Fortune Cookies

I LOVE this idea I found at Crafts and Deals! The idea comes from My {Creative} Place. Click for more info. There is a link for how to make these take out boxes or i have seen them at Michael's (craft store) for about $1. If you would like a recipe for homemade Fortune cookies, this is one I had in my files. If you don't have the time this year, you can always buy fortune cookies from the store! Enjoy!

Fortune Cookies
Yield 2 - 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

4 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla
1 /4 tsp. salt
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar

Mix egg whites with vanilla until foamy but not stiff. In another bowl mix flour, sugar and salt together. (For chocolate cookies add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder to flour and sugar mixture.) Combine egg and flour mixtures - Mixture will be a batter consistency. Baking & Folding Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 2 cookie sheets. Cut 2-3 dozen fortunes into strips. Place cookie template near center of a cool baking sheet. Drop a spoonful of batter in the center of the template then spread to the edges of the circle. Remove template and repeat. Start with just 2-3 cookies per sheet because cookies have to be really hot to form them. As you get the hang of it you can do up to 6 cookies to a sheet. Bake 4-5 Min. or until cookie has turned a golden color ½ inch wide around the outer edge. The Center will remain pale. While one sheet is baking, prepare the other sheet. Quickly remove sheet from oven, remove a cookie from the sheet with spatula and place upside down on a clean surface. Place a fortune in the center of the cookie and fold the cookie in half. Hold cookie by pointed ends, round edge pointing up. Place folded cookie over the edge of a cup and pull pointed ends downward one on the inside of the cup and one on the outside. Place folded cookies in a muffin tin to cool.

Thanks to Studio 5, here is another recipe for homemade dipped Valentine fortune cookies.

Valentine Junior Mints

A cute idea and saying for a Valentine's gift using these Junior Mints. Is it just me, but I don't remember seeing these before! And trust me, I think I would have remembered!

*Don't forget to look through the whole blog (cute Valentines)...it is devoted solely to Valentine Ideas. There is also a link to it on my (left) sidebar.

What to Do With Conversation Hearts

Math:
* Graph your conversation hearts based on how many you get of each color. See the following links:

Here is a link to a printable conversation hearts graph. It is the 4th link down on the list. Double click. Click open. Print and use!

From ABC Schoolhouse, here are 15 pages worth of printable Valentine ideas. Including, on page 7 a printable graph for conversation hearts.
* Have the students sort the hearts based on colors and phrases. Make predictions ahead of time and see who comes the closest to their guess.

If you don't want to print out a graph, Grandma Lizzie's house has a variety to the graphing idea, but still the same concept.


* Create a pattern. Can be glued onto construction paper in the shape of a heart.

Literacy:
* Have the students make stories or write sentences based on what phrases they find on their hearts.

Cooking:
* Make your own conversation heart cookies. Make sugar cookies and use a heart cookie cutter. Once the cookies are baked, frost them and write your own special message.
* If you really feel like going all out this year, why not make your own conversation hearts? Learn how at About.com.



Is there anything fun YOU like to do using conversation hearts?

* Cathy BB added: A super-easy and fun game for kids is to have them simply stack the hearts and see how many they can stack before it falls over (counting, fine motor skills, etc). When I did this with my son's third-grade class, they really thought it was a blast.

Find Your Heart Mate

Supplies:
Construction paper hearts
Scissors

How To Play: Cut hearts in half either in different angles, or with decorative large cutting scissors. Hand out the hearts and have the children find their heart-mate!

I have used this game before, but added some learning to the game as well. Here are some other ideas:
* On one half of the heart write a math problem, and the match is the answer to the problem.
* Uppercase letter with lower case letter
* Synonyms
* Antonyms
* Same shape or color as a match (preschool/kindergarten age)

Really the possibilities for this game are endless! Get creative!!

Pin The Lips on Ms. Valentine

Create a Ms. Valentine on a large, heavy posterboard or cardboard. You can use moving eyes, false eyelashes and pipe cleaners for hair (everything but the lips). Put each kids name on a pair of red lips cut out of construction paper and place tape on the back. Place a blind fold on the child and have them place the lips on the Ms. Valentine.

Valentine Scramble

Supplies:
Index Cards
Paper Bags

How To Play: Choose a Valentine word such as: St. Valentine, Chocolate, Heart, Jewelry.... Write the letters of the word on individual index cards. Do this two times, making two sets. Put each set in a brown paper bag.
Divide children into teams. Give each team a bag. The first team to decipher what the word in the bag is wins. A variation of the game would be to divide into teams with the same number of children as there are letters in the word. Each child get's a letter and they must hold onto the card and stand in the proper order to spell the word for all to see.

100 Days of School

On Thursday, it marked the 100th day of school this year (at least for my kids' school), which got me thinking. I should post about the 100th Day of School. I must say that when I was teaching (3rd grade), I didn't do any activities for the 100th day of school, but the ideas are still out there.
When my daughter was in 1st grade, her teacher assigned the students to make a poster using 100 items. Since Valentine items were in the stores, we decided to use 100 red hot hearts and shape them into the number 100.

