Archive for the 'Information for Parents and Teachers' Category

Flannel Board Story Telling Videos

Hi everyone! I’ve recently become aware that there are many videos online showing teachers, childcare providers and librarians telling felt board stories! I thought I’d share them here in case you’d like to see the techniques they use, or just for fun to show the kids!

The Three Little Pigs - Worthington Libraries Programs to Go

The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - Marisa with Preschool Learning Online
Hickory Dickery Dock - Worthington Libraries Programs to Go

Old MacDonald Had a Farm - Worthington Libraries Programs to Go

Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See? - Ms. Charme

Five Little Pumpkins - Cullens ABCs

Mr. Sun (Please Shine Down on Me) - Cullens ABCs

Five Little Monkeys Swinging in a Tree - Cullens ABCs

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Old Fashioned Toys

Hello parents and teachers out there! I came across a great article/radio bit produced by National Public Radio that I just had to share! Since the product I sell, Story Time Felts, facilitates what this research suggests is necessary for kids, I was particularly interested! Here is just a snip, visit the NPR site to read the rest or listen to the 7 minute radio segment:

“It’s interesting to me that when we talk about play today, the first thing that comes to mind are toys,” says Chudacoff (Howard Chudacoff, a cultural historian at Brown University).

“Whereas when I would think of play in the 19th century, I would think of activity rather than an object.”

Chudacoff’s recently published history of child’s play argues that for most of human history what children did when they played was roam in packs large or small, more or less unsupervised, and engage in freewheeling imaginative play. They were pirates and princesses, aristocrats and action heroes. Basically, says Chudacoff, they spent most of their time doing what looked like nothing much at all.

“They improvised play, whether it was in the outdoors… or whether it was on a street corner or somebody’s back yard,” Chudacoff says. “They improvised their own play; they regulated their play; they made up their own rules.”

Continue reading this story at NPR.org…

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What They Really Want for Christmas

One of our Story Time Felts Consultants, Wendy Varney, who also writes some of our original stories, wrote this poem. I love it!
Karen
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What I Really Want
-A child’s request

Most of the time the TV’s OK,
But Mom I’d rather be with you today.
Play Station’s fun and exciting too,
But honestly mom I’d rather play with you.
I know you are busy with lots going on,
But do you have a minute to sing me a song?
Games and electronics, all varied and sorted,
But really I’d rather you tell me a story.
Just a bit of your time, I won’t take too long,
Before you know it, one day I’ll be gone.

This poem is dedicated to all the busy moms out there, from a mom who wishes she’d realized this sooner.

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Thanksgiving Trivia

THANKSGIVING TRIVIA
We all know that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, got together with the Indians, and gave thanks. But, how much MORE do you know about Thanksgiving?

Questions
1. When was the first NATIONAL Thanksgiving Day celebrated, and who proclaimed it?
2. Which President made Thanksgiving an annual holiday?
3. In what year was the first Thanksgiving that included feasting?
4. Who was Tisquantum?
5. What was the first tribe of Indians who joined the Pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving?
6. Corn Meal and Maple Syrup makes what Thanksgiving dish?
7. Who are the Honorary President, and Vice President of the National Thanksgiving Commission?
8. What is an ibimi?
9. When did Canada get a separately declared holiday for Thanksgiving?
10. Who kept bugging Lincoln about establishing Thanksgiving as a National Holiday?

Answers:
1)George Washington proclaimed it October 3, 1789.
2)Abraham Lincoln 1621
3)Better known as Squanto, he was the Indian that taught the Pilgrims how to survive in the New World
4)The Wampanoags Indian
5)Pudding
6)Gerald Ford and Lady Bird Johnson
7)An Indian word meaning “bitter-berry”:The cranberry
8)January 31, 1957
9)Sarah Josepha Hale

To help US HISTORY come alive for you and the children in your life, check out The Story Time Felts USA Map! It’s one of a kind!

Do you have any more Thanksgiving Trivia questions and answers? Share them in the Comments! THANKS!

