Kids Creative Chaos @ The Play Connection

Scrappy Leprechaun Shamrock Stick Puppet

Grab a box of scrap paper and knick-knacks
This silly leprechaun is all scrap. Just add a stick to make a fun puppet or go big and make a mask to hold over your face during a St. Patrick's Day Parade around the hallways of Preschool. Happy Scrapping :-)

Preschool Curriculum:
Plan ahead by cutting the scraps into triangles, circles, half-moons, trapezoids, and shamrocks for a quick Shape Lesson.

More St. Patrick's Day Crafts

Fish Theme Sensory Activitiy and Craft for Preschoolers

Rainbow Fish to the Rescue

This is a fun story about a school of sparkly scale fish who won't allow a little fish without the sparkle to play, similar to the story of Rudolph and the Reindeer Games. This is a great story to teach about inclusion and kindness.

Sharpies and Ziploc Baggie

You will need:

Ziploc Baggies
Sharpie Markers
Blue Hair Gel
Blue Shampoo
Foamies

Fill the aquarium with foam fish or make a dino terrarium.

Color an under water scene on the bag.
As an alternative, you can cut out fishy shapes and insert them to slosh around in the goo.

Fill bag with about 1/4 C. of gel for a sparkly, ocean effect. For bubbles add a small squirt of shampoo. (Little ones loved squishing and watching the bubbles appear.)

Tightly zip bag and tape to window or mirror.

Squish away your stress!

Gel is sparkly, add a little blue shampoo for bubbles.

Creative Play Element: Pretend a Hoola-hoop is a fish pond.

Rainbow Fish to the Rescue is a perfect story compliment.

Then using a sparkly piece of foam,I cut out a scale and taped

it to "its" shirt for Tag.

It took the little one a few minutes to catch on to the game of

tag. (Some didn't want anything to do with the scale.) But it is

so much fun watching as they learn the game and start running

after each other.

Tip: Miss Lora preferred the gel to the shampoo. It is thicker

and looks more like real ocean water but the little ones loved

the bubbles.

Moral: It's not about making the perfect craft, it is

all about the process and the fun of experimenting!

We like to add a creative play element.

Hoola-hoop Pond
Pool Noodle Fish (Cut-up)
Pail for the Catch
Squiggly Pole to pretend

Cut a scale from sparkly foam and tape to shirts.

Vegetarian Basil Lasagna Recipe

Angie's Recipes

Homemade Vegetarian, Squash Lasagna

Squash Lasagna with Fresh Basil

9 uncooked lasagna noodles
2 C of fontina cheese (or any cheese of your choice)
1/4 C of parmesan cheese
2 medium zucchini
2 C. loosely packed fresh basil leaves
1 whole nutmeg grated (or 1tsp of ground nutmeg)
3 T of olive oil
1/2 C of all purpose flour
3 C of milk divided
1 1/4 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of pepper
2 pkgs of frozen cooked winter squash, thawed (or 4 C fresh butternut squashed cooked and then mashed)
optional is freshly diced tomatoes

Preheat oven to 400. Cook noodles to package directions, omitting the salt and oil. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile combine cheeses and set aside. Slice zucchini on #3 setting using the simple slicer and set aside. Chop basil and grate nutmeg to equal 1/2t or use 1tsp of ground nutmeg.

Sauce: Heat oil in 4qt casserole over medium heat 1 minute. Add flour: whisk until completely incorporated. Gradually add 1 cup of milk, whisking constantly until smooth. Add remaining milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper, whisking constantly. Bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook 3-4 minutes or until thickened, whisking frequently. Add squash and basil; bring to a simmer. Remove casserole from heat.

Assembly: Spread 1 cup of sauce over bottom of Rectangle Baking Pan. Top with 3 noodles. Spread 1 1/4 C of sauce over noodles; top with half of the zucchini and about a 1/4 C of cheese mixture. Repeat layers one time, starting with noodles. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheese mixture. Cover pan with foil; bake 25 minutes; carefully remove foil and continue baking uncovered, 15-17 minutes or until cheese begins to brown and center is hot. Remove pan from oven and let stand uncovered for 20 min. Top with tomatoes, if desired.

If you enjoy vegetarian recipes stay tuned next week! This weekend I will attempt to make Tofu Parmigiana with Fire Roasted Tomatoes for my daughter who requested this a meal. I will remember to take pictures of this attempt since I have never cooked tofu. lol.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Recycled Pumpkin Snowman

Jake likes to keep his pumpkin in the house to protect it from would be smashers. He's been doing this since he was one. As long as no one uses them as a kickball or a chair, they last until spring, at which time we toss it in the garden and pray for pumpkin babies.

No Snow, Pumpkin Man.

Creepy-eyed Pumpkin Man for Halloween

A picture is worth a thousand words. One of these days, I'm going to start using my new camera but it seems like such a chore when my phone is so handy. I guess my phone pictures are only worth five-hundred words :-)

Join our Wedneday Linky Party ~ Anything goes... Let your picture tell the story.

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Angie's Recipes

Easy Homemade Popcorn

I saw this in a blog somewhere and just had to try it, mainly to see if it really worked and it did. What I liked most about it, is that it required no oil and after it is done you can flavor it up however you like. Of course you can use the very good butter and salt but did you know, you can look through your spice cabinet and use some of your seasonings as well?

I love using my Buffalo Rub for nighttime snacking.
I am looking for something with a little heat, and I also like using my Smoky Applewood Rub.

All you need is the following:

1 lunch size brown paper bag
1/4 C. popcorn kernels

After putting the popcorn in the bag fold over the bag several times and lay bag flat in microwave and set microwave for between 2 to 3 min. (you will just need to adjust to your microwave, it takes mine about 2 1/2 min.) then when it has finished popping, season to taste.

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February 20, 2012

This Week's Search Words:

Leprechaun Crafts, Spring Flowers, Funny Bunnies, Recycled Plastic Bottle Craft and Things to do with Q-tips

pLeAsE RemEmBeR tO pIn OnLy On ToPiC.

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