Some teachers have their students bring a collection of 100 things to share with the others. The items don't have to be edible, but the ones that are make for a fun snack.
Spelling - Have your students write (20) spelling words 5 times each, to cause them to have 100 words.
Apples 4 the Teacher has a list of some GREAT stories to share with your class on the 100th day of school.
Literacy - Make a class book: If I had $100.00 I would buy___________. Photocopy a $100.00 bill onto the class book page, and have each child write and draw what they would buy.
* See how many times can students write their name in 100 seconds - predict, then actually do it.
* Writing prompt - What happened 100 years ago? What will happen 100 from now?
Math - "Guess which jar has 100 pieces of candy". Have several jars filled with pieces of candy, but only one with 100 pieces. The students get to individually decide which jar has 100 pieces. The student(s) with the right guess, wins the jar (or divides it with the other winners).
* Clip 100 paper clips together. With a partner measure things in the room that are as long, shorter than, and longer than the paper clip chain We use third grade partners to work with the kindergarten students. They measure together. After each measurement the third grader writes the word for the item, the kindergarten student draws a simple picture of it.
* Have the students count to 100 using only tally marks. Have them circle each group of 5 and have them figure out how many groups of 5 it would take to reach 100.
Art - Students draw a picture of how they will look when they are 100 years old. (These are hysterical!) They also write about the picture.
* See the link at the bottom of this post for the printable 100. Have the students either color the number 100 or glue 100 items inside the 100.
Music - *Sung to the tune of "Yankee Doodle Dandy"

Verse 1:
I can count up to 100,
It's so easy if you try.
I can't believe that since we started school
100 days have gone by.
Now let's all count up to 100
Come on try it once with me
We'll finish up with 99,
And last we'll say 100
Let's start out with 1, 2, 3.
(then count as a group to 100 by 1's)

Verse 2:
I can count up to 100,
It's so easy if you try.
But this time instead of using 1's,
I'll try to count it by 5's.
Counting this way is much faster
So it doesn't take as long.
First say 5 and then say 10,
And end up with 100,
Come on and join in my song.
(count as a group by 5's)

Verse 3:
I can count up to 100,
Now I'll try it once again.
But this time instead of 1's or 5's,
I'll try to count it by 10's.
Counting this way is the fastest,
It is also lots of fun.
First say 10 and then say 20,
End up with 100,
Our song is almost done!
(count to 100 by 10's)

Check out these links for more ideas and printables:
I Can Write 100 Words Form

100 Charts for counting (blank, by 5's, by 10's and filled in)

100 Coloring Page (can glue 100 items inside the 100)

Coloring Pages & Bingo

If you are being hit by the BIG winter storm right now, you might appreciate some of these FREE printable coloring pages. They are all Valentine related, to keep with the upcoming holiday. If would like other coloring pages, google it, and plenty of other options will pop up. I know my kids will enjoy some new indoor activities today!

Coloring Pages from Kaboose. More FREE coloring pages HERE and HERE.

Crayola offers FREE coloring pages and Bingo cards, perfect for any party! Kaboose also offers printable Bingo cards.

Valentine Ideas...FINALLY!

I must say that I wasn't really anticipating taking that long of a break from the blogging world. One of my new year's resolutions is was to not spend as much time on the computer. Yes, I realize how nerdy that sounds, but truly this blogging thing has sucked me in! I am hooked. I find that once I get on the computer to do a post, something else grabs my attention and then the blog hopping begins. Anyone relating here? Anyway, as a result, I feel that I needed to slow it down and focus more on my house, projects on the To-Do list, etc.
Enough about that. On the the good stuff. Now that Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, I will start digging up those files. The cleaning out of my other (aka random) files will have to wait. Here we go...

Valentine's Day Countdown from Things That Eye Love.

Heart shaped cinnamon rolls from Gourmet Mom on the Go

(More great food ideas from Gourmet Mom on the Go found HERE.)

How about this Valentine Chair Backer from Our Scoop? So darling! Visit HERE for the tutorial.


"I Dig You!" from It's All in My Head

also found on Family Fun.


or how about these candy bouquets from One Day When I Have Time.


More ideas to come.

Some Random Ideas

Can you believe it? I have already started to see Valentine ideas floating around the internet and the decorations up in the stores! It seems too soon to be focusing on Valentine's already (especially since my Christmas tree just barely came down), so I will be collecting ideas, but not sharing them for a couple more weeks. For now, I am going to take a break from the holiday posts and share some other ideas I have been hanging on to. My thoughts might be random, but I have to get these things posted...

My kids started back to school today, so the homework is sure to follow! Here is a site with at least 25 ways to practice your spelling words in a fun, new way!

Since it is a new year, this is the time for setting new goals (and hopefully keep them!) If you would like a way to get conversation going around the dinner table, try out these conversation pebbles from I am a craft addict.

I love these pretend checks from 733! These could be used for play time (dress ups, etc.) or as a tool for math homework.

Oh and one more random thought for the day. Check out these weather magnets you could make for your kids (from it's a daisy day). Perfect for preschool/kindergarten age kids who learn about the weather!

FREE Fonts

I was recently asked a question about the font I used on my blog's header. I know this doesn't pertain to anything school related (other than the fact that your child can now hand in their school papers in a SUPER CUTE FONT!) Anyway...I got my font from kevin and amanda. If you have never been to their site, get ready to spend some serious time there. They have the cutest fonts to choose from and the best part is that they are FREE!! They also explain how to download them to your computer. Happy looking!

Some Games for New Year's

This year for New Year's, we will be spending the evening with 3 other families (kids included). The kids will be sent downstairs to play games and hang out, while the adults do grown-up things, like play Rock Band. If you are hosting or heading to a party and need some ideas (that don't include Rock Band), here are a few games I have come across:

M&M Game
Pass around a bowl of M&M’s candy but don’t tell people what you are doing. Tell them to take as many or as few M&M’s as they want. Based on the # and the color, people are to describe themselves. (ie: If someone takes 5 yellow M&M’s, they are to describe 5 things that make them happy.) Feel free to change the colors to mean different things if you don't like what you see!

Red - Name a celebrity you think is good looking.
Orange - Name your favorite food.
Yellow - Something that makes you happy.
Green - Name a place you would like to visit.
Blue - Name a goal you would like to achieve.
Brown - Name an item you could not live without.

Two Truths and A Lie
Each person writes down 2 true things about themselves and 1 lie. The object is to decide who wrote down what and then which of the 3 items listed is the lie.

The Big Wipe
The leader hands out toilet paper to a group sitting in a circle. The leader tells the group to take as much toilet paper as they need for the week. After, they must share one thing about themselves with the group for every square of toilet paper.

I Have Never
Another good game for finding things out about others....
Have everyone sit in a circle except one person. The person in the middle says something that they have never done (ie. I have never drank. or I have never worn a dress). All the people who have never done that have to get up and find an empty seat (from someone else who just got up). The person stuck without a seat is now in the middle. This game has no time limit. OR THE WAY I PLAYED IT…Give everyone 30 M&M’s or other food item. Take turns going around the circle saying, “I have never…” If you have done that thing before, eat one of your food items. The person with the most items remaining wins.

Oh and I found 15 more FABULOUS game ideas for both adults and kids at How Does She?

New Year's Ideas

Like I said, we have been sick and things have been hectic. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and hopefully I was able to provide some useful Christmas ideas before the big day hit. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to post everything that I was hoping to, but I guess that gives me some ideas to roll over into next year. Since New Year's is next, I found a blog (Pioneer Party and Gift) that gives some great ideas for your New Year's party. I love the Christmas tree idea! Here's a sneak peek at what the idea is, but check out the link for more fun ideas!

Turn your Christmas Tree into a New Years one! Right after Christmas take down all decorations and store away. Get a combination of horns, blowers, balloons, garland, streamers, confetti - and decorate the tree! Keep it up for the week in between Christmas and New Years to get in the spirit! Right before midnight, guests or family members grab what they want off the tree to ring in the New Year!

Christmas Party

Two weeks ago, my daughter and her cousin/best friend hosted a Christmas party for their friends. Ok so her cousin hosted the party, but we helped. Here were some of the fun things that we did, keep in mind that this was for a group of 5th (and some 4th) grade girls...
The first game was a drawing game.

There were 3 teams and 3 posters hanging on the wall. Below each poster was a sack with items to draw for Santa. All of the bags contained the same items so that it was fair. Some of the items to draw were: beard, pants, boots, etc. The thing that made this game both fun and tricky was the order in which each team drew out the items. For example, a person might draw out the paper slip that said beard, before they even had a face drawn, or boots before they had the pants, etc. The girls got a kick out of this game!
We also played the Yes/No Game:

Here is the shoveling snow game:

Some of the other activities we did at the party were to play musical chairs (the girls' idea), decorated gingerbread men (a kit we got from Wal-Mart) and made a craft.

We made these mini magnet boards with the girls. The mom who hosted the party, got these scraps of metal from the welding teacher at the high school. The teacher was nice enough to not only give them to us, but also sand them to make life easier for the girls. The mom had scraps of vinyl words that the girls could choose from and also the ribbon they wanted. Then we helped each girl to make 2 marble magnets. They all loved taking these decorations home and had a blast making them too!
Oh and what party is complete without food?

I hope to get some more exciting food for parties in the future, but for this year (aside from other food), I brought these cookies. I made sugar cookies, melted some white chocolate chips and poured it on top for the frosting. Then I had my kids help me smash up candy canes and sprinkle them on top of the frosting before it hardened. I was in a crunch for time and these were definitely both easy and yummy!

I've Gone Facebook...

I have done the unthinkable. I have gone Facebook. I am still trying to figure out how to do it so be patient with me as I learn. I just thought it might be fun to get to know some of you and make it possibly easier for you all to share thoughts and ideas with me. I am sure I will be better at checking this blog for comments than my FB, but it's a start. Check it out... or visit www.facebook.com/roommom101