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DIY Santa Letters

Hi everyone! Every year I’ve been ordering “Santa Letters” for the kids (shhhh don’t tell) and they love them. They all still believe in Santa and I think this is a big reason why. There is a fellow Mompacker , Andrea from www.chocogreetings.com who gave me some great advice for making my own and I thought I’d pass it along. Enjoy this fun tradition with your kids! Thanks, Andrea!
Karen

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You can write the letter yourself after they make the visit to see santa. this is what I do. just print the letter on christmas stationary here is a link to an image of a postmark from north pole alaska
http://rocket-city.us/npmhu317/Sub_Pages/postmark.jpg

if you want the official postmark, you have to send your letter to north pole alaska before December 15. what you do is write the letter, print it and seal it in an envelope. address the envelope to your child and put Santa in the return address. place this sealed envelope in another envelope and send it the address in this next link
http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2006/pr06_082.htm
and be sure to mark for cancellation or something like that on the outer envelope. then problem solved. hope this helps, andrea.

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Only a Minute Poem

My daughter had this poem written in her journal from her religious education class. Use this as a discussion starter with kids for how we should choose how we spend our time wisely!

Karen

Only a Minute

I have only just a minute,
Only sixty seconds in it,
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,
But it’s up to me to use it,
Give account if I abuse it,
Answer for it if I lose it,
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it!

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Kitchen Helper Song

The following song lyrics are just so cute, I have to share! This song is on the Safety and Manners CD which is part of the Story Time Felts Let’s Play House felt board set. I wish I could hum a few bars for you here; it is really a cute song! My kids used to listen to this CD in the car and I always hoped the lyrics would sink in! There are other songs that teach such as don’t be a grouch, say please and thank you, etc. The tune is catchy, you can sort of pick it up just reading it (I hope). If enough people request it, I will see about uploading the song as an mp3. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Karen
Executive National Director
Story Time Felts


The Kitchen Helper Song
By Story Time Felts

I’m a kitchen helper, yes I am,
and every meal I help to plan
I like to set the table too,
the dishes, knives, the forks and spoons.

I even sweep the kitchen floor,
after meals and just before.
When everything is in its place,
it makes for such a happy face.
I’m a kitchen helper every day,
I do my work before I play.
I like to wash the dishes too;
I dry them off before I’m through.

I neatly put them on the shelf.
This I do all by myself.
Everyone is proud of me,
and I’m as happy as can be.
I’m a kitchen helper day and night;
I have a healthy appetite.
Keeping busy keeps me glad,
There’s never time for being sad.

A kitchen helper, yes it’s true;
I’m proud of all the work I do.
A kitchen helper through and through,
Would you like to be one, too?
I’m a kitchen helper, yes I am,
and every meal I help to plan.
I like to set the table too,
The dishes, knives, the forks and spoons.

I even sweep the kitchen floor
After meals and just before.
When everything is in its place,
It makes for such a happy face

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Keep Those Cards

Hi everyone! A fellow MomPacker, Peggy from the Expo Connection, wrote the following idea in response to someone asking what to do with old cards. I just loved this idea so much, I had to ask if I could share it! Thanks, Peggy!

Karen
Story Time Felts
Executive National Director

Keep Those Cards

This is something that touched my heart last November more than I ever expected. My mom passed away Oct. 29th last year and then a few weeks later while going through her things, we found boxes with each of our names on it, all of her 4 kids had their own box.

Inside these boxes were every card we gave her and my dad, plus report cards, notes, letters and so on… We were all overwhelmed that she kept all of this.

There were my kindergarten and up report cards, birthday cards I made and, in later years, bought her. Mom’s day cards, and so many had little notes in them that I wrote at the time. Plus the ones my 3 kids and even my grandson have given her.

Just knowing how much those cards and everything meant to her even though she never mentioned it to any of us is something I am so blessed to have!!

There was a card I gave her in the early 70’s that said to my MOM on Fathers day! I had long forgot doing that until I saw it and then the flood of memories came back.

There were even post cards from when we went on vacation and sent them cards that we wrote little notes on.

The list goes on!

So don’t throw those cards away! Get an expanding folder and start organizing them by your kids’ names.

I know from my own mom, that now that I am doing this I am leaving my own kids and grandson a gift of love by doing this also.
She left us, her kids, grand kids and even great grand kids all some treasured memories by doing that!

I never even thought of doing anything like what my mom did until I was handed the boxes. It still overwhelms me to look at all of it… My oldest is 32 and I wish I had every card she made and bought me, to give back to her as a gift of love, when I am not here anymore, just like my own mom did.  She was an amazing woman, friend,  and mom to me.
Peggy
TheExpoConnection.com

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International Heritage Recipes

International Heritage Costumes Girl Doll Set

The following recipes come from the exclusive felt International Heritage Costumes set by Story Time Felts, which is a set of clothing to go with our girl felt ‘paper’ dolls.  Many parents and teachers enjoy teaching their children about the people of the world with this great set! The literature that comes with includes these recipes plus background information and traditions for each country, activity ideas and lessons, and bibliographical and reading references! The following countries are represented:
Brazil
China
Egypt
Germany
Holland
Indonesia
Japan
Kenya
Mexico
Native America
Spain
Switzerland
Tahiti
India
Norway

Make some of these great recipes with your kids!

