Here's the Scoop!

                                                                                Our preK students have a science unit on liquids and solids.  One concept we learn is temperature changes solids and liquids.  We do many activities and experiments but the  favorite---Making ice cream!

The past few years, we have made  Tin Can Ice Cream  It is really yummy but there are many obstacles.  First is finding large tin cans and second is the weather because we have to do this activity outdoors.   So am I very excited to find a new easy recipe that will achieve the same results (we get eat homemade ice cream...oh and learn how liquids can change into solids. Yea...that, too.)  I found this recipe in August 2012 issue of Woman's Day magazine.  It is just three ingredients.   It is a great recipe for children because it is so easy.  Cooking is always a great opportunity to reinforce reading and math skills.  I made this over the weekend and it is so so good.  I won't bother you with the nutritional information...come on it's ice cream.  Here' the scoop---

Vanilla Ice Cream
2 cups heavy cream
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Using an electric mixer, beat all ingredients in a large bowl. Beat about 3-5 minutes until mixture is thick and stiff.  Place into a a freezer safe container (I used the large rectangular plastic ware).  Cover and freeze until firm (about eight hours or overnight).  Eat within two weeks (that should not be a problem).

I hope you are having fun with National Ice Cream Month!

A Visit From St. Nicholas

 

 Merry Christmas!  Today is Clement C. Moore's birthday---author of A Visit from St. Nicholas.  Of course, it is more commonly known as The Night Before Christmas or Twas the Night Before Christmas.  The poem,  A Visit from St. Nicholas, was first published in a New York newspaper on December 23, 1823.

Celebrate Christmas this week. Read A Visit from St. Nicholas.  Make some Christmas cookies with your kids.  Make some homemade Christmas ornaments or start on gifts for Grandma and Grandpa. I have some Christmas crafts I am determined to start this week.

These are my favorites illustrations of A Visit from St. Nicholas...not in order.  Favorite? Jan Brett!  I love the illustrations of the North Pole and Santa's Village.

Enjoy some Christmas fun this week!

Tomie De Paola

Jan Brett

Mary Engelbreit

Things to Do

Finally, the heat has broke and it is tolerable to head outdoors.  What can you and your family do this week in the Peoria area? 

You can go to a concert.
***Wednesday, July 11th--Brown Bag Concert, Peoria Courthouse Plaza,  11:30-1 p.m.  FREE
***Thursday, July 12th--Thursday Night Jazz, CEFCU Stage at the Landing, Peoria Riverfront, 7-9 p.m. FREE
***Friday, July 13th--Metamora Summer Concerts,  Metamora Square, 7:30-9 p.m.   FREE

You can go to a ballgame.
Peoria Chiefs will be in town  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (July 11-14).  Go to the Peoria Chiefs website for times, ticket prices and promotions.

You can celebrate National Ice Cream Month.
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2012/07/national-ice-cream-month.html

Cool Books About Ice Cream

Summer Olympics-London 2012

Olympic Art-MCP 2010

The summer Olympics begin this month in London. The opening ceremony is Friday, July 27th.  You have plenty of time to plan some fun activities or even a party for your child, your family, and even your friends.

I always look forward to the Olympics.  We always celebrate the Winter Olympics in our classroom so I thought I'd share some ideas for you to do at home this summer.

*Create some Team USA t-shirts w/fabric paints. Family Fun magazine has lots and lots of ideas for Team USA t-shirts and crafts.  Search 'Fourth of July' on their website.

*Make an Olympic torch-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/02/winter-olympics-olympic-torch.html

*Record Medals for Team USA-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/02/winter-olympics-medals.html

*Art Ideas-
http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/02/winter-olympics.html

*Celebrate your heritage and root for your home country!  Search for coloring pages for English tourist sites and flags of world countries.

*Buy medals at your local party store.

*Bake scones and have tea. I did a quick search at Allrecipes.com  and found many easy scone recipes.  Children love to cook and so much learning happens when you cook with your child.

*Watch some movies---Disney's Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, Sword and the Stone and Mary Poppins are good start! :-)

*Head to your local library, search online and explore, learn and discover countries around our world.

*Use Team USA colors or Olympic colors (blue, black, yellow, red and green).  Decorate with streamers and balloons.  Celebrate!

*Want to plan a party?  Invite four other families.  Assign each family an Olympic color and have them  wear t-shirts in that color.

*Bake cupcakes.  Search 'Olympic cupcake ideas' for more cupcake images than you would think possible.
Make it easy use white frosting and add five candy-coated chocolates. This idea came from the June/July issue of  Family Fun magazine.

June/July  2012 Family Fun Magazine

Celebrate the 2012 Summer Olympics and learn about our world with your child!

Happy Birthday, Boys!

 Why God Made Little Boys 

By Betsey Clark

God made a world out of his dreams

Of majestic mountains, oceans and streams,

Prairies and plains, and wooded land,

Then paused and thought, "I need someone to stand

On top of the mountains, to conquer the seas,

Explore the plains, and climb the trees-- 
Someone to start out small and grow
Sturdy and strong like a tree." And so--
He created boys, full of spirit and fun,
To explore and conquer, to romp and run,
With dirty faces and bandaged shins,
With courageous hearts and boyish grins.
And when he completed the task He'd begun,
He surely said, "That's a job well done!"

National Ice Cream Month

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan (who was known for his fondness of jelly beans) declared July National Ice Cream Month.  Cool idea!  He also proclaimed the third Sunday of July National Ice Cream Day (July 15th, 2012).  As a matter of civic duty and American pride, I will be celebrating and eating ice cream this month.

Here are some ideas from the summer of 2010---

http://metamoracommunityprek.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-scream-you-scream-we-all.html

Danielle Hatch, entertainment writer for the Peoria Journal Star, wrote a list of hot spots for cool treats last summer---http://www.pjstar.com/entertainment/x633529625/Ice-Cream-Its-all-cool

Stay cool!