Christmas Food Gifts

This month my boys have been continously little sickos. It is never ending fevers, coughs, sore throats, body aches, etc. Due to that,  the fact I am preparing for Student Teaching and my hubby is away in Alaska I am going SUPER SIMPLE for Christmas this year. One thing I am doing for loved ones is making some food gifts, thanks to ideas from Pinterest.

#1) Rudolph Hot Cocoa Sets:

You are suppose to take frosting piping bags (but I just used sandwich baggies). Fill then up with some hot chocolate, then tiny marshmallows, tiny chocolate chips, and some Christmas sprinkles. Tie a bow with a brown pipe-cleaner. Add stick on eyes and a red pom. Viola-two cups of cocoa. I would not that I don't like the baggies and will be looking for the piping bags as I make more.

 #2) Reindeer Mix (aka Chex Buddy Mix):

I have had Buddy Mix before but never made it myself. Holy Cow it is easy. The recipe can be found at the back of most Chex cereal boxes. It calls for 9 cups of Rice Chex (less than one big box). Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips, 1/2 cup of peanut butter, and 1/4 cup of butter all together in the microwave (about one minute). Mix them together and then mix it with the Chex cereal. Next add powder sugar to coat them. I then added some red & green M&M's (hence the reindeer mix). After putting some in individual serving Ziplocks I stabled some Christmas scrapbooking paper to make labels. Then if you want you can print Christmas notes to glue on.

Handprint Ornaments

So, I know everyone is making these ornaments this year, but I saw these hand-print snowman ornaments about two years ago and have always wanted to make them. This was the year! I had put it off because I couldn't figure out how to do it exactly. I was totally over-thinking it. All you have to do is paint the entire hand white. Then as you hold on to the top (where you put the hook) you have your child grasp the ornament below. Imagine the ornament is going to be thrown underhanded. That is it-too simple! Then later on add details (like the eyes, nose, scarf, hat, mouth, and buttons). I haven't quite mastered this part, but I hope family appreciates them anyway!

Word Clouds with Wordle

I am not sure if you are familiar with Wordle, but if you aren't go quick!!! It  is an amazing FREE website that creates word clouds. You can create word clouds for about anything. I thought we would finish up the space study by doing a word cloud on space as a way to assess vocabulary and comprehension. The point of the word cloud is you can only use single words. This can be a challenge when you are describe something. This was super difficult for "A" who likes to talk ALOT and in long sentences. He is learning though and I think it will help him in school-especially with poetry.

To make a word cloud with Wordle you click on create at the top. Then you type words. If you want a word to be larger you type multiple times. For example with the above Wordle we typed: Space Space Space Pluto Mars Earth Earth Stars. You don't put commas. Then when you are done typing hit go. A word cloud will appear. You can hit randomize and it will rearrange word clouds in different font, color, shape, etc. When you find one you like you can also change the color and font yourself. You can also make them either vertical or horizontal. When you are complete hit print. Viola you are done. Easy Peasy!!! I can't wait to use them in the classroom but here is just a couple other ways we have used them at home:

We are moving to Anchorage in a year and this is the positives to share with "A" to help with idea of moving.

We also made them as Father Day gifts. Here is the one "A" made for Daddy. We made ones for the grandpas too!