Abbreviations: T = tablespoon, t = teaspoon, C = cup , g = Gram, oz. = ounceENJOY!!

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BRAZIL: Creme De Palmito

1 16 oz can of Hearts of Palm, drained with 1 T of liquid reserved
2 C vegetable stock
2 t flour
1 egg yolk
3 C water
3/4 C yogurt
Salt and Pepper to taste
Fresh parsley to garnish
Mix the Hearts of Palm liquid, stock, flour and egg yolk. Cut the Hearts of Palm into 3/4 inch thick round circles, Place the liquid mixture and the Hearts of Palm in a large saucepan. Add the water and cook for 2-3 minutes over medium heat. Add the yogurt while stirring, Season to taste, Serve hot, garnished with a sprinkling of parsley.

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CHINA: Sweet and Sour Pork

2 pork fillets, cubed
Oil for deep frying
1 onion sliced
1 green pepper, seeded and sliced
1 small can pineapple chunks

Batter:
1-1/2 T flour
4 T corn flour
1-1/2 T baking powder
pinch of salt
1 T oil
water as needed

Sauce:
2 T corn flour
1-1/2 C light brown sugar
pinch of salt
2/3 C rice vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 t fresh ginger root, peeled and grated
6 T catsup
6 T pineapple juice

Batter: Sift the flour, corn flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl,. Make a small hole in the center of the ingredients, Add oil and enough water to make a thick and smooth batter.
Pork: Heat enough oil to deep fry the pork. Dip the pork cubes one at a time in the batter, making sure the batter covers the pork completely. Drop in the oil and deep fry for 4-5 minutes, then remove and let drain on paper towel.
Sauce: Drain most of the oil from the pan, Fry the sliced onion, pepper and pineapple, Cook for 1-2 minutes over high heat, then remove the vegetables and pineapple and set aside. Pour all the sauce ingredients into the pan, and bring it slowly to a boil. Stir continuously until the sauce thickens. Allow the sauce to simmer 1-2 minutes or until clear. Add the vegetables, pineapple and pork cubes to the sauce and stir to coat the pork. Reheat for a few minutes, then serve with rice.

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EGYPT: Omm ‘Ali (Bread and butter pudding)

1 packet of roqaq (a type of cracker bread) or substitute of your choice
1 C mixed nuts
1 T grated coconut
1 T unsalted butter or fresh cream
1 C rich, well-sweetened milk

Dry the bread for 1-2 minutes in a hot oven enough to make them dry and crisp. Crush with fingers and place in a lightly greased oven dish. Mix nuts and coconut, and scatter on top. Warm the sweetened milk and pour over the dessert. Dab with butter or cream, and place in moderately hot oven, 325-375 degrees F.

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GERMANY: Lebkuchen (Spice bar)

2 C honey
5-1/2 C flour
3/4 C grated unblanched almonds
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t powdered cloves
3/4 C mixed candied fruits (orange, lemon and citron peel)
1/2 t baking powder
Egg White Icing (see below)

Heat honey until thick, do not boil., mix in all other ingredients except icing. Turn onto floured board and knead until smooth, adding a little flour if necessary. Roll with a floured rolling pin to 1/2 inch thickness. Grease and flour a baking sheet and lay rolled dough on it. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and cook for about 20 minutes. Spread with icing while hot, cool before cutting into rectangles.

Egg White Icing:
2 egg whites
1-1/4 C confectioners sugar
1 T lemon juice
Whip egg whites until they stand in stiff peaks. Add sugar and lemon juice. Continue beating until thick and glossy,. Spread on cake or cookies with a spatula.

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HOLLAND: Alphabet Chocolates

1 large high quality chocolate bar (not milk chocolate!)
Sugar sprinkles and mini-candies

Unwrap the chocolate bar and place in a sealable bag. Microwave on high for one minute at a time until the chocolate melts. Place a piece of waxed paper on a cookie sheet. Snip a tiny hole in the corner of the bag. Then slowly squeeze the chocolate onto the waxed paper in the shapes of letters. Decorate the letters with sugar sprinkles and mini candies. Refrigerate the letters until they harden. Wrap in plastic wrap and tie with a bow.

