Day: February 25, 2017

Toddler Science Experiment

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Toddler Science (5).JPG

This game involved a simple introduction to the scientific method, with Travis needing to make a hypothesis. Although I thought the answer would be obvious, even I was surprised with our results!

To set up, place ice cubes in one bowl (with a little water) next to an empty bowl. If you’re inside, it helps to have a towel under the bowls to contain any spills… or save the game for when you can play outside on a warm day!

toddler-science-1Next I presented Travis with three options for moving the ice from one bowl to the other – a regular spoon, a slotted spoon, and kitchen tongs. Which one would be the best way to move the ice, I asked him. He immediately grabbed the regular spoon and started transferring.

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What happened next was quite interesting though. The spoon worked great, but as the ice cubes began to melt and grew smaller, they slid off the spoon. The best tool for the job turned out to be…the tongs, which I hadn’t thought Travis had mastered! So the result surprised us both.

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The slotted spoon, which I had surmised would be his favorite, was a bit of a dud. He was so into the regular spoon and tongs that it didn’t interest him to see the way the water slid through the slots as he scooped up a piece of ice.

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The fun lasted until the ice cubes all melted!

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Pups in a Blanket

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pups-in-a-blanket

Use any brand of tofu pups (i.e. soy hot dogs) from the store to make the ever-popular pigs-in-a-blanket without the pigs!

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup plain non-dairy milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon cider vinegar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 tablespoons wheat germ
  • 1/4 cup Earth Balance butter
  • 4 to 5 vegan hot dogs
  1. To make the dough, combine the milk in a bowl with the vinegar and let stand for 5 minutes. All you’re doing here is curdling the milk so it is like buttermilk; lemon juice works as a substitute for the vinegar in a pinch.
  2. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and wheat germ. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the flour mixture; cut in using your fingers or a pastry blender until the mixture is like coarse meal.
  3. Add the milk mixture, stirring until a dough forms. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead about 4 times. Roll the dough into a 10-inch square, then cut into 4 or 5 strips, depending on how many hot dogs you’re using.
  4. Roll each hot dog into a strip of dough at a slight angle, pressing to seal. Place the hot dogs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
  5. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15 to 18 minutes, until the dough is lightly browned.on the bottom.