Tasty Tuesday -- Solar S'mores Snack

This week we will explore a sun theme!  Let's start off with a tasty way to explore the power of the sun!

You will need:
Cardboard box
Foil
Tape
Plastic wrap
Graham crackers
Marshmallow
Chocolate bar

1)  Line the inside of a cardboard box with foil.

2)  Place the chocolate bar and marshmallow on top of the graham cracker.  Cover the top with plastic wrap and tape it down.  Try to move the box carefully or the marshmallows will fall off (it will still work fine even if they do.  Ours fell off, but I just put them back on when we took off the plastic wrap!).

3)  Place the box in the sunshine for one-half to two hours (depending on the temperature outside and how direct the sunlight).  It was partly cloudy today, so it took longer for ours to work.  I think it would work pretty quickly if there were no clouds in sight!

4)  Allow your child to feel how hot the box is and see the effect of the sun on the chocolate and marshmallows.  Then, eat your s'more snack!

Saturday Scoop: Juice Box Wings

Do you ever have trouble with your child squeezing a juice box too hard and spilling it everywhere?  One solution I've seen is little plastic containers to put the juice box in so your child doesn't squeeze it.  Call me lazy, but I just don't want one more thing to wash!  Plus, I would end up forgetting it when I needed it!

I don't remember where I read this tip, but here is an easy way to avoid a juice mess!

Pull out the sides of the juice box to form handles for your child to hold!  I ask the girls to hold onto the "wings" whenever they pick up the box.  When they get in the habit of holding it that way, the mess is a lot less!

Picnic Basket Guessing Game

Challenge your child's sense of touch with this activity.

You will need:
Picnic Basket
Various picnic items:  juice box, spoon, fork, cup, plate, napkin, apple, etc.

1)  Show your child the items and place them in the basket.

2)  Have her close her eyes, put her hands in the basket, and pick up one item (keep the lid down if possible).

3)  Ask her to feel the object.  Ask what she has in her hand.  Have your child bring it out and check to see if she was right!

Another idea is to ask your child to find a particular item (i.e., fork) and take it out of the basket (with eyes closed, of course!)

Drink Carrier Picnic Basket

Every picnic needs a picnic basket!  Here is an easy way to make a picnic basket for playtime.

You will need:
1 drink carrier (ours was from Sonic - a great excuse to hit Happy Hour!)
Paper bag
Paint
Sponge (or cotton ball)
Clothespin
Glue

1)  Cut a paper bag so it lays flat.  Mark a checkerboard pattern (so your child know where to stamp)

2)  Cut a sponge into a small rectangle and clip with a clothespin to form a stamp.  I didn't have a sponge, so I improvised with a cotton ball.  Since we weren't doing too many stamps, it held up okay.  I think a sponge would be preferable though.

3)  Stamp a "basket" pattern on the paper bag.

4)  Open up the carrier by cutting out the cardboard separators and making the sides even.

5)  Glue the paper bag onto the drink carrier. 

Picnic time!

Picnic Treat -- Ice Cream in a Can

Take the ingredients for this treat along on a picnic.  You'll have some tasty homemade ice cream within thirty minutes!

You will need:

One large coffee can (or other large round container that can be rolled)

One medium size coffee can (or two smaller containers -- I used almond cans)

Duct tape

Ice

Table salt

For each serving:

1/2 cup milk (We used whole milk.  Almond milk works, too!)

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1 Tbsp. sugar

1)  Mix the ingredients (milk, vanilla, sugar) in small or medium can.  We put one serving in each small almond can (but I think we could've fit two).  We were able to put two small cans in the large one.  If you use a medium can, my guess is that you can fit 4-6 servings (but I'm not sure since we didn't do it that way!).

2)  Tape the lids on the containers with heavy duty tape.

3)  Put the small container(s) into the large container.  Fill with ice and 8 tsps. of salt.  Tape the lid securely.

4)  Roll the container back and forth with your child (and siblings if applicable).  It will take anywhere from 15-30 minutes depending on how many servings are in the can.  If you get tired of rolling, take turns kicking it around or shaking it.

5)  Take the small can out and shake it.  If you don't feel any liquid moving around, it should be ready!  Rinse the outside of the container to keep salt from getting in the ice cream.

Enjoy!