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INDIA: Samosas

1 T vegetable oil
1 medium onion
1 t ginger
1 t garlic powder
1 t curry powder
1 fresh tomato, chopped
3/4 C cooked peas
1 package egg roll or wonton skins
oil for deep frying

Heat 1 T oil in large frying pan, add onion, stirring constantly, until browned. Add ginger, garlic powder, and curry powder. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Add tomato. Stir in peas and allow to cool. Cut egg roll skins into 4 squares. Put about 1 T or less of mixture into center. Moisten edges with water. Fold over and press to seal. Heat oil for deep frying, about 375 degrees F. Cook samosas a few at a time until golden brown, turning once. To reheat, place on baking sheet in 350 degree F oven until warm.

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INDONESIA: Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice)

2 C long grain rice
4 shallots or 1 small onion, sliced
2 red chiles, seeded and sliced or 1 t chili powder
1 t paprika
2 T vegetable oil
salt
1 t sweet soy sauce
1 t catsup

Cook rice as directed on package and then let cool.  Heat the oil in a wok, saute the shallots and chiles for about a minute, season with salt, soy sauce, and catsup. Add the rice and stir until it is well heated, about 5-8 minutes. Serve in a large dish and garnish with sliced cucumber, tomatoes or fried onions.

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JAPAN: Tempura

Items to fry:
12 med. prawns
4 red snapper fillets or any small white meat fish fillets
4 green peppers
2 Japanese eggplants or 1 regular eggplant
4 large shitake mushrooms

Tempura Batter:
2 eggs
1-1/2 C iced water
2 C sifted all purpose flour

Dipping Sauce:
Combine the following:
1-3/4 C of dashi stock
1/3 C soy sauce
1/3 C of mirin

Beat the eggs in a large and well chilled bowl then add the water. Add the sifted flour and stir lightly with chopsticks. There should be lumps of dry flour in the batter. Never mix well! Heat oil for frying to 325-350 degrees F. Dip all the ingredients in the batter - they should be well covered by the batter. Deep fry until golden brown. Tempura should be eaten immediately after frying. Dip in the dipping sauce and eat with rice.

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KENYA: Kuku na Nazi (Chicken with coconut milk)

2-3 lbs chicken, cut into pieces
5 inches fresh ginger, grated
20 small cloves garlic
2 hot chili peppers or 1 t cayenne pepper
1 med. onion, sliced, 2 T oil
2 T curry powder
1/3 C clarified butter (directions below)
1 bunch fresh coriander, chopped
1 T whole cumin seeds, pounded
4-6 C coconut milk (directions below)
1 C coconut cream (directions below)

Wash the chicken and pat it dry. Pound the ginger, garlic, chilies, and curry powder with a mortar and pestle, or puree in a blender or food processor. In a small skillet, saute the onions in oil for 4-5 minutes, then add the spice puree and simmer, Braise the chicken in butter in a large skillet or stew pot. When the chicken pieces are brown, transfer the onion-puree mixture to the chicken pot. Add coriander, cumin and coconut oil. Cook until the chicken is tender. Pour coconut cream over the chicken, remove pot from heat, and let stand until ready to serve. To eat, spoon over rice.

Clarified Butter: Take 2 sticks of butter (8 oz total) and cut into pieces and melt in a saucepan over low heat. Skim off the buttermilk fat that will foam to the top with a slotted spoon. Remove the pan from the heat. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then pour off the clear liquid, leaving behind the residue of milk solids that have settled to the bottom. The clarified butter will last 2 weeks when refrigerated.

Coconut Milk: Take fresh white meat of 1 coconut. Grate the meat by hand or process it in a blender. Extract the flavorful mixture from the gratings by pouring the gratings into a cheese cloth, then pour 1 cup of hot water over it. Squeeze the liquid out until you get 1 cup. Continue the process until you have 3 cups. Repeat with a 2nd coconut.

Coconut Cream:
Coconut cream can either be the first squeezing from the coconut milk, or a thick later than forms from chilled coconut milk.

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MEXICO: Chapurrado (Dessert often eaten at Christmas)

6 C Whole milk
1 C masa harina (corn flour)
2 C water
1 C brown sugar, firmly packed
3 oz unsweetened chocolate, grated
1 cinnamon stick

Heat the milk and chocolate in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve the chocolate. When it is completely dissolved, remove from heat and set aside to keep warm, Mix the masa harina with the water in another saucepan. Place over low heat, add the cinnamon stick and cook until the mixture has thickened and the masa becomes translucent. Add the chocolate milk and sugar. Stir to dissolve the sugar and simmer for a few minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick and serve the champurrado hot in cups or mugs

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NATIVE AMERICAN: Zahsakokwahn (Frybread)

2 C flour
2 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 C milk
Deep hot fat in frying pan or fryer

Sift the dry ingredients. lightly stir in milk. Add more flour as necessary to make a dough you can handle. Knead and work the dough on a floured board with floured hands until smooth. Pinch off fist-sized balls and shape into a disk. Fry in fat about 375 degrees F until golden on both sides, about 5 minutes. Drain on absorbent paper.

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NORWAY: Kransekake (Ring shaped Almond cake)

250 g (8.8 oz, about 1-1/8 C) unblanched almonds
250 g blanched almonds
500 g icing sugar (17.7 oz, about 2-1/4 C)
100 g icing sugar (about 1/2 C) for icing
3 egg whites

The almonds must be completely dry before they are ground. Grind them twice, first alone and then together with the icing sugar. Add egg whites to make a firm dough. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Over low heat, knead the dough until it is almost too hot to handle. Pipe the dough into graduated ring shapes onto ovenproof paper or into greased ring molds. Bake until the rings are dry and firm on the outside and chewy inside. This takes about 12-15 minutes. Cool the rings a little before removing them from the molds to cool completely. Mix  icing sugar and egg white to make a fairly thick icing. Use the icing to glue the rings together in ascending order. Pipe the icing in thin zigzags on the sides of the tower. Garnish with sweets, small crackers, flags, etc. The cake should be deep frozen and thawed before serving. This will improve the taste and handling. Make sure the cake does not get the change to dry while stored.

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SPAIN: Caramel Custard

1/2 T water
8 egg yolks
a few drops of vanilla essence
1 pint milk
2 T syrup
4 oz sugar

Heat sugar with water until it is of a brown caramel consistency. Pour into an oven proof dish or little individual dishes which have been previously dipped into cold water and not dried. This prevents sticking. Make the custard by beating the egg yolks well, adding the milk and flavoring, then pour into the caramel-lined dish and bake about 20 minutes. Cool, turn out, and keep in cool place until ready to serve.

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SWITZERLAND: St. Galler Klostertorte (Jam tart)

Dough:
75 g butter (about 1/3 C)
50 g sugar (about 1/4 C)
51 g grated almonds (about 1/4 C)
1 g cinnamon (about 1/4 t)
10 g cocoa powder (about 2 t)
1 g baking soda (about 1/4 t)
150 g flour (about 2/3 C)
40 g milk (about 3 T)
Red currant jam

Stir butter and milk together. Add all other ingredients and work quickly into a dough. Set aside for 1 hour. Cut the dough in two halves. Cover the bottom of a round cake tin with one half and make a rim with the rest. Fill with red currant jam. Make a grill shaped ornament on top of the jam with dough strips. Top the dough strips with frosting. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes.

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TAHITI: Orange Stuffed Dates

3 oz cream cheese, softened
1/3 C powdered sugar
1 T grated orange peel
1 t vanilla
1 box whole pitted dates (8 oz)

Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar and orange peel. Add vanilla. Cut the dates down the middle and fill with cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate.
I hope you enjoy these recipes!!


Independent Story Time Felts Consultant

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Preteens: Passport to Purity

Hi everyone! If you have a preteen boy or girl (10-13) you have got to check this program out

http://www.familylife.com/passporttopurity/

In a nutshell, you take your preteen on a day and a half retreat somewhere, where you have discussions and do activities that teach them about their changing bodies and temptations they will face as they get older and more attracted to the opposite sex. I know people who have done it and both the parents and the kids have reported it to be a fun and memorable weekend that really makes a difference. You can get it here:

http://www.familylife.com/1-800-358-6329/detail.asp?id=8447&p=2

I have 2 girls, soon to be 13 and soon to be 10. I will be doing it this weekend with the 12 year old and can’t wait! I will do it with the 9 year old later this summer, since I’ve heard it is important to not wait too long, or else they are closed to the concepts because of what they’ve already been exposed to, or beliefs they’ve already formed, or ideas you’ve already discussed with them.

If you try it or have experience with it, let us know in the comments!!


Independent Story Time Felts Consultant

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