| Hot Chocolate Mix
Description
Any teacher who has been around for more than a few years probably has her share of cute school-themed mugs. Why not give her something comforting to put in the mug? Young kids will love mixing up this easy hot chocolate recipe, and many of the ingredients can probably be found in your food storage.
What You'll Need
10 c. powdered milk
1 c. sugar
2/3 c. cocoa powder
1 t. salt
optional: ground cinnamon, mint extract, vanilla extract, well-processed chocolate chips (experiment with adding these ingredients to create fun flavors)
large mixing bowl
large spoon
airtight jar
ribbons, stickers, glue or fabric for decorating the jar
paper, folded to make a card
hole punch
marker or pen
Step by Step
• Mix powdered milk, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and any optional flavorings in the large bowl.
• Adorn jar with selected decorations. Attach card to jar with instructions to “combine ½ c. mix with 1 c. water and enjoy.” Punch hole in corner of card and attach it to jar with ribbon.
• Pour hot chocolate mix into decorated jar.
Class Picture
Frame Description
Children can let their personality shine through while decorating a picture frame for their teacher. Depending on your child's interests and abilities, use this finished project to frame a class photo, a photo of your child with the teacher, a poem written by your child, or a drawing made by your child of herself with her teacher.
What You'll Need
plain photo mat a size larger than your photo/poem/drawing (available for around $3 at most craft stores)
cardstock in complimentary colors
glue stick
school-themed die cuts, alphabet stickers, googly eyes, fun shaped pasta, glitter, pencils, erasers, etc. for decoration.
Step by Step
- Help child measure and cut cardstock to cover mat. Glue cardstock to mat so that no mat shows through.
- Help child decorate mat with the stickers and other decorations you have chosen.
- Glue photograph or artwork to the contrasting colored cardstock.
- Glue the cardstock to the mat and let dry.
Homemade Soap
Description
Older children will especially enjoy making their own soaps for their teachers. Soap making kits that include everything you need except the microwave are moderately priced at many craft stores and come in a variety of styles to reflect the personality of your child. You can further personalize them with different mixtures of dyes and perfumes that often come with the kits.
What You'll Need
soap making kit—the one featured here is the Life of the Party “Loaf Soap Kit.” Check out http://soapplace.com to find out where you can buy this kit or other similar kits online or in a store. This kit makes two loaf soaps that can be divided into sixteen total individual soaps.
microwave safe container
skinny spatula
Step by Step
- Separate glycerin chunks along scored lines. Microwave in microwave safe container for 40 seconds. If not fully melted, heat again in 10 second increments until melted.
- Add a few drops of dye and fragrance. Feel free to mix the colors, but don't overdo it. A drop or two goes a long way and too much can make your soap too dark. Mix color with spatula.
- Pour colored, melted glycerin into loaf mold. It should only fill about 1/3 of the mold. Place star shaped soap in the hot glycerin. Let the soap rest for 5-10 minutes, until glycerin has begun to harden.
- Separate remaining glycerin chunks and melt them as before. Color and fragrance the melted glycerin as before and pour to fill the loaf mold. Let rest for 40 minutes, or until the soap is hard.
Turn mold over and push on it until loaf comes loose. If the loaf isn't budging, try running the mold under warm water for a couple of seconds. Cut loaf into individual soaps. |
