MAY. Creative Kaleidoscope of Learning. Rumble in the Jungle

Transcription

1 Creative Kaleidoscope of Learning Blending curiosity, creativity and reflection through the eyes of children who are forever learning and changing. MAY School Age Curricu lu m Rumble in the Jungle

2 Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri May/ School Age Lesson Plan Creative Arts Table Activities Indoor Group Game Outdoor Group Game Special Celebrations

3 Table of Contents Teacher Tip 2 Teacher Task....2 Special Celebrations Art and Craft Activities Table Activities and Indoor Games Outdoor Games Science and Explorations Readers Theater

4 May School Age Curriculum Teacher Tip-Reading is Fun! As summer quickly approaches, it is easy to forget about learning opportunities. Reading is fundamental to all students. The more you can encourage a love of reading in your students, the more opportunities they will have for success in school and later in life. Here are some tips to help you encourage reading. Collaborate with the librarians in your school and community to encourage reading for the fun of it. Make regular reading for fun a part of your lesson plans. Consider letting students choose their own books to read for assignments. Keep track of your Daily Reading Time (DRT) and have your students do the same. Compare totals for a week. Use the totals as a benchmark and discuss ways to increase the time with your students. Make it a contest. Display your reading success in the classroom. Make quiet reading a part of your daily plan. Vote on a book that the students would like to hear you read. Get to know the passionate interests of individual students outside the classroom and connect these interests to their reading. Ask the families of your students about their home reading habits. Look for things your students might like to read. Use their interests and hobbies as starting points. Leave all sorts of reading materials including books, magazines, and colorful catalogs in conspicuous places around the classroom. Notice what attracts your student s attention, even if they only look at the pictures. Then build on that interest; read a short selection aloud, or simply bring in more information on the same subject. Take your students to the library regularly. Ask a librarian to suggest books and magazines your students might enjoy. Present reading as an activity with a purpose; a way to gather useful information for, say, making paper airplanes, identifying a doll or stamp in your child's collection, or planning a trip. Encourage older students to read to the younger children. Older students enjoy showing off their skills to an admiring audience. Play games that are reading-related. Check your closet for spelling games played with letter tiles or dice, or board games that require players to read spaces, cards, and directions. Introduce the bookmark. Don't try to persuade a child to finish a book he or she doesn't like. Recommend putting the book aside and trying another. Never use reading for a punishment. Teacher Task Come up with creative ideas to create a student library if you do not have one already. You can work together with the students and make it a summer project. Students can brainstorm together ideas of how they can get books donated such as from parents or local business. They can raise money to buy books though car washes, bake sales, etc on school grounds. When you have collected all of your books, create a space in the school for the library. Students can help sort books according to category and paste a pocket or label inside for checking the book out. Plan a special event to celebrate your new library. 2

5 Special Holiday Celebrations May Day May Day History Like many festivals and holidays, May Day began as an ancient pagan festival held to celebrate the return of warmth to the earth and the beginning of the growing season. The Druids of the British Isles called the celebration Beltane. Flickering flames rose toward the sky as a symbol of the sun. Farmers walked their cattle through the fires to purify the animals and bring good fortune to the coming year. The Romans brought with them their spring celebration of Floralia, a festival honoring flowers. As years passed, both Beltane and Floralia combined to create the merry festival of May Day. Throughout most of the world, May 1, or International Worker s Day, commemorates the struggle of workers that began with workers fighting for an eight-hour days in the United States during the 1880s. Violence broke out in Chicago after a bomb was thrown into a squad of police sent to break up activists and became known as the Haymarket Affair. Eventually, the eight-hour day was established, but not until May Day parades, strikes, speeches, and marches were held, bringing the plight of blue-collar workers to the forefront. Europe adopted a similar stance shortly after the United States. Activists today believe that the first day of May should be recognized by the government as the day to honor American workers Maypoles were once common all over England and were kept from one year to the next. Schools would practice skipping round the pole for weeks before the final show on the village greens. The end results would be either a beautiful plaited pattern of ribbons round the pole or a tangled cat's cradle, depending on how much rehearsing had been done. Maypoles were once common all over England and were kept from one year to the next. Schools would practice skipping round the pole for weeks before the final show on the village greens. The end results would be either a beautiful plaited pattern of ribbons round the pole or a tangled cat's cradle, depending on how much rehearsing had been done. A May-Day festival is held involving all the students from the Primary School. It starts with a special May-day song followed by a procession to the church. Everyone wears white and carries garlands of flowers. The girls wear straw bands and posies and ribbons in their hair. In the church, the posies are laid in a great spread below the Rood Screen, which is specially decorated with a Rood-Cross completely wrapped in Yew leaves and branches. After a very full special service, all the students proceed back to their school with all their families and friends. They dance a number of May-day dances and Maypole ones too before tucking into a great May Day feast. The tallest maypole is said to have been erected in London on the Strand in 1661; it stood over 143 feet high. It was felled in 1717, when it was used by Isaac Newton to support Huygen's new reflecting telescope. Make a Maypole Make a maypole with the students. Fasten long, colorful streamers to a tree or pole. Have enough streamers for all of the students and adults to have one for the maypole dance. Begin with singing and dancing; sing the song several times before you begin to dance around the pole. 3

