We have been having a lot of fun activities brought to us by our elves this year. Today, they suggested we try out the Tallest Elf & the Snowman Challenge.
For the Tallest Elf, each child will build the tallest elf out of gumdrops and toothpicks. I gave each 24 gumdrops and 42 toothpicks. You can sit an elf cutout on top for extra pizazz. Measure each creation.
For the Snowman Challenge, you use only toothpicks and marshmellows. I have each child 20 marshmellows and 30 toothpicks. The object is to create the tallest snowman. Measure each creations at the end.
Each project should be able to stand on its own. Our Snowman Challenge had some difficulty since the marshmellows were so heavy. But it was fun nonetheless! Check out the video below.
Easiest Baking Project Ever! All you need are sugar cones, icing, green food dye, and candy! The rest is just watching them have a ball decorating. Try this out with your kids this Christmas Season!
Th elves brought us more Christmas Science Experiments. Today’s projects were Dancing Popcorn and a Hot Ice Experiment.
These fun projects kept my kids entertained for the evening. They learned about what happens when combining an acid and a base, exothermic reactions, and what supercooling is.
Take a 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels in a jar. Fill the jar 3/4 of the way up with water. Add 1 Tbsp of baking soda, stir in. Pour in 1/4 cup of vinegar and watch the popcorn “dance.”
As the bubbles are created, the carbon dioxide bubbles attach to the popcorn kernels and bring the kernels to the surface of the water. The bubbles pop when they reach the surface and then the popcorn kernels sink back down to the bottom of the jar. Once on the bottom they collect more carbon dioxide bubbles and the process starts again. This process is what makes the popcorn look like it is “dancing”.
For the Hot Ice project, we were able to reduce the baking soda and vinegar solution (3 Tbsp of baking soda with 3 cups of vinegar, boiled down on medium heat for about an hour). We put it in the freezer for 20 minutes. When we cooled the solution, we were able to bring the sodium acetate down to a temperature lower than the point at which it would normally become a solid. This is called supercooling. Then, when we poured the solution on top of some of the crystals from the pan. The solution hardened and was hot to the touch, which means it had an exothermic reaction. We will have to try the project another time though. The solution should have stacked up but ours spread out more like hot applesauce. But we still had fun learning!
Try out these science experiments with your kids this weekend!
Looking for a good Christmas book this year. Here is my list of the Top 35 Children’s Christmas Books. The books are not put in numerical order just a general list since I do enjoy them all for their own reasons.
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas By: Eric LitwinMerry Christmas, Stinky Face By: Lisa McCourtDasher By: Matt TavaresFrosty the Snowman By: Steve Nelson & Jack RollinsLlama Llama Jingle Bells By: Anna DewdneyThe Christmas Donkey By: T. William TaylorThe Christmas Light By: Claudia Cangilla McAdamMrs. Claus Takes the Reins By: Sue FliessDuck & Goose: It’s Time for Christmas By: Tad HillsJoseph’s Donkey By: Anthony DeStefanoThe Elf on the Shelf – a Christmas Tradition By: Chanda Bell & Carol AebersoldThe Christmas Carol By: Charles DickensThe Legend of the Christmas Witch By: Aubrey Plaza and Dan MurphyA Charlie Brown Christmas By: Charles SchluzThe Sneaky Snowman By: Clay SprolesHow to Catch an Elf By: Adam WallaceThe Christmas Story By: Ruth MoreheadMerry Christmas Mom and Dad By: Mercer MayerSanta’s Magic Key By: Eric JamesCarl’s Christmas By: Alexandra DayA Spider Who Saved Christmas By: Raymond ArroyoSneezy the Snowman By: Maureen WrightThe Night Before Christmas By: Jan BrettChristmas Treasury By: Jan BrettWhy Christmas Trees Aren’t Perfect? By: Richard H. SchneiderThe Curious Little Kitten’s First Christmas By: Linda HaywardThomas’ Night Before Christmas By: R. Schuyler HookeSnowmen at Night By: Caralyn BuchnerNarwhal’s True Christmas Wish By: Lisa Ann ScottSnowmen at Christmas By: Caralyn BuchnerThe Christmas Cat By: Efner Tudor HolmesRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer By: Robert L. MayThe Polar Express By: Chris Van AllsburgChristmas in Camelot By: Mary Pope OsbourneLittle Blue Truck’s Christmas By: Alice Schertle
I hope you enjoyed my list of Christmas Books. What is your favorite Christmas book? Please share in the comments below. I’m
Two Christmas Science Projects below to bring Christmas cheer and promote learning. Try them out with your family this weekend.
Candy Cane Experiment:
You will test what will dissolve a Candy Cane by using hot water, cold water, salt water, and vinegar. Have the kids put their hypothesis in before the start of the project. Set candy canes in solution and wait 10 mins. After 10 minutes see the results. The hot water should have dissolved the most. Water molecules have magnetic properties which break apart the sugar molecules when the candy cane is set in water. Hot water breaks them faster than cold water due to the energy produced by the water being heated. Cold water and vinegar are the next for the most breakdown. The acetic acid in vinegar breaks down the sugar but at a slower rate. Salt water does the least break down. The salt and sugar molecules in the water are competing with the sucrose from the candy cane for the water molecules. As a result, not as many sugar molecules from the candy cane are able to separate and reattach to the water molecules.
Flying Reindeer Project:
We are testing Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion, which is for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Make your reindeers out of paper or a toilet paper roll. Tape a straw on the top of the toilet paper roll. Draw a string across, pull string through straw. Make sure that the string is taut. Tape a blown up balloon to the toilet paper roll, but just pinch the end do not tie the balloon. Let go of the balloon and watch your reindeer fly. Your flying reindeer demonstrates Newton’s 3rd Law. As the air rushes out of the balloon in one direction it pushed the reindeer in the opposite direction with equal force.
Happy Learning! Hope you are having a fantastic Holiday Season! For more science projects or elf on the shelf ideas, follow by blog or my Instagram, @leslielarch.
It’s that time again!!! As much as I wanted to have my Elf on the Shelf book of ideas published….life had other plans for me. Which in the end is just fine. It gives me another year to edit, get feedback, and put out the best book I can write. So stay tuned, I will continue to put out updates throughout the upcoming year.
But, now is the time of year, we need ideas! We need fun, we need games and we need that spark of magic! I have my calendar all planned out and have been working on gathering items for Bob and Sally to be prepared next Friday. Our elves always show up the day after Thanksgiving. And honestly, I can’t wait! The joy that Bob and Sally bring to my kiddos every year is the best part of Christmas for me!
To keep up with all of Bob and Sally’s adventures this Christmas Season, follow me on Instagram, @leslielarch.
Here is our recap from last year. If you want more details on any of the ideas, feel free to email me at:
spiritedessence3105@gmail.com
Snowman FridgeWelcome Back!Help! Stuck in Underwear!They made Brown-E’sCanoe ride on Grinch LakeHappy Eggs1st Day of Christmas Moving to the new house!Gone fishin’!Spinning Christmas Tree ExperimentFloor is Lava!Pool GameGummy Bear Science ExperimentI ❤️ U Candy CanesMinecraft ElvesGrowing Candy CanesBuild a Snowman ExperimentChristmas Tree FarmDJ Bob & SallyShark AttackGive Back Toy CollectionLetter from Give Back Toy CollectionBuddy Spaghetti DayOur Buddy SpaghettiDuct Tape TPSpa DayQ-Tip SnowflakeReason for the SeasonHopscotch game to “HOP” into Christmas
I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season and so much fun while their elves are visiting!
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!
If you want more Elf on the Shelf ideas here are the links to my other Elf on the Shelf Posts of previous years:
