Crayon Cakes

This isn't an original idea. I got this reciepe from a friend who got it from a friend; you know the drill. But, it is so brilliant I wanted to share! I love using crayon cakes for rubbings and for other small motor skill activities. For the season, I create cakes only with red, orange, green, yellow, and brown. You will see how we use these later in the month.

Supplies: old crayons, muffin tins or metal candy molds (if you use plastic as in the photo reduce cooking time), and a crock pot

Process: Soak the crayons for about five to ten minutes until the wrappers get loose. Have the children help you tear the paper off. Break the crayons into small pieces and fill the molds until they are heaping.

Place the top of the candy mold on top and snap closed. If you need to add more crayons open and do so now and make sure the mold is filled.

Place your molds into the crock pot and place on high for an hour and a half. Let cool and pop crayons out.

Teach Well: Let your children be involved in the process of creating items to use for another project. It gives them ownership for the items in the classroom.

Allergy Free Snack List

Have children with allergies in your classroom? Here is a list to handout to parents giving them an idea of what food they can bring into the classroom that makes every child feel safe and included. This list is peanut, soy, egg, and chocolate free. Please remember to always look at labels, even if the item is on this list, to make sure all ingredient are safe.

Allergy Free Snack Option List

· Ritz Crackers
· Jelly Beans
· Fresh Fruit
· Canned Fruit
· Vegetables
· Only Home-Made Rice Krispie Treats
· Jell-O
· Animal Crackers
· Club Crackers
· Vanilla Wafers
· Only Regular Fig Newtons (not Fruit)
· Apple Sauce
· Tortillas
· Jam
· Bread
· Raisins
· Dry Cereal
· Pretzels
· Popcorn
· Fruit Leathers
· Fish Crackers
· Fruit Snacks
· Honey
· Yogurt
· Cheese Sticks
· Cottage Cheese
· Cheese and Crackers
· Chips
· Sandwich Meat
· Pop Tarts
· Tootsie Pops
· Jerkey
· Candy Canes
· Sugar Wafers
· Oreos
· Texas Sheet Cake
· Pretzels
· Teddy Grams
· Fruit Dip

Purple Cows

I love to incorporate poetry in my curriculum when I can. The poem The Purple Cow is funny and makes a child "think again."

The Purple Cow

I never saw a Purple Cow,

I never hope to see one;

But I can tell you, anyhow,

I'd rather see than be one.

by Gelett Burgess

Treats in the classroom are fun and rare. When we read this poem I always make sure we make Purple Cows afterwards!

Supplies: small cup, spoon, vanilla ice cream, and grape soda

Process: Put a scoop of ice cream in the cup. Have the soda in a pourable measuring cup. Have the children pour their own soda into their cup. Drink and enjoy!

Teach Well: Give the children small cups and spoons to help scoop out the ice cream from the bottom of their cups. About 30 percent of the children will have the experience and decide that they don't like it. That's OK! It's about having an experience and trying something new!

Pigs in the Mud

I got so excited yesterday when I went into the attic and pulled out my "spring" and "farm" boxes! It was like Christmas all over again. I haven't looked in the boxes for a year and I had forgot what was inside! One of my favorite centers is "Pigs in the Mud." I found little piggies at the dollar store years ago. I make "mud" from my favorite play dough recipe that I got at a conference about eight years ago. I love to use my liquid watercolors to color my play dough because the colors can be so vibrant and beautiful. But you can use food coloring and it will do the trick just fine!

This recipe was given freely without copy right. Heidi Stalder from Lane Community College compiled Magic Mixtures - Recipes for Fun and Learning. She believed that all should gain from her work... there are so many good recipes! I am sure I will be sharing more as time goes by.

Sauce Pan Play Dough

This play dough is quick and easy to make. It is smooth and requires no kneading. It makes a small quantity and may be doubled or tripled but it can be hard to stir.
1 Tbs. oil (I use baby oil)
1 cup water
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 tsp. alum
a few drops of food coloring

Process: Mix dry ingredients in a sauce pan. Add food coloring, water, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes (really!). As it is cooking the mixture will change from a milky color to a translucent color. Remove from heat. Let it cool for a minute. Roll to form a ball. Cool. Store in a sealed container.