Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Penguin theme

PENGUIN FUN!

*Penguin Crafts and Activities
http://www.kidssoup.com/Penguin/penguincrafts.html#freepenguincrafts

Potato-Stamp Penguin

Cut a large and a small potato in half lengthwise. Paint the large potato half black and then stamp it on blue craft paper. Paint wings on black body and let dry. When dry, paint small potato half white and then stamp it on the black penguin body. Cut a beak and feet out of orange craft paper and glue on penguin. Add wiggly eyes. Make an ice landscape with torn craft paper, tissue paper, or cotton balls.

Fingerprint Penguin

Stamp thumb into white paint and make one large thumbprint tummy on a piece of blue paper or cardstock. Next, stamp index finger into black paint and make fingerprint wings on either side of the tummy. Then, stamp tip of pinkie finger into the black paint and make a fingertip head on top of the penguin. Use a toothpick to make two white eye dots. Allow to dry. Finally, use the toothpick to add a beak and feet with orange paint.

*Penguin Activities

Penguin Egg Walk

Explain that emperor penguins have to carry their eggs and babies on their feet. This is not an easy task. Have children take off their shoes and try to walk around with an egg on their feet. (Make an egg out of a white sock filled with rice or cut a big egg out of white paper.)



*Make Penguin Snow Sculptures

Have children create snow penguin sculptures and paint with snow paints. (Mix food coloring and water and fill small containers with the mixture.) Children will enjoy exploring the effects that the paint makes on the snow.

*Penguin Snack

Krill (a Ritz cracker covered with cream cheese and topped with a tiny shrimp)


*Penguin Rhymes and Songs

Three Little Penguins

Three little penguins, dressed in white and black.

Waddle, waddle forward and waddle right back!

Three little penguins, in a funny pose,

They are wearing their evening clothes.

Their suits are black and their vests are white.

They waddle to the left and they waddle to the right.

They stand on the ice and they look very neat,

As they waddle along on their little flat feet.



*Little Penguin

By Victoria Smith

I'm a little penguin short and fat

Wearing my tuxedo without any hat.

I live in Antarctica where I splash and play,

Whales, sharks, and leopard seals make me run away.

I'm a little penguin

I'm a little penguin,

Black and white.

Short and wobbly,

An adorable sight.

I can't fly at all,

but I love to swim.

So I'll waddle to the water

And dive right in!



*I Know a Little Penguin

I know a little penguin

Who sat on some ice blocks.

He lived in the Antarctica

And he climbed on some rocks!

He snapped at a walrus,

And he slid on the ice.

Then he snapped at a whale,

That wasn't very nice.

The penguin was hungry

He didn't need a dish.

He jumped into the ocean

To catch him some fish.


*Penguin Pete (Book suggestion)


*I'm a Little Penguin

(Tune: I'm A Little Teapot)

I'm a little penguin round and fat

Here is my beak, here is my hat.

Winter days are coming, hear me shout,

"Please don't toss my mittens out!"



I'm a little penguin black and white.

Short and wobbly, an adorable sight.

I can't fly at all, but I love to swim.

So I'll waddle to the water and dive right in.



I'm a little penguin on the ice.

I think cold is very nice.

I can hop around first once, then twice.

I think ice is very nice.



On Top of an Iceberg

(Tune: On Top of Old Smokey)

On top of an iceberg,

All covered with snow,

I saw my first penguin,

And I wanted to know.



Oh, is it a bird,

Or, is it a fish?

I looked at his feathers,

And knew which was which.



I said, "Mr. Penguin,

Which species are you?"

He said, "I'm an emperor,

And not a gentoo."



I said, "Mr. Penguin,

What's under you patch?"

He said, "It's an egg,

It's ready to hatch!"



I said, "Mr. Penguin,

Oh, where is your wife?"

"She's out in the ocean,

She'll be back tonight."



Said Mr. Penguin,

"Her name is Jill.

She's out in the ocean,

Feeding on krill."



The next thing I knew,

I heard a small peep.

And I saw a chick,

At the emperor's feet!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Granola Recipes

http://www.vocalpoint.com/ is worth a look!  It has info on new products out, coupons etc... It just takes a minute to sign up.  I found the recipes below for all sorts of granola.  Granola is one of those things that looks HARDER than it really is to make.  Give it a try!
*My site also includes some other granola recipes, if you are looking for more. Just type in "granola" in the search box to check the archives.
Make Your Own Granola

http://www.vocalpoint.com//_500002045/Articles/Make_your_own_granola&memberid=
GRANOLA BASE

3 cups of old-fashioned rolled oats

3 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp salt

½ tsp cinnamon (you can add more or less, depending on what you like)

1/3 cup honey (you could also use maple syrup, if that's what's on hand)

1/3 cup canola oil

1 tsp vanilla

*Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a large cookie sheet with non-stick spray and set it aside.

*Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix the remaining liquid ingredients in a glass measuring cup. Heat the liquid mixture for one minute and stir its contents, then pour over the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Thinly and evenly spread the granola on the baking sheet. Pop the pan in the oven and set the timer for 20 minutes, or until the granola is a light golden brown.

*Enhance the base granola after baking by mixing in different combinations of dried fruits, nuts or seeds:

TROPICAL GRANOLA

¼ cup macadamia nuts

½ cup dried pineapple

¼ cup flaked coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)

½ cup dried papaya

½ cup banana chips

HARVEST BLEND

1 cup dried apples

½ cup halved walnuts

¼ cup pumpkin seeds (salted and roasted)

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

½ cup dried cranberries

FRUITY GRANOLA

½ cup dried apple chips

½ cup banana chips

½ cup dried papaya

½ cup raisins

½ cup dates

CHEWY GRANOLA BARS

2 cups of quick oatmeal

¾ cup wheat germ

2/3 cup brown sugar

½ cup honey

2 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. Kosher salt

4 tbsp. butter

*Brown the oatmeal and wheat germ in a large, dry frying pan on medium heat. In a separate pan, combine the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Remove from stove and mix with the dry ingredients.

*Once the dry and liquid ingredients are mixed, stir in your favorite mix-ins, including chocolate chips or dried fruit.

*Spray the bottom of an 11x13 pan with non-stick baking spray, or line with wax paper. Firmly press the mixture into a glass-pan, as if you’re making Rice Krispie treats. Let cool at room temperature. After three hours, cut into bar-shaped treats, package in wax paper or snack-size bags and store in an air-tight container.