Shake it Up! Pudding in a Bag

This is one of my favorite fun snack activities.  It provides many opportunities for learning.  I always put the mix in one plastic bag and then put it inside another one (double bag), to help prevent accidents, such as holes in the bag.  I pass it around the classroom and let the children discuss how it feels, what it looks like and how they think it will be when they finish.  This is a great time to talk about temperature, texture, changes from liquid to more solid, make predictions, and learn about milk.

I have found some small ice cream cones in a local grocery store that is the size of your thumb.  When the pudding thickens up, I snip one corner of the plastic bag and squeeze the pudding into the cone.  A simple recipe that is also a fun activity.  I usually use 2% milk if I do not have powered milk on hand.  So shake it up and have some fun!!

Instant Pudding in a Bag!

Assemble & set up ingredients

    

 

 

 

 

 

Put pudding in bag & add milk.                                                Seal bag & shake. 

                           

Snip the end of the bag & squeeze into mini ice cream cups.  

Enjoy!!

Grow Little Turnip, Grow Big – Activity

This activity is an extension of my last blog.  I have done this activity with child care providers many times to provide ideas for their classroom.  Children enjoy this hands-on activity where they can be involved.  This is just one example of how you can make a book come alive. Choose your own book and let your imagination run to come up with your own activities.  Remember to link your classroom together with themes for learning.

Read the book several times before you conduct the activity.  This will allow time for your children to become familiar with the story,

Has anyone eaten a turnip root?  What about turnip greens?  Our story is about a big turnip.  Grow Little Turnip, Grow Big is written by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Laura Rader.  What do you think this book is about?  Has anyone seen a big turnip root?

This book, is about an old man, an old woman, a little girl, a big dog, a cat and a tiny mouse.  (prepare pictures for each for the children to hold, I suggest laminating each so you can use them multiple times).  Ask for six volunteers to help with the story.  As the children come up give them a picture to hold (or punch two holes at the top of the card and use yarn to thread through so the child can wear the picture around their neck, this is my preference to leave their hands free).  Move all the children to the side, except for the old man.  You can have a pot with a plastic turnip planted in a pot covered by moss that you hold. (see example at the bottom of the page, you can make your own)

As you read the book, ask your volunteers to help act out the story.  As you talk about the characters from the book pulling up the turnip, each one tries to pull up the turnip individually, then they try to help the person in front of them pull.  At the end they all work as a team and are successful.

To involve the entire class in the story, make the following change:

Page 20 They pulled and pulled and pulled.  Line up the children and stress that they are only going to pretend to pull on the person in front on them.  On the count of three we are going to pull up the turnip. 1-2-3.  Pull it up!  Pull it up!  Pull it up!  Yeah!  The turnip did come up.  Now the old woman can cook the turnip for supper.

Suggested questions for end of book discussion:

• What color is the turnip root?
• What color are the leaves of the turnip?
• Where do turnips grow?
• Has someone eaten the white turnip root or the green leaves of the turnip?
• What other foods did you eat with the turnips?
• Can someone name other types of “greens”? (mustard, kale, spinach, collards)
• Why were we finally successful in pulling up the large turnip? (everyone worked together to pull up the turnip)

Can Children Learn Science through Food Activities? Absolutely!

In previous posts, we discussed ways to add nutrition education into various areas of the curriculum.  So what does science have to do with food?  Let’s explore ways we can merge science into food experiences.  I hope that you will share some of your ideas too.

Science Skills Learned through Food Experiences

• Cause & Effect
• Chemistry
• Temperature
• Testing Hypothesis
• Physical Properties of Food
• Investigating the Origins of Food
• Life Science (growing foods in the garden)
• Changing Forms – liquids, gases, solids
• Predictions & Observations

Food experiences can inspire children’s curiosity, thinking and problem solving, which offers opportunities to make predictions and observations.   Some experiences you plan can stimulate all the senses.  Ask questions, let the children make hypothesis on how a product may change, discuss temperatures of foods cooked and uncooked, put an item in a blender discuss what it looks like before it is blended – let children discuss how it might change, blend food item and discuss the final state of the food.  There are so many possibilities to incorporate science learning into food experiences.

Turnip (can use other foods)

• Show a turnip seed packet & seeds.  (many children may not have ever seen a turnip)
• Show a turnip from its raw state, then show a peeled turnip.  (ask children have they eaten a turnip before)
• Pass the turnip around for the children to feel & smell. (encourage discussion)
• Provide a uncooked sample & a cooked sample. (ask children how they think it will change when you cook the turnip)
• Discuss the differences in the uncooked & cooked turnip.
• To extend the lesson, have a farmer or home gardener come to talk with class about growing food.
• Have children plant a seed and make predictions on what will happen with it.  As the plant grows it will provide additional opportunities for discussion and learning.
• Another food item to use is potatoes, many children have only seen them as french fries.  Of course, the possibilities are unlimited on fruits and vegetables.
• Read & have an activity for “The Great Big Enormous Turnip” by Anna Award or “The Enormous Potato” by Aubrey Davis. I will post an activity on my next blog.

Apple Slice Science

https://www.education.com/activity/article/Apple_Slice_Science/

Learning Through Food Experiences

Nutrition and food related activities can be utilized throughout your center in every area. So why should you use food experiences?  Children learn about math, science, language, social studies, food literacy, socio-emotional skills, art skills, pre-reading and beginning reading skills, nutrition and sensory-motor skills. Have you ever thought of how this is done through food experiences?  Once you know why it is important you can apply learning activities to develop each area.  Share with your parents and encourage them to get their “Kids in the Kitchen.”

 

 

Better Brains for Babies – The Role of Music

When you hear a familiar song on the radio, how does it make you feel?  Often it brings fond memories, makes you smile or even can improve your mood.  It is funny how you can often remember every word of a song you learned when you were younger.

So does music have anything to do with early brain development?  Does it help children to be smarter?  What can you do to help nurture a child’s love of music?

The Role of Music

 

Sing a Song, Play a Musical Instrument, Make Music part of your Day!

 

 

Music and Early Childhood