- movie snacks
- a movie
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
June Book Club, Meeting #9
Supplies and prep:
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
May Book Club, Meeting #8
Supplies and prep:
Book discussion: Our discussion was pretty much a free-for-all. Most of the girls have read these books years ago. The theme was really to celebrate each individual girl, just like the American Girl series does. We did talk specifically about each girl's own name and if they know why their parents chose it.
The main activity required a lot of preparation beforehand. I had taken profile pictures against a blank wall at the previous month's book club meeting. I used a computer program to "cut out" the background so I was left with just the silhouette. I printed these on small black chalkboard paper with adhesive backing that I found at a craft store. Then cut them out with scissors and exact-o knife. I also had a couple packs of scrapbook paper, lots of variety. I found small colorful frames.
To assemble their silhouettes, each girl got to choose a frame and background from the stash. They had to trim the paper to fit the frame, then peel the adhesive back and put their silhouette on. Some chose to write their name underneath, or their age. Then reassemble the frame, glass, paper, backing and voila!
We did a second craft, since this one didn't take too long. This was a fun craft using each girl's names, since we'd talked about it earlier. You fold a paper in half and write your name in cursive, or close print, making sure to always touch the bottom fold. Then turn it around and trace it on the other side. When you unfold it, the mirror images of each name make a unique design that is fun to color.
A simple dessert of cupcakes and water to finish off the night.
- pretzels
- printer paper plus art supplies
- prepared silhouettes
- small inexpensive frames
- various scrapbook paper sheets
- cupcakes
Book discussion: Our discussion was pretty much a free-for-all. Most of the girls have read these books years ago. The theme was really to celebrate each individual girl, just like the American Girl series does. We did talk specifically about each girl's own name and if they know why their parents chose it.
The main activity required a lot of preparation beforehand. I had taken profile pictures against a blank wall at the previous month's book club meeting. I used a computer program to "cut out" the background so I was left with just the silhouette. I printed these on small black chalkboard paper with adhesive backing that I found at a craft store. Then cut them out with scissors and exact-o knife. I also had a couple packs of scrapbook paper, lots of variety. I found small colorful frames.
To assemble their silhouettes, each girl got to choose a frame and background from the stash. They had to trim the paper to fit the frame, then peel the adhesive back and put their silhouette on. Some chose to write their name underneath, or their age. Then reassemble the frame, glass, paper, backing and voila!
We did a second craft, since this one didn't take too long. This was a fun craft using each girl's names, since we'd talked about it earlier. You fold a paper in half and write your name in cursive, or close print, making sure to always touch the bottom fold. Then turn it around and trace it on the other side. When you unfold it, the mirror images of each name make a unique design that is fun to color.
A simple dessert of cupcakes and water to finish off the night.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
April Book Club, Meeting #7
Supplies and prep:
Book discussion: We had some discussion questions, including what having an imagination can do for us. We also made predictions about what would be in Anne's future. We decided for next month's book club, we would talk about American Girl books, and everyone could choose their own American Girl to read about.
We did an art activity that took a little extra time. It was making our own tesselations! It took some patience but every girl figured it out. They traced and colored while they talked.
After everything else was done, we served carrot cupcakes and "raspberry cordial", which was the raspberry juice and 7UP mixed in a pitcher. The girls played along by acting nervous that I might get them drunk, which was adorable. Then we watched a few of the highlights of the movie. (Anne meeting the Cuthberts, Anne smashing the slate over Gilbert, the spelling bee at school, etc.)
- pretzels
- fancy name quiz
- discussion questions
- carrot cupcakes
- raspberry juice
- sprite or 7 up
- dvd of Anne of Green Gables
- paper and art supplies
Book discussion: We had some discussion questions, including what having an imagination can do for us. We also made predictions about what would be in Anne's future. We decided for next month's book club, we would talk about American Girl books, and everyone could choose their own American Girl to read about.
We did an art activity that took a little extra time. It was making our own tesselations! It took some patience but every girl figured it out. They traced and colored while they talked.
After everything else was done, we served carrot cupcakes and "raspberry cordial", which was the raspberry juice and 7UP mixed in a pitcher. The girls played along by acting nervous that I might get them drunk, which was adorable. Then we watched a few of the highlights of the movie. (Anne meeting the Cuthberts, Anne smashing the slate over Gilbert, the spelling bee at school, etc.)
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
March Book Club, Meeting #6
Supplies and prep:
Book discussion: a lot of kids have read the book in the past, and seen the movie. We compared the two. We talked about favorite parts and favorite characters. Our choices for the next month were all historic fiction. Anne of Green Gables, Little House in the Big Woods, and Caddie Woodlawn. The girls voted for Anne of Green Gables, and several were already reading it or had read it in the past.
The main activity was a STEM activity I have seen many places. It is an egg drop! The kids are each given an egg, then they have to construct a holder of some kind that will protect the egg from cracking when it is dropped from a tall height. This was such a fun one! The girls really ran with it. They shared their ideas and came up with their own. We used a LOT of masking tape! It was cold, but we bundled up and took them outside where I dropped each one first from the top of a ladder, then from our second story window. Some cracked, some didn't. Nobody felt bad- it was all in fun and the girls loved the challenge.
- pretzels
- James and the Giant Peach quiz
- discussion questions
- a hard boiled egg for each person (plus a few extra)
- building supplies from recycling- boxes, paper, straws, tape, cotton balls, sponges, plastic cups, paper towels, toilet paper
- chocolate pudding
- crushed oreos
- gummy worms
- green sprinkles
- cool whip
Book discussion: a lot of kids have read the book in the past, and seen the movie. We compared the two. We talked about favorite parts and favorite characters. Our choices for the next month were all historic fiction. Anne of Green Gables, Little House in the Big Woods, and Caddie Woodlawn. The girls voted for Anne of Green Gables, and several were already reading it or had read it in the past.
The main activity was a STEM activity I have seen many places. It is an egg drop! The kids are each given an egg, then they have to construct a holder of some kind that will protect the egg from cracking when it is dropped from a tall height. This was such a fun one! The girls really ran with it. They shared their ideas and came up with their own. We used a LOT of masking tape! It was cold, but we bundled up and took them outside where I dropped each one first from the top of a ladder, then from our second story window. Some cracked, some didn't. Nobody felt bad- it was all in fun and the girls loved the challenge.
After the egg drop, we came inside where the girls could make their own dessert. It was mud pie, with gummy worms and green sprinkles (like the magic green crystals that make the peach grow).
Wednesday, January 10, 2018
January Book Club, Meeting #5
Supplies and prep:
Book discussion: We first watched this funny 90 second recap of the book. Then we talked about the characters, traveling, and imagining what a whole different planet would be like. The book choices for next month were all Roald Dahl books. They could choose James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or The BFG. The girls voted and chose James and the Giant Peach.
Next we played a game similar to Never have I Ever. Except it was about books! One girl would say a book she has read, then if nobody else in the room had read it, she would get a point. We went around several times, and the girls loved trying to stump each other.
Our main activity was a game night. We had several to choose from, and we had 2-3 different groups playing. I did pay close attention to make sure nobody was left out. They had a lot of fun and it was low prep for me. We had brownies for a treat before everybody headed home.
- pretzels
- alternate titles quiz
- discussion questions
- several card and board games
- brownies
Book discussion: We first watched this funny 90 second recap of the book. Then we talked about the characters, traveling, and imagining what a whole different planet would be like. The book choices for next month were all Roald Dahl books. They could choose James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or The BFG. The girls voted and chose James and the Giant Peach.
Next we played a game similar to Never have I Ever. Except it was about books! One girl would say a book she has read, then if nobody else in the room had read it, she would get a point. We went around several times, and the girls loved trying to stump each other.
Our main activity was a game night. We had several to choose from, and we had 2-3 different groups playing. I did pay close attention to make sure nobody was left out. They had a lot of fun and it was low prep for me. We had brownies for a treat before everybody headed home.
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
December Book Club, Meeting #4
Supplies and prep:
Our December was busy, so we opted for a movie night this month. We didn't discuss our book, but gave everyone the extra month to read it for our next book club night.
We watched The Santa Claus, and had to start it right on time! While we watched, I had 2-3 girls at a time come to the table (which was turned to see the tv still) and shape some soft pretzels. I baked them as they watched, then they all got to either eat or take home their own pretzels. I had salt and cinnamon sugar for them to sprinkle on top.
Recipe for pretzels:
- movie snacks
- a family friendly Christmas movie
- Soft pretzel dough, already made
Our December was busy, so we opted for a movie night this month. We didn't discuss our book, but gave everyone the extra month to read it for our next book club night.
We watched The Santa Claus, and had to start it right on time! While we watched, I had 2-3 girls at a time come to the table (which was turned to see the tv still) and shape some soft pretzels. I baked them as they watched, then they all got to either eat or take home their own pretzels. I had salt and cinnamon sugar for them to sprinkle on top.
Recipe for pretzels:
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 1/2-3 cups flour
- 1 Tbsp yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 Tbsp sugar
Dissolve yeast in warm water in mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until they form a ball. Knead until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 450. Take sections of dough and roll into snakes to shape into a pretzel, or any other shape you want. Bake on a greased baking sheet for 8-10 minutes. After removing from oven, brush with melted butter and sprinkle with salt or cinnamon sugar.
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
November Book Club, Meeting #3
Supplies and prep:
Book discussion: We talked about what talents we have that might seem useless, but are unique to us. We also talked about disappointment: what to do when we are expecting something great and it doesn't happen. Our choices for next month were all fantasy: The Phantom Tollbooth, A Wrinkle in Time, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The girls voted for A Wrinkle in Time.
Our main activity was doing different challenges to test how SUPER our skills are. Some were a hit, some were kind of a miss.
For a treat, we had TNT licorice, which came from the TNT used by the Superheroes in our book.
- pretzels
- fat red licorice
- brain teasers, puzzles
- paper airplane instructions
- 3 book choices with a blurb from each
- discussion questions
- large rubberbands, string, paper cups
Our theme was about superheroes, from our book Almost Super, by Marion Jensen. We had pretzels as usual for our gathering activity.
Book discussion: We talked about what talents we have that might seem useless, but are unique to us. We also talked about disappointment: what to do when we are expecting something great and it doesn't happen. Our choices for next month were all fantasy: The Phantom Tollbooth, A Wrinkle in Time, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The girls voted for A Wrinkle in Time.
Our main activity was doing different challenges to test how SUPER our skills are. Some were a hit, some were kind of a miss.
- Super tactics- a hanoi tower puzzle
- Super Brain- classic grid logic puzzle
- Super Strength- do pushups
- Super Flexibility- fitting through a hole in an index card (practice beforehand!)
- Super Teamwork- work as a team to use a rubberband with several strings tied to it to lift up cups and stack them in a tower- this was the favorite by far!
- Super Flying- make paper airplanes
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