Valentine Hearts Chocolate Playdough

Nothing says Valentine's day like a heart shaped box of chocolates!

That was my inspiration for our latest batch of playdough.

Valentine's Chocolate Playdough

Can I just say that this playdough smells so tempting!

The Littlest Diva kept saying, 

"I can't eat this right, Mama! It's only playdough" 

She needed my constant reassurance that it was not chocolate.

You've been warned, haha!

What You Need:

Chocolate Playdough Ingredients -

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cups cocoa

1 cup salt

2 tbsp. cream of tartar

2 cups water

2 tbsp. oil

This is a cook recipe so to involve the Lil Divas 

I let them help measure & pour the ingredients and initially stir -

then I handle the cooking and the initial kneading (due to heat).

What To Do:

1. Measure & pour all ingredients into saucepan

2. Mix over low heat.

It will look a bit like pudding once it's mixed well.

3. Cook & mix until dough starts to form & it's hard to stir.

4. Remove from heat/pan and let cool a few minutes -

it is HOT right off the stove.

5. Knead until smooth.

6. PLAY!

I gave each Lil Diva an empty heart shaped chocolate box, heart shaped cookie cutters and various beads and some candles at their request and just let them play.

The made so many chocolates, cupcakes, donuts & brownies

that I was craving some real baked goods after our playtime.

Book:

Bern

This is part of the awesome Collaborative Heart Project Fundraiser
organized by Jaime at hands on : as we grow.

Valentine Craft: Tie Dye Hearts

Pin It

After making our Tie Dye Snowflakes

the Lil Divas had the fabulous idea to make...

Tie Dye Hearts

Aren't they gorgeous?

What You Need:

coffee filters

scissors

bingo/do-a-dot markers

we use these:

What To Do:

1.  I found it worked easiest for the girls to 

fold the coffee filter in half, draw a heart & then cut it out.

2. Fold the bottom of your 1/2 heart up along the crease.

It will create the look of a triangle with the tip of the heart on top.

(see 2nd to last photo above in bottom row)

3. Fold the entire thing in half again (last photo above)

4. Using your bingo daubers or do-a-dot markers create a colorful pattern.

Tip: Be sure to do both sides and press hard so it soaks through the filter. 

It's a bit messy but so worth it!

The Lil Divas used lots of colors and did varied designs.

That is what is so fun to them about this activity -

never knowing what you'll see when you open it up!

They look so beautiful & each one was unique!

You can hang them up as decorations, display them on your windows (that's what we did & it's lovely) or you can use them to make cards (just glue onto paper) - whatever you decide to do with them, one thing is for sure - they will be a hit!

Bern

Wordless Wednesday: Strawberry Picking (Yes, in January!)

Winter in FL = the perfect time for... 

strawberry picking at the farm!

Bern

Snowflakes, Snowflakes All Around! Faux Tie Dye Coffee Filter Snowflakes & More!

There is just something about cutting snowflakes that never gets old.

No matter how old you are or how many times you've done it -

it is still exciting to create your own snowflake masterpiece.

The Lil Divas cut/made their first paper snowflakes last year

so this year I thought it would fun to change things up a little.

Faux Tie Dye Snowflakes

What You Need:

coffee filters

dot markers/bingo daubers

What To Do:

1. Fold coffee filter in half & then in half again

2. Using dot markers/bingo daubers make a pattern on the coffee filter. 

Be sure to cover both sides completely.

3. Open coffee filters & allow some drying time

this makes it easier to cut without ripping them because they won't be so wet.

4. Refold & cut your design into your snowflake.

Open & behold you awesome Tie Dye Snowflake

These look fabulous on our window!!!

Kid Friendly Food: 

Cinnamon Sugar Snowflake Tortillas

In the spirit of cutting snowflakes we also made some 

yummy, fun & easy cinnamon sugar tortillas as a quick snack.

What To Do:

1. Fold a tortilla in half & then half again.

2. Using clean scissors cut as you would a paper snowflake

3. Melt a little butter and brush onto tortillas.

4. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar to liking.

5. Pop into the oven at 350 degrees for 5-7 mins.

6. Allow to cool a bit & then enjoy!

A quick, easy & fun snack that kids can help you make.

Books We Read:

Bern

The Snowman Experiment

The Lil Divas have been begging to build a snowman.

This is pretty impossible in Florida.

Or is it?

By freezing 3 water filled balloons (1 small, 1 medium, 1 large)

we were able to make our very own Snowman (or should I say Ice man?)

The Snowman Experiment

This was the perfect opportunity for a bit of scientific observation

& after our fabulous Mad Science Theme - 

the Lil Divas are very excited about all things science!

Here's What We Did:

1. Freeze 3 water filled balloons (preferable over night)

You will need 1 large, 1 medium and 1 small balloon for your snowman.

2. Peel the balloon off your frozen ice balls

3. Using a bit of salt to adhere them, stack your ice to form a snowman.

4. We used some felt to make the face and buttons -

Tip: Wet the felt and add just a pinch of salt to stick them on!

Since the Lil Divas have been so interested in science lately

I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce them

to some scientific terms & processes - on their level.

We discussed what we were going to observe during this experiment:

The Experiment - 

1 Snowman would be put outside & 1 left indoors.

We were going to observe which would melt the fastest.

Each Lil Diva made a prediction about which would melt the fastest

and recorded their observations both before and after.

5. We placed one snowman outside & left one inside in our kitchen.

Both snowmen were placed in bins to collect any water.

Here's What Happened:

 After 3 hours our snowmen had visibly begun to melt.

The Outside Snowman had quite a bit of water evident in the bin

and was smaller in size from when we first put it outside.

The Indoor Snowman, although his head had toppled, 

had much less water in the bin and was still considerably large in size.

Approximately 8 hours later we found that 

the Outside Snowman was nearly completely melted.

The Inside Snowman was still pretty large and mostly intact.

A side by side comparison of the 2 Snowmen:

We ended the experiment a bit prematurely 

as is was soon to be the Lil Divas bedtime but I think 

the results were pretty conclusive about what the final results would be.

The Oldest Diva wrote down our results & her final observations 

at the conclusion of our experiment.

It was a fun experiment 

& we got to build our very own snowmen,

 even in Florida!

Books We Read:

The Snowman Experiment was inspired by this pin on Pinterest.
I changed it up a little to suit our needs but that was my inspiration!

Check out my Winter Board on Pinterest - so many wonderful ideas.

Interested in more fun & easy science ideas -
check out our other science experiments.


Bern