VALENTINE'S DAY!
This
picture of the week celebrates the holiday Valentines Day, which is celebrated
February 14th. Here are a few games and recipes in honor of the holiday
of love and friendship.
THE MUSICAL HEARTS GAME (elementary age game)
This game is similar to musical chairs! The first thing you need to do is make one big red heart that people can hold in both hands. Have your whole group stand up in one big circle. Someone needs to play music (this can be either a teacher, other adult, or student). The music can be a love song or a song about friendship. As the music plays, you pass the red heart around the circle (either clockwise or counter-clockwise). When the music stops, the person standing the right of the person holding the heart is "out" - - he or she must exit the game. The game continues when the music begins again and continues until the last person is left holding the heart. That last person is the winner and you can give them a box of candy!
RACING WITH THE HEART GAME (elementary age game)
This is a fun game for a group of elementary age children. All you need is one paper red heart that is small enough to fit into a person's closed fist. First, divide all the children into two teams……Team A and Team B. Each team should then choose one person to be captain and each team must have a "home base" at opposite ends of the playing field. It is important to point out boundaries for this game.
The
two captains meet and decide who will go first. One team gets to take
the small heart and get into a huddle or a small circle. The purpose of
this huddle is so that the captain can give the red paper heart to one
person to hide in his/her fist. (The other team will probably be watching
so everyone may want to pretend that they have the heart!).
After the huddle, both teams line up and face each other about ten feet apart. On the word "GO" by a teacher or other adult, the team without the heart must then chase and tag members of the other team.
When you are tagged, you must stop and open your hands to reveal if you have the red heart or not. If the person tagged does not have the heart he or she says, "Sorry - race for the heart!" He or she must then stand in place while the tagging team seeks out other players.
The team player with the heart in his/her hand must run towards the opposite team's safety base. If he or she makes it there safely (without being tagged), then that team gets a point and the game starts over. If he or she gets tagged, then the heart is given to the other team and the play begins again.
You can decide on a total number of points to win!
SUGAR/SPICE & EVERYTHING NICE COOKIES
These
cinnamon sugar cookies are the perfect little gift to give a good friend
on Valentine's Day. You can enjoy making them with help from an adult!
What you need:
1 cup sugar
3 cups flour
1 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla
½ cup of hot rock candies
1 tablespoon of butter
Heart-shaped cookie cutter
Waxed paper
What you do:
Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine sugar, 1-cup butter, egg, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add baking powder, flour, and salt, and then beat at a low speed until soft dough forms.
Sprinkle flour on countertop. Roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch thick. Cut dough with cookie cutter (that has been dipped in the flour). Place hearts about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until the cookie edges are golden brown. Set the cookies aside to cool down.
In a small pot over low heat, melt the hot rock candies and 1 tablespoon of butter, stirring until smooth. Dip half of each cooled down cookie into the melted candy, allowing excess to drip off. Place cookies on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper. Refrigerate until they set.
This will make about 3-4 dozen cookies!