SOCK CHIA PETS CRAFT

SOCK CHIA PETS

Encourage kids to make these, watch them grow and take care of them-

If properly cared for, their "hair" will grow for an unlimited amount of time and the kids can give them "haircuts".

They all look different and take on a personality of their own. It's really funny!!

Here is one we made in class

 this is the growth after 3 days!!

We used:

• socks (knee high/pantyhose work great too)
• grass seed (shade and sun-dense growth- I found the cheapest one works the best)
• potting soil
• rubberband (to hold bottom closed)
• fabric paint (to draw on nose & mouth)
• googly eyes
• a cup or coffee mug (to hold the sock open while spooning in the grass seed and soil- easier for the kids to hold and work with- put the sock on the cup/mug so there is a larger opening to work with)
• a small bowl to let them sit in (a black plastic one I used from the dollar store worked the because it absorbed the sun. The bowl works better than the plate because it holds water without spilling and dripping)

OPTIONS:

CYCLOPES:

Some kids made a Cyclopes- using only one eye- you also can use fabric paint to draw the eyes or in the past  have used buttons held on by hot glue or straight pins through the button holes

BEARD INSTEAD OF HAIR:

some kids decided to have theirs grow a "beard" by reversing the order of the potting soil and grass seed (you will see in the directions on the link below-)

If you would like a "beard"- put the soil in first (where the toes would go- then the grass seeds in LAST

HAIR INSTEAD OF BEARD:

 if you put the grass seed in FIRST (think of where your TOES would go in a sock-) that will become the "head" and your chia will grow hair.

If you would like a "beard"- put the soil in first (where the toes would go- then the grass seeds in LAST

I read about this project years ago in a book about all the things you can make with plants. I have made them many times in my class as part of the Science unit on plants. The kids love them and them come out amazing. Each of them take on their own personality as they grow and the kids look forward to taking care of them and watching them grow.

Below is a link with step by step instructions on how to make one:

http://kidsonthegrand.com/2011/04/18/grow-plant-pets-for-kids-of-all-ages/

PIE IN THE SKY- simple ideas with PIE & PUDDING

Here are just some of the yummy things we did with PIE & PUDDING:

PUDDING PARFAITS:

We decided to create our parfaits- throwing together some of the items we had on hand. We got rave reviews about these parfaits.... you pretty much can do this with anything- fruit, cake, pudding, ice cream..... and you can't mess it up.  We used a clear cup to show the layers- and a lid to make it transportable. You can even stick the back of the plastic spoon where a straw would go on the lid.

Here are the layers we used:-going from bottom to top

• vanilla wafers
• chocolate instant pudding
• mini marshmallows
• cheesecake sugar free instant pudding
• a mixture of crushed vanilla wafers and Twinkies
• instant chocolate pudding
• crushed graham crackers
• a splash of magic shell
• dollop of whipped topping

OTHER VERSIONS- VERY CUTE....

Candy Cane Pudding Parfaits -

taken from

 http://insidebrucrewlife.com/2012/12/candy-cane-pudding-parfaits-and-a-nambe-giveaway/

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 6 large parfaits

Pudding, cream cheese, and cookie crumbs make up a fancy but easy dessert parfait.

Ingredients

3/4 c. Candy Cane Oreo crumbs

1 pkg. cream cheese, softened (8 oz.)

1/4 c. sugar

2 Tbsp. milk

2 c. vanilla Cool Whip frosting

1 box Jello candy cane instant pudding mix (3.4 oz)

1 1/2 c. milk

2 Tbsp. crushed candy cane pieces

Instructions

1. In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until creamy. Stir in the milk. Fold in 1 1/2 c. cool whip frosting and set aside. Whisk together the pudding mix and milk. Let set for 5 minutes in the fridge.
2. Layer the crumbs, cream cheese mix, and pudding in parfait glasses. Top with the extra cool whip and sprinkle with candy cane pieces. Serve within an hour of making. They will keep in the refrigerator, but the layers will start to run together.

Notes

*Add a little bit of pink food color to increase the pink color of the pudding. *Use icing bags and tips to prepare the parfaits with clean edges.

KOOL AID PIE:

This very simple, fast and surprisingly full of flavor (and sweet) pie was a piece of cake- or pie.......

You can pick ANY flavor of KOOL AID- just make sure you get the small single serve packette that is UNSWEETENED..... and DO NOT ADD SUGAR. The sweetened condensed milk is the sweetener in this pie and it is PLENTY SWEET.

The recipe can be found at the link below:

http://unsophisticook.com/kool-aid-pie/

Here are some other really FUN KOOL AID ideas:

• Preschool Painting with Kool-Aid
• Rainbow Kool-Aid Snow Cones
• Orange Kool-Aid Crumble
• Kool-Aid Watercolor Painting
• Homemade Snow Cones
• Kool-Aid Slushies
• DIY Kool-Aid Lip Gloss
• Pink Lemonade Kool-Aid Pie (No Bake)
• Kool-Aid Cupcakes (Lemonade) 
• Dip Dye Yarn
• Kool-Aid Lip Gloss Two  
• Kool-Aid Sorbet

All of the above ideas can be found by following the link below:

http://www.mommyskitchen.net/2013/06/homemade-kool-aid-ice-cream-strawberry.html

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PUDDING PIE

(you can also can use this as a fruit dip- to make it low calorie- get sugar free instant pudding mix)

You can't go wrong with a pudding pie-

Simply follow the directions on the box and add to your favorite pie shell.

Another great idea is to take:

• 1 box-Instant pudding mix- (any flavor)I love Pistachio- it reminds me of almond cookies (delicious topped with a couple of maraschino cherries)
• 1 regular sized tub of Whipped Topping
• Pie Shell of your choice
• mix ingredients together
• put in pie shell
• refrigerate (or freeze) until firm

DELI DAY- TATER TOT SALAD & HOMEMADE KIT KATS

TATER TOT 'TATER SALAD

Cooking potatoes can be difficult and now easy for kids to do or safe to use in the microwave. Here is where I decided to use something that they love...... TATER TOTS!!!!

The measurements are not exact - because it depends on how many servings you are making, so since we had a fairly large class, I use the biggest bag of TATER TOTS  I could find.... and it was BIG!!!

Here is all you need (add in other items to suit your taste):

• Tater tots (I defrosted them in the refrigerator the night before and then gave them a quick warm up in the microwave right before we made the salad.  You could bake them in the oven for a little more crunchy tater tot salad- but we don't have an oven in class)
• Use a couple of cups of Tater Tots per 5 people
• 1/2 - 1 bag of cole slaw cabbage mix - already cut- the kind you buy in the store in the lettuce section where you only have to add the dressing (add 1/2 cup for less crunchy- up to a cup for more crunchy)
• approximately 1 cup of mayonnaise - stir it all up... add more mayo if it seems dry- you really can't mess this up
• chopped up celery

Suggested add-ins:

Chopped onions, hard boiled eggs, salt, pepper, red bell pepper

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HOMEMADE KIT KAT BARS

Our class version was a lot simpler than the original recipe that I found down below- due to allergies we omitted various ingredients. The best part of this is that you can stack these kit kats to your heart's content...... yummm!!!

CLASS VERSION:

(we made three trays of these with this recipe- approx 40 small bars)

• soften 1 stick of butter with 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1 box of crackers (I like "CLUB" square crackers)
• mix together with a spoon
• set aside
• melt chocolate- we used a mixture of milk and dark
• line a pan with tin foil or parchment paper** (prevents messy clean up and sticking)
• layer the bottom of the pans with crackers (we used "CLUB" crackers, you could use Ritz- but the CLUB crackers are square)
• smooth on your first layer of chocolate- we used milk
• spoon on a layer of butter and sugar mixture
• add another layer of crackers
• add another layer of chocolate- we used dark this time

We stopped at 2 layers because we were making 3 pans full (9x9 pans)- but you could keep going as high as you like.

Put the tray(s) into the refrigerator or freezer. We used the freezer due to time constraints.

Once chocolate is completely dry- remove from the fridge or freezer and lift out the tin foil or parchment paper (**if you didn't line the pan in the beginning- you will have a very hard time getting these out- hardened chocolate acts like glue to the pan)

Lay flat on a cutting board and carefully cut them  with a sharp knife-

*** AN ADULT MUST DO THIS- THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS THE KNIFE MAY SLIP***

Also- be very careful not to get the chocolate wet- like in the case of doing this on a hot day- taking them out of the freezer into a warm area will cause condensation. Water ruins the consistency of chocolate. This is true when you are trying to melt chocolate. Never melt chocolate on a damp dish- or if using a double boiler to melt chocolate- sometimes the steam will escape into the top pan. the chocolate gets ruined.  This is also true when trying to dip strawberries/fruit.... everything must be completely dry.

INGREDIENTS for MORE INVOLVED VERSION

serves Makes approximately 32 bars, active time 45 minutes, total time 2 hours, 45 minutes

• 75 Club crackers (about one box)
• 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup milk**
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter**
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butterscotch chips **

** These items were omitted due to allergy reasons in the classroom. We also only used the microwave and did not cook the butter & sugar mixture, When doing this on the stove, you will get a thicker consistency to your final product- (we just don't have a stove).

PROCEDURES

1. 
   
   Line 9- by 13-inch rectangular baking pan with one layer of Club crackers (you may need to break some to fit).
2. 2
   Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add graham cracker crumbs, dark brown sugar, milk, and granulated sugar. Bring to boil. Boil for five minutes, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat. Pour half of butter mixture over crackers in pan. Smooth surface with spatula.
3. 3
   Arrange another layer of Club crackers over butter mixture. Pour remaining butter mixture over surface. Smooth surface with spatula. Arrange a third layer of crackers over top.
4. 4
   Combine peanut butter, chocolate chips, and butterscotch chips in small saucepan. Melt over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Spread evenly over crackers.
5. 5
   Cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate two hours. Cut into 2-inch bars. Bars will keep for two weeks, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Fake BBQ DAY

Nothing is more fun then letting kids have fun with their food. I call this day JULY JOKE DAY ( a version of April Fool's, but in July)

ALMOST A HOT DOG

Below is my smaller version of the picture above. (Then I will include the website where you can make the full sized cake which is always a crowd pleaser).

In class we used:

Twinkies (or Little Debbie Cloud cakes)

Vanilla Frosting

red food coloring*

buttercup yellow food coloring*

pound cake

ziploc bags

• Unwrap the Twinkies
• make a small amount of RED frosting* & a small amount of Buttercup yellow frosting (* I prefer the gel food coloring- available at most craft stores in the cake decorating section)
• red frosting is your ketchup
• yellow is your mustard
• put each in a separate ziploc bag - to use for piping later- you don't need a lot of this- place to the side
• mix in a bowl- vanilla frosting and mostly red gel coloring and a little bit of yellow coloring (thus should make a redish-pink-with a small yellow tint)- keep working with it until you achieve a hot dog color
• frost the Twinkie with this frosting
• use the pound cake as the "bun"- I buy the pound cake from the grocery store-already sliced when possible
• extra pound cake- becomes French Fries if you cut them long ways (or you can use those potato sticks in the potato chip aisle if you prefer)
• garnish the hot dog with the "frosting mustard and/or ketchup"...... also do the fries.
• cut up green licorice (or sour gummy candy in squares to look like relish)

Link to the LARGE SIZED HOT DOG CAKE:

http://spoonful.com/recipes/hot-dog-and-fries-cake

HARDLY A HAMBURGER

The adorable treats are so easy to make!!

Here is all you need:

• mini peppermint patties (as the meat)
• vanilla frosting (colored red as the ketchup)
• Vanilla frosting (colored yellow as the mustard)
• vanilla wafers (as the top & bottom bun)
• *sesame seeds (for the top bun- attach with a little bit of corn syrup)
• * green dyed coconut shavings (for lettuce)

*These items we did not use in class due to allergies

Assemble the items so they look like little hamburgers. You can also use vanilla frosting (not colored) as mayonnaise.

Another cute and different version for the top of cupcakes:

You can find the recipe on the link below:

http://spoonful.com/recipes/dogs-burgers-cupcakes

FITNESS FRIDAY!!!!

This is one of my FAVORITE days, as I am very into fitness (just as much as I enjoy my sweets). To my delight, this was one of the kid's favorites too!! They always request another fitness day.........

I love to let them know that it is ok to indulge every once and awhile, but it is important to always include healthy foods in your everyday life.

Also important, is we talk about the importance of BEING HEALTHY in regards to fitness and health, and that everyone has a different body shape and type. It is important that they realize that a healthy self image and confidence should not be based on a "cookie cutter"(pun intended-LOL) model like in the magazines and on TV.
So the emphasis is not on how someone looks, but how making healthy choices makes you feel great and gives you energy for the day.

The students that know me on a daily basis have witnessed my healthy eating habits, and know of my fitness endeavors and that I eat HEALTHY throughout the day in order to keep my energy up and fuel my body.  I am very vocal on them eating a daily healthy breakfast, and that these "treats" that we make are not something that I eat everyday, but I save them for special occasions.

I model this healthy way of eating on a daily basis during the school year.  I also make sure that during this class, we incorporate outdoor play as much as possible, to show that daily activity is important, especially when indulging in desserts and sweets.

We spent the beginning of the class talking about healthy options and how to convert sugar listed on nutrition labels into a visual representation of "sugar grams".  We discussed the amount of sugar in popular items like soda. Students also learned to look at the first 5 ingredients on a food label, and that anything ending in -ose....is just really hidden sugars.

Healthy Smoothies:

(mix and match to your liking)

FRUIT JUICE SLUSHIES:

Frozen Fruit of your choice-

We used various combinations of Strawberries, Peaches & Pineapple

Mix with a fruit juice of your choice-

I like to use Vitamin Water Zero ( lemon or orange flavor)- there is no sugar in this and it is sweetened with Stevia (natural sweetener)

We also tried some other fruit juice combinations-

(you need to watch the sugar content on these- I personally never drink fruit juice because of the amount of sugar)

Citrus Blend

Strawberry Banana

BLEND IN THE BLENDER - ENJOY.....

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YOGURT TYPE SMOOTHIES:

(great for breakfast)

Greek 0% Vanilla Yogurt-
(or plain- plain has less sugar and a more tangy taste)good source of protein

FROZEN FRUIT of your choice

(you could use a flavored yogurt instead of vanilla and skip the frozen fruit, but I find that many fruit yogurts add so much sugar- it's better to add your own fruit to plain yogurt)

small amount of milk- or fruit juice

BLEND IN THE BLENDER - ENJOY.....

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SHERBERT- YOGURT DESSERT SMOOTHIE:

(better alternative to other dessert choices)

Small scoop of sherbert (we used orange)

Orange juice or orange flavored drink (I like orange Vitamin Water Zero)

VARIATION:

Add vanilla frozen yogurt or low fat milk for an Orange Cremesicle

BLEND IN THE BLENDER - ENJOY.....

****Ask you kids what they like... they know the best

Other smoothie ideas:

http://www.smoothieweb.com/



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DELICIOUS FROZEN YOGURT GRAHAM CRACKER SANDWICHES......

So many possibilities......a healthier alternative to ice cream sandwiches

We used the same recipe as above for the YOGURT TYPE SMOOTHIES, except we added:
More yogurt- for a thicker consistency
&
1 or 2 packettes of TRUVIA (stevia natural sweetener- to offset the tang of the extra yogurt)

Use your judgement- everyone's taste is different- you could also add natural honey, or agave nectar (lower glycemic index)

You may also want to add some vanilla extract- depending on what you prefer

Spoon on the fruit yogurt mixture on a graham cracker- top with another graham cracker like a sandwich........ freeze for a couple of hours

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GLYCEMIC--- WHAT????

GLYCEMIC INDEX QUICK GUIDE:

What is the GLYCEMIC INDEX?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The glycemic index, or glycaemic index, (GI) provides a measure of how quickly blood sugar levels (i.e., levels of glucose in the blood) rise after eating a particular type of food. The effects that different foods have on blood sugar levels vary considerably. The glycemic index estimates how much each gram of available carbohydrate (total carbohydrate minus fiber) in a food raises a person's blood glucose level following consumption of the food, relative to consumption of pure glucose.^[1] Glucose has a glycemic index of 100.

A practical limitation of the glycemic index is that it does not take into account the amount of carbohydrate actually consumed. A related measure, the glycemic load, factors this in by multiplying the glycemic index of the food in question by the carbohydrate content of the actual serving.

So pretty much- the higher the glycemic index- the faster your blood sugar level will rise, in comparison to a food or sweetener with a lower glycemic level.

(The numbers of the index has a directly proportionate relationship (high number, faster raise), (low number, slower raise in blood sugar level).

So if you were to have your tea with white sugar, your blood sugar raises a lot quicker than if you chose to have your tea with honey..........and even less with raw honey..... and less with agave nectar, etc.

This is imporotant for everyone to be aware of for many reasons and can contribute to that "sugar crash" feeling that we all know about after eating something high in sugar.

Anyone with diabetes also needs to be aware of the glycemic levels of food and sweeteners, as does everyone in order to prevent negative health effects in relation to sugar spikes due to foods.

Link to other glycemic index/glycemic load information:

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Glycemic_index_and_glycemic_load_for_100_foods.htm

Interested in more- about better snacks in regards to the Glycemic Index:

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/the-glycemic-index-diet-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html

IN A RUSH?

just use greek yogurt with fruit that you buy in the store and spoon this in graham crackers- freeze

I prefer making my own so I can control the amount of sugar that goes into them.

You could also try these with:

***Sugar Free Pudding
***Sugar Free pudding mixed with sugar free cool whip



ONE OF MY FAVORITE GO-TO SNACKS:
PLAIN GREEK YOGURT (0% or 2%)
Mixed with a small amount of sugar free JELLO mix
***
although I don't love the artificial sweetener in the sugar free jello mix, I only use a little. It creates a high protein, low sugar/low carb snack that satifies my sweet cravings

Link to other yummy recipes using Graham Crackers:
http://brands.nabisco.com/honeymaid/pages/recipes.aspx