31 Days of Halloween with kids! Glow in the Dark Food - Day 15

HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN


Glow in the Dark Food!

Found this idea at "Our Best Bites"
The secret to glowing food is tonic water, regular or diet tonic water will work.  It contains Quinine and when used with a black light it will glow in the dark!  They added a little bit of tonic water to a container of Crystal Light Lemonade in the picture below.  They added a little tonic to even Jello in the other  picture.  So basically anything that is made with water as an ingredient can glow in the dark!  So just add the tonic to whatever drink you are serving this Halloween and show off with a black light and everyone will love it!

Glow in Dark Slime
Everyone loves a little science experiment!

Homemade Slime

1 teaspoon borax powder

1 1/2 C water, divided -substitute a little bit of water for tonic water for a glow in dark slime

4 oz (1/2 C)  Elmer's glue, clear or white (clear glue is used in the green and white glue  in the blue)

- food coloring

Add borax powder to 1 cup of water and stir to dissolve.  Set aside.  Pour glue into a medium mixing bowl and add 1/2 C water. Add a few drops of food coloring until desired color is reached and then stir to mix glue solution until smooth.  Pour the borax mixture into the glue mixture and watch the solids start to form.  Stir for a few moments and then use your hands to gather the mass.  The mixture will be very soft and wet.  Keep kneading until it firms up and feels dry.  Discard excess liquid in bowl. The more you knead and play with the slime the firmer it will become.  Store in a Ziploc bag or air tight container and the slime will keep indefinitely.

Chocolate Covered Insect Day with kids!

OK......its Halloween time so we will post this one, lol!

Chocolate Covered Insect Day

When is "Chocolate Covered Insect Day"?

National Chocolate Covered Insect Day is always observed on October 14 each and every year.

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What is this Holiday for?

Are you ready to try chocolate covered insects for a sweet treat today? Well today’s the day to do it if you've never tried it before. They are known as a delicacy in places like Thailand, China and Australia.  Go ahead; just close your eyes and bite!

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What is this Origin of this Holiday?

Our research did not find the creator, or the origin of this holiday. This holiday is referred to as a "National" day. 

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Where can I get chocolate covered insects?

http://www.teachersource.com/BiologyLifeScience/InsectCandy/ChocolateCoveredInsects.aspx

http://www.candywarehouse.com/insects.html

http://www.candyfavorites.com/Chocolate-Covered-Crickets-6-Pack-pr-1959.html?utm_source=googleproducts&utm_medium=listings&utm_campaign=googlebase

Book to Read - http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Covered-Ants-Stephen-Manes/dp/0590409611
 

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Instructions for making your very own Chocolate Covered Insects!

Things You'll Need:

• 8 to 12 dozen mealworms, crickets or grasshoppers
• Colander
• 12 by 12 inch screen or strainer
• Large freezer bag
• Paper towels
• Baking sheet
• Microwave-safe bowl
• 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate pieces or chips
• Spoon
• Wax paper 

Prepare the Insects

1. Place meal-worms, crickets or grasshoppers in the colander and cover with a screen or a large strainer to prevent insects from escaping. Rinse thoroughly and drain.

2. Put the rinsed insects inside the freezer bag. Place bag in freezer for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 225 degrees.
3. Cover the baking sheet with a single layer of paper towels. Distribute the insects evenly on the baking sheet. Place in preheated oven and bake for 1-1/2 hours.
4. Remove the wings and legs of the roasted crickets and grasshoppers when cooled.
5. Pour three-quarters of the semi-sweet chocolate pieces or chips in the microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on 50 percent power for one minute or until the chocolate begins to turn shiny. Add the remaining chips to the melting chocolate, stir with the spoon, and continue microwaving until shiny and melted. Don't overcook the chocolate or it becomes grainy.
6. Dip individual roasted insects into the melted chocolate, working quickly before the chocolate firms. Place each chocolate-covered insect on a large sheet of wax paper until chocolate hardens.
7. Refrigerate the chocolate-covered insects in a covered container where they can remain for up to three weeks.

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How can you celebrate this holiday?

Blog with us about it!-  Please share your comments, ideas, pictures or in site about this holiday.

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 Chocolate-Covered Ants

31 Days of Halloween with kids! Spider Cupcakes - Day 14

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Halloween Spider Cupcakes
Make these adorable cupcakes by printing out our template HERE, place parchment paper over top, melt some chocolate chips in microwave and pour in a pastry bag or simply use a sandwich bag and cut a small hole in the tip.  Then begin to trace the lines and when complete place them in the freezer until firm.  

Click HERE to download our spider web template that you can print out and then trace to make your own spider cupcakes.

31 Days of Halloween with kids! Shrunken Apple Heads - Day 13

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Shrunken Apple Heads
These shrunken heads, made from peeled, carved, and dried apples, are as spooky as the scariest Halloween masks -- and just as much fun to create. Martha transforms a Granny Smith apple into a truly frightening fruit; although any variety of apple will work, Granny Smiths are ideal for this project because of their round shape.

Tools and Materials
- Firm, unbruised apple, preferably Granny Smith
- Knife
- Marker or pencil
- 1 cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon salt
- Stick or branch
Shrunken Apple Head How-To
1. Peel and core the apple.
2. Using a pencil or marker, draw facial features, including eyes, a nose, and a mouth, on the apple; be sure to draw the features large enough so they won't vanish when the apple shrinks.
3. Using the outlines as your guide, carve the apple to resemble a skull.
4. Combine lemon juice and salt in bowl. Soak the apple for 30 seconds. Pat dry.
5. Set the apple in a warm, dry spot; after several days, the apple will shrink, and the features will distort.
6. Insert a stick or branch into the bottom of the head and place it in a vase.

Shrunken Apple Head Punch

Ingredients
6 cups cups pasteurized apple cider
1 frozen lemonade, concentrate, thawed
Ice cubes, optional

In punch bowl, combine apple cider, undiluted lemonade concentrate, and ice cubes (if using). Float apple heads in punch. Serves 12

31 Days of Halloween with kids! Trick or Treat Party Favors - Day 12

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Trick or Treat Party Favors

Last year we created these adorable Halloween Cones.  We used Scrap-booking Paper, Tissue Paper, Ribbon and Tape!  We created the tags by tracing our Halloween Themed Cookie Cutters on the paper and then cut them out.

Stay tuned for our Trick or Treats bags we are making this year!

Columbus Day with kids!

Columbus Day honors the explorer Christopher Columbus, who first landed in the New World on October 12, 1492. While Columbus's nationality has never been positively identified, many believe he was of Italian descent, and throughout the nineteenth century, Italian-Americans held celebrations in cities across the United States to honor his memory. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 Columbus Day. President Richard Nixon later declared Columbus Day a national holiday to be observed the second Monday of each October. 

The Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, the three ships Christopher Columbus famously brought to the Americas from Spain, are integral parts of Columbus history. Use this aspect of the holiday to enjoy a family outing and learn at the same time. Visit a local ship museum, take a ferry ride or tour a local naval base. Children can learn about ship structure and travel capabilities and compare this information to the types of ships Columbus sailed to the "new world," helping to foster better understanding of the journey for the entire family.

To make these adorable ships from egg cartons click HERE for the step by step by Kaboose

To make this milk carton ship click HERE for step by step directions from DLTK

Here is a Christopher Columbus Skit you can act out.  By clicking on each scene it will bring you to the website that has the words.  (by Augusta Stevenson and found at apples4theteacher)

Chrisopher Columbus

by Augusta Stevenson

SCENE I

SCENE 2

SCENE 3

Read this FREE online Chapter Book called "The True Story of Christopher Columbus" by Elbridge S. Brooks is brought to you from Apples4theTeacher.com.  You can find the online book HERE


Suggested Reading:


 If You Were There in 1492: Everyday Life in the Time of Columbus, by Barbara Brenner (ages 4-8)











Christopher Columbus (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3), by Stephen Krensky (ages 6-8)












You Wouldn't Want to Sail With Christopher Columbus!: Uncharted Waters You'd Rather Not Cross (You Wouldn't Want to...), by Fiona MacDonald, David Antram, David Salariya (ages 9-12)











 Schoolhouse Rock, "America Rocks" DVD

31 Days of Halloween with kids! A Few Crafts - Day 11

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Paper Skeleton:

 You’ve seen the paper skeletons at the store, but why buy one when you can make your own! Easy instructions and all the patterns you will need from Kaboose.  Click HERE for the templates to print out.

Spooky Eyeball Bucket: 

Click HERE for the details 

 

 

 

Friendly Ghost Flag:

Click HERE for the details

 

 

 

Coffee Filter Vampire Bats:

Click HERE for the details

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some more recommended Halloween Books: 

 

10-10-10

Today is October 10th, 2010

10-10-10

Fun Facts:
.   This morning at 10:10 and 10 seconds, it will be 10/10/10 – 10:10:10, the only time that will happen for another 100 years.

Chaos Theory:

10/10/10; Sunday, October 10, 2010: Mathematics

101010 (base two (binary)) equals 42 (base ten). Oddly enough, this is evenly divisible by the number of days in a week (7 (lucky)); and equally oddly, is also evenly divisible by the number 6 (which is generally designated as being unlucky). Both a Ying and Yang situation seem to be incorporated into this date.

10 (base ten) = 1010 (base two)

(base ten): 10 x 10 = 100

(base two): 10 x 10 = 100

The binary attributes of 101010 lends itself to use by the sciences of fractals (recursive geometric shapes) and chaos theory (the butterfly effect).

31 Days of Halloween with kids! Spider Web Wall - Day 10

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Spider Web Wall
We found this excellent tutorial on how to create a spider web on your wall with black yarn and nails at Craft & Stitch....click HERE for the step by step

31 Days of Halloween with kids! Dry Apple Bobbing! Day 9

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Halloween Party idea

Dry Apple Bobbing!  This has to be one of the best ideas if you are planning to bobb for apples at your kids Halloween Party!  No more getting them wet or having them stick there face in the cold water, lol.  You can do this from a tree outside or even use a swing set.  You could bring this inside if you have any of those hooks in your ceiling that would hang a plant from.  Here is the how-to video from Southern Living:

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid36425239001?bclid=1796131052&bctid=1786874729