Earth Day Freebies!

Here is a round up on all the Earth Day freebies being giving out tomorrow and some are all week long!  

New - Free 12 page Earth Day Activities Book for Kids (PDF)

National Parks: FREE Park Admission all week!

NPS

A young birdwatcher scans the skies at North Cascades National Park Complex, Washington.

April 16-24, 2011
Get out and discover something new about your 394 national parks. This year's focus, Healthy Parks, Healthy People, highlights the connection between human and environmental health and the vital role America's national parks play in both.
Whether you prefer a 20-mile backcountry hike in Yosemite or a leisurely stroll around Philadelphia's Independence Hall, moving outside is good for you and offers a chance to explore these places you own. Search the events calendar to find your National Park Week "must-dos," and share your national park experience on Facebook or Twitter.

Calendar of Events
Free Admission
Volunteer Day (April 16)
Junior Ranger Day (April 23)

Disney Store: FREE Reusable Bag on Earth Day 4/22!

Head over to the Disney Store 4/22 and receive a FREE Reusable Shopping Bag when you bring in and recycle 5 plastic bags. 

*Limit one bag per Guest, while supplies last.

_________________________________________________

Starbucks Store: FREE cup of coffee or tea on Earth Day 4/22!

Bring in a travel cup and receive a free coffee or tea at participating stores

Great video...

Target Store: FREE Reusable Bag starting 4/17!

Reusable. Stylish. And it’s free.

Earth Day exclusive: On April 17, 2011, we'll be giving
away free reusable bags in stores (with purchase) to our
first one million guests. Limit one per guest. Last year,
most stores ran out within a few hours. So get yours while
supplies last.

When you use a Target reusable bag ten times, you’ll
keep 25 plastic bags out of landfills. Start saving now,
and shop our exclusive collection of reusable bags.

Earth Day Freebie from Origins 4/22!

Earth Day 4/22 bring your empty cosmetic packaging –everything from bottles, tubes, jars, deodorant sticks and compacts regardless of the brand- into your local Origins store to be recycled and receive a free sample!  Here is the form - http://www.origins.com/cms/special_offers/in_store_trade_in_20110422.tmpl

Lowe's Store: FREE Tree on Earth Day 4/23!

Click on image for more info or to find a store

Other Earth Day events:

Before you throw away your old flip flops, donate them. Old Navy stores are collecting old flip flops from April 22 (Earth Day) through May 21. The flip flops will be recycled by a company called Terracycle, and used in playground equipment for children.

FREE Plant Earth's Planet Earth, Series 1 download from i-Tunes !   To download Planet Earth’s Planet Earth, Series 1, you need to have iTunes.  http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/download/?id=285558902&AID=10480621&PID=2026489

Make sure you check back and we will continue to post any more freebies as they become available!

Pineapple Upside down Cake Day -

​          It seems like every day's a holiday in the foodie community, which isn't surprising since people generally celebrate holidays by eating.  The Pineapple Upside-down Cake is labeled as such because, while you pour the fruit into the bottom of the cake pan before covering it with batter, you later flip the cake onto a platter after baking and serve it upside-down (with the pineapple showing on top). This "topping" is often made from fresh pineapple rings with maraschino cherries in the center of each ring.

The glossy, fruity cake is suspected to date back to the 1920s, when the Maraschino cherry and pineapple were popular, readily available products to the American public. Thought to have been inspired by skillet cakes cooked on the stove by settlers lacking ovens, the pineapple upside-down cake was popularized by the Hawaiian Pineapple Company (later renamed Dole), when they published a series of ads featuring pineapple recipes in 1925 in numerous women's magazines.  Below are 2 recipes one from scratch and the other using cake mix.  You could also use a muffin pan and make individual cakes. 

Easy Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 1 (20 ounce) can sliced pineapple

10 maraschino cherries 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix

DIRECTIONS:

1.

Melt the butter over medium high heat in the iron skillet. Remove from the heat and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly to cover the butter. Next, arrange pineapple rings around the bottom of the pan, one layer deep. Place a maraschino cherry into the center of each pineapple ring. Prepare the cake mix as directed by the manufacturer, substitute some of the pineapple juice for some of the liquid in the directions. Pour the batter over the pineapple layer.

2.

Bake as directed by the cake mix directions. Cool for 10 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a plate. Do not let the cake cool too much or it will be stuck to the pan.

OR THIS RECIPE IS FROM SCRATCH:
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Makes one 9-inch cake 7 slices canned unsweetened pineapple (20-ounce can) 3 tablespoons unsalted butter ¾ cup packed light brown sugar 19 maraschino cherries 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons buttermilk ½ teaspoon vanilla 1 cup all-purpose flour ¾ cup granulated sugar ¾ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons (¾ stick) unsalted butter, softened 6 tablespoons buttermilk 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Have ready a 9×2-inch round cake pan. Drain pineapple and place in one layer on paper towels to absorb the excess juice. 2. Place the 3 tablespoons unsalted butter in the cake pan. Place the pan in the oven until the butter is melted. Tilt to coat all sides with butter. The extra butter will settle in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the bottom of the pan. 3. Place one pineapple ring in the center of the pan and arrange six more around it. Place the maraschino cherries in the center of each ring and in the spaces between them. 4. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, 2 tablespoons of buttermilk and vanilla with a fork. 5. In a mixer bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the 6 tablespoons of unsalted butter and 6 tablespoons of buttermilk. Beat on low speed just until the flour is moistened, then increase the speed to medium, or high if using a handheld mixer, and beat for exactly 1½ minutes. The batter will be stiff. Add one-third of the egg mixture at a time, beating for exactly 20 seconds and scraping the bowl after each addition. Scrape the batter over the fruit in the pan and spread evenly. 6. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and tilt the pan in all directions to detach it from the sides of the pan. Let cool for 2 to 3 minutes before unmolding. 7. Invert a serving platter on top of the pan. Cover your hands with oven mitts and turn the cake onto the platter. Lift off the pan. If any fruit or cherry pieces are askew, use a fork to push them back into place. If any brown sugar is left in the pan, scrape it up and spoon it over the cake. Serve warm or cool. (Source: Joy of Cooking)

Leonardo da Vinci Birthday & Rubber Eraser Day!

Today is the birthday of Leonardo da Vinci and Rubber Eraser Day!
 

Leonardo Da Vinci's Birthday-
Today is the birthday of Leonardo daVinci.  Leonardo was and is renowned^[2] primarily as a painter. Among his works, the Mona Lisa is most famous and most parodied portrait and The Last Supper the most reproduced religious painting of all time.  It just so happened that Matthew just learned about him in his Art History class.  He was amazed on how many things Leonardo daVinci has created in his lifetime.  This inspired him to keep his creative side active and one day possibly do something just as grand!   

The Last Supper

Rubber Eraser Day-

On this day in 1770, Joseph Priestly discovered the eraser, using pieces of rubber imported from Brazil. Then in 1858, by a stroke of genius, Hyman Lipman of Philadelphia patented the pencil with an eraser at the end.
      The rubber eraser allows us to rub out the goof-ups, erase the splotches, and generally start fresh once again.

How to Make a Pencil Eraser

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things you'll need:
· Pliatex Mold Rubber (Buy Pliatex Mold Rubber at an art supply or crafts store)
· Vinegar Salt Sand Flour
· Talcum powder

Instructions:
1 - Mix Pliatex with water, evenly, depending on how large you want the eraser to be (for example, use 10 mL of water and 10 mL of Pliatex). In a different container, put half as much vinegar as you have combined between Pliatex and water.

2 - Pour the Pliatex/water combination into the vinegar and stir the entire concoction at the same time.

3 - Shape the eraser/rubber to your liking. It should be malleable enough to make into shapes.

4 - Remove the rubber after a moment and place it into a container with water. You will need to remove any bubbles during this step.

5 - Remove the rubber from the water and let it dry. Once it dries you will have your new eraser!

 

Earth Day Volunteering with kids!

April is Volunteer month, during this month we also celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day.  We visited the Earth Day website - http://act.earthday.org/ and found local events that we can participate in.   All you need to do is enter your zipcode and they will provide you with the rest!  We found a town near us that is planting 1,500 trees so we have decided to volunteer for this event. 

 

Civil War 150th Anniversary!

Today is the Anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War.  On this day, 150 years ago; the confederates bombarded Fort Sumter beginning the hostilities.  These were the first shots of the Civil War.

Visit here for 19 illustrated pictures of Fort Sumter -  http://www.civilwar.org/photos/galleries/fort-sumter/battle-of-fort-sumter.html

This page has an animated battle map - http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/fort-sumter/fort-sumter-maps/animated-map/fort-sumter-animated-map.html

If you have 3-D glasses at home they even have a 3-D Photo Presentation here - http://www.civilwar.org/photos/3d-photography-special/fort-sumter-in-3d.html

For lots of educational facts and a calendar of events check out the Civil War website - http://www.civilwar.org

Draw a Picture of a Bird Day

Yesterday we celebrated draw a picture of a bird day

this is such a neat thing to do with kids.  This year, Lauren colored some birds that we printed out for her.  She then placed them on our ongoing paper tree we have for the month of April in our dining room.  Matthew drew some birds of his own to place on the tree.

This is a great day to either familiarize yourself with your local birds or find out how many species and kinds of birds there are. 

We had a wonderful time coloring and creating our birds to add to our tree. This is such a fun project and we are just having a blast with it.

   

Recycling Crafts: Rolled Paper Beads

To help celebrate Earth Day we have started to create Paper Bead Necklaces that we will wear during our Earth / Arbor Craft Day this year.   These are so easy and wanted to share the How-to with you!

Recycling Crafts: Rolled Paper Beads and Necklaces!

pictures from creativejewishmom.com


Supplies:

• glossy printed pages, grouped according to color theme  (multicolored, earth tones, black and white print)
• white glue
• something smooth to roll the bead around — the handle of a paintbrush (these are nice because the taper of the handle makes the beads easier to slide off) dowels, pencils or pens, broomsticks?
• scissors
• varnish — spray or water based brush-on acrylic (optional)
• glass or wooden beads (optional)

Step By Step How-To:

Step 1: Cut an elongated triangle out of catalog or magazine paper. (the base of the triangle will determine the length of the bead, the longer the triangle, the chubbier the bead) Rough proportions for this triangle are 2" base and 7" length. Experiment with different sizes to obtain a result you are happy with.

Step 2: Smear a bit of the glue on the inside of the triangle as shown.  If you apply glue along the entire length it will be hard to slide the bead off the stick after rolling.

Step 3: Starting at the wide end, roll the triangle around your stick of choice.

Step 4: For best results roll carefully such that when the bead is entirely rolled, the end point of the triangle will lie at the center point. (see picture)


Step 5: Carefully slide bead off the stick. If you rolled your bead too tight at the rolling step, you will discover it at this time, as your bead will be stuck! (If this is the case roll more loosely with the others...)

Step 6: Set beads aside to dry on a glue-free surface, such as a clean plate, and be careful to keep them separated or they may stick together as they dry. When dry, beads can be sprayed with a coat of gloss varnish for extra protection and shine. Water based acrylic varnish can be brushed on— a less hazardous and healthier option but more work!


Step 7: When the glue is dry, beads can be strung on a variety of materials— dental floss, yarn, kite string, fishing line or wire. You might want to string heavier glass or wooden beads in between the paper beads to give the necklace a more satisfying weight, and allowing the necklace to lie nicely on the proud wearer!

Step 8: Enjoy! And remember beads are not just for girls! They can be used for a wide variety of projects other than necklaces.

April Fool's Day

April Fool’s Day!

Today is April Fool’s Day which although it is not a national holiday is celebrated all around the world.  It is a day of good natured pranks and funny jokes.  Last year we used this day to teach the children how to use jokes while talking or presenting their presentations.  We then created some really fun joker hats with craft foam.

Here at fun and facts with kids we are planning a brilliant April with lots of fun activities and creative fun.  We also have a little fun celebrating this day, April Fools.  This year we have several holidays’ that fall so close together on the calendar.  We have decided to combine both Earth Day and Arbor Day. 

This year we are really using our creative juices and have come up with the idea!  We want to only use items that we have already that are normally recycled.  We started off by creating a giant tree.  We cut open 6 recycled brown paper grocery bags and then taped them together.  We then hand drawled a free flowing tree.  We had a small roll of light blue wrapping paper that we used to cover part of the wall to represent our blue sky.  Then with a little help we taped our tree to the blue paper. 

In preparation for our decorating plans for these two fun days, there is a day called “Draw a picture of a Bird Day” that falls on April 8th.  Last year we decoupaged rocks with pictures of birds that we loved.  The kids also colored in owls on a piece of paper with glue and then sprinkled glitter on them. When they were done they made foam frames out of craft foam sheets and we had sparkly pictures to enjoy all year.  We have asked the kids to see if they can come up with idea for making birds for the tree using recyclable materials.  Lauren still loves to color and we have printed out some pictures of birds for her to color, cut and add to the tree. 

Throughout the month of April we are going to be adding all kinds of fun things to the tree. This has really gotten the children’s creativity going.  We plan to make birds, leaves and all kinds of fun things for the tree using recycled items. 

Earth Day is a very educational day here at fun and facts with kids.  After our lunch the kids present us with their own creative Earth Day presentations.  Last year they did a wonderful job and we can’t wait to see what they come up with this year.  

Matthew came up with a crafty idea last year and surprised both of us with Earth Day bracelets.  He painted earths on 2” buttons and then strung them together to form a bracelet.  We love them!!  This year he has a new idea.  He created Earth Salt Dough.  Basically he made ordinary salt dough and decided to add cinnamon to make it brown and parsley flakes because he thought it would be “earthy”, so cute!  He then rolled the salt dough and made beads by placing them on a skewer.  Lauren liked this idea and started to do the same.  In the theme of making beads we decided to teach the kids how to make paper beads.  We will share this craft with you in another post. 

We will be planting some trees this month in our community.  We visited the website for our local Horticultural Society and found some local areas where they will be planting trees during the month and we will go and volunteer our time and efforts and help them plant the trees.  We hope this will be a fun and educational time for the kids. 

Easter is the next big holiday we will celebrate this month.  We have decided to dye our eggs using the Silk Tie Method.  We have never attempted this before but are looking forward to the unique colors and patterns they leave on the eggs. 

Also during this month, there are a few others worth mentioning to you that we will celebrate as well.

     National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day – April 2^nd

     Zucchini Bread Day – April 23rd

     Pretzel Making Day – April 26^{th - The kids loved this last year and very excited to celebrate this day again!}

So, follow along with us this month as we celebrate this educational and exciting month.  With spring here and the weather getting warmer we are expecting a fun and enjoyable month.