Thank you to future teachers Krista and Joanie for this sweet science experiment! Halloween candy has so many marvelous uses.
Step #1: Choose two or three different kinds of chocolate treats. These represent the different kinds of rocks found on earth (sedimentary rock, igneous rock or older metamorphic rock).
Step#2: Unwrap the candy (rocks) and place in a microwave safe container Note how different each candy bar looks although they are made from much the same elements.
Step #3: Heat the chocolates - checking frequently. This represents the heat that comes from magma within the earth.
Step #5: Pour the chocolate on to wax paper and let the new mixture cool. After just a brief wait, you'll see how the rocks (chocolates) have melded together to create a new form. These new rocks are called metamorphic rock because of the changes they have undergone.
Step#6: Break open the rocks to see the newly formed layers. And yes... enjoy!
When I asked my boys to think about how these chocolates were like and not-like metamorphic rocks - this is what they had to say:
And always one with a flair for the dramatic, my 10 year old sums up this science lesson for us all:
My oldest dressed as the stockbroker last year, but with the economy as it is.. he had to find more reliable work. Ha! (Are we the only family who creates back stories for our Halloween costumes?)
Happy Halloween - May your imaginative ones be safe!
Here's a great craft kit that makes a perfect gift, stocking stuffer, or special treat at Grandma's house.
The kit is designed so that you can create a few silly monsters for decoration and play. We then used the extra stickers to make home-made cards with silly, creative designs!
Every year after Halloween, I ask my boys to sort through their candy to find the treats they'd most like to save for decorating their Gingerbread Houses. The boys willingly give up some of their stash - knowing the fun that awaits them in December.
This holiday break, we invited several neighbors over to join the fun. Every child brought their own house and some decorating items to share. I provided the frosting:
3 egg whites 3/4 tsp. cream of tartar 1 Lb. powdered sugar Mix and mix and mix(then mix some more). Place icing in sandwich bags and snip one corner to apply.
_ I'm happy to report a good time was had by all. The crew focused on their holiday home decor for just over an hour. After that, I noticed a distinct shift: the candy began to go in their mouths instead of on their houses. ("Time to call it quits, my friends!").
_ Many, many moons ago my sweet mother made a Christmas Countdown Calendar for me and my sister. I remember being delighted as a child when it was my turn to place an ornament on the tree. To my great fortune, I rediscovered this treasure a few years ago.
_ Now continuing the tradition with my sons, we take out the simple burlap and felt wall-hanging and add an ornament a day until Christmas arrives. I had to replace a few of the magnet strips and several of the original ornaments had been lost. So...I fashioned a few new ones. It’s amazing how crafty you can get with a few colors of felt and a bottle of craft glue. No special art-skills needed.
My husband usually teases me for completing my Christmas shopping in July, but this year: It didn't happen. In fact, it won't even start until after Thanksgiving and may include a final countdown starting Dec. 18th. Oh, for easy stocking stuffers that can be ordered online and delivered before the holiday rush!!! Have mercy on me readers: Please post your ideas in the comment area now.
Looking through pictures of past holidays, I was reminded of this gem:
This simple beauty came with monster arms, twisty legs, googly-eyes, and enough colorful brads to make a family of five legged beasts. Low tech - it's fun in the morning, fun in the car, and fun after Christmas dinner at Grandma's house.Overall, that's enough to qualify for a 5 star rating on my Christmas list.
As Spring Break approaches, I thought I’d share with you a camp idea that flourished in our neighborhood this past summer. I approached three creative Mommies and asked if they’d like to create a Neighborhood Kids Camp – they did –so we did – and it was a tremendous success!
Here’s the basic set-up: Each Mommy took a 10am to 1pm time slot during the week and designed activities around a chosen theme. On a given day, the kids enjoyed activities and lunch while the other Mommies relished in their extra free time. Everyone was happy. (We had a total of six kids with an age range of 5 to 11.)
I was in charge of Monday and oversaw the creation of a 10 minute film that included super heroes, stolen teddy bears, and a city mayor with an English accent. The campers designed their costumes, scripted their lines, were responsible for graphics/art and wrote and performed the best super hero theme song I’ve ever know. (I still can’t get it out of my head!)
On day #2, Neighbor N spearheaded backyard theater games that inspired giggles and silliness of all kinds. (These skits were later performed for parents.)
Wednesday: Neighbor T facilitated a cardboard box engineering activity on a large scale. (Oh the sadness, when the masterpiece was finally recycled – two months later!)
The last day of camp brought Neighbor C and her world of magical gardening fun. She had the kids digging both at home and in the nearby community garden. (My five year-old now regularly informs me which plants are annuals vs. perennials.)
Then at the end of the week, our group of four families traveled to the mountains for an overnight camping trip. (I conveniently had a prior engagement and so missed the sleeping in the dark, dirty, buggy forest part... <em, I mean> camping in the great outdoors.)
All this and no hefty camp bills made me appreciate my sweet neighborhood even more. Knowing these great Moms - I had high hopes for our self-created kids camp, but was impressed beyond measure at the fun in which my sons engaged. Having three additional mornings to work (and not be in charge of hungry mouths) was an added bonus. A bonus I hope to repeat during another school break coming soon....
Christmas is great when you are a kid: Your mail intake quadruples in the month of December and three’s a new envelope to open every day!
Thanks to our smart Grammy, we have a clever way of displaying all the cards we receive from loved ones. Each year we string Christmas ribbon along the handrail leading to our 2nd floor. Then using clothes pins, we attach each greeting to a location where we can see it every day.
Festive and fun my sons look forward to the mail carrier’s delivery every day!
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