Monster Pops

Today the tweens made ghoulish creatures out of cake balls and chocolate. They had a blast making them and an even better time eating them. This is a fun activity for really any age group, even the really big kids. You know who you are!

To make cake balls all you do is bake a cake according to the package directions. Let it cool and then in a bowl mix it up with 3/4 can of frosting. Using a small cookie scoop or your hands shape into balls. You can usually get about 50 balls per package of cake mix. Let the balls firm up in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes. Chocolate melts work the best for dipping but regular chocolate chips with a little oil works really well too. Melt the chocolate. Dip the stick in the chocolate and then stick it into the ball. Dip the ball into the chocolate letting the excess chocolate drip down. Have fun decorating them. Stick them in the fridge or freezer to harden the chocolate if necessary. It's better to keep the cake balls in the fridge after they are made.

Christmas Treat/Lanterns

Also in December I did a family Christmas Treat/Lantern program. The kids and parents were able to make a Christmas treat jar or a lantern.

To make the lanterns you need:

Washed out Spaghetti jars
Tissue Paper, all colors
Elmer's glue or Mod Podge
Sponge or regular paint brushes

Cut the tissue paper into strips. On the outside of the jar brush the glue lightly. Place the tissue paper over the glue. Then brush more glue over the tissue paper. Repeat until the jar is completely covered with tissue paper. Let dry. Use for putting treats in or a candle.

Pumpkin Painting

Upcoming Craft Preview

On July 8th at 2pm school age children will learn about whales, dolphins and sharks. They will also make a Shark Hat.

Pre-school Story Hour

On April 13, 2010 was pre-school story hour for 3 and 4 year olds.

Books read: Rabbits Birthday Kite by Maryann MacDonald
If you take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff
Abigail Spells by Anna Alter
A Child's Good Morning Book by Margaret Wise Brown
Round is a Pancake by Joan Sullivan Baranski
Babar's ABC by Laurent de Brunhoff

Music: Teddy Bear Song
Top of the Morning
If You're Happy and You Know It

Fingerplays used: From 52 Programs for Preschoolers by Diane Briggs: My Garden, Five Plump Peas, and A Little Plant

Craft: Kites

Miss Karin focused on the letter C this week.

Think Spring Art

Toddler Story Time

Toddler Story time was on February 11 and another one will be on February 25.

Books Used: Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Clifford's Valentines by Norman Bridwell

First Picture Nursery Rhymes by Usborne

Mouse's First Snow by Lauren Thompson

Songs Sang: Wheels on the Bus

Eency Weency Spider

Head, Shoulder, Knees, and Toes

If You're Happy and You Know It

CD Used: Toddler Time Classics

Craft: Tissue Paper Valentines

What you need for the craft. Construction paper, tissue paper cut into small pieces, glue, and sparkly decorations (optional). Cut out a heart using the construction paper. Glue pieces of the tissue paper all over the heart. Decorate as desired.

Pre-School Story Hour

On February 9th pre-school age children, 4 & 5 year olds, heard Valentine stories, participated in finger plays and songs, and made tissue paper Valentines. They also made heart mobiles.

Books used: The Sleepy Little Alphabet by Judy Sierra
Mouse's First Snow by Lauren Thomspon
Can You Say Peace? by Karen Katz
Everybody Bonjours! by Leslie Kimmelman

Music used: It's Toddler Time by Carol Hammett
Toddler tunes 26 classic songs for toddlers by Cedarmont Kids Singers
Jim Gill sings do re mi on his toe leg knee by Jim Gill
Toddler Time Classics by Kids Direct

For the craft of tissue paper Valentines you will need construction paper, tissue paper, glue, and sparkly decorations if desired. Cut out a heart from the construction paper and glue small pieces of the tissue paper onto the heart. Decorate as desired.

For the heart mobiles you need construction paper, yarn or ribbon, and tape. Cut out hearts on the construction paper and then tape the hearts to the yarn or ribbon.

Tie Dye Cupcakes

I think that these tie dye cupcakes turned out great and it's fairly easy to do.

What you need: Box of white cake mix, food coloring, muffin pans and muffin baking cups, 1 big bowl, 6 smaller bowls, and spoons.

In the one big bowl make the cake mix as directed on the box. Then split the batter evenly into the remaining 6 smaller bowls. Dye each bowl of batter a different color. I did pink, yellow, blue, green, purple, and orange. Line the muffin tins with the baking cups and then put a spoonful each of the colored batter into each cup. So that you end up with each baking cup having all six colors or various colors you want it to have. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes.

While the cupcakes were baking we frosted plain cupcakes with different colored frosting. It was a very sweet and fun program.

Toddler Story Time

Toddler Story time was on December 10, 2009.



Books Used: Numbers by Michel Blake

There's Something at the Mail Slot by Jez Alborough

First Snow by Emily McCully

First Picture Nursery Rhymes by Jo Litchfield



Finger Plays: Santa in the Chimney

Santa and his Sleigh



Music Used: Toddler Tunes by Cedarmont Kids Classic



Craft: Paper Chains

Pre-School Story Hour

On December 8, 2009 Hobart Library had two pre-school story hour sessions, 1pm and 6pm.

Books Used: Tyrannoclause by Janet Lawler

Merry Christmas, Splat by Rob Scotton

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Berry

Christmas at the Top of the World by Tim Coffey

Songs from the Toddler Tunes Cd: Wheels on the Bus

Are You Sleeping

Ba Ba Black Sheep

Eency Weensy Spider

Craft: Reindeer Paper Bag Puppets from Enchanted Learning online.

Pre-Teen: Snow Globes

On December 9, 2009 pre-teens made snow globes. I think they turned out pretty cute.

What you need: baby food jars (empty and washed out), little figurines, water, and white snow glitter, glue, and ribbon.

Glue the figurine to the bottom of the jar. Once dry add the water and snow glitter. Put the lid on the jar and secure tightly. Add a colored ribbon around the lid for decoration.

Toddler Story Time

On December 3rd at 10:30am toddlers heard stories and made a Reindeer puppet.

Books Used: My Very First Look at Colors by Christiane Gunzi

M is for Mistletoe by Tanya Stone

Hello Kitty Hello Love!

The Three Bears Christmas by Kathy Duval

Music: It's Toddler Time

Fingerplay: Two Little Black Birds

Craft: Reindeer Paper Bag Puppets

www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/paperbag/