Destroy a Machine

On my list last year for 100 things to do in the summer, I had "Take apart a machine." I got the idea from a book my mom had given me called Prime Time Together-- With Kids: Creative Ideas, Activities, Games, and Projects. I thought it was a fun idea and took one of my boys to the thrift store and got an old $4 VCR. And then it sad there annoying my wonderful husband until we finally destroyed it this past spring. With it being so hot all over the country (we're in the 100s again!) I thought it might be good to share an inside activity.

 

We sort of made this activity into a learning theme. I can't remember the exact books we got from the library, but here are some that would be good resources. I really love the Eyewitness Books and we have quite a few in our own library that I picked up at the thrift store.

After looking through the books, we made absolute sure our VCR was not plugged in.

Then we gathered a few tools.

All three of my kids took their turn twisting, prying, unscrewing, pulling, and exploring the VCR.

It was fun to see where the outside buttons connected once we pulled the cover off.

And to watch how the pulley worked.

Gears are also so very interesting to see in motion.

The circuit board (?) was not only fascinating for the kids to look at, but to touch and feel all the pokes.

I thought it was fun to imagine the pieces as a big city. I wish my husband was home when we took it apart because he understands more about what these things do. I guess maybe I could have read up on it too. :)

Anyway, after an hour plus of destroying and discovering. This is what was left. We may have to try it out again with a different machine. Have fun ruining something!

Food Friday | {Applesauce Cake}

It's time once again for another....FOOD FRIDAY!
This week, the girls and I decided to have a fun afternoon baking a new recipe.  
Since fall is the time for all things "apple" we thought our choice very fitting for some autumn baking.  

APPLESAUCE CAKE

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It has been fun being in the kitchen with my girls, creating things together.  

First, I had the girls collect all the ingredients.  Which is something I usually do for them- but I can see how having them grab the ingredients helps them get to see where things are kept.  Thus all the more helpful next time in the kitchen.

1.  Blend shortening, sugar, and eggs throughly.

Another benefit from baking together is the time we practice counting.  With each set of ingredients we add to the mixer, the girls take turns counting.  We count forwards and sometimes backwards.  Or we start at 20, count by 5's - etc.

Another education bonus to baking together, is that for your older kids, it gives them a chance to practice reading.  Ems read each step of the recipe to us.

  2. Add applesauce and raisins.  


We talked about measuring cups and how the measurements work.  

I showed them how to measure flour and we did an experiment on how if you pack flour instead of lightly spooning it into measuring cups - you can add too much flour.  The girls thought this was facinating.   It was really a lot of fun for me to teach the kids about stuff like this.  

3. Add flour and spices.  Then spray bundt pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

Then it was time to ENJOY!

Happy Baking with your kids!

Food Friday | {Pizza Buns}

Wanna have a little fun for your lunch time - grab the kids and teach them how to make some

 "Pizza Buns"

I had a lot of fun teaching the kids how to make a favorite lunchtime recipe...

(forgive the grainy photos - my little point and shoot camera was set on "macro")

Ingredients:
Can of refrigerator Biscuits
Pizza Sauce
Cheese
Toppings of Choice

First:  Check the temperature on the biscuit can and preheat the oven.

Then the fun started right away as I explained to the kids how to make the biscuit can "pop" when you rip the wrapper off.  When cooking with my kids - I am always excited to share the little things that are new to them - like "biscuit popping".

Then the kids each took a biscuit and started stretching it out.
We press the edges first and then form a larger circle.  Be careful not to stretch it too thin.

Then place stretched biscuits on a non-greased cookie sheet.
(there is enough grease in the biscuits to keep them from sticking - I try not to think about that :)

Then the kids each took turns ladling a spoonful of pizza sauce on to each biscuit.
Bring it just shy of the edges to make a "crust".

Top with cheese!!!! YUM

And the add toppings of your choice.  We just had pepperoni - but be creative - another favorite is sliced olives.  What kid doesn't LOVE olives.  

Then bake in oven according to biscuit time and temperature.

Clean up your mess and then sit very cutely in front of the oven door watching your little pizza bun treasures cooking away.

When the timer rings - grab your over mitts and remove the "buns" from the oven.

Then it's time to enjoy!

Since our first lesson on making "Pizza Buns" - my kids have made them twice on their own.
 It is now the most requested Saturday lunch and after school snack.

Mini Theme: Bees, Honey & Hives

 On my summer list was a "honeycomb" project I wanted to do just because. Maybe it's that there are so many bees out in the summer? Whatever the case, we got to the project this past week (I know, most of you are probably focused on school now, but really, this is not a seasonal project.) Before we started the project I wanted the boys to learn a little more about bees, so I checked out a DVD called "City of Bees" for them to watch. It was actually pretty fascinating.

 After watching the DVD I got out some peanut butter and honey (I prefer "spun" honey which I have yet to see in Utah, so I go with "creamy" honey, which in all reality is probably just about the same thing. When I can I have people bring me my favorite Sue Bee honey from Iowa.)

The boys picked the stuff in the bear because it is obviously more fun to put on a sandwich. I wanted to find some honeycomb for them to try, but I never found any, even at health food stores. So, we finished up our mini theme with the original project that inspired it all.

A cereal beehive. This is one of many great ideas I saw in one of the Mailbox Yearbooks. I don't remember which year it was, but they are all good. (There are links on the side to a few of them and check your library too!)

Supplies: Honeycomb shaped cereal, cardstock or cardboard, glue, yellow ink pad, and a black marker/pen.

Draw out a picture of a beehive on the paper.

Glue on the cereal pieces.

My son would leave little gaps sometimes and when he'd find a smaller piece to fill them with he said he was putting together a puzzle.

Once the beehive is filled, press thumb on yellow ink pad and then on the paper. These will be the bees, so you can have just one or dozens.

Use a marker or a pen to fill in stripes, wings, legs and stingers.

Ta-da! Done.

Just a few facts I was amazed by from the DVD:

Most bees are female. They do all the work. The male bees are called drones. They get pampered by the worker bees. They do not have stingers. Their only job is to mate with the females. Mating occurs in the sky, not at the hive. A queen will mate with up to 18(!) drones and will be able to lay eggs for 7 years. Once a drone has mated with the queen, he instantly dies. See? seriously fascinating stuff in bee world!

One more thing you might want to try, is if you can find somewhere to go and see a beehive. We saw these earlier in the summer at the city library. I guess they harvested the honey out of them this past weekend. (If we'd have known, I would have tried to get us there.)

This is just a short clip from Youtube of the video, City of Bees, that we watched. I am sure there are tons of other great books and videos about bees that you can choose from. (We have this Curious George DVD and one of the episodes is about a beekeeper.)

City of Bees

Time For Kids: Bees!

Pure Natural Comb Honey from Durham's Bee Farm