Early Childhood Education-"Encouraging children to make and eat Foccacia"

Making fresh foccacia with children at preschool, daycare encourages many things. For example, children learn basic math skills; on measuring the right amount. Great use of fine motor skills to pour and scoop; sensory as they mix the ingrediants. It encourages great life skills where children get the opportunity to participate in an activity and see the end result by tasting it. This activity is very easy and a great activity for children to work together as a team.

Ingredients:

• 1 cups tepid water (90 degrees)
• 1 package yeast
• 1 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 cups plus 1/4 cup bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt

Toppings: Optional

• Approx 1/4 cup olive oil
  
• Garlic, rosemary to taste
• Kosher salt to taste

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix water, yeast, and sugar.
2. Stir in oils and salt.
3. Add 2 1/2 cups + 1/4 cup flour, mixing well til spongy.
4. Add enough remaining flour to make stiff dough.
5. Turn onto floured surface and knead until elastic.
6. Cover with bowl and let rise til doubled.
7. Spread on cookie sheets using your fingers.
8. TOPPINGS:
9. Mix crushed garlic with olive oil; brush over bread.
10. Sprinkle w/ dried rosemary and kosher salt
11. Bake at 375 for 1/2 hour.
12. Cut into squares and serve.
13. NOTE: You can also slice squares in half for sandwiches or simply for dipping
    

Early Childhood Education-"The art of creating Homemade Pizza in Childcare"

Cooking projects can be exciting and fun for children in daycare and preschool. They add as great fine motor skills, where children are using there fingers and hands to mix the flour, water and yeast. They are also using there senses, to touch the dough and while its forming one can smell the yeast mixing with the water and flour. This can be a great project and a great cooking lesson for the children to participate in. It can also encourage children to try new foods.




Ingredients for the dough:
3/4 cups warm water
2 cups white bread flour
dash of salt
1 package very active yeast
corn meal
cooking spray-pam

-Mix the water, flour, salt and yeast together in a bowl;using your hands.
-Set aside and let rise-about 1-2 hours
-Flour a cutting board and using a dough roller, roll out the dough-sprinkling flour on the pizza dough; so it doesn't stick to the roller.
-Spray pam on a cookie sheet or pizza stone
-Sprinkle some corn meal on the sheet, transfer dough to the baking sheet and form pizza on sheet.
Turn oven on 450

Filling:
Optional:
red tomato sauce, pesto sauce,cheese, peperoni,salami,chicken breast slices,pineapple,zucchini,onion, bell pepper,basil,tomatoes,mushrooms,olives,asparagus,

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes

Enjoy

Early Childhood Education-"Encouraging children to "use there imagination while being creative"

Looking for ways to be creative and conscious to mother earth? With the holidays around the corner and gift wrap becoming more and more tougher to break down, why not have your children decorate there own gift bags. This is a very simple and creative activity your children can participate in and enjoy.

Materials:
-paper bag
-fabric pieces
-glue
-scissors
-googly eyes
-markers
-felt

This is a great activity for children to do during the year. It encourages team work, sharing materials and having fun!

Early Childhood Education-"The art of creating Photo Ornaments in childcare"

Looking for holiday activities to make with your children at childcare, preschool or daycare? These ornaments are easy to make and make great gifts.

Materials:
-child's photo
-small wreath
-sequins, glitter,beads
-glue
-colored paper
-yarn
-scissors

Provide children with all the above materials and assist in helping them create there holiday keepsake. Perfect to make; year after year and to treasure your children's childhood memories.

Early Childhood Education-"The art of creative picture frames in childcare"

What a perfect holiday project you can make with your children for the holidays. Very easy to create and this project will make a perfect gift for the holidays. Great sensory and a great way for the children to use there fine motor skills in daycare or preschool.

Materials:
-puzzle pieces
-glue
-googly eyