamrock cluster)
5. Twist the pipe cleaner to make it look like shamrock stem--The twisted shape will look like an upside down "V" at the bottom of the shamrock...
6. Attach the pin to the back of the shamrock.

______________

LEPRECHAUNS WITH HAIR #1

1. Cut the bottom off of a potato so it will stand/sit straight.
2. Cut the top of the potato off and hollow it out about one inch deep.
3. Have the children paint the potatoes green and decorate them making a face -- use beads, pipe cleaners, other paint colors, etc.
4. Finish by filling the hollowed out top of the potato with soil and grass seeds.
5. Water them and give lots of sun.
As below...Do this a couple weeks before St. Paddy's Day with the anticipation of the leprechaun's growing green hair!

OR

LEPRECHAUN WITH HAIR #2
Have each child plant grass seed in a clear plastic cup. They can also draw a face with permanent marker or on a small round piece of paper and glue to the front of the planter. Do this a couple weeks before St. . Paddy's...with the anticipation of the leprechaun's growing green hair!

OR

LIVING LEPRECHAUNS #3
Materials: Styrofiam cups, markers, paper, cotton balls, dirt, grass seeds
 
1. Give each child a Styrofoam cup.
2. Have children draw or paste precut facial features on the cup. You can use cotton balls for beard.
3. After the glue dries, fill the cup with dirt; plant grass or alfalfa seeds. Each Leprechaun should have a green head of hair soon!!

_____________

#1 HAND-SHAPED RAINBOW

(Display Board group project)

 

1. Using colored construction paper of yellow, orange, red, blue, green and purple trace THE CHILDREN'S HANDS. Make about 10 hand prints of each of the colors of the rainbow.
2. Put the children's names on the hand-prints; form the hands into a large, curved rainbow shape. (All the reds in one curved arch of the rainbow...all the yellows to form a curve, etc.
Nice on wall or bulletin board. From Cassie/Michigan...

#2 DISPLAY BOARD PROJECT (Make a huge hand print rainbow using different colored finger-paint and white butcher paper as the background.)
 
1. Have kids dip their hands in one color and print a few along one row.
2. Have other children do another row,(with colors of the rainbow) until you've made a huge rainbow.
Add a pot of gold at the end...
 
____________

MAKE THE ABOVE AN ON-GOING MURAL!
After March 17th...Consider removing anything St. Paddy Day; keep the rainbow up for springtime---rainbows make people smile---so just keep adding "spring-time" things to it! (Barb)

____________

FROOT-LOOP AND SHAMROCK NECKLACE (For younger children)

Using a rainbow picture as an example, have children follow the pattern using fruit loops and string to make necklaces. Put a foam or felt shamrock in the center ...

_______

PAPER SHAMROCK PLANT

Give each child a ball of model magic to press into the bottom of a Styrofoam cup. Decorate a pre-cut paper shamrock (Or a few) with glitter, etc. Tape a pipe cleaner to the back of the shamrock shapes. Put the pipe cleaner into the "pot". The model magic will dry quickly around the pipe cleaner and hold up the planted shamrocks!

_________________

SMOOTH AS GLASS SHAMROCK

1. Make a few templates of shamrocks for the kid to trace; Cut them out and have kids trace the template on tag board. Cut them out.
2. Next take light karo syrup and pour a small amount in the center of the shamrock; add a few drops of green food coloring.
3. Have  kids mix/combine the syrup and food coloring until the two have blended.
4. Let dry and admire the finish!

____________

ST. PATRICK'S DAY DRY BREAD MOBILE

1. Leave white bread out until it is hard. (It'll take a couple days)
2. When hard--use shamrock shaped cookie cutters and cut into shamrocks---Put a hole in each bread shamrock to insert yarn, ribbon or fish line
3. Paint them green and when dry hang them --or put together and hang at different lengths from a mobile hanger.

_____________

MAKE A LEPRECHAUN FACE SAND ART JAR

Materials for one project
Glass baby food jar
Green pom pom
Green construction paper - formed in cone shape for hat and also ears cut into points
Googlie eyes
St. Paddy Day colors of green, white, orange and yellow sand Curling ribbon (green and white) or a feather to decorate the top of the hat and orange yarn for hair

1. Fill baby jar with layers of the colored sand.
2. Glue on eyes, pom pom for nose, ears and hair.
3. Put top on jar and close tightly.
4. Put cone shaped hat on with streamers coming out of the top. Cute!!!

____________

SHAMROCK NECKLACES (For young kids)
Materials:
Green and white construction paper
Scissors
Hole punch
Ribbon or yarn for stringing
1. Cut several sizes of shamrocks from green and white construction paper. Punch a hole in the top of each shamrock.
2. Give children a a length of a ribbon or yarn with masking tape wrapped on each end; show them how to string the shamrocks, alternating colors, to make a Saint Patrick's Day necklace.

__________________

MARBLE PAINTING SHAMROCKS

1. Cut out a large clover shape on white construction paper. Place it in an pan, shallow box or deep box lid.
2. Put several spots of paint in each corner about the size of a half dollar. Dark green, light green, gold and yellow all work ...alone or together.
3. Put a marble in the center of the Shamrock and have the children tilt the pan so the marble goes through the paint spots and across the paper. A golf ball also works well.
4. If you want, sprinkle with gold powder when complete.

_____________

A BLARNEY STONE

Supply or have children bring in a rock before St. Patrick's Day. Look for rocks that are the size of a slice of a bread.
1. Paint the rocks green and adds glitter with a lot on the top! This is the Blarney Stone.
 
When the rocks go home--put each one into a large zip lock bag with the child's name on it... (so the glitter doesn't get in book bags)
These can be used as paper weights, door stops, etc.

_________________

BLARNEY STONE #2
(If you kiss the Blarney Stone, it is supposed to give you the gift of eloquence.)
Materials: A smooth, clean river rock, green paint, brush, markers, glue, decorating items such as-- plastic jewels, glitter, sequins, google eyes, yarn, etc.

1. Take a dry and clean rock...and paint it green.
2. When the paint and glue are dry, add details of a face such as eyebrows, hair, etc.
3. When all is set...finish decorating rock using glitter, sequins, beads, etc.
When complete...you have a small Blarney Stone to help celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

_____________

MAKE LEPRECHAUNS BY TRACING CHILDREN'S BODIES

Before tracing, pose each child on the paper as if dancing a jig. Add a leprechaun hat to each child's shape. Use colors of green and black to decorate the shapes. Cut out--and hang about the room next to each other. A room full of dancing leprechauns!

________________

TWO EASY CRAFTS
 
MAGIC LEPRECHAUN SUN GLASSES
Take green tagboard and cut it into shamrock shaped glasses. Put green cellophane to cover the eye openings.

LEPRECHAUN BINOCULARS
Take 2 toilet paper rolls and staple them together. Paint them green. If you have a parade--use them to look for leprechauns--if no parade---look anyway!!

_______________

PAPER SHAMROCKS MADE FROM COFFEE FILTERS

1. Precut shamrock shape out of coffee filters.
2. Mix water and yellow food coloring and place mixture in a baby food jar. Do the same with blue.

Have the children use eyedroppers to drip colors on the filter shape. The colors will run together and make beautiful shamrocks.
Submitted by Jenny in Michigan

____________

SHINING SHAMROCKS

1. Cut Shamrock shapes out of tag board or heavy construction paper.
2. Paint them green and sprinkle salt on them while still wet.
The salt will make the shamrocks shine and sparkle when they dry.

You could make really nice St. Patrick's Day mobiles--with them or hang from ceiling or in windows.

______________

SHAMROCK PEOPLE

Materials: Green Construction Paper, Glue, Markers or Crayons
Tip: My favorite way in working with any craft that incorporates shapes is to make templates for the kids to trace and cut.

1. Make templates of shamrocks for the children to trace--or PRE-MAKE shamrocks for the younger. With older children, have them draw and cut-out their own shamrocks.
2. With the green construction paper, create the shamrock shapes. 3. Draw FACES on the LARGE shamrocks.
4. ADD accordion-folded arms and legs (either from white paper or the green construction) ...
5. Cut smaller shamrocks for the hands and feet and glue them to the ends of accordion arms and legs.
 
These could be nice to hang from the ceiling, on the bulletin board for decorations--or glue to a straw or large tongue depressor stick for a puppet.

______________

LEPRECHAUN LADDER

Materials: Yarn, Straws, Green Construction paper, Scissors.

Directions:
Cut about ten 3 inch wide Shamrocks out for each child. Cut Straws into 2 inch pieces.

String the Straws and the shamrocks. One Straw, One Shamrock, One Straw, One Shamrock, One Straw, One Shamrock, etc....
Tip: A good Idea is to put tape on one end of the string so it does not come apart while stringing. Tape the second end to the table so the objects don't come off the other side.

When it is done tie a knot in the yarn on both side.
HANG IT FROM THE CEILING. You can make them as long or short as you wish.

__________________

LUCKY LEPRECAUN HATS

Materials: Paper bowls, green paint, paintbrush, hole punch, ribbon
Optional - gold glitter

Directions: Have children paint the backside of a paper bowl with the green paint. When bowls are dry, punch one hole on each side of the rim of the bowl. Lace ribbon through the hole so you can tie the hat on. Great for a St. Patty's party.
(OPTIONAL) While paint in wet on the hats, sprinkle gold glitter on them

____________

RICE SHAMROCKS
Materials: Oak-tag or heavy white paper, rice, green food coloring, brushes, glue, glue containers, paper towels or pie tins, shamrock patterns.

Directions: Prepare rice a day ahead of project. Place rice in a small amount of water to which green food coloring has been added. Let it soak until desired shade of green had been reached. Drain off the water and let rice dry on paper towels or in pie tins overnight.

Make shamrock shape templates.
1. Trace and cut out the shamrock shapes.
2. Have the children brush diluted glue on their shamrocks and sprinkle green rice over the glue. (A drop or two of alcohol in a few drops food coloring will darkly color any kind of pasta: macaroni, etc. (See dying pasta recipe in the "Paint Recipe Thread".)

_____________

IRISH FLAG

Materials: Paper and glue...

 

1. To make the flag--use a full sheet of white construction paper, have children glue 3 pieces of paper that have been cut to fit the white paper.
2. Starting from the left side of the white paper--in vertical stripes glue on 1/3 of green construction paper, 1/3 of white paper & 1/3 of orange paper.

____________

SHAMROCK CRAYON RUBBING
Materials: cardboard, pencil, glue, paper, crayons

1. Draw shamrocks on cardboard or mat board.
2. With bottled glue, thickly outline the shapes of the shamrocks. Let the glue dry.
3. When dry, take a sheet of paper and lay it on top of the shamrocks.
4. Peel the crayon's paper. Turning the crayon side-ways, rub the shamrock shape.
Magic -- the kids have a shamrock!

__________

POT OF GOLD

Materials:
Small terracotta pots
Gold acrylic paint-
Gold wire ribbon or pipe cleaner
Hot glue gun
Green "Easter grass"-g
Gold foil wrapped chocolate coins

1. Using a paint brush or sponge, paint the inside and outside
of the pot with the gold paint.
2. After the paint is completely dry, cut a strip of gold wire ribbon or pipe cleaner--long enough to make a handle.
3. Attach each end of the ribbon/pipe cleaner to the top sides of the gold pot with the hot glue gun. Fill with green grass and gold coins.
4. Children can add rainbows, shamrocks, etc., to the outside of the pot with paint pens.
Idea of Sam from Amazingsmoms.com

______________________

ST. PATRICK'S DAY MAGIC WAND for younger children
Materials:
Green construction paper
3-inch diameter cardboard circle or plastic lid
Drinking straw
Scissors
Glue
Glitter
Pencil

1. Draw 3 circles on the green construction paper by tracing around the lid or cardboard circle.
2. Cut out the circles.
3. Glue together a section of the circles' edges to form a clover shape. Dab glue onto the shamrock and sprinkle on glitter.
4. Glue the straw onto the back of the middle circle to form a handle. Let the glue dry.

____________
MAKE ST. PADDY FINGER PAINT!

#1 GREEN PISTACHIO FINGER PAINT 
You can use green pistachio instant pudding to fingerprint on a large piece of paper. When it is dry, you can cut it out in the shape of a large shamrock and glue a colored picture of a leprechaun in the middle.
________________________
 
#2 REGULAR FINGER PAINT WITH GRITS!
Mix green finger paint with grits and give it some texture... Then cover a shamrock shape......
The kids notice the difference in texture and like the feel of the paint with the grits added.

______________
LEPRECHAUN MUSHROOM (A messy bur fun painting project)

You'll need:
1/4 sheet of blue construction paper
1/4 potato
1/2 straw
A building block (Lego)
Several small paper circles
red, white and green tempera paints
glitter and glue

1. To print the top of the mushroom, dip the flat end of the potato in red paint and press on the paper.
2. Next -print a white stalk under the mushroom using the building block.
3. Print green grass around the bottom of the mushroom using the side of the straw. Allow to dry.
4. Glue on the white paper circles to make spots on the mushroom. 5. Spread glue around the mushroom cap and sprinkle with glitter. Allow to dry.

____________

Using face paint...CELEBRATE ST. PATTY'S DAY by painting a shamrock or rainbow on the cheeks of the children! :-)

____________

  Complete Menu for St. Patty Day Activities

• All Ideas
• Games and Miscellaneous Fun
• Arts and Crafts
• Snacks and Drinks
• Jokes
• Rainbows and St. Paddy's Day go together! Click Here for Rainbow Theme

____________________________________________________
 

Kids love to cook!!! No oven to bake in?

 

Here are a lot of good recipes to prepare with children! Many use no appliances and some use a micro-wave, crock pot, or stove top. (An electric burner will work for those!) Enjoy!  

 COOKIES & BARS

NO BAKE HAY STACK COOKIES #1
2 cups (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups butterscotch chips (or peanut butter if no allergies)
½ tsp. vanilla
3 cups chow mien noodles
Optional: May add 1 cup chopped walnuts or peanuts.
1.  Melt chips; mix in noodles until coated well.
2.  Drop By teaspoon onto was paper.
3.  Put in refrigerator to set.

HAYSTACKS #2 – NO BAKE

 

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup salted peanuts
4 cup’s chow mein noodles
1.  Melt chips and peanut butter in microwave. Blend together.
2.  Stir in peanuts and noodles gently in the peanut butter mixture.
3.  Drop dough by forkfuls onto wax paper. Cool until set. Yummy!
Makes 24 cookies

_________

FROGS: Makes about 36
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup flaked coconut
3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1.  Line two baking sheets with waxed paper.
2.  In a large saucepan, stir together cocoa, sugar, milk and butter.
3.  Boil for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
4.  Stir in vanilla extract, coconut and oats. Combine well.
5.  Drop by tablespoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets. Refrigerate 1 hour or until set. Keep refrigerated.
Source: Christmas-cookies.com

__________________________

PEANUT BUTTER BALL RECIPE (24 balls)
½ cup honey
½ cup peanut butter
1 cup nonfat dry milk
1 cup quick cooking oats
Wax paper
Mix all ingredients and then roll the mixture into 1” balls.
Lay the balls on waxed paper. Refrigerate until set.

_______________________

M&M's NO BAKE COOKIES
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup margarine
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup chopped peanuts (salted)
1/2 pound M&M's candies
1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1.  In a heavy duty saucepan, stir over medium-high heat the sugar, margarine and milk.
2.  Bring to a boil, stirring continuously, and boil for 1 minute.
3.  Remove from heat, stir in remaining ingredients.
4.  Drop onto wax paper with teaspoon or tablespoon for larger cookies. Let cool.

_______________________

BUTTERSCOTCH CHOCOLATE RICE KRISPIE SURPRISE
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 pkg. butterscotch chips
4 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup marshmallows
1.  Melt corn syrup, butterscotch chips, and marshmallows.
2.  Mix in Rice Krispie Cereal.
Place in 9x13 pan
Chill in freezer for 20 min.
 
SAUCE (The surprise!)
1 cup of chocolate chips
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/4 butter
1 1/2 coconut
Melt all in sauce pan, and spread over Rice Krispies.

_________________

 

RICE KRISPIE TREATS

 

Makes 2 dozen
1/4 cup margarine
10 ounces marshmallows (4 cups mini marshmallows)
6 cups Rice Krispies
1.  Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2.  Add cereal and stir until well coated.
3.  Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into 9 x 13 inch pan coated with cooking spray.
4.  Cut into squares when cooled.
Variation: Add 1/4 cup peanut butter to melted marshmallow mixture just before adding cereal. Stir until smooth. Then continue with above steps.

_____________________

AWESOME ENERGY BARS
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup margarine
1 bag miniature marshmallows
2 1/2 cups Cheerios
1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup peanuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Melt peanut butter, margarine and marshmallows over double boiler. (Or microwave)
Place cereals, raisins, peanuts in large bowl. Stir in peanut butter mixture and mix all together. Press into a buttered 13 x 9-inch red pan. Cut into bar. Cool…
Source: recipegoldmine.com

___________________

HONEY FRUIT NUGGETS
Makes 20 nuggets
1/4 cup dried pitted prunes
1/4 cup dried apricots
1/4 cup dried figs
1/4 cup pitted dates
1/3 cup wheat-flake cereal; (1 cup uncrushed)
1/4 cup honey
1/2 square unsweetened chocolate; melted
Non-stick cooking spray
Coconut or chopped nuts for rolling…

• Let prunes and apricots stand in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain.
• Put all fruit through food chopper and blend with crushed cereal.
• Blend in honey and melted chocolate.
• Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray and shape mixture into 1-inch balls.
• Roll in coconut or chopped nuts.
• Chill or set aside to "ripen."
• Can be made ahead of time.

_____________

ALMOST S’MORES #1
Ingredients: Graham cracker; 1 tbsp. chocolate frosting

•  Break each cracker into four sections and spread frosting on two.
• Place the other two crackers on top to make sandwiches.
• Eat on the spot or allow to soften overnight in an airtight container, if desired. Makes 2

_________ 

ALMOST S’MORES #2
For ease, you can also use chocolate-covered grahams as a base.
Spread them with Marshmallow Fluff for easy, no-bake S'Mores!
Source: Kerri E  FamilyuFun.com

____________________

TURTLE S’MORES 
Nestle Signature Turtle Candies
4 graham cracker squares
1 large marshmallow, cut in half

• PLACE 1 Turtle on 1 graham cracker square.
• Top with 1 marshmallow half.
• MICROWAVE on HIGH (100%) power for 10 to 15 seconds or until marshmallow expands.
• Immediately top with 1 graham cracker square.
• Repeat with remaining Turtle, graham cracker squares and marshmallow half.

______________________

NO BAKE CRACKER BARS
Club® Crackers
1/2 cup butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons peanut butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips

• Line jelly roll pan with Club crackers.
• In saucepan combine butter, crumbs, sugar and milk.
• Heat to boiling, stirring constantly; boil 7 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat; blend in vanilla. Cool slightly.
• Pour over crackers; smooth almost to edge.
• Cover with another layer of Club crackers.
• In top of double boiler, melt together peanut butter and both chips, stirring constantly.
• Spread over top layer of crackers

__________________

MUD PIE COOKIES #1
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups oatmeal
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring
Mix sugar and cocoa together… Stir in milk. Put mixture in a pot; add butter. Heat  until it comes to a full boil. STIR and cook for about two minutes. Do not let it burn.
Turn off heat and MIX IN the remaining ingredients.
Take spoonfuls of cookie dough and drop onto the waxed paper to cool.

_______

MUD PIES #2
2 cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/2 milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup shredded coconut
3 cups instant oats
1.  Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in saucepan.
2.  Bring to a boil.
3.  Add vanilla extract.
4.  Remove from heat and stir in coconut and oats.
5.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper; chill
Makes 4 1/2 dozen.
Source: recipegoldmine.com

_______________

THE BEST HAMBURGER COOKIES

Makes 12 cookies
24 vanilla wafer cookies
12 chocolate covered round mint chocolate wafer cookies
1/4 cup green tinted shredded coconut
light corn syrup
sesame seeds
1 tub prepared white frosting mix

To tint coconut, place coconut and 2 to 4 drops of green food color in a jar or re-sealable plastic bag. Screw on lid, or seal bag, and shake until coconut is colored evenly.

• For each hamburger cookie, spread about 1/2 teaspoon of white frosting (for mayonnaise) on flat side of 1 vanilla wafer.
• Place 1 teaspoon coconut and 1 mint cookie on frosting.
• Spread flat side of second vanilla wafer with about 1/2 teaspoon frosting; place frosting side down on mint cookie.
• Brush top of "hamburger" with corn syrup; sprinkle with sesame seed.
• Repeat to make 11 more cookies

______________

*This is a "Hamburger Cookie" using Oreo Cookies.

• Use vanilla wafers for the buns.
• Split an Oreo to use as the hamburger.
• Tint frosting red for ketchup and yellow for mustard and use to hold the burgers together.
• Tint some coconut green for lettuce and sprinkle on the frosting.

Dust the "buns" with powdered sugar

____________________

NO BAKE KIT-KAT BARS
Waverly Crackers
1 cup melted butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
2/3 cup peanut butter

• Line a 9 x 13 pan with crackers.
  Combine butter, sugars, crumbs and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn heat down and stir constantly for 5 minutes or until it starts to thicken.
• Spread half of mixture over layer of crackers.
• Add another layer of crackers. Spread other half of mixture over.
• Put another layer of crackers over all.
• Melt chips and peanut butter together. Stir until smooth. Spread over crackers.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour and mark with a knife through the chocolate.
• Return to refrigerator for several hours and cut through bars.

_____________

 

CHEERIOS MARSHMALLOW BARS

 

Ingredients:
3 tbsp butter
4 1/2 cups (about 1 package) mini marshmallows
5 cups plain Cheerios
1.  Grease or butter a 9x13-inch pan and one side of a large sheet of wax or parchment paper.
2.  In a large, microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter and the marshmallows.
3.  Microwave on high at 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth.
4.  Quickly fold in Cheerios and pour into prepared pan.
5.  Press into place using the greased wax or parchment paper, making an even layer. Allow to cool. (You can also add chocolate chips, peanuts butter schips or nuts!)
Source: Cheerio's Website

  _____________________________

EASY FIVE-IN-ONE NO BAKE COOKIES!
These no-bake cookies are tasty and nutritious. The basic recipe makes several different yummy cookies. Add your favorite ingredients to make your own unique cookie. The orange juice concentrate gives the cookies an orange flavor.

BEGIN WITH THE FOLLOWING INGREDIENTS: 1/2 cup peanut butter,  1/2 cup honey or corn syrup, 1/4 cup orange juice, concentrate, 1 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk solids

Mix thoroughly. Now choose one of the following 5 steps...

____________

#1 COOKIE: CRISPY BALLS
4 cups crispy cereal Mix. Shape into small balls. Makes 4 dozen small balls.

________ 

#2 COOKIE: OR's
2 c. rolled oats
1 1/2 c. raisins
Mix; shape into balls then flatten. Makes 3 dozen medium cookies.

__________

#3 COOKIE: RAISIN CLUSTERS
1/4 c. cocoa
4 c. raisins... Mix; Cluster into small balls. Makes about 4 dozen small clusters.

__________

#4 COOKIE: COCO BALLS
1/4 cup cocoa
2 c rolled oats
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1 tsp. vanilla... Mix; shape into balls.
Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookie balls.

________

#5 COOKIE: GRAHAMIES
Add 1/4 cup raisins. Spread between graham crackers. Makes about 3 dozen.
Source: Rachel Keller
allhomemadecookies.com

_________________

Return to top of page 

TRAIL MIXES and PARTY MIXES

A GENERAL GUIDE TO TRAIL MIX
1.  In a large bowl, add any type of cereals (Cheerios, Kix, Rice Krispies, etc.)
2.  Mix in pretzel sticks, fish crackers, small snack crackers, raisins, oyster crackers, M&M's, etc. Almost anything that is left-over in the pantry.
3.  Mix well, and place in individual sandwich baggies or paper cups.
This is a great "take-along field trip snack" or "take it outdoors snack"... It will also help you clean out those "little leftovers" in your food storage.

_______________

FROOT LOOPS TRAIL MIX
1 (15 ounce) box Fruit Loops cereal
1 15 ounce) bag mini pretzel twists
1 (1 pound) bag M&M's
1 box raisins
1 can salted peanuts
Mix all together and store in airtight container.

_____________

CROCKPOT PARTY MIX
7 cups assorted cereal (oat, rice, wheat in various shapes)
1 cup peanuts, pecans, cashews, or mixed nuts
1 cup mini pretzel sticks
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
dash hot pepper sauce, or more to taste
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon onion salt
Combine cereals, nuts and pretzels in slow cooker. Mix melted butter with remaining ingredients and seasonings; pour over the cereal mixture, tossing to coat. Cook, uncovered on HIGH for 2 hours, stirring about every 30 minutes.
Turn to low and cook another 2 to 6 hours. Store in an airtight container. Makes about 10 cups.

___________

TACO MUNCH
This delicious snack can be addictive!
Ingredients:
6 cups popped, unsalted popcorn
3 cups toasted corn cereal squares
1 cup mini-pretzels
2 tbsp. butter, melted
2 to 3 tsp. dry taco seasoning
2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
4 oz. cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

• Combine popcorn, cereal and pretzels in a large bowl.
• Combine butter and taco seasoning and drizzle this over popcorn mixture.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and toss to coat.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Toss with cheddar cheese just before serving. Makes 10 servings.
  Source: Familyfun.com

_________________

ANIMAL FOOD FOR HUMANS 
Ingredients:
2 cups animal shaped graham crackers
1 cup salted peanuts
1/2 cup M&M’s
1/2 cup raisins
Mix together. Store in sandwich bags or covered container.

__________________

NOVELTY TREATS

 

 PUPPY CHOW

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine
12 ounces chocolate chips
1 large box Crispix
2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1.  Melt peanut butter, margarine and chocolate chips.
2.   Pour mixture over large box Crispix; coat well. 3.  In a paper bag put 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar.
4.   Add coated cereal. Shake well and pour onto wax paper.

 

PIDGEON POOP

5 cups of peanut butter crunch cereal
3 cups of Rice Krispies
2 cups of skinny pretzels/broken in half
2 lbs. of white chocolate chips 
2 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
Preparation:
Mix all dry ingredients in large bowl. Melt white chocolate in double boiler or microwave oven. Pour melted chocolate over the dry ingredients and spread out on wax paper to cool. Break into chunks.

 ____________

 OREO® PARTY POPS
Ingredients:
20 popsicle or lollipop sticks
20 Oreo Double Stuff® cookies
1 12-ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 T. vegetable oil
Chopped nuts, colored sprinkles or miniature candies like M&M's® or Reeses Pieces®
Directions:

• To form Oreo® Pops, insert popsicle sticks into the cream center of each cookie. Set aside.
• In a small saucepan over low heat, combine chocolate and oil until melted and smooth, stirring constantly.
• Dip each cookie into the melted chocolate, coating evenly.
• Place dipped cookies on waxed paper and decorate with chopped nuts, sprinkles or candies.
• Leave cookies on waxed paper until completely set.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and tie with a bow if giving for a gift.
  Makes 20 Oreo® Pops
  Courtesy of AllHomemadeCookies.com

____________________

NO BAKE PUMPKIN PIE

Individual recipe:
Small custard-sized ready to eat--pie crusts
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1 tablespoon marshmallow creme
1 tablespoon prepared whipped topping
Sprinkle of cinnamon

• Mix all ingredients together and pour into the crust. The recipe is then ready to eat; it may be refrigerated or frozen.

______________ 

NO COOK PUMPKIN PIE (Individual Servings)

Give each child a cup. Into their cup they get to put a big scoop of canned pumpkin, marshmallow creme, cool whip, and pumpkin pie spices. They mix and then spread on graham crackers and eat. Idea of Dare-to-Disturb

 

Return to top of page

_______________________________

FRUIT BASED GOODIES

 
YUMMY DIPPED BANANA CHUNKS

• Peel bananas and slice them into several pieces.
• Place 8 oz. chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and cook on high until melted  for about 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.
• Dip the banana slices in the chocolate; roll them in other ingredients as desired:
  Colored sugars, cinnamon sugar, peanut butter, chopped nuts, coconut, ice cream sprinkles, crushed cookies...

__________________

BANANA POPS
Need:
Popsicle sticks, Bananas (cut in half), Creamy Peanut Butter or chocolate-ready to dip, Crushed cookies, granola, or graham crackers.
1.  Cut bananas in half and stick a Popsicle stick into the banana  (So it looks like a Popsicle.)
2.  Freeze for about 10 minutes.
3.  Coat the bananas with peanut butter or dip it in chocolate; next dip into the crushed cereal mixture. (Crushed fruit loops works.) 

__________________

RAW EGG ON TOAST (Using a Peach Half)

Ingredients for one serving...
1 slice poundcake
1/2 peach
Reddi-wip topping

Directions
Put slice of pound cake on plate.
Place peach half on top-- round side up.
Add whip cream around peach and serve.
It looks like a raw egg on toast!

______________ 

BAKED APPLES in Microwave

 

2 Granny smith apples
2 Tablespoons butter
Cinnamon
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
Have adult core apples or show child how to core apples with an apple corer. Child can place apples in microwave safe dish. In each apple add 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar and sprinkle with cinnamon. Add a little water to the bottom of the dish. Microwave 4-5 minutes. Don’t forget to use pot holders to remove dish from microwave. Let apples sit for a few minutes before eating.

 ______________

FRUIT BURRITOES
What you need to make 4 fruit burritos:
4 6-inch tortillas
4 TBS peanut butter
1 banana, sliced
4 strawberries, sliced
1 peach, peeled & sliced (remove pit)
1/4 cup blueberries
4 TBS vanilla yogurt
1.  Spread about 1 TBS peanut butter over each tortilla.
2.   Place fruit slices down center of each burrito.
3.  Drizzle about 1 TBS vanilla yogurt over fruit.
4.  Kids love to design & roll their own burrito. Roll up the tortilla, burrito-style (Fold up one side, tuck under fruit, fold up bottom, then roll the other side).

________________ 

JELL-O PIZZA
Ingredients:
4 pkgs. (4 serving size) or 2 pkgs. ( 8 serving size) jello -powder, any flavor
2 1/2 c Boiling water
Non-stick cooking spray
1 cup Cool-whip
2 cup Cut-up fruit
    1.  Pour gelatin into bowl.
    2.  Add 2 1/2 cups boiling water to gelatin. Stir, until gelatin is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes.
    3.   Spray pizza pan with non-stick cooking spray.
    4.   Pour gelatin mixture into pizza pan.
    5.  Put pan into refrigerator to chill until firm, about 3 hours.

• Remove pan from refrigerator when ready to serve.
• Put about 1 inch of warm water in sink. Carefully dip just bottom of pan into warm water for 15 seconds.
• Spread whipped topping over gelatin just before serving, leaving about 1 inch of space around outside edge of gelatin for pizza "crust".
• Top pizza with fruit, arranging fruit in whatever design you like. Cut pizza into wedges.

_________

FRUIT ON A STICK

• Cut up a variety of fruit such as:
  Apples, bananas, kiwis, mango and whole grapes.
• Thread them onto a skewer for a delicious summer time treat.
• Add a few pieces of marshmallows between the fruit.
• Serve with Creamy Fruit Dip

________

CREAMY FRUIT DIP
Ingredients:
   • 1 jar marshmallow cream
   • 8 ounce bar of cream cheese (softened)
   • Sliced fruit ( Strawberries, melons, cantaloupe, etc.)
Mix the marshmallow cream and cream cheese well.
Take favorite fruit and dip into the cream mixtu--or serve with fruit on a stick.

________________________________

GOOD SNACKS

PART PIZZA-PART QUESIDILLA
This  snack sandwiches cheese, sauce, and toppings between two flour tortillas. Your kids can cut the finished pie into slices like a traditional pizza that are just right for sharing.
Ingredients:
Two 6-inch flour tortillas
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated mozzarella cheese
2 slices thinly sliced smoked turkey or ham
1 tbsp. pizza or spaghetti sauce
Sliced tomatoes, black olives, peppers (optional)

• Place one tortilla on a sheet of waxed paper and sprinkle with half of each cheese.
• Cover with turkey or ham, a tablespoon of sauce and optional toppings.
• Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and cover with the other tortilla.
• Set on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a sheet of waxed paper, and microwave on High for one and a half minutes or until the cheese has melted.
•  Let cool for two minutes, the cut into wedges.

 

TACO DIP

8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. Taco seasoning mix
1.  Mix all ingredients with hand mixer.
2.  Spread on plate or cookie sheet.
3.  Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced green onions and shredded cheddar cheese. Serve with nacho chips.
This can be doubled easily - assemble near party time to prevent a soggy dip!
Makes 16 one tablespoon servings.

___________________

FRIENDSHIP SOUP
Hot-hearty and healthy!!! Great for after school!

• Think about making a big pot of soup IN A CROCK POT.
• You can start it in the morning program and let it go on low during the day.
• Have kids sign up to bring potatoes, small onion, carrots, celery, cans of beef broth, can of diced tomatoes, seasoning, crackers or rolls, etc.
• Each child would only have to bring a single item to make a huge pot.
• If program isn’t too large---canned soup heated is good too!

______________

Make a SANDWICH FACE
Just put out the ingredients and let kids take and make...
Peanut Butter
Bananas -sliced
Raisins
Bread (1 slice)
M&M's candy

• Spread the peanut butter on the slice of bread.
• Next, put 2 banana circles on the bread to look like eyes.
• Then use a raisin as a nose.
• Last, make your mouth out of M&M's candy

_________________

Return to top of page

SLOW COOKER IDEAS FOR HOT DOGS & LITTLE SMOKIES

 

Good all year... but remember these for July: July is "National Hot Dog Month"!

 

CROCK POT LITTLE SMOKIES
2 packages Cocktail wieners or Little Smokies
1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce
1 cup grape jelly
PREPARATION:
Combine cocktail wieners or little Smokies in Crockpot with chili sauce and grape jelly; cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours.

 ____________________

CROCKPOT SAUSAGE APPETIZERS
1 large jar (18 ounces) apricot or pineapple preserves
1/2 cup prepared mustard, yellow
6 green onions, with green, sliced
2 pounds cocktail franks or mini smoked sausages
In slow cooker, combine preserves and mustard. Stir in sliced green onions and franks or sausages. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or until very hot. Stir to blend ingredients and serve immediately with toothpicks.

___________________ 

HOT DOG APPETIZER
(Crock Pot or Stove Top)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brandy or apple juice concentrate
1 package cocktail hot dogs or regular hot dogs cut in 1 inch pieces
Mix all ingredients together; Put into crock pot on low for several hours.

___________________ 

SUGAR DOG APPETIZER (Slow Cooker)
3 packages hot dogs, cut into thirds
1 pound bacon, each piece cut in half
1 (2-pound) bag brown sugar
Wrap each piece of hot dog in a bacon strip. Place hot dogs in slow cooker. Pour bag of brown sugar over top. Cook on low until sugar melts.
Serves 18 as an appetizer.

___________________________

SLOW COOKER SPICY FRANKS
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound frankfurters, cut in 1-inch pieces or 1 pound cocktail wieners or smoked sausages
Place ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, mustard and garlic in a 3 -quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on high setting until all elements blend into one delicious whole, about 1 to 2 hours. Stir in frankfurters. Cover and cook until thoroughly heated, 1 to 2 hours. Turn on low to keep warm and serve.
Serves: 6 to 8 as appetizer

____________________

HOT DOG & BACON APPETIZER
Ingredients:
1 lb. bacon, sliced in half crosswise
Brown sugar
Slice hot dogs crosswise in half. Wrap each hot dog half with a bacon strip. Fasten with toothpick. Layer in slow cooker/Crock Pot, sprinkling each layer with a thin layer of brown sugar. Repeat layers until hot dogs run out.
Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, stirring gently every 20 minutes.

____________________

SWEET & SOUR FRANKS
1 cup chili sauce
1 cup currant jelly
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
2 pounds cocktail franks, or hot dogs cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cans (8 ounces each) pineapple chunks
PREPARATION:
1.  Combine first four ingredients in Crockpot; mix well to break up jelly chunks.
2.  Cover and cook on high 15 to 20 minutes to soften jelly and blend sauce ingredients.
3.  Add cut-up hot dogs or cocktail franks.
4.  Add pineapple. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours; or low for 4 hours. Keep on low while serving.

____________________

TWINKIE DESSERTS...

 TWINKIE STRAWBERRY SURPRISE!
Ingredients:
10 Hostess Twinkie
1 (3 1/2 ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 cups milk
1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 boxes sweetened frozen strawberry, thawed
Directions

• Slice Twinkies in half lengthwise and lay evenly flat side up in a 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Pour strawberries all over the top.
• In a large bowl, mix pudding, milk and whipped topping until well combined. Spread over strawberries.
• Cover and refrigerate several hours overnight.
  

________________

TWINKIE/STRAWBERRY DESSERT #2
2 boxes Twinkies
1 large box strawberry gelatin
1 large box instant vanilla pudding
1 can strawberry pie filling
1 container Cool Whip
Pecans
1.  Line a 13 x 9-inch pan with Twinkies.
2.  Mix gelatin according to package directions and pour over Twinkies.
3.  Prepare pudding as directed and pour over gelatin.
4.  Cover with pie filling and then top with Cool Whip.
5.  Sprinkle with pecans. Chill at least 2 hours before serving. Serves 8 to 10.

____________________________
TWINKIE DESSERT  #3
16 Twinkies
7 (1.20 oz.) Heath bars, freeze shortly to crush each
1 pkg. French vanilla pudding or chocolate pudding
2 c. milk
8 oz. Cool Whip
   1.  Make pudding according to package directions, using 2 cups of milk.
   2.  Cut Twinkies in half lengthwise and place 1/2 on bottom of 9 x 13 inch pan; cream side up.
   3.  Top with 1/2 of the crushed Heath bars.
   4.  Cover with pudding and place remaining Twinkie halves on top.
   5.  Top with Cool Whip.
   6.  Garnish with remaining of Heath bars. Let set overnight

_________________________

CANDY

'CANDY BAR' SNACK 
4 cups toasted oat cereal
1 (6 1/2 ounce) can salted peanuts
1 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 (6 ounce) package semisweet chocolate chips

• Mix cereal, peanuts and raisins in bowl.
• Melt butter in saucepan over low heat.
• Pour the melted butter over cereal mixture, using a fork to toss lightly until coated thoroughly.
• Sprinkle chocolate chips over the mixture and toss again.

____________________ 

BARB’S  WINTER HOLIDAY SPECIAL
This one is really good---a tradition in many holiday homes!  (I make this every year!)
   1 2/3 cups (11-ounce package) Nestle TOLL HOUSE Butterscotch Morsels, divided
   1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) Nestle® TOLL HOUSE Milk Chocolate Morsels
   1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
   2 cups pretzel sticks
   2 cups dry-roasted peanuts
   1 1/3 cups Nestle RAISINETS Milk Chocolate-Covered Raisins
Directions:

Butter 13 x 9-inch baking pan. 

Microwave 1 1/3 cups butterscotch morsels, semi-sweet morsels and peanut butter in large, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted.

ADD pretzels, peanuts and Raisinets; stir well to coat. Spread into prepared baking pan.

PLACE remaining butterscotch morsels in small, heavy-duty plastic bag.

Microwave on MEDIUM-HIGH (70%) power for 30 seconds; knead. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth.

Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle over candy.

REFRIGERATE for 1 hour or until firm.

Break into bite-size pieces or chunks.
SOURCE: verybestbaking.com

____________________

CHOCOLAGE PEANUT BUTTER CHIP FUDGE

Ingredients:
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Chocolate Chips or HERSHEY'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash salt
1 cup REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips

1. Line 8-inch square pan with foil.

2. Combine chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt in heavy saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter chips; stir quickly just to distribute chips throughout mixture. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

3. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan; peel off foil. Cut into squares. Store tightly covered in refrigerator. NOTE: For best results, do not double this recipe.

__________________

ALMOND DROP CANDY
1 1/2 lb. almond bark
1 1/2 c. peanut butter
3 c. Rice Krispies
2 c. dry roasted peanuts
2 c. miniature marshmallows
   1.  Melt almond bark.
   2.  Add peanut butter, Rice Krispies, peanuts and marshmallows.
   3.  Drop by teaspoons on waxed paper.

_________________

BEVERAGES

HOMEMADE SODA POP
Materials: Fruit Juice, Club Soda
Directions: Fill a glass 2/3 full with your favorite fruit juice. Then add club soda and stir briefly. For variety, try mixing two or more fruit juices, like orange and cranberry or grape and lemonade, before adding the club soda.

____________________

___________________

 Click here for pg. 2...

CREATIVE: Original, resourceful, imaginative, inspired, artistic, inventive, ingenious, innovative, productive, having vision, freshness, novel, unique.... Do you have any ideas that suit the word "creative"?

This is a sample of creative ideas through-out the site! However, if there is something you've done or do--that is a bit different or fun-- would you share with us?


Send it via the 'contact page' or a the bottom of this page in contact/biuquote. All contact information will be held in confidence and not shared. You will be given full credit!
Thank-you.
Barb Shelby

________________________ 

OPEN YOUR PROGRAM TO NEW EATING EXPERIENCES!

Choose 1 day a month to try a different type of food. Go through cookbooks with the kids and put together a shopping list of international foods aisle items.... Or, go to the produce department to find fruits and vegetables from other countries to try.
You also can go through the newspaper’s local restaurant review section with your kids and choose an ethnic restaurant where you can pick up specialties to try...

As the children try the new food, talk about how they are the same or different from what they usually eat. What are the different tastes? What are the different ingredients?

 ______________________________________

PLAN A HEALTHY HEART DAY! (Read this, it's fun!)

Celebrate a “healthy” heart with fun, aerobic activities that get children up and moving. You may want to set up several skill stations; this is an idea adapted from Celebration Games: Physical Activities for Every Month (2006 Human Kinetics).

STATIONS CAN INCLUDE:

• STEP AEROBOCS STATION: Set up four or five step aerobic steppers and music.
• HEALTHY HEART EXERCISES: Demonstrate several aerobic exercises and have children perform three aerobic exercises of their choice at this station (ie. jumping jacks, jumping rope, jogging in place)
• CHOLESTEROL: Pictures of both high and low cholesterol foods are taped down. Children throw beanbags underhand from a throw line at low cholesterol foods.
• BLOOD PRESSURE: Make a sign that says “normal blood pressure 120/80” and tape down pictures of things that can raise blood pressure such as smoking, unhealthy foods, lack of exercise and stress. Children THROW BEANBAGS UNDERHAND from a throw line at the things that will raise blood pressure. (You can put point values on targets and total points)
• A HEALTHY BUT YUMMY SNACK TABLE at culmination of activity.
• Divide the children into groups and disperse them evenly among the stations. Place them in a numerical order and have them keep this order for all stations. Set the number of tries for each turn and announce when it is time to rotate to the next station. Leave ample space between stations and advise children not to stand in the throwing areas. Adapted and expanded upon from: School-age Note of the Day- 2/5/07 schoolagenotes.com     

______________________________ 

 

Along the same lines~HEART BEATS...

Can you find or borrow one or two good quality stethoscopes?
Show children how to use the stethoscopes to listen to their heart beat. Show them how to tap out the rhythm of their heart: lub-dub-lub-dub.

If young---Ask children if they can think of any way to change how fast their hearts are beating.
For all kids---Have them jog in place for several minutes, then have them recheck the rhythm beats of their hearts.

Extended Activity:
Are any of your parents or friends a nurse or doctor? Ask him/her to visit your group and bring in a stethoscope. Have the visitor talk to the kids about keeping their hearts strong and healthy. (With exercise, good food and sleep!)

____________________________________ 

 

START A "SAC (or OST) BOOK" of RECORDS~ Your own Guinness Book of Records!!!
This one is a winner! Keep your own SAC book of records and have the kids try to set records for things such as:

• Most jumping jacks

• Jumps in jump roping

• Running laps in gym

• Running laps outside

• Most crafts made for the month or year

• Longest handstand

• Most books read, puzzles completed, etc.

• Anything else that you can think of.

Example for "Book of Records"...
ALL IN ONE! Group Activity: Stand in a circle holding hands. One person is in the middle. That person in the middle calls in some one--one at a time. The goal is to see how many people you can fit in the middle---without breaking hands. Use this yearly to see if each new year can beat previous years!

• When kids seem to be tired of this activity give them a new record to break and a fun reward if they set a new record!
• Be sure to make this a yearly ongoing event---NEW records can be set each year!!! 
• TIP: Remember--with something like this--CONSISTENCY is the key!

__________________________________

Two BEGINNING OF THE YEAR IDEAS! Creative Fun from the 'Back to School' Category'!!!

#1 BUILDING NEW FRIENDSHIPS Bulletin Board

I do an opening week activity that also takes care of a bulletin board for the first month or so. I cut several block shapes (like cement blocks) out of brightly colored paper. On each, I write a declarative statement.

     • I love broccoli. I have broken a bone. I went ice-skating this summer. I have been in another country. I have met someone famous. Be creative with your statements!

Sometime during the first few days, I pass them around and students sign all blocks that apply to them. I sign them also, then circulate them through the rest of the teaching staff, the administrators, the cafeteria workers, custodians, crossing guards, playground aides, etc. It usually takes  about a week to get them all back.

I then "build" a wall with them on a bulletin board under a banner I made on the computer that says "Building New Friendships."

Whenever visitors come into our classroom, I ask them to sign the appropriate blocks, also. This is really a conversation starter and helps the kids find common areas of interest with people they might not have thought of otherwise. Idea of Tami Knight on 'Classroom Displays and Bulletin Boards' by Barbara Colvin

_______

#2 GREAT IDEA! BACK TO SCHOOL MEMORY GAME AND PUZZLES

1. On one of the first days of school-- take each child's picture.
2. Make double prints and laminate each photograph.
3. Make a Memory Game out of the pictures of the kids. (The children would play the game of Memory just like the regular game)

After a few weeks, save one copy of photos for your program 'Memory Book' or if this is for a classroom--give to parents!
Cut the other set of photographs and make a personal puzzle for each child. Submitted by Ilene/California

__________

The following are three ideas by Christine Holtz - winner of the 2008 AfterSchoolPRO Quest for Excellence Award. Christine has worked in afterschool for more than 16 years and is a School Age Program Assistant - Target Level at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix, AZ.

#1 PROJECT- BUILD A DOLL HOUSE WOODWORKING PROJECT...
The children made BLUE-PRINTS ALLTHE WAY DOWN TO THE LANDSCAPING, and determining the kind and amount of materials needed. This required the children to come together to problem solve, debate, and compromise on different aspects of the plan. Then the construction phase started.
Children learned quickly that they needed to measure and calculate in order for their home to be accurate. Through this one project alone, children learned logical sequence, valuable communication skills, math, and teamwork.

#2 JOB CENTER

• Here children apply for PROGRAM JOBS such as tour guides: Kids assist in orientation of incoming families.
• Zoo Keeper: Children maintain program pets.
• Community Leader: Children make calls to set up community projects and office assistant... 
• These are only a few. After  children apply, the oldest interview applicants and fill the positions.
  This is a great ongoing activity demonstrating REAL LIFE SKILLS they will soon encounter as young adults joining the workforce.

#3 Another innovative idea developed due to the extreme summer heat in Arizona and the limitation of the children to enjoy the great outdoors. This was no challenge to Christine. She brought the outside in with an overnight camping area in the Drama Center. The children’s imaginations soared when tents went up, sleeping bags went down, and a paper fireplace was created. Their imagination led to surrounding the camp with rocks and caves and a fishing hole.

_______________________________

CAN YOU ADAPT ANY OF THIS IN YOUR PROGRAM?
We are an after-school program in a museum, so we probably differ from many programs, but we do offer a number of special programming activities, including having the kids share and display their own collections in the museum (Pokemon cards, rocks, dolls, t-shirts, etc...)

It's a GREAT WAY for kids to understand the importance of capturing part of the legacy of their childhood and learning why museums collect and preserve objects.

We also have Sleep Overs in the museum based on  thematic subjects such as dinosaurs, whales, mammals, Adirondack mountains, immigration, Women's history, etc... We run educational activities for kids and their chaperons until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. (Art & crafts, museum education programs with lots of objects & artifacts to examine & explore, free time in the museum and usually a music or story telling program to close the evening.) Then campers bed down in the exhibit gallery and when they awake, we provide breakfast and a scavenger hunt through the museum before they go home at 9:00 a.m.

Our kids often make their own MINI MOVIES about particular exhibits. We are a natural history museum that also features the social history of NY State. Kids often don't see the relevance of history to their lives, so we charge the kids with making a movie about a particular period, as evidenced in a museum exhibit. Examples might include: Harlem in the 1920's, Ellis Island, Native Peoples of NY State, whales or other animal-related exhibits, etc. The kids have to conduct some research to gain background knowledge before writing scripts, creating story boards, assembling costumes, rehearsing and practicing camera work, etc. They suddenly become "experts" on a particular subject and often ask to interview curators, scientists, historians or other experts so that they can "get it right" for their films! Stephanie Miller, Director of Youth Services, New York State Museum

___________________________

DO YOU INCLUDE CLUBS IN YOUR PROGRAM?
Why Should You?

    • Community spirit grows as mixed-ages interact

    • Children interact with those they may not know

    • Social skills & creativity are nurtured

    • Older help the younger

    • Younger learn from the older

    • New skills are learned; learning is integrated

    • Mixed-ages are supported

______________________

 

STAR FISH CLUB LEARNING EXPERIENCE, INCENTIVES AND MORE!!!  (From Tasha Palmer, California)

 I called this the STAR FISH CLUB; my theme for the year was Oceans of Fun! Basically, I  created a poster with 84 questions the children needed to answer/research/do.The students could answer as many as they wanted to. None of the questions were theme based--but random. I used some of the questions from the website, but I also incorporated character education and various languages, math skills, etc. - Knowing how many of my students struggled with telling time or multiplication (from the previous year) I included that topic as well.

 I would create worksheets and put on the board "Question 17---See Ms. Tasha for a worksheet on telling time." ... I had grade level sheets so I could make it harder for my upper grades than lower grades. During homework time if a child had no homework or finished their homework, they would have time to work on the questions.

Students were entered into the HALL OF FAME for answering one question. There were special prizes for MEETING MILESTONES such as 24 or 48 questions. At the end of the school year, I had a SPECIAL DINNER for the families of those students who completed the awards.

Throughout the year, I would have SPECIAL DAYS for "Hall of Famers" as an added incentive and to keep the kids motivated. It was so much fun!

The kids really got into it and so did their parents. My students learned so much and really enhanced some of the skills. Their teachers were excited and willingly stayed after school to help research some of it.
...what was even better was the kids didn't see it as more homework but as FUN! From Tasha Palmer in California I adapted this idea from a school teacher in Oregon. (See website: www2.redmond.k12.or.us/mccall/renz/masteryclub.htm)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON STAR FISH CLUB:

    • As for tracking the answers the children gave-I created a system in which the students wrote their answer on a sheet of lined paper to include their full name and what number they are answering.

    • I wouldn't accept any papers without this information.

    • I also had a box next to the board that the students submitted their work. Each morning I would go through the questions, check them, write comments, and on a star chart next to the child's name (which they can't get their name on the chart until they answered the first question) I would write what number they have completed. They were then able to always see which ones they have completed and also how many they have completed.

    • I would then have one of my students pass they answers back in the PM with my comments.

    • The box was left out during the day so at anytime the students could turn them in. They knew I would not be returning them until the next day. It really only took about 10 minutes in the morning as not all of the students were doing it. I did this with 125 students ages 1st - 5th grade.

____________________________

 

CLAYMATION MOVIES My name is Erika Thiel, I am the 4-H Program Coordinator in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Over the past four years I have been able to offer an Art & Technology program where we make claymation movies and also do image manipulation – the list goes on and on.

At any rate, I utilize Image blender and Video Blender programs from Tech4Learning (ages range from K-12). Tech4Learning provides the software and site licenses for multiple computers AND lesson plans; the software doesn’t come free but I feel it has paid for itself with the amount of resources they provide. In addition, the lesson plans address National Education standards. For more information click here. 

 

_________________________

 DOES YOUR PROGRAM HAVE A SWAT TEAM? SWAT stands for students who assist teachers.

SWAT members help students, staff, and parents before and after school and during special events. Students receive training in matters such as courteous greetings, assisting others, and maintaining a safe environment. One school (Deer Park Elementary in Texas) believes this is instrumental in helping promote an atmosphere that is orderly and friendly in their school. This is different than the school safety team. SWAT is something your program could provide and then have members offer their services for school functions.

______________________________ 

CHECK OUT THE ACTIVITIES OF ONE JR. HIGH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM!

WILSON JR. HIGH AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Council Bluffs Community School District

CLUBS:
 
1. A BLAST FROM THE PAST!
Students work with peers in small groups to create web pages, display boards, performances, and compositions related to historical events/people. Teams of students present their project at a local competition and have the opportunity to go on to regional and national competitions. They also explore careers related to the area of history. Research, literacy, team work, problem solving are skills that are honed in this club.
 

2. SOLAR CAR...
Teams of students create model solar cars, culminating in a race in May. The program focuses on math, science and technology. Grand prize winners receive a trophy, gift certificate to "Discover" and are featured in a local newspaper story.
 

3. WEB CLUB...
Students receive training in website development, digital design, digital photography, interviewing skills and writing. Students create a CD and their own personal web site, and they interview information technology professionals in the community.
 

4. OUTDOOR ADVENTURE...
Students meet once per week and also on two Saturdays to focus on environmental issues and how they relate to students' lives. Students hike, climb ropes, learns how to survive in the wild, and explore careers related to the environment, sports and physical education. Literacy, team work, health sciences, environmental sciences are all skills acquired in the club.
 

5. REEL TO REEL...
Students work in teams to create digital video documentaries. They learn how to create a story board and interview people, use a digital camcorder and create a CD. They tour TV stations and have speakers come in a talk about careers in communication and technology fields.
 

6. EVENING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS
PIZZA AND PAGES...
Parents and students attend weekly evening sessions to discuss selected books. Dinner and baby sitting are provided. Participants keep the books at the end of the program

________________________________________________________

Have a ______(Blank) of the Day--Each and Every Day!

It's fun to have a daily program or classroom feature where there is a "_______ (blank) of the Day! "
This could be a doodle, riddle, trick question, joke, definition of a word or quote.

Brains crave variety and incorporating activities such as this, will certainly go towards some cognitive variety!

Each month or week, change out "What the _____of the Day" will be!  As written above, it could be the puzzle, a word definition, riddle, trick question, or quote. Great for all school ages to high school! Just put the _______on a black board or white board near the room entrance. By the end of the day---discuss guesses and answers.

....if you're taking the time to look at the sample board to the left--the answers are: Period in History, Reading between the lines, Long underwear, Eggs over easy, I understand, Down town, Paradise or Pair of dice! .

It's fun to see how many more ideas of your own that you and the kids can come up with!

Board by BShelby-KidActivities

_________

GUESS THE PERSON, ANIMAL OR THING! (This could be  a version of "Have a  ______ of the Day!"

1. Using a picture of an animal, children's character or personality, cover the entire picture with puzzle pieces to hide identifying features.
 
2. Take one piece off at a time; children guess who/what is underneath.

3. This can be done as a group game, individual or team play. It could also be set up in a special daily spot--with guesses being made as removed pieces reveal who/what it is!

4. Depending on how you play this-points can be added or subtracted. The most points of course going to the individual or team who correctly guesses with the least amount of puzzle pieces removed!

Be sure to check out the Transition/Sponge activities and games...More than 70 ideas!!! Don't make kids sit/stand and wait. Have fun whenever you  have some "down time"...

See page 2 for more ideas!

_________________________

 Click here for pg. 1

 

 NAME FUN...Good for about grade 3 to adult--some younger children 'may' enjoy a couple!

WHAT WOULD YOUR NAME BE IF YOU USED...
(Examples shown...)

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: First pet & current family car (Pixie PT Cruiser)

2. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: Favorite color & favorite animal (Red Chimpanze) 

3. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: Middle name, city where you were born
(Jean Detroit)

4. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: the first 3 letters of your last name and first 2 letters of your first name
(She Ba)

5. SUPERHERO NAME: 'The' plus 2nd favorite color and  favorite drink
(The Brown Sweet Tea)

6. NASCAR NAME: The first names of your grandfathers
(Joseph Anthony)

7. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: Your 5th grade teacher's last name, a major city that starts with the same letter
(Celestine Chicago)

8. SPY NAME: your favorite season/holiday and flower
(Autumn Daisy)

9. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit plus article of clothing you're wearing right now and add 'ie' or 'y'
(Watermellon Soxy)

10. HIPPY NAME: What you ate for breakfast plus your favorite tree
(Muffin Red Maple)

11. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: 'The' and Your favorite hobby/craft and favorite weather element plus the word 'Tour'
(The Designing Blue Sky Tour)

__________

PROJECT PURPLE PEOPLE EATER (Song lyrics below)

FIRST-play the song 'Purple People Eater' and then have fun with one or more of the following ideas...

THIS IDEA IS FROM THE 'PURPLICIOUS' THEME...A fun category!

 

1. Discuss whether a 'Purple People Eater' is a purple creature who eats people or a creature who eats purple people. Let's hope it's the latter (unless you happen to be purple!

2. Can you say 'Purple People Eate'r fast seven times in a row?

3. Have small groups act out different verses.  Put it together for a neat play!

4. Using the purple theme, introduce the theory of monochromatic painting and have each child produce one.

5. Put out a variety of craft and recycled items (toilet paper tubes, pom-poms, paint, markers, google eyes, pipe cleaners, etc.) and have the children create their own craft version of a "Purple People Eater" Put these on display. They could also write stories or a paragraph about their creation. 

6. Challenge children to come up with a drawing of the 'Purple People Eater'. This could also be extended to working in 2 or 3 person teams and creating a large 'Purple People Eater' from recycled materials--using boxes, paint, foil, etc. and a great deal of imagination!
 
7. Imagine 'The Purple People Eater' coming into your program or classroom.

• How would you make him feel welcome?
• Have you ever known somebody very different from you who at first you were wary of but then became your friend?
• How was that person different and how did you learn to appreciate those differences?
Ideas inspired by reboprecords.com

SONG LYRICS: Lyrics by Sheb Wooley
Well, I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
It had the one long horn, one big eye.
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
It looks like a purple people eater to me.

It was a one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater.
(one-eyed, one-horned, flyin' purple people eater)
A one-eyed one-horned, flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me. (one eye?)

Well, he came down to earth and lit in a tree
I said, "Mr. Purple People Eater don't eat me"
I heard him say in a voice so gruff
"I wouldn't eat you, cuz you're so tough"

It was a one-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater
one-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater
one-eyed, one-horned flyin' purple people eater
Sure looks strange to me. (one horn?)

I said, "Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line?"
He said it's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine
But that's not the reason that I came to land
I wanna get a job in a rock and roll band

Well, bless my soul, rock and roll, flying purple
people eater. Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin'
purple people eater (we wear short shorts)
Flyin' purple people eater
sure looks strange to me.

And then he swung from the tree and lit on the
ground. He started to rock, really rockin' around
It was a crazy little ditty with a swingin' tune
(sing aboop boop aboopa lopa lum bam boom)

Well, bless my soul, rock and roll, flyin' purple people eater
Pigeon-toed, undergrowed, flyin' purple people eater
I like short shorts
Flyin' little people eater
Sure looks strange to me (Purple People?)

And then he went on his way, and then what do ya know
I saw him last night on a TV show
He was blowing it out, a'really knockin' em dead
Playin' rock and roll music through the horn in his head

A Clarinet solo

This novelty song was #1 for six weeks in 1958. 

________

DIFFERENT VISIONS OF THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER

 

 

 

 

 

This is Page 2... Back to Page 1

______________

 

As the Creativity Activity Category introduces-
Being creative in childcare programs is presenting ideas that are original, resourceful, imaginative, inspired, artistic, inventive, ingenious, innovative, productive, having vision, freshness, novel, or unique.

When planning curriculum, one of the most creative ideas is to build and expand on an activity! Too often a craft or art project is created by the child--and that's it. It's over very quickly!  It will go home with the child and then may stay on the family refrigerator awhile---and then it's retired to the trash heap or a 'memory box' where it may not ever be seen again.

Children often put a lot of time and effort into their projects. Shouldn't we honor those efforts? Adding extension ideas to  art and craft projects that are attempted by children is one way to do that. (Not to mention that it also helps us in planning activities) Expanding on original projects will foster imagination and go far in shaping individuals who think outside the box! Children just may get into the habit of..."Hmmmm, what can I do with that?!"

The ideas presented below are  examples of building on  simple craft, activity and art projects!  If familiar, you may have seen them in other categories about the site.

__________

MAKING PET ROCKS has been around for quite awhile! It's still a fun idea for children who have never made one. Don't stop with making the 'Pet Rock' but continue with some of the extension ideas!

PET ROCKS... Find smooth, flat or round rocks. Be sure to clean off any dirt or sand and dry completely before starting. Paint with acrylic paints. Decorate faces by using google eyes, yarn for hair, markers, glitter, and any other tidbits you like.

Extension Ideas:
Investigate what type of rock your pet is. What are the three main types of rock? Discuss their characteristics and give examples of the different types. Photo from shirtvalley.com

Activities:

• Write down its funniest sayings
• Dress it up for a costume party
• Send it on a holiday/vacation
• Write it a bedtime story
• Make it a form of transportation or a bed/house/etc.
• Give it a name
• Give it a birthday party and a present-Give all the Pet Rocks a Birthday Party! 
• Take it for a walk in the park and write what the two of you did
• Have a picnic
• Teach it a trick
• Write out a word bank/haiku/pet journal
• Prepare it to go to a class such as dance class/gymnastics/playgroup/sports day
• Send it for a sleepover with a friend
• Write out a menu sheet for its food
• Photograph it/blog about it
• Make a scrapbook page about it
• Inspired by My Science Program

______________

 Yes--we also---Make Musical Instruments! (Homemade and Recycled Material Instruments Here) But...

 

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS ONCE THEY'RE MADE?

SOME IDEAS…
1. Start a PROGRAM GREEN BAND! (Green-because it's made from 'recycled' materials) Invite children to join the musical group ...OR...
2. Form a MARCHING BAND!...OR...
3. Have a PARADE!!!

PERFORM!!!

• Practice, practice, practice…then put on a show for a school assembly, a few of the classrooms and/or a parents’ night!
• How about the Marching Band or parade?
• You can also take the group "on the road" and entertain an assisted living facility or other community group.
  __________
  NO MATTER WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO DO WITH THE INSTRUMENTS:
• Show children how to play the instruments.
• Play along with a piece of music---Start out by playing some FAMILIAR SONGS with which they can play their instruments. (Maybe sing with them too?)
• Encourage youth to listen for the beat of the song and match their strokes to the tempo of the music.
• Give children CHOICE. Before they choose their final "Band Instrument --- let them play from a variety.
• Put on some lively music and have child practice the instrument. Because it will be loud--you could practice outside when weather is nice!
• Consider Choosing an instrument for yourself and join the children's' Instrument Parade!
• It's not enough to just make the instruments - Now have some fun with them!!!

Visit the  Music in our Schools and After School Programs Category for some great Ideas! 

_______________________

 KIDS ALL PLAY WITH MATCH BOX CARS! How about introducing a little physics into it--and move the cars around? 

•  Ask kids to predict how far cars will roll. Mark predictions with tape and measure the actual distances. 

• Help children set up ramps at different angles to roll the Matchbox cars. 

•  Compare. Change the length and angles of car ramps and compare results. 

 IN SCIENCE...STIMULATE A SENSE OF WONDER

• Ask open-ended questions like "I wonder what might happen if..." or "If we change the temperature (or size, or shape,  or location), what do you think will happen?"
• Answer their questions by asking, "How might we find out?" Encourage predictions.
• Offer materials for experiments. Test out ideas. Discuss results. Ask more open-ended questions.
• Teachers do not need to have all the answers. What you need is curiosity, a little planning, some interesting "stuff," and pleasure in watching young scientists develop.

These ideas are from the Science Category. There are also simple introduction and tip ideas for Biology, Horticulture and more...

_______________

PUPPETS!

We have all made puppets with kids! Bag puppets, sock puppets, paper plate puppets-- and more!

Make puppets but don't stop there! There are so many activities that can go along with making the puppets. Besides the actual production--there is the writing-- have kids write an original play or adapt a favorite short story or chapter from a book.

If you don't have a puppet theater--make one from a large box or cloth draped over a table. Then... Produce, Practice, Perform. 

Decide if the production will be for each other, classrooms, the principal and some teachers, or at a parents' event. Remember too--Children use puppets to say and do things that they may feel too inhibited to say or do themselves. Just as with all drama, you may be surprised when you see some of your shy children doing well. They are NOT playing themselves, but playing someone else! Because of this-there may be a comfort level that is not often achieved.

If you are putting on a 'production' you could also make posters, invitations, and refreshments...as well as fill the position of hosts and announcers.  Much more beyond the making of simple puppets!

_________

THEMES! Themes and interest clubs are the greatest of all ways to extend ideas. There are tons on this site--some very unique!

 With a theme so many ideas can be intergrated. Topics are explored in depth. For example a POPCORN THEME...you not only make popcorn but play games, dabble in arts and crafts, try some science and more.

Be sure to often incorporate a day, week, or month-long theme into your programming! It may be a little more up-front work--but then as long as the theme last, your days are planned.

____________ 

TONGUE TWISTERS! When done right you can have tons of fun with them... don't just say them, try some of these ideas during transitions, down time, drama club exercises and practicing pronunciation! You'll find lots of twisters HERE... laugh and have a good time with them!

 

TONGUE TWISTER ACTIVITIES

What can you do with tongue twister beside say them???

• Illustrate various tongue twisters...
• Write a book of tongue twisters...
• Have a tongue twister contest between groups in your program...
• Have youth write twisters that will stump other groups...

TONGUE TWISTER BEE: Get twisted without getting tongue-tied.

• Think of a tongue twister, like "Unique New York," "Don't Drop Double Drum Sticks," or "Sally Sells Seashells by the Seashore".
• The first person says the tongue twister once. The next person has to say it twice, the third person three times and so on.
• Keep going until someone's tongue gets twisted.
• Think of another twister and start again.
  Source: Ivy of Boothbay Harbor, ME

***IDEA: Try to say the tongue twisters with tongues stuck under the lower lip, or stuck out!!!

Also see the 'FIRST LETTER OF YOUR NAME' GAME... while at the 'Tongue Twister Category'.

__________________

The above are ideas to get you going! Check out other ideas on the site... You may also be interested in Creative Ideas Page 1 and 2...

Would love to hear how you build and extend your program's simple projects! Send via the 'Contact Page' or in the 'Comment Box' below...  

____________________________

 

LEPRECHAUN PUDDING #1

Ingredients:
♣ For every five children use one 1-ounce box of instant pistachio pudding.
♣ Per child use 1/2 cup of milk and 1 small resealable plastic bag
♣ Need 1/2 cup measuring cup and spoon
♣ Put tablespoon of pudding mix in sandwich bag and milk, then close the baggy and have kids shake and squeeze. Eat! Enjoy!

 ________________________

LEPRECHAUN PUDDING #2

(Made in individual small jars)
 
Need:
Instant pistachio pudding, small jars with lids, spoons, milk

1. Place 1 tablespoon of pudding mix into a jar (1 for jar for each child)
2. Add 1/4 cup cold milk --adding the milk makes the instant pudding turn green.
3. Place lid on tightly and have children shake away until the pudding is made

____________________

MAGIC LEPRECHAUN POWDER RECIPE GIFT

 ♣ Buy a box of instant pistachio pudding. Take it out of the box so it is in the plain white wrapper.

♣ Tape the following poem to the front of the package of pudding:

Magic Leprechaun Powder filled with gold...
Add a little milk (4 cups) icy cold.
Give it a stir and watch the surprise ...
Presto! It changes right before your eyes!

______________________

PINEAPPLE PISTACHIO PUDDING #1   

1 can crushed pineapple
1 box instant pistachio pudding
1 (8 oz.) Cool Whip
1 c. mini marshmallows

Dissolve pudding in pineapple. Stir in Cool Whip and marshmallows. Optional Ingredients: Chopped nuts and coconut. (I use lemon pudding sometimes.) Can be served immediately.

________________

PINEAPPLE PISTACHIO PUDDING #2  

2 (3 1/4 oz.) pkg. pistachio pudding mix (instant)
1 lg. (20 oz.) can pineapple chunks
1 lg. (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple
15 maraschino cherries, quartered (optional)
1 (8 oz.) carton Cool Whip

Combine dry pudding mix with pineapple and cherries. Fold in Cool Whip. Pour into casserole and refrigerate several hours. (We usually add 1/2 cup or so (before chopping) chopped walnuts or macadamias.)

_________________

POT OF GOLD POTATOES

1. In advance prepare one small, baked potato for each child.
2. Wrap the potatoes in gold foil or gold foil gift wrap.
3. Keep them warm in an ice-cooler--till needed.
4. When served, pile them up in a black plastic cauldron or a bowl...make them "look like a leprechaun's pot of gold."

Fill bowls with various "green" toppings. (Green onions, tinted "green" sour cream, broccoli florets, guacamole--don't forget the butter Add shredded cheddar if desired!) Eat! Enjoy!
I did this many years ago-and the kids really liked it! With many programs now so large now, it could be a good cooking club activity. B

_____________________

ST. PATRICK'S DAY COOKIE POPS (Easy to do)

Ingredients:
20 vanilla wafer cookies, 1/2 cup peanut butter, 1 12-ounce bag white chocolate chips, green and yellow decorator sugar, green food coloring, ice cream or lollipop sticks, wax paper or paper plates

1. Spread peanut butter onto the flat side of the cookies.
2. Place an ice cream stick into the peanut butter on half the cookies.
3. Top with another cookie so the stick is sandwiched between the two cookies.
4. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, one minute, then in 20 second increments, stirring until smooth.
5. Before melting, separate the white chips into two bowls. After melting, add a few drops of green food coloring to one of the bowls of white chips to make green chocolate.
6. Dip cookie pops in the melted chips, covering completely. Sprinkle with green and yellow sugar and lay or stand on waxed paper or paper plates.
7. Place in refrigerator to chill.
Source: fabulousfoods.com

________________________

READ DR. SEUSS' Green Eggs and Ham...then... make green eggs! (Perfect for St. Patrick's Day) 

Make scrambled egg batter your normal way ...Add a little green food coloring until you get a color of green you like. Cook and Eat. Serve with toast or English muffin. 

 This can also be a visual experience. When something looks different, it still may tasted the same! Try eating the eggs with eyes open and then with eyes closed. The kids may not like the way it tastes, because of the way it looks...but then will realize there is no difference.

________________

READY- MADE SNACKS

   ♣ Green fruits and veggies such as grapes, kiwi, green peppers  and honeydew...

   ♣ Tinted Green Veggie Dip
 
   ♣ Pistachio pudding 

   ♣ Shamrock-shaped cookie (kids can frost and decorate them); purchased or home-made sugar cookies put out for children to decorated with green frosting and sprinkles
 
   ♣ Lemon-lime soda

   ♣ Green maraschino cherries (to top desserts and whipped cream pudding and drinks)
 
   ♣ Lucky Charms cereal (bagged up or used as decorations on pre-made cupcakes, etc.)

   ♣ Green Jell-O or Jell-O jigglers

   ♣ Lime Sherbet

  ♣ Green lemonade (Tint  with food coloring)

   ♣ Make a Salad

   ♣ Green  applesauce (Green food coloring)

______________________

HOW ABOUT A ST. PATRICK'S PARTY WITH "GREEN" ICE-CREAM BAR?!
CONSIDER MAKING IT AN ICE-CREAM SOCIAL FAMILY EVENT...

Ingredients
♣ Pistachio,  Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream or Lime Sherbet 
♣ Green M&M's
♣ Green Gummy Worms
♣ Green Sprinkles
♣ Green Shamrock Cookies
♣ Green Maraschino Cherries
♣ Chocolate Syrup
♣ Whipped Cream
Set up the ingredients in bowls on a buffet table for the kids to create their own sundaes. YUMMY! :-)

____________________

Rainbows and St. Paddy's Day go together! Click Here for Rainbow themed Snacks! They're at the bottom of the Rainbow Theme Page...

_________________________

BEVERAGES

LUCKY LIME DRINKS
♣ Put one, or two small scoops of lime sherbet in a clear plastic glass; pour 7-Up over the sherbet.
♣ Add a dollop of whipped cream, green sugar sprinkles and a green maraschino cherry!

________________

ST PADDY DAY PUNCH!  Easy...only two ingredients!

2 gallon lime sherbet
2 liters 7-up or Sprite
1. Let the sherbet soften in the refrigerator for 1  hour before preparing.
2. Mix sherbet and soda in punch bowl or large mixing bowl with a hand mixer on medium speed until well blended.
3. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator

____________

PADDY DAY PARTY PUNCH

1 can (355 mL) frozen limeade concentrate, thawed
1 quart (1 L) lime sherbet
2 liters lemon-lime carbonated beverage (like 7-Up or Sprite)
4 cups (1 L) crushed ice

1. In a large mixing bowl or punch bowl, stir together the limeade concentrate and the lime sherbet.
2. Add the lemon-lime beverage and the crushed ice and serve immediately.
If not serving immediately, refrigerate the mixture of limeade and sherbet until just before serving time.
Add the carbonated beverage and crushed ice at the last possible moment.
Makes at least 12 servings.

_________________

LEPRECHAUN SHAKE

2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 cup milk
3 or 4 drops green food coloring
Chocolate syrup

Put ice cream milk and food coloring into blender. Blend until smooth and green. Pour into glass. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and give a quick stir.

___________________
 

SHAMPROCK PARTY PUNCH
2 liters ginger ale
1 large container frozen lemonade
1 large can pineapple juice (chilled)
1 quart lime sherbet

Stir together. The lime sherbet melts and makes a milky green punch with foam on top.

___________________

PEPPERMINT CANDY SHAKE
2 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup Peppermint Pattie bars, or Junior Mints cut into pieces
Blender
 
♣ Place candy pieces and place into the freezer for 15 minutes.
♣ Combine all ingredients in the blender and blend on medium speed for 30 seconds.
♣ Stir with a spoon and blend for 30 more seconds.
♣ Repeat until desired consistency is reached.
♣ Top with whipped cream and more mint candy pieces on top.

_____________________________

Do you have access to an oven? MAKE IRISH SODA BREAD!

Ingredients: 
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt and baking soda. Blend egg and buttermilk together, and add all at once to the flour mixture. Mix just until moistened. Stir in butter. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the bread comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack. Wrap in foil for several hours, or overnight, for best flavor.

Variation: 1 cup raisins, craisins, citron or dried fruits and a few tablespoons caraway seeds may be added. 

__________________________________

Complete Menu for St. Patty Day Activities

• All Ideas
• Games and Miscellaneous Fun
• Arts and Crafts
• Snacks and Drinks
• Jokes
• Rainbows and St. Patty's Day go together! Click Here for Rainbow Theme

____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

 

Popcorn is great all year long! A wonderful theme for parties, National Popcorn Month (October), Popcorn Day (January 19),  Camp Days,  After-school programs and Autumn ---Fun ideas to add to a Movie, Hollywood and Circus or Carnival theme!

 

GAMES

POPCORN RELAY RACE – All it takes are two big bowls of popcorn and some small cups per team. Have kids run and get a cupful of popcorn and transfer it to the bowl across the room. The first team finished wins. Because of potential popcorn mess, this would be good played outside! The critters can eat what isn't’ swept up! (Play in gym if you’re brave!)

_______________________________

POPCORN ON THE HEAD RELAY
• Split youth into two teams.
• Give each team a cup of popcorn.
• Have each player take turns walking with the cup of popcorn on their heads, across the room, around a chair and back to their team.
• Play for a specified amount of time such as 2 minutes or more. The team that has the most popcorn left in their cup wins!

_______________

STICKY POPCORN GAME
• The children begin by "popping " around the gym as pieces of sticky popcorn, searching for other pieces of popcorn.
• When two pieces of popcorn meet, they stick together.
• Once stuck together, they continue to pop around together, sticking to even more pieces, until they end up in a big popcorn ball.

___________

POPCORN RACE
• Give each player a straw and have them  select a popped kernel of popcorn.
• Each player blows the popcorn with the straw to the end of a table.
• First one to reach the end is the winner!

____________

POPCORN GUESSING GAME (Use flavor recipes listed below in 'Snack Section'
Recipes)
• Prepare several different flavors of popcorn.
• Blindfold players and feed them the popcorn; have them guess the flavor.

____________

PLAY POPCORN TOSS
1. Label plastic buckets OR containers with numbers such as 1, 5, and 10.
2. Place the buckets in a vertical line or triangle in progression from small numbers to large.
3. Players stand on a designated line and toss popcorn into the containers.
4. Add up their scores according to how much popcorn they got in each bucket.

*This can also be played in teams.

 ________________

PLAY BINGO USING POPCORN AS MARKERS! Be sure to have extra to munch!!!

______________

POPCORN-A DRAMA GAME All players find themselves a spot and squat down. The facilitator talks the group through the exercise.

“Everyone is a piece of corn, the floor is a big pan, and we’re going to make popcorn. --- We slowly start heating the pan”… As the pan gets hotter, the corn starts to `pop`.  A player `pops` by jumping up, clapping hands above their head, and saying `pop`. Make sure the `popping` starts gradually, `popping` is a group thing, and in the end, `popping` should stop.

• Variation: Forget to take the pan off the fireplace, and have the popcorn start burning.

_____________

POPCORN VOLCANO ERUPTION
1.  Spread out a large clean sheet or large sheet of roll-paper on the floor; have the kids sit outside the edge.
2.  Set a popcorn maker in the center, and prepare popcorn according to directions. Do NOT put the lid on the popcorn maker!
3.  Watch the "volcano" erupt and shoot "hot lava" all over the sheet.
4.  Make sure that everyone stays away from the popper while it's on, so the kids don't get sprayed with hot oil or kernels.

If you are using an air popper (without the lid)--also have children stand back (it gets hot) -- watch the popcorn fly out. Pick up popcorn and enjoy!

________

GUESS THE AMOUNT OF KERNELS

You can use popped corn or popcorn kernels. Just count the corn as you put it in the jar so you will know the correct answer. (Have children  write their name and estimate on a slip of paper.) The player who guesses closest to the correct answer wins the jar!

Guess how many popcorn are in the jar.

IDEA: If using kernels, tie a recipe to the jar for making/microwaving regular popcorn or caramel in a bag!

_________________

POPPING POPCORN

(Use balloons and call them POPCORN !)

 

POP!
Pop yellow and white balloons instead of popcorn.
Use 9-inch balloons, fill a room, and instruct players to pop as many as they can.
You may wish to give younger children a straw or something simple to pop balloons with.
Older kids can stomp or sit on balloons to pop them.
The proof is in how many balloon remnants they collect. The one who pops the most-- wins.
Have a camera handy for this fun popcorn party game!

___________

POPCORN POPPED
Materials: Several white and yellow balloons (popcorn) and string 
• Each player is given two balloons to be inflated and tied around each ankle with a piece of string.
• Object of game is to burst the other players' popcorn balloons with their feet—no hands allowed.
• Winner is the last person with a popcorn balloon or balloons. Game can be played with or without boundaries.

_____________

ART AND CRAFTS

POPCORN ART
Put out a bag of popped popcorn along with construction paper and art supplies-challenge children to come up with some creative art using the popcorn!
_________________

 POPCORN COLLAGE
Colored Glue (can also use paint or food coloring mixed with glue)
Paper
Popcorn
Provide  many different colors of glue; glue should be thick enough to hold the popcorn
Paint a picture with the glue 
Press popcorn onto the painted parts
Need:
Small Paper Bags
Crayons, paint, markers, stickers, etc.
Popcorn
 Put out the bags and decorating materials. Instruct the children to decorate their bags in a bright manner and write the word 'Popcorn' on it.  When the bags are complete--fill them with popcorn!  Enjoy!

____________

DECORATE POPCORN BAGS!

Put out a variety of markers, paint, stickers, etc. Decorate the bag in fun designs. Write the word 'Popcorn' on it. When complete, fill with popcorn! Enjoy! 

  _______________

CORN ON COB COLLAGE

Need:
Yellow and green construction paper, Glue, Un-popped popcorn
1. Cut a "corn cob" and "husks" out of paper. Glue the "husks" around the "cob".
2. Spread the glue on the "cob" and cover it with un-popped popcorn

_______________

PUFFY POPCORN FLOWERS
Materials: Popped Popcorn, Powder Tempera Paint (any colors), Green Construction Paper, Glue, Cardboard
1.  Put handfuls of popped popcorn in plastic bag and add powdered tempera paint to each one.
2.  Shake well to distribute paint all over the popcorn.
3.  Cut stems and leaves out of green construction paper and glue them to cardboard.
4.  Glue on the colored popcorn to make flowers.

See POPCORN CHERRY BLOSSOMS and DOGWOOD FLOWERS ON PAGE 2!

 ________________

A SCIENCE AND ART LESSON FOR KIDS
Idea and sample provided by Carol Felixson in Los Angeles Times--May 5, 2004

POPCORN FLOWERS

There are several species of popcorn flowers. They are members of what is commonly known as the fiddleneck family of plants. Once the flowers open and bloom, they look like popped corn...The flowers have white petals with yellow 'kernels' in the center.
As an extension of this art idea--have kids research "Popcorn flowers"!

Materials:
Cardstock paper or poster board
Popped Popcorn
Red tissue paper
Greem tissue paper
White glue
Water
Art Brushes

1. Cut strips and other shapes of blue and green tissue paper (sky and  ground)
2. Mix water and white glue until it has the same consistency as paint.
3. Working on one small section at a time, paint the mixture onto poster board with a brush.
4. Place a piece of tissue paper on top of each glued area. 5. Next "paint" over the top of the tissue. Let it dry.
6. Brush on a second coat of the glue and water.
7. Last use full-strength glue to paste popcorn on top of the tissue paper.
8. Once everything dries, outline the flowers with a marker.

___________________

POPCORN SHAKER #1--RAIN STICK
Materials:
Cardboard Paper towel cylinder
Popcorn kernels
Paint
Paint brushes
Glue
Scissors
Scraps of material
Rubber bands or tape

1.  Paint cardboard tube and let dry.
2.  Cut two circles out of scrap fabric, big enough to cover the open ends of the cardboard tube.
3.  Place one fabric circle over tube end and secure with a rubber band or tape.(Tape if child is under 5 and rubberband if over 5)
4.  Add popcorn kernels to tube (About a tablespoon full).
5.  Secure second fabric circle over open end of tube with rubber band or tape.
6.  Hold tube in the middle and shake or turn to make "rain noise".

___________

PLASTIC SHAKER  #2

• Find a clean, empty plastic container with a screw-on lid, such as a peanut butter jar or a individual serving juice or milk bottle.
• Put a spoonful of popcorn kernels in the container.
• Put some glue around the edge of the container and screw the lid on tightly.
• Allow the glue to dry before shaking.
• Decorate with stickers or colorful masking tape.

________________________

#3 SHAKER--USE PRINGLES CAN

Put popcorn kernels inside of a Pringles can. Secure the plastic lid of the can with tape. Paint or cover the can with construction paper and shake it!

___________________

FOOD CRAFT AND SNACK IN ONE!
POPCORN SCULPTING

Serves 4 to 8

Ingredients
1/4 cup margarine, plus 1 tablespoon extra
1 bag mini-marshmallows
12 cups popped popcorn
3 packages gelatin (such as Jell-O, 4 serving size), different flavors and colors as desired
Choice of the following foods, such as sprouts, celery sticks, carrot slices, raisins, pretzel sticks, etc.

Materials
3 bowls
Oven mitts
Wax paper or serving plate
Large wooden spoon
Large microwave-safe bowl or saucepan

1.  Place the margarine and the marshmallows in the microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the two on high for 1 to 2 minutes until the marshmallows are puffed.
2.  Using oven mitts, remove the bowl of marshmallows from the microwave. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon.
3.  Divide the popcorn into three separate bowls.
4.  Pour equal amounts of the marshmallow mixture over popcorn.
5.  Sprinkle a different color of gelatin over each bowl of popcorn and marshmallow mixture. Quickly stir with the spoon until the gelatin and marshmallow mixture evenly covers the popcorn mixture and let cool.
6.  Rub some margarine on your hands. Take some of the popcorn mixture and mold into an interesting form. Add different colors of the popcorn mixture to make different parts of the sculpture.
7.  Place the sculpture on wax paper or a serving plate. Add any of the remaining foods to make an interesting presentation of the sculpture just before serving. 

 *You can also make the sculptures without the coloring as in the sample photo! There are directions for a mixture on Popcorn page 2 in the 'Popcorn Snowman Sample'.  Source: The book 'Snacktivities!' by MaryAnn F. Kohl and Jean Potter,Robins Lane Press 2001.

_____________

SCIENCE, NATURE, MATH

 COMPARE STAGES OF POPCORN!
Purchase popcorn still on the ear at a specialty store.
Place this in the science center (table) along with un-popped popcorn, corn on the cob and popped popcorn. Have children observe the differences!  

You can make popcorn of this type in the micro-wave! Place one ear in one of the special microwave bags that come with the corn. Set  microwave oven for 2-3 minutes, and you've got popcorn right off the cob! 

____________

DANCING POPCORN -- Fill a clear cup  3/4 full with vinegar.  Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. Drop in a few kernels of un-popped popcorn.  Watch as the kernels rise and fall.
Variations: Try substituting club soda for the vinegar and baking soda. You can also try using other objects like buttons or pebbles.

__________

POPCORN GARLANDS FOR BIRDS!
If you leave popcorn out for a few days, it will get stale and hold together better when strung. String popcorn with thread and needle. You can also add berries, dried fruits, nuts, and seeds, between the popcorn. Hang the popcorn garlands on tree branches outside for the birds.

________________ 

GROWING POPCORN IN A BAGGIE #1 
Instructions: Take a plastic zip-loc baggie, put cotton balls in it and saturate cotton balls with water. Put popcorn kernels into the bag; seal it and tape to a window. Add water as needed and watch the plants grow. Transfer to potting soil later. (It doesn't take much to get a popcorn kernel going! My grandson had a kernel lying on its side on the sink--in just a drop of water. In a couple days it was sprouting a small leaf and stem! Barb)

#2 SPROUTING POPCORN KERNEL

Place dirt in a small zip lock bag. Add water and a few kernels of popcorn. Seal the bag and hang in sunny window. The popcorn kernels will begin to sprout in about a week.

 _____________

MAKE A POPCORN BIRD FEEDER
Materials:
Pre-made popcorn
String
Pinecones
1. Securely tie string around the base of the pinecone.
2. Stuff premade popcorn in the crevices of  pinecone; stuff firmly so it doesn't fall out.
3. When the pinecone is filled--hang it outside...

____________

 POPCORN RECIPES/SNACKS

EASY CARAMEL CORN #1
3 quarts popped corn
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
1 stick of butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1. Put popcorn in a heavy paper bag.
2. Melt butter in a saucepan and mix together sugar, syrup, and salt.
3. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and stir well.
4. Pour into paper bag and stir with a wooden spoon. Put bag in microwave and cook on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Take out and shake well.
5. Cook for another 1 1/2 minutes. Shake bag again and pour into a large container.
6. Serve in paper baggies that kids can decorate.

______________ 

CARAMEL CORN #2
This recipe is very inexpensive and easy to make.
Ingredients:
One stick (equals 1/2 cup) butter or margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 Tbs. Light Karo syrup
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
Popped popcorn

• Put one stick of butter or margarine in a medium saucepan; add one cup packed brown sugar (light or dark it doesn’t matter). Add 3 TBS. Karo Syrup.
• Heat all ingredients over med until you start to see it bubble. Turn the heat to low and let it cook for 5 minutes (Do not stir during the five minutes)
• Remove from heat and quickly add 1/2 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp baking soda.
• Stir and quickly pour over a large mixing bowl full of popped corn. Mix it all up to get it evenly coated. Enjoy! 

_______________ 

POPCORN 'SNACK MIX'
This snack mix relies on lightly sweetened popcorn to give it just the right flavor. Some prefer "Mallow Magic" popcorn from Jolly time. The "Caramel" flavor variety from Act II is also yummy-Or just use your favorite kettle corn.
To make this mix you'll need:
Popped "Mallow Magic" popcorn that is cooled--
Raisins
Dried sweetened cranberries
Small twist pretzels (hard type)
Multi-colored goldfish crackers

• For a good sized group take 3 bags of popcorn, plus 1 bag of goldfish, 2 cups of pretzels, plus 1/2 cup each of raisins and dried cranberries. However you can make it -- in whatever proportion you like.
• For a special treat, you can even add  some M&Ms.
• Note: the "Mallow Magic" comes with packets of gooey icing to put over the top; it's not necessary. And of course it adds extra calories and sugar.

_____________

COLORFUL POPCORN BALLS

Ingredients:
2 c. light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 lg. box of any colored/flavored gelatin dessert
20 cups popped popcorn
1. Combine sugar and syrup and boil for 1 minute. Do not stir.
2. Add Jell-o and mix. Pour over popcorn and mix well.
3. Add sprinkles if desired.

______________

SNOWBALL POPCORN BALLS
For 10- 3" Balls you need: 8 cups popped corn-unsalted, 1/4 cup butter/margarine, 1 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup light corn syrup, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, 1-cup cold water, additional margarine for hands, optional candy thermometer

• Remove all un-popped kernels from popped corn.
• In large saucepan melt butter over medium heat.
• Add the brown sugar, corn syrup, and 1/2 cup water. Stir and bring to boil.
• Boil until syrup reaches soft ball consistency (235 F) or until a tsp. of syrup dropped into a cup of cold water forms a pliable dough-like ball.
• Pour the syrup over the popped corn and stir until well coated.
• With buttered hands--shape the popcorn into balls"!

_________

CIRCUS SNACK MIX WITH POPCORN
Mix animal crackers, m&m's, raisins and popcorn. Add peanuts if there are no allergies. Yumm!

___________

MILK CHOCOLATE POPCORN
12 cups popped popcorn
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2-1/2 cups (12oz can) salted peanuts
2 cups (11-1/2 oz bag) milk chocolate
1 cup corn syrup

In a large greased roasting pan, combine popcorn and nuts. In a separate large heavy saucepan, combine chocolate chips, corn syrup and butter. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils, stirring constantly. Pour over popcorn toss well to coat. Bake in a preheated 300 degree oven for 45 minutes stirring frequently. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks. Makes about 14 cups.

____________

POPCORN WITH CANDY BAR PIECES

Ingredients:
1 package (3.5 ounce size) microwave popcorn--or any pre-made popcorn
1 king-size bar chocolate-coated caramel-peanut nougat candy

Directions: Pop the popcorn according to the package directions. While the corn pops, cut the candy bar into 1/2-inch pieces. (Or put pieces on your pre-made popcorn)

Spread the popped corn onto a microwave-safe platter such as paper plates... Top with candy bar pieces.

Heat on full power in the microwave at 30 second intervals, or until candy is melted.

________________

POPCORN SEASONING IDEAS
Using  popped popcorn...

•Regular buttered popcorn is always a favorite!

•Sweet Cinnamon Popcorn-Shake popcorn with cinnamon sugar

•Sprinkle parmesan or cheddar powdered cheese over buttered popcorn

•Zesty Popcorn - Top popcorn with grated Parmesan, then spice it up with a dash of garlic salt--or add a little garlic salt and paprika for a fun flavor

•Tex-Mex Popcorn- Add a pinch of chili powder or taco seasoning to melted butter, pour over popcorn and toss.

•Pizza Popcorn- Mix a pinch of oregano, basil, and parsley in melted butter before tossing.

_____________

POPCORN PARTY DECORATIONS 

 •String  popcorn and wrap it along railing, across curtains, from hanging lights, windows, etc.
 
•Use a color scheme of yellow and white and  red...

Decorate with...yellow and red balloons; white and red streamers;  hang yellow and red curling ribbon from lots of places around the room. Use red and white striped aprons, tablecloths, napkins, cups. etc.

• Rent a popcorn popper! It'll be the hit of the party; you can find them at most party supply stores.

___________________

 

POPCORN TRIVIA
DID YOU KNOW ...

 

• If popcorn kernels dry out, they can be freshened by adding 1 or 2 tablespoons of water to the jar and shaking it.

• Corn was first grown about 7000 years ago in the highlands of central  Mexico, and by the first century B.C. was a staple crop of all the agricultural peoples in the Americas. One of the first uses of corn kernels was for popping.

• Archeologists found some popped corn in a bat cave in New Mexico that was 5,600 years old.

• Some Native American tribes popped corn right on the cob, by spearing the corn cob with a stick and holding it near the fire. The kernels would pop and stay attached to the cob.

• The colonists served popped corn for breakfast with cream poured on it.

• Americans consume 1.12 billion pounds of popcorn a year. (About 17 billion quarts of popped popcorn each year.) The average American eat over 65 quarts of popcorn per person a year.
 
• If popcorn is salted before the kernels are popped it become tough.

• When black popcorn is popped it become white.

• Popcorn was actually the first food to be microwaved deliberately. In 1946 Dr. Percy Spencer of the Raytheon Corporation was experimenting with a magnetron (a new type of vacuum tube) when he noticed that the chocolate candy bar in his pocket had melted. He was curious, so he placed some popcorn kernels next to the magnetron and turned it on - the popcorn popped. After experimenting with various other food items (including an egg that exploded!), he and Ratheon realized they were on to something and continued on to develop the first microwave oven.

 ________________

 For Page 2 of Popcorn theme-Click Here! (Seasonal Ideas, Great Book List and Music/Movement)

 _______________________

POPCORN SEASONAL IDEAS...MUSIC & MOVEMENT...BOOK LIST AT PAGE BOTTOM!

__________

SEASONAL IDEAS...

   

SPRINGTIME CHERRY BLOSSOMS

Put POPPED popcorn and pink powdered tempera paint in a baggie and shake. They makes great cherry blossoms for an  art project! They look real...as in this cherry tree sample!

 

____________

MUSIC AND MOVEMENT

To make MUSIC POPCORN KERNEL SHAKERS--see Popcorn Art & Craft Section on Page 1

_________________

POP, POP, POP MY CORN (Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)
    Pop, pop, pop, my corn,
    Pop it big and white.
    Popping, popping, popping, popping
    Until it is just right.

 ___________         

POP, POP, POPCORN! (Add dramatic play movement to words)
    Pop, Pop, Pop! Put the corn into the pot.
    Pop, Pop, Pop! Shake and shake it til it's hot.
    Pop, Pop, Pop! Lift the lid and what have you got?
    Pop, Pop, Pop! POPCORN!

_________

POPCORN IN A POT (Tune: I'm a Little Teapot)
    I'm a little popcorn in a pot
    Heat me up and watch me pop.
    When I get all puffed up, then I'm done.
    Popping corn is lots of fun.

 ___________

POPCORN BOOK LIST ... Pop up a big bowl of popcorn to enjoy while reading these fun books about popcorn...especially for kids!

 

The Biggest Popcorn Party Ever in Center County
By Jane Hoober Peifer, Marilyn Peifer Nolte (Illustrator)
Publisher: Herald Press (PA) (June 1987)
Previously reluctant to share their popcorn crop with friends, a barn fire pops Henry and Martha's stored kernels and they decide to have the grandest party ever.

Corn Is Maize (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)
By Aliki (Author, Illustrator)
Publisher: Collins (January 10, 1986)
Aliki tells the story of corn: How Native American farmers thousands of years ago found and nourished a wild grass plant and made it an important part of their lives. They learned the best ways to grow and store and use its fat yellow kernels. And then they shared this knowledge with the new settlers of America.

The Popcorn Book

Publisher: Holiday House (May 1984)
An entertaining variety of fun and scientific facts about popcorn.

By Tommie DePaola

 

 If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
By Laura Joffe Numeroff, Felicia Bond (Illustrator)
Publisher: Laura Geringer (2000)
If you take a mouse to the movies, he'll ask you for some popcorn. When you give him the popcorn, he'll want to string it all together. Then he'll want to hang it on a Christmas tree. You'll have to buy him one...

Popcorn
By Frank Asch
Publisher: CQ Products (November 1, 2007)
Join Sam the bear at his costume party, but don't forget to bring the popcorn!

Popcorn!
By Elaine Landau, Brian Lies (Illustrator)
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing (February 2003)
A compilation of historical facts, legends, trivia, and recipes, featuring the popular snack food.

Popcorn
(Green Light Readers. All Levels)
By Alex Moran, Betsy Everitt (Illustrator)
Publisher: Green Light Readers (August 1, 2003)
A simple rhyme and vibrant illustrations show what can happen when a group of children and their animal friends put too many kernels in the pot.

Popcorn at the Palace
By Emily Arnold McCully
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (September 15, 1997)
When young Maisie Ferris and her father take the long trip to England to try and sell popcorn to the English, they are a great success. But will her newfound fame get Maisie an audience with Queen Victoria, the person she'd most like to meet?

Popcorn Plants
By Kathleen V. Kudlinski, Jerome Wexler (Illustrator)
Publisher: Lerner Publications (July 1998)
Describes the life cycle of the popcorn plant from the time the farmer plants the seed until the kernel explodes.

Popped Culture: A Social History of Popcorn in America
By Andrew F. Smith
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution (January 1, 2001)
The history, legends and cookery of popcorn in America.

The Popcorn Dragon
By Jane Thayer, Lisa McCue (Illustrator)
Publisher: HarperCollins (August 22, 1989)
Dexter is a young dragon who loses his friends by showing off, but eventually wins them back by sharing his new found ability to pop popcorn straight from the husks.

The Popcorn Shop
(Hello Reader!-Level 3)
By Alice Low, Patricia Hammel (Illustrator)
Publisher: Scholastic (January 1994)
A popcorn machine goes haywire in this rhyming, easy-to-read Level 3 book for beginning readers.

The Popcorn Tree
By Carolyn Mamchur, Laurie McGaw (Illustrator)
Publisher: Fitzhenry and Whiteside; 1 edition (November 1, 1997)
As Mickey and Gary strung popcorn, their mother told them about olden days and the decorations from her childhood.

Science Fun With Peanuts and Popcorn
By Rose Wyler
Publisher: Little Simon (July 1986)
Experiments for home or the classroom with seeds and plants, showing what is inside seeds, how roots form, and how plants grow.

What Makes Popcorn Pop?
By Dave Woodside
Publisher: Atheneum; 1st edition (October 1980)
Traces the history of popcorn describing how to grow and prepare it, its varied uses, myths surrounding it, and what makes it pop.
Source: The Popcorn Board

________________________

Popcorn Theme Page 1-Ideas good all year! 

___________