As the saying on this site goes, "Save A Frog- Do a Virtual Dissection Instead!"
I Am Bored.com has a lot of fun activities, but one I like the best is the virtual frog dissection.
You literally dissect the frog, just like in biology class.
Just try it to see.
I Am Bored has some great sites, but some are questionable for kids, so do not give them free reign. Plus the google ads may be a bit revealing. Make sure you stay by for the full dissection and then go on to another site!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Fun Learning Project
I found this cool educational project in the December '07 Family Fun Magazine.
Make a Ping-Pong Ball Jump
Using just your breath, can you move a Ping-Pong ball from one cup to another?
The setup:
Line up two short cups in front of you, one right after the other. (Small cups work best-just remember to hold them steady.) Drop a Ping-Pong ball into the cup nearest you.
The Trick:
Take a deep breath! Now blow down the side of the Ping-Pong ball closest to you. Watch the ball jump up and into the other cup.
Why It Works:
Blowing down the side of the ball creates a stream of compressed air. This stream of air pushes the ball up, forward, and into the second cup.
Make a Ping-Pong Ball Jump
Using just your breath, can you move a Ping-Pong ball from one cup to another?
The setup:
Line up two short cups in front of you, one right after the other. (Small cups work best-just remember to hold them steady.) Drop a Ping-Pong ball into the cup nearest you.
The Trick:
Take a deep breath! Now blow down the side of the Ping-Pong ball closest to you. Watch the ball jump up and into the other cup.
Why It Works:
Blowing down the side of the ball creates a stream of compressed air. This stream of air pushes the ball up, forward, and into the second cup.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Recipe of the Week
Easy Cuban Steak
This is a recipe from my mother-in-law. It is fabulous and reheats well for leftovers!
1 ½ pounds thinkly sliced steak – skirt steak, flank steak or something thin and similar.
Garlic powder, salt & pepper
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 red pepper, thinly sliced
1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced
1 orange pepper, thinly sliced
Heat oil in cast iron skillet (one with a lid preferably) or covered pan if you don’t have a cast iron skillet; add and sauté garlic about 1 minute.
Add onion and peppers; sauté until soft (about 5 minutes) – remove from skillet.
Add more oil if needed and add beef to skillet. Sauté covered until cooked (about 5-6 min); turning as needed. Don’t over cook or meat will be tough and chewy.
Optional - Remove meat and add ¼- ½ cup water if gravy is desired. Thicken with a little cornstarch (¼ tsp).
Add meat, onions and pepper back in; cover and simmer until ready to serve.
Serve with yellow rice, black bean, baby green peas and Cuban bread ~ I know the baby green peas usually throws people off but it is a great combination!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Explore Local "Tourist" Attractions
How often do we skip out on local activities and locations because we think of them as "tourist" attractions?
We had that instance yesterday. We were invited to a group occasion at a local vineyard. Since we are not wine drinkers, we never saw a reason to go out to the farm.
It will now be a frequent occurrence! We got to feed the chickens cheerios, pick our own strawberries, and see quiet a few animals we do not see around the neighborhood, especially the pot bellied pig! It was a wonderful day that we would not have had if we had not been invited.
Check out local "tourist" attractions in your home town and surrounding communities. You may be surprised of how much fun being a tourist can be!
We had that instance yesterday. We were invited to a group occasion at a local vineyard. Since we are not wine drinkers, we never saw a reason to go out to the farm.
It will now be a frequent occurrence! We got to feed the chickens cheerios, pick our own strawberries, and see quiet a few animals we do not see around the neighborhood, especially the pot bellied pig! It was a wonderful day that we would not have had if we had not been invited.
Check out local "tourist" attractions in your home town and surrounding communities. You may be surprised of how much fun being a tourist can be!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Open Lines Of Communication With Your Kids
A friend of mine has been giving me some of her magazines and I have truly been enjoying reading them. I recently came across an article that I thought everyone might enjoy. It's from the Nov. '07 issue of Family Fun Magazine.
It's entitled, "Daddy Letters" and shares how one dad decided that he wanted to learn about what his kids really wanted to do with him. He shares how he had always spent personal one and one time with his three kids, but was curious if their preferences had changed over the years.