6 May Day Flowers Markers Newspapers or protective cover for work area Coffee filters Bumpy chenille stem (or regular chenille stem) Cover work area with newspapers or other protective covering. Invite students draw or color on 5-7 coffee filters with the markers. Random markings are just fine as detailed drawings won't show up in this project. Place one coffee filter decorative side down on the table. Stack other coffee filters decorative side up on top. Fold coffee filters in half. Scrunch middle of the coffee filters (starting at the bottom coffee filter). Wrap chenille stem tightly around scrunched area to hold in place. Straighten chenille stem to use as flower stem. Invite the students make several couple and put them in a May Basket. Early on the morning of May 1st hang on your mother's door, a neighbor's door, a friend's, or anyone special to you. May Day Doily Basket Fiskars Paper Crimper Paper doilies Blue construction paper (or any color desired) Scissors Tacky glue Paper clips or stapler Hole punch Ribbon or yarn Cut a rectangle out of the construction paper to fit into the Paper Crimper. Crimp the paper. From the bottom middle of the long edge, twist the paper into a cone shape. Use either a stapler to hold in place, or glue and use paper clips to hold until dry. Invite the student glue paper doilies on wherever they desire. Hole punch two holes in the top of the cone, directly across from each other. Tie ribbon or yarn to hang the cone with. Paper Plate May Day Basket Flimsy paper plate Construction paper Scissors Markers or paint Glue Stapler or tape Hole punch Ribbon or yarn Decorate the plate using markers, paint, construction paper, or whatever you wish. Invite dry. Curl the paper plate into a cone shape. Tape or staple in place. Hole punch two holes in the top of the container, directly across from each other. Attach a piece of ribbon or yarn so you can hang the basket on the door handle. 4

7 May Day Basket Invite the students to decide how to decorate the outside of the paper plates. The students can make their own flowers from construction paper to put inside. 2 Flimsy paper plates Construction paper Markers or paint Scissors Decorative scissors Glue Stapler Hole punch Ribbon or yarn Cut one plate in half. Set aside one half for another project or for another student to use. Decorate the outside (bottom) of the plates using markers, paint, construction paper, or whatever you wish. Let dry. Staple the circular paper plate and the half plate together, outsides facing out. Hole punch two holes in the top of the circular paper plate. Attach a piece of ribbon or yarn so you can hang the basket on the door handle. Create flowers and leaves from construction paper. Glue pieces together. Assemble in your basket. Glue in place. Bottle Basket 20 ounce or 1/2 liter plastic pop bottle Craft knife Bumpy chenille stem (or regular chenille stem) Hole punch Narrow ribbon Real flowers or handmade flowers Cut the bottle with the craft knife about 4" from the bottom. Discard top. Hole punch on two sides directly across from each other. Insert one end of the chenille stem from the outside to the inside. Bring it up and twist to the stem above the bottle edge. Repeat for other end of the chenille stem. If desired, punch holes around the top of the bottle. Weave a ribbon in and out through the openings. Mother s Day Coupon Book ½ sheet cardstock 2 paper fasteners or stapler Hole punch or sharpened pencil Paper cutter Stickers, foam stickers, markers, or anything else you would like to decorate with Encourage students to create a coupon pattern. Fill in the blanks on the coupons. Use a paper cutter or scissors to cut out the coupons. Use a pencil to sketch around a coupon onto the cardstock, about 1/2" larger than the coupon. Cut the cardstock to create a front and a back. Use a hole punch or a sharpened pencil to poke holes in the coupons and the cardstock and assemble with the paper fasteners. Decorate the front cover with markers, stickers, foam stickers, or whatever else you like. 5

8 Play dough Basket Empty Play-Doh container, washed and dry Construction paper Scissors Glue or tape Hole punch Chenille stem, ribbon or yarn Decorative hole punches Markers Cut a rectangle out of the construction paper to fit around the Play-Doh container. If desired, use markers to decorate the paper prior to attaching to container. Glue or tape the paper to the container. If desired, use a decorative hole punch to punch shapes from different colors of construction paper. Glue paper punched shapes on the container. Hole punch two holes in the top of the container, directly across from each other. Attach a chenille stem, tie ribbon or yarn, to hang the container on the door handle. Tissue Paper Flowers Pink, green, and white tissue paper Chenille stems Scissors Layer three to four sheets of pink tissue paper together then cut them into 4-5 wide strips that are 12 long. Cut about 1.5 off the end of a chenille stem and set aside. Take the remaining piece of the chenille stem and lay about 2 of it onto the tissue paper and roll up (starting at the short end) around the chenille. Once completely rolled up, take the short piece of chenille that you cut off earlier and twist it around the bottom of the tissue paper to hold it in place. Use scissors to cut 2-3 long slits down from the top of the rolled tissue paper. Continue around until all strips are cut. Roll up a 6 x2 piece of green tissue paper and place at the top of the flower stem. Grab the bottom of the stem and bring it up and over the green tissue paper and twist tight. These are the flower s leaves. Repeat, making several different flowers, then combine the stems to make a bouquet. Twist the stem of any one of the flowers around the rest of the stems to hold them all together. Place them in a vase and use them as a table centerpiece. Recipe Card Box 2 sheets felt 1 sheet dark felt Scissors White craft glue Glue stick Empty envelope box or other cardboard box Greeting card or clip art printed on card stock Trim top flaps off of cardboard box. Cover box, inside and out, with felt. Use the glue stick for most of the application, secure seams and ends with white craft glue. From the dark felt, cut 4 long strips about 1 wide. Trim sides of each dark strip to add curves, or you can cut with decorative scissors to give them a scalloped look. Glue strips onto each corner to cover any seams. Cut out a pretty picture from an old greeting card or choose a piece of clip art and print it on card stock. Glue the picture to the front of the box. 6

9 Mother s Day Magnet Outdated calendar fridge magnet or magnet sheet Colored pencils White and brown construction paper Scissors Craft knife White craft glue Scrap of additional construction paper, any color Draw faces of family members on a piece of white construction paper. Trace around the calendar magnet onto the brown construction paper and cut out around the traced line. Poke scissors into the center of the brown paper you just cut out, cut out the center of the paper to create a frame. Glue the frame to the calendar magnet. Teachers can use a craft knife to cut out the center of the magnet using the frame as the guide. Use scissors to trim around the family faces (squared) and glue them to the remaining calendar magnet that you just removed from the center of the frame. Use scissors to cut out individual squares, and then trim around the faces. Draw a family name sign (Jones Family, Smith Family, etc) on a piece of construction paper, any color, and trim with scissors. Glue to the upper left corner of the frame. Put the frame on the fridge and place the family face magnets inside the frame. Mom Key Chain Alphabet beads to spell "MY MOMS THE BEST" Colorful beads to fill in gaps (approximately 30-40) Colorful charm Keychain ring 24" stretchy jewelry cord, cut into two equal pieces Line up the two pieces of jewelry cord side by side, then gather one end together and tie in a triple knot to the keychain ring. Thread 4-5 colorful beads onto one side of the jewelry cord. Thread on the letters T H and E, be sure they are facing the correct direction. Follow with 4-5 more colorful beads. Add the letters B, E, S and T. Add 4-5 more beads. Carefully set the finished cord aside, taping the end of the cord to the table will keep the beads from falling off. On the other string, add 3-4 colorful beads, then the letters M and Y. Next add 3-4 more colorful beads, and then the letters M, O, M and S. Add 5-6 more colorful beads. Lay the two strings alongside each other and add beads to the shortest side to get them even. Holding the two ends of the jewelry cord as close to the last beads as possible, thread one last colorful bead onto BOTH strings. Run the string through the bead again by looping it through the top and pulling it tight. Tie the charm to the end of the string, knot it several times and trim ends. Don't trim it too close! If you like, instead of the phrase, make up your own phrase or use your mom's first name. 7

10 Fragrant Sachet 1/2 sheet of felt, any color Fabric to match felt color, at least 4 times the length of the felt Hot glue gun Scissors Ribbon (3 different kinds, 8 long) Handful of scented potpourri Cut two squares from the felt (about 4 x4 ). Place potpourri in the center of one of the felt squares. Hot glue the two squares together, creating a potpourri pillow. Set aside. Fold fabric in half to double it up. Fold it over again, in the same direction so that you have a total of four layers. Place the potpourri pillow on to the fabric. Adjust it so that you have about a 1 border all the way around. Use scissors to trim 3 sides, leave the FOLDED end alone, this will be the bottom of your sachet bag. Hot glue the left and right sides together (remember the folded end is the bottom). Turn the bag inside out. Insert the potpourri pillow into the bag. Tie ribbon around the top of the open sachet bag. Trim the top of the bag if there are any stray strings from your fabric. Flower Pot Plastic milk or juice jugs Fabric or scrapbook paper scraps Felt in coordinating colors Scissors or a craft knife Soil White craft glue Water Bowl Paintbrush Potted flower Cut the top off of the plastic jug, just under the handle. Turn the bottom of the jug upside down and have an adult poke 4 small drain holes in the bottom. Cut fabric or tear paper into 1 squares. Mix 2 parts glue and 1 part water in a bowl. Paint glue mixture onto one side of the outside of the milk jug. Decoupage the fabric or paper all over the sides of the jug, applying glue onto the jug first, then over the fabric or paper to adhere. Cut 1.5 wide strips from felt, enough to go around the opening of the pot. Glue the strip onto the lip of the pot, overlapping both sides, inside and out. Add a handful of gravel or small rocks to the bottom of the pot. Add a small amount of soil then add the potted flower. Fill pot with soil, carefully but firmly patting down the soil around the flower. Water your flower and place near a sunny window. 8

11 Make up Case Sturdy fabric with pretty pattern, 14 x 8 Colorful button to match fabric Thread to match fabric Scissors Needle or sewing machine Permanent fabric glue Cut fabric into two pieces, 9 x 8 and 5 x 8. Lay 9 piece of fabric right side up on table. Lay 5 piece of fabric right side down on top of larger piece of fabric. Line up bottom to bottom (8 side) on one end and glue the edges together (right sides together) with a thin strip of glue. Now that the 8" ends are glued together, flip the fabric over so the wrong sides are facing up. For the non-glued 8" ends, fold the edge of the fabric over so that 1/2inches or less of the right side of the fabric is folded over the wrong side of the fabric. Glue on the inside of the fold to create finished edges. With wrong sides still facing up, glue a seam along both long sides. All edges should now have seams. With fabric laying wrong side up, take smaller end (5 x 8 ) and fold it up and glue the wrong sides of the smaller and larger pieces together to complete the formation of the bag. Fold long top flap (9 x 8 ) down until it meets the top of the bag, glue the inside the flap so wrong sides are stuck together. Use scissors to cut a button hole in the center of the flap. Fold flap over the bag and use a pen or pencil to make a dot through the hole and onto the bag fabric for placement of the button. Sew button securely onto front of bag. Sew edges of button hole to keep them from fraying. Close bag and secure button through hole. Tips: Be sure to choose a sturdy fabric. It should feel fairly stiff and hold its shape. Instead of a button you may choose a fastener, available at discount department or fabric stores. For students who are not comfortable using a needle and thread, you can have them glue the button on the outside for decoration, but use a piece of Velcro on the inside for the closure. 9

12 Mom s Photo House Toaster pastry box, or one of similar shape and size (recommended: Pop Tarts box) Construction paper Scissors Tacky glue Pennies, pebbles or modeling clay Tape Photographs of all family members (get permission from your teachers first) Fine-tip permanent marker The top of the box (with flaps intact) will be the top of the house. Decide what color you would like your house to be and cover the outside with construction paper. Leave three extra inches of construction paper at the top all the way around where the flaps are. Cut slits in the construction paper at the top corners, so that the paper can fold like the flaps can. Glue the construction paper to the flaps. Trim the pictures into rectangular windows or you may decide to cut carefully around the person's picture (sort of like a paper doll) and glue that to a rectangular piece of white paper to make a window. Decorate the house, placing the windows and a door. You might want to include your family name, a message and the year. Put pennies, pebbles or the modeling clay in the bottom of the box to give the project some weight and keep it from falling over. Fold corners of the big flaps of the top of the box inward to make an upside down "v". Fold the corners inward, but leave them sitting like tabs, so that you can glue the roof to them. Fold the small flaps down inside the box. Decide what color you would like your roof to be and cut the construction paper to cover it. Glue it on and then add any details you would like to your house, i.e., window boxes, shutters, flowers, ivy or anything else you like! Use silk flowers as a fun three-dimensional accent, or make your own from construction paper or craft foam. Mom s Photo Frame Cardboard or poster board or papier-mâché frame Decorative paper or fabric 12 colorful buttons (six for each flower; five of one color, one of another color) 12-inch piece of ribbon or string Photograph Scissors or paper cutter White craft glue Magnet Using photograph as a size guide, trim cardboard to make the four sides of the frame. A paper cutter will give you straighter cuts than scissors. Place your cardboard pieces around your photograph to be sure they are the right size. You will also need a piece of cardboard for the back of your picture frame. Use the pieces you just cut as a guide to determine the size of your backing. Trace and cut out back. Turn decorative paper or fabric right-side down on your work surface. Place cardboard pieces on paper or fabric and lightly trace around the cardboard with a pencil. Cut out the patterns you just created. Turning fabric or paper right-side up, glue them to the cardboard. When applying the glue, use a sponge, paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue evenly over the cardboard so that you don t have gaps or bumps. Line up your cardboard pieces onto your backing to help you position your photo. Glue photo to the backing. Glue the frame pieces around the photo. Position buttons in each corner to create flowers. Use one color for the center of the flower, and five of another color for the petals. Glue in place once you have them where you want them. Tie a bow in the center of string or ribbon. Glue the tails to the back of the frame. You can also glue a magnet to the back of the frame if you like, or use the magnet instead of the ribbon hanger. 10

13 Sun Hat Mother s Day Card Small Lace hat Artificial flowers Glue gun Scissors 1/4" W x 20" L ribbon 1/8" W x 10" L ribbon Design cardstock Sculpting scissors Step 1: MAKING THE CARD Place lace hat on design cardstock and trace around edge. Cut out hat shape using sculpting scissors. Turn design cardstock shape over with white side facing up and design on back. Glue cardstock shape and hat together at top sculpted edge allowing hat to flip up to reveal the message on the front of the card. Step 2: MAKING THE HAT DESIGN Cut off stems of artificial flowers. Glue flowers around hat. Tie a double bow with 1/4" W x 20" L ribbon. Glue bow to the bottom of hat. Fold 1/8" W x10" L ribbon in half. Glue ribbon to the center of bow. Stained Glass Window Card Black cardstock or construction paper Tissue paper or kite paper (various colors) Craft knife Double-sided padded tape Scissors Pencil Glue stick Step 1: MAKING THE CARD Trace and cut out stained glass window patterns with colored cardstock. Have an adult cut out the inside of window shapes using a craft knife. Glue down various colors of tissue paper over the window cut outs on the inside front of the card. Step 2: MAKING THE BUTTERFLY Trace and cut out butterfly patterns onto cardstock. Have an adult cut out all the shapes on butterfly wings and head using a craft knife. Glue various colors of tissue paper over the cut out shapes on the "wrong" side of the butterfly. Cut out antennas from black cardstock and then glue antennas on back of butterfly's head. Slightly bend butterfly's wings forward. Place double-sided padded tape on back of butterfly. Place butterfly on the front center of card. 11

14 Cupcake Card White cardstock Design cardstock Dark brown cardstock (2" W x 4" L) 3-D pink and white iridescent fabric paint Double-sided padded tape Glass gem (large) Glitter white Glue gun Cutting knife (for scoring) Cupcake Pattern MAKING THE CARD Cut out a 5½"W x 11"L rectangle on design cardstock. Fold in half so it becomes a 5 ½"W x 5 ½"L square. Trace and cut cupcake pattern on white cardstock. Have an adult score a 1/8"W sized pleat with a cutting knife, fold and repeat while alternating sides using dark brown cardstock (for cupcake wrapper). MAKING THE CUPCAKE Wrap pleated dark brown cardstock around bottom of cardstock cupcake. Glue side edges on back of cupcake. Place double-sided padded tape on back of cupcake. Place cupcake on front center of card. Cover (A) with pink 3-D fabric paint for icing. Let dry. Cover (B) with white 3-D fabric paint for icing. Let dry. Place double-sided padded tape on the back of pink and white icing. Place pink icing on top of cupcake, securing with the double-sided tape. Place white icing on top of pink icing, securing with the double-sided tape. Cover cupcake with a second layer of pink and white icing Cover white icing with white glitter Glue a large glass gem on top center of cupcake. Invite dry. Butterfly Card Cardstock paper (colored) Transparent green paper 1/8" ribbon (colored) 1 medium-size button Butterfly (artificial) Double-sided tape (padded) Patterned design paper Small round beads (colored) Glue or glue gun Scissors Tree branch (small) Step 1: Cut out a 7" x 14" square of colored cardstock and fold in half. Cut out a 4" x 4" square of patterned design paper. Cut out a 4" x 4" square of colored cardstock. Step 2: Glue colored cardstock and design paper together (4" x 4" square pieces). Place double-sided tape on back edges of colored/design paper. Adhere the colored/design square to front of card. Draw and cut leaves (small) out of transparent green paper and fold in middle. Glue leaves onto tree branch and round beads at base of leaves and on branches. Glue the butterfly onto tree branch and onto design paper. Step 3: Glue a button (medium-sized) onto front of card at center edge. Cut a 5½" piece of colored ribbon, make a loop and knot the ends (cut off excess). Wrap loop over button and glue knotted end onto back of card. 12

15 Glue (2) small leaves on top of knotted end and a round bead at base of leaf. Purse Notepad Card Notepad Card Cardstock paper (colored) Designer paper Colored beads and buttons Medium-size button (1) Scissors 1/8" ribbon (colored) Notepad or Post-it-note Glue or glue gun Needle and thread (thick) Magnets (round/strong) Pencil & ruler Hole-punch Purse Pattern Step 1: Trace out the purse template on colored cardstock and designer paper. Cut out and fold on lines. Step 2: Create a small hole ½" in from the sides at the top of card (use needle). String a long piece of thread with mixture of beads and buttons leaving 4" ends. Thread ends of beaded thread through holes in card and knot together inside card. Step 3: Glue cardstock cutout and design cutout together and fold again. Glue a medium-size button at bottom on front of card. Glue a round magnet on underside of flap and on card. Optional Instructions Step 4: Stitch around outer edge of card using colored thread. Step 5: Trace (1) notepad template shape on white paper and (1) on cardstock. Cut out desired number of notepad pages. Place the cardstock notepad shape on back of notepad. Punch (2) holes, 1" apart in notepad and floss 1/8" ribbon through each hole. Step 6: Cut out a 1 ½" x ½" rectangle shape of cardstock and punch a hole in center. Floss the notepad ribbon through the hole in the rectangle shape and tie a bow. Glue back of notepad to the center of purse. Create a small bow with 1/8" ribbon, slide a small pencil through loops &, tighten. Glue bow on card above notepad. 13

16 Mother s Day Brunch Recipe Ideas Overnight Brunch Casserole Ingredients: 16 slices sandwich bread (square one) 8 slices deli ham 8 slices processed cheese Egg Mixture 6 large eggs 3 cups milk 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 1/2 tsp. dry mustard 1/2 tsp. salt 2 small green onions, chopped 1 small green pepper, chopped Topping (for next morning) 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine 2 cups crushed potato chips Trim crusts from bread and put in 13X9 pan. Place 8 bread slices on bottom of pan; layer ham and cheese slices; then cover with remaining bread slices. Beat eggs, add milk, Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard and salt. Stir in green pepper and onion. Pour egg mixture over bread layers. Refrigerate overnight for flavors to mingle. In AM remove from fridge and drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle on crushed potato chips. Bake uncovered in a 350 F oven for minutes - until bubbly and completely heated through. Invite stand 10 minutes before serving. Raspberry Fruit Dip Ingredients: 250ml raspberry flavored yogurt 250ml of whipped topping (like Cool Whip) Combine yogurt and whipped topping well. Chill for at least one hour (or overnight). Makes 2 cups. Serve with cut up fruit - strawberries, honeydew melon, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe, orange sections, peaches, pears., pineapple, bananas, papayas, apples... Strawberry Butter Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter or margarine 1/2 cup Strawberry Jam 1/2 Fresh strawberries, mashed Beat butter until soft and fluffy. Add jam and beat well. Mix in mashed strawberries. Cinnamon Butter Ingredients: 1/2 cup softened butter or margarine 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 tblsp. milk 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon Beat until blended and fluffy. 14

17 Prize Coffee Cake Ingredients: 2/3 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons shortening 1 egg, beaten 1/2 teaspoon salt Topping: 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup chopped nuts 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour 2/3 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup white sugar Combine all ingredients for topping. Grease and flour an 8" square cake pan. Blend sugar and shortening together. Stir in beaten egg. Mix salt, baking powder and flour together. Add vanilla to milk and add to batter alternatively with dry ingredients. Spread a little of better into prepared pan' sprinkle half of topping on top. Cover with remaining batter and sprinkle with remaining topping. Bake at 350 F for minutes. Allow cake to sit at room temperature in pan on cooling rack for minutes before serving. Spice 'n' Coffee Cake Ingredients: 1 cup all purpose flour 1 cup brown sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon mace 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1 1/2 tsp. dry instant coffee 1/4 cup butter or margarine 1 egg 1 cup sour cream tsp. baking soda 1/2 cup chopped walnuts Combine flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and instant coffee. Cut in butter until mixture is the size of large peas. Beat egg, stir in sour cream and baking soda. Pour all at once into dry ingredients, mixing just enough to dampen. Spread into a greased and floured 9" square cake pan. Sprinkle top with nuts. Bake at 350 F minutes or until done. Serve warm or cold. Cut in squares. 15

18 Apple Coffee Cake Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 3/4 tsp. salt 1/3 cup butter Topping: 1 medium size apple 1 tblsp. lemon juice 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup sour cream 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/3 cup brown sugar 3/4 tsp. cinnamon Prepare topping first. Wash and core apple but do not peel. Slice apple very thin and sprinkle with lemon juice; cover and set aside. Combine brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir flour, baking powder and salt together. Cream butter; add sugar gradually, beating well. Beat in eggs. Combine baking soda with sour cream and add to batter alternately with dry ingredients, blending well. Pour batter into a greased and floured 9" square cake pan. Sprinkle with 1/3 of brown sugar cinnamon mixture. Place apple slices on top and cover with remaining topping. Bake at 325 F minutes. Serve warm. 16

19 Cinco de Mayo Learn to Count to Ten in Spanish 1 = Uno 2 = Dos 3 = Tres 4 = Cuatro 5 = Cinco 6 = Seis 7 = Seite 8 = Ocho 9 = Nueve 10 = Diez Make a Piñata Several days before Cinco de Mayo, have the students help make a paper mache piñata. When dry, fill it with candies, small toys, confetti - whatever you want (do this out of sight of the students for a wonderful surprise)! On Cinco de Mayo hang the piñata and have fun breaking it open. Have the students stand in a circle around the piñata, and each student should have a chance to hit the piñata with a stick (a broom handle works great!). As the others watch, have them clap in rhythm. All the students share the goodies found inside! Listen to Mexican Music Have guitars and maracas available. Play some Mexican music. Make homemade guitars/maracas for each student - ask them to strum their guitar or shake their maracas along with the music. Where Do We Get Clay? Purchase a piece of raw clay from a pottery or craft store. Gather a few pictures of Mexican pottery. Show the pictures and clay to the students. Explain that clay comes from the earth, in the mud, usually on riverbanks. Give each student a piece of the clay and ask him to mold the clay into forms if they wish. Make clay pots and paint them. Chains Cut red, white & green paper strips & invite the students make chains to decorate the room. Mexican Flags Use white paper and divide into three sections. Students can color one section red and one green leaving the middle section white. Encourage the students to make their best replica of the Mexican coat of arms for the students to glue in the middle. Language - Spanish good-bye friends (ah-de-ohs ah-me-gos) Adios amigos please (poor fah-vohr) Por favor Thank you (MOO-chas GRAH-see-aahs) Muchas gracias You re welcome (day NAH-dah) De nada Good morning (BWAY-nos DEE-aha) Buenos Dias hello (OH-la) Hola good-bye (ah-de-ohs) Adios Good night (BWAY-nahs No-chays) Buenas Noches 17

20 Chocolate Make chocolate (which originated in Mexico) Gather 1oz Mexican chocolate, one cup milk. Pour the chocolate into the bowl with milk and allow each student to beat with an eggbeater until frothy. If you can t find Mexican chocolate then just get regular chocolate and add a dash of cinnamon. Maracas clean yogurt cups with lids large popsicle sticks low-temp hot glue gun glue sticks small dried beans 1/8"-wide red and green ribbon colored paper masking tape glue paint or markers or crayons Before distributing cups to students, cut a 1/2-3/4" gash in the bottom center of each cup. (Length of cut depends on width of Popsicle sticks purchased. Gash should be about 1/8" longer than stick is wide.) Insert Popsicle stick into opening of each cup until about 1/4" of stick is visible inside cup, and hot glue stick securely in place. Be sure to use a LOW TEMP glue gun. At higher temperatures, glue will melt the plastic cups. You may wish to glue the stick both inside and outside cup the cup for added strength. Allow glue to cool completely before distributing cups to students. Students pour about 2 Tbsp. dried beans into a yogurt cup, replace lid, and tape shut. Cut a strip of paper about one-half inch wider than the cup's circumference at its widest point and about six inches longer than the cup's height. Wrap paper around cup, leaving three inches of extra paper at both the top and bottom of cup. Tape paper in place. Use red and green ribbon to gather paper around top and bottom of cup and tie closed. Popsicle stick handle should protrude several inches from the paper covering around the bottom of the cup. Encourage students to use different colors of paper, paint, markers, and/or crayons to decorate their maracas as they choose. Steal the Sombrero Copy and cut out one sombrero for each student. Tape sombreros to students' backs. Each student must try to steal others' sombreros without losing his or her own. Any student who loses his or her sombrero must immediately replace it with one he or she has stolen. If the student does not have another sombrero with which to replace his or her stolen one, he or she is out. Remembering Victory Today Mexican citizens living in both Mexico and the United States celebrate Mexico's 1862 victory over the French on Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May. This victory did not bring complete independence to Mexico, but it did prove to the world that Mexico wanted the freedom to rule itself and that it would fight courageously to obtain and preserve that freedom. It also revealed that a few people committed to a cause could triumph over a larger, better-equipped army of people less interested in the cause for which they were fighting. Finally, it showed that a country which had been defeated time and time again could, with perseverance at last emerge victorious. On a smaller scale, we each face conflicts each day. Whether competing against another team on the soccer field or struggling to understand a new rule in math, we are challenged. Sometimes we win immediately. Other times, we must try repeatedly before realizing victory. Think back of the challenges you have faced in life--adjusting to life in a new city, learning how to read and write, making new friends, learning how to ride a bicycle without training 18

21 wheel, earning money to buy something you really want, and so forth. Make a list of at least ten "victories" you can celebrate in your own life. A Day in Mexico Use an almanac, an encyclopedia, and at least two other books to research life in the country of Mexico. What is the climate like? What is the food like? When do students begin school? How many years to most people attend school? What is the typical Mexican family like? What is housing like? What is shopping like? etc. Based on this information, imagine yourself living in Mexico. In what ways would your life be different? In what ways would it be the same? Write about a typical day in your new life. Corn Tortillas Ingredients: 1 cup corn meal 1 Tbsp. baking powder 3/4 cup water 1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste) 2 tsp. corn oil In mixing bowl, combine corn meal, baking powder, and salt. Boil water. Mix boiling water and oil into corn meal. When mixture cools enough to handle, divide into eight equal balls. Flatten slightly. Place flattened ball on top of an 8-inch square of waxed paper. Cover with a second square. Roll into 6" circle. Remove from paper. Cook on ungreased griddle until lightly brown. Flour Tortillas 2 cups flour 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 2/3 cup warm water In mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Gradually add enough warm water to create a crumbly dough, then need until dough sticks together. Divide dough into eight equal pieces, then flatten each piece into a five-inch round.. Roll each round as thinly as possible. (Each round should yield roughly a nine-inch circle.) Heat a large, flat skillet or griddle to about 375 degrees (medium high on most stoves). Lay tortilla on heated surface until tiny blisters appear (a few seconds). Flip tortilla, using a wide spatula to press it firmly against heated surface. Cook until blisters are lightly brown. Remove cooked tortillas from griddle and place in sealable plastic bag with moist cloth. Allow tortillas to steam and soften. Serve promptly. Caution: Homemade tortillas dry out quickly. They are best used the day they are made. If it is not possible to use them the day they are made, refrigerate or freeze them in an air-tight container. Guacamole Ingredients: 2 large ripe avocados (preferably Haas avocados) 2 Tbsp. onion, finely chopped 2 Serrano chiles, finely chopped (Remove seeds to make milder guacamole) 1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste) 1/2 cup fresh tomato, finely chopped 2 Tbsp. cilantro, finely chopped 19

22 Mash avocados, leaving them slightly lumpy. Stir in all other ingredients, mixing well. Chill and serve. Hint: To keep guacamole from discoloring, place avocado pits in bowl with guacamole. Mexican Rice Ingredients: 1 1/3 cups uncooked rice 3 Tbsp. bacon drippings or cooking oil 1 medium onion, diced 1 Tbsp. minced fresh garlic 2 cups chicken broth 1 (8-ounce) can tomato paste 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped tsp. ground cumin Fry rice in oil in large skillet over medium heat until it turns yellow. (Do not invite it turn brown!) Add onion and garlic. Continue frying until onion is transparent. Add chicken broth. Stir in tomato paste, parsley, and cumin. Reduce heat to simmering. Cover and cook until all liquid is absorbed (about twenty minutes). Refried Beans Ingredients: 2 cups pinto beans, cooked and drained OR 1 (15-ounce) can pinto beans 1/3 cup bacon drippings or vegetable oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped salt and pepper to taste Heat bacon drippings or oil in large skillet. Add beans, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. Fry for about five minutes, stirring occasionally. Use potato masher to mash beans. Simmer another five minutes, and serve. Beans may be dropped with finely-grated cheese, green onions, and/or cilantro. Salsa Ingredients: 5-6 ripe roma tomatoes, peeled and chopped 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1/4 cup chopped jalapenos 1/3 cup chopped cilantro 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced (or to taste) 1/2 tsp. cumin (or to taste) 1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste) juice from one medium fresh lime Combine all ingredients and stir well. Chill and serve. Taco Seasoning Mix Ingredients: 5 Tbsp. chili powder 6 Tbsp. minced onion (dried) 1 Tbsp. cornstarch 4 tsp. cumin 1 Tbsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 tsp. salt 20

23 Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. To prepare one pound of ground beef, mix 1/2 cup water and 3 Tbsp. seasoning mix into beef. (Prepared mixture seasons five pounds of ground beef.) Creative Arts Buggy Mobile 18 place cardboard egg carton Scraps of colorful patterned papers (wallpaper samples, old greeting cards) or construction paper Acrylic paints: red, orange, brown, light blue, green, purple, yellow, white and pink Scissors 2 black skinny chenille stems 9 flat-backed heavy pebbles, marbles, or other object White yarn 2 heavy twigs or craft dowels 9 medium black pompoms 18 small wiggle eyes White craft glue Acrylic sealer spray Paintbrush Hot glue gun Remove the lid of the cardboard egg carton and save for another project. Place bottom of egg carton upside down and paint two sections with each color noted above (i.e. 2 red, 2 orange, 2 brown, etc). Repeat for a second coat and invite dry. Spray all painted cups with acrylic sealer spray. Cut the egg carton sections apart. Trim around the sections so that all you have left are colored cups. If using patterned paper, most likely the backside of the paper is blank. If this is the case, fold the patterned paper in half, pattern on the outside. Put a layer of glue in between and stick together. This will create a piece of patterned paper that is patterned on both sides. Cut leaf-shaped wings from the paper. Separate the colored egg cups so that you have two groups of nine cups, one of each color. Turn one group of colored cups over, set the other group aside. Squeeze some white glue into each of the cups that are turned upward. Place a flat-backed marble into each cup and allow time for the glue to dry. This will give each bug enough weight that they will hang nicely on your mobile and will cut down on the lines tangling together. It will also help the bugs to look downward so that they are seen from the ground. Cut 9 pieces of yarn about 18 long each. Onto each of the egg cup halves with the marble in them, glue a black pompom to the closed (bottom) end. Now pair up your colored egg cups. To assemble each bug body you will need a pair of the same colored egg cups, a set of paper wings, an 18 piece of yarn and your hot glue gun. Pipe a layer of hot glue onto the outer open edge of the egg cup with the marble in it, place the wings onto the glue, the yarn in the middle of the open cup at the top, and then the other egg cup goes on last. Repeat these steps for each bug. Now that the bodies are assembled you can glue the wiggle eyes onto the black pom poms. Cut the black chenille stems into 2 pieces. Bend the ends or twist them around a thin handled paintbrush. Put a dot of hot glue on the straight end and push into the top of the pompom. Repeat for the other antenna. Cut another piece of yarn about 12 in length. Crisscross the two dowels and wrap with yarn to secure, add a dot of glue to reinforce. Be sure there is enough yarn left over to tie a loop at the top to hang your mobile from. Tie each bug onto the dowels, two on each arm and one in the middle. Stagger the lengths and tie in place. When you have them where you want them, trim the excess. 21

24 Herb Pots Empty aluminum can Screwdriver and hammer Liquitex Basics Gesso Acrylic craft paints in colors of your choice Flower stickers (optional) Acrylic sealer spray, matte finish Craft or popsicle stick Thin cardboard Pinking shears Black Sharpie marker 5-10 small rocks, stones or pebbles 1.5 cups Potting soil 4-inch potted herb plant White craft glue Water Completely wash and dry aluminum can. If necessary, sand off any rough edges from opening of can. Turn can upside down. Teacher should use screwdriver or other pointed object to poke holes in the bottom of the can. Use a hammer to tap the end of the screwdriver to make the holes. Paint outside of can with one coat of Gesso. Let dry completely. Paint can desired color, repeat coats if needed. Decorate however you like. Use a thin paint brush for long lines, dip the end of the paint brush into paint for polka dots. Decorate with stickers if desired. Spray the outside of the completed can with acrylic sealer spray. Invite dry. Place enough rocks or pebbles in the bottom of the can to form a single layer. Add enough potting soil to fill the can two-thirds full. Remove potted herb from its container and transplant into the can. Fill edges with remaining potting soil, gently pat down so that plant is firmly in the can but not compacted so much that it s too tight. Place can on a plate (to catch any water drainage) and add some water to the newly planted herbs. Paint craft stick whatever color you like. Allow to dry. Cut a piece of thin cardboard into a small rectangle (about 1.5 x 3 inches) using pinking shears. Paint both side of the cardboard with Gesso, Let dry. Glue the rectangle to the top of the craft stick. Use a black Sharpie marker to write the herb name onto the rectangle. Insert your plant marker into the soil, being careful not to crush any roots along the way. Place your new garden in a sunny window and remember to water them! Egg Head Planter Clean eggshell with just the top broken off Half a cup of potting soil Teaspoon of grass, wheat or rye seed Five to six inch strip of card stock Scissors Glue or tape Black marker (optional) If you wish, decorate your strip of cardstock. Tape or glue the cardstock into a ring to hold the egg. Use a small spoon to fill the egg almost to the top with potting soil. Sprinkle the soil with seed. Add a thin layer of potting soil on the top. Carefully water so as not to overflow or soak it. Keep in a sunny location. Your seeds will begin to sprout in a day or two and your egghead will grow "hair" in about a 22

25 week! If you like, you can decorate the outside of the egg with a black marker by drawing a face on your egghead. Animal Buddy Jars Clean, empty glass jars Felt, any color you like Pom poms (for noses) Scissors White craft glue Wiggle eyes Gesso (recommended: Liquitex Basics Gesso) or white craft paint Animal Patterns Provide patterns for the students to trace and cut out. Remove lid from jar and paint with a layer of Gesso or white paint. Invite dry. Line the top of the lid with glue. Pipe glue around the outside rim as well. Place lid, glue side down, onto a piece of felt. Wrap felt around lid and rim and hold snugly so glue can begin to grab. Sometimes felt will soak up the first layer of craft glue. If this happens, pipe more glue around the rim and repeat. Trim the excess felt around the edge of the rim. Fill the jar with whatever knick knacks, toys, or coins that you like. Return the felted lid to the jar. Cut additional animal pieces (ears, cheeks, trunks) from pattern to create animal faces. Glue these pieces on. If creating the cat or dog, cut out long thin strips of felt for the whiskers and glue them on top of the cheeks. Glue the facial parts in place. Use pom poms for noses. Glue on wiggle eyes. Terrarium Plastic 2 liter soda pop bottle with cap Very sharp scissors or craft knife Dirt or potting soil Seeds Water Remove the label from the bottle. Discard label. Save cap! Wash and rinse out the bottle and cap. Cut the bottle close to the bottom. There may be a "line" near the end of where the label was, that's a good place to cut. You can cut it higher if you wish. Lightly place dirt or potting soil in the base. Plant a few seeds in the dirt. Lightly water. Put the cap on the bottle. Cover the base with the top of the bottle. You will have to fiddle with it a bit to fit back inside the base. Place in a sunny spot and watch for your seeds to grow. When the plants are ready, repot them or plant them in your garden. Tips: If your soil starts to look a little dry before your seeds come up, you can unscrew the cap and insert the head of spray bottle of water. Spritz several squirts into the terrarium. This project can also be done with individual sized water bottles. Don't plant more than two seeds in a small bottle like this or they will be overcrowded and won't grow. This makes a great classroom project, just ask each student to bring in a water bottle or 2 liter bottle. Ask students if any of their teachers have a garden and would be willing to donate seeds. 23