To pull out his kids "deep thoughts" he decided to mail them each a survey and ask them very specific questions:
* What one thing have you wanted to do with me but never have?
* What one thing would you really like me to teach you or tell you that I never have?
* What have you done with me in the past that you really enjoyed but don't get to do often enough?
* What one thing is really on your mind that you want me to know about?
The results he received were eye opening and helpful. He not only learned what was important to his kids, but also how he could relate to them better on an individual basis.
While this concept may not work for your toddlers, it's certainly a great way to learn more about your slightly older kids.
I will keep this idea in mind for a few years down the road! And kudos to the author ( Dan Schaeffer) for taking such an active role in his kids lives!!
It's entitled, "Daddy Letters" and shares how one dad decided that he wanted to learn about what his kids really wanted to do with him. He shares how he had always spent personal one and one time with his three kids, but was curious if their preferences had changed over the years.
To pull out his kids "deep thoughts" he decided to mail them each a survey and ask them very specific questions:
* What one thing have you wanted to do with me but never have?
* What one thing would you really like me to teach you or tell you that I never have?
* What have you done with me in the past that you really enjoyed but don't get to do often enough?
* What one thing is really on your mind that you want me to know about?
The results he received were eye opening and helpful. He not only learned what was important to his kids, but also how he could relate to them better on an individual basis.
While this concept may not work for your toddlers, it's certainly a great way to learn more about your slightly older kids.
I will keep this idea in mind for a few years down the road! And kudos to the author ( Dan Schaeffer) for taking such an active role in his kids lives!!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Recipe of the Week
Okay. This is one of those recipes I saw Paula Deen make it on her Food Network Show over 3 years ago and I knew it would be a family fave. You have GOT to try this, especially if you like banana pudding!
Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding - Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer.
Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth.
Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.
Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended.
Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
This is even better if made a day ahead. The pudding firms up and the cookies soften a bit.
My hubby’s b-day is this week and he requested this as his cake – it’s that tasty!
And, I have multiple copies of it in my recipe box that I’ve printed because so many people ask for the recipe after tasting it. This is a winner!Not Yo' Mama's Banana Pudding - Recipe courtesy Paula Deen
2 bags Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies
6 to 8 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
1 (5-ounce) box instant French vanilla pudding
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping thawed, or equal amount sweetened whipped cream
Line the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch dish with 1 bag of cookies and layer bananas on top.
In a bowl, combine the milk and pudding mix and blend well using a handheld electric mixer.
Using another bowl, combine the cream cheese and condensed milk together and mix until smooth.
Fold the whipped topping into the cream cheese mixture.
Add the cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture and stir until well blended.
Pour the mixture over the cookies and bananas and cover with the remaining cookies.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
This is even better if made a day ahead. The pudding firms up and the cookies soften a bit.
Episode#: PA1A08 - Copyright © 2006 Television Food Network, G.P., All Rights Reserved
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Family Educational Fun
Family fun can include educational activities, especially if your family homeschools or is of the left brained genes. Math games and challenges can be fun too. Not only will this help your children that are not artistically inclined to participate, it will help your kids learn to think, a skill that is quite important.
There are many sites for great challenge activities for all ages. You may be surprised how challenging they can be. If you have children that are in many different ages, choose a question of the week for each age group. If they are close in age, choose one question for the whole family. Have the answers "due" on Saturday, post a new question Sunday. Make a chart of who got their question correct and reward those who made the effort. Even if you are not a "math person," your kids may be. So give it a shot!
Here are some sites to use:
Figure This has fun challenges and a lot of helpful information.
White House for Kids has a question of the week, plus achieved questions for many grade levels.
Newton's Math challenge has a few "excursions" for your family
Have fun computing!
There are many sites for great challenge activities for all ages. You may be surprised how challenging they can be. If you have children that are in many different ages, choose a question of the week for each age group. If they are close in age, choose one question for the whole family. Have the answers "due" on Saturday, post a new question Sunday. Make a chart of who got their question correct and reward those who made the effort. Even if you are not a "math person," your kids may be. So give it a shot!
Here are some sites to use:
Figure This has fun challenges and a lot of helpful information.
White House for Kids has a question of the week, plus achieved questions for many grade levels.
Newton's Math challenge has a few "excursions" for your family
Have fun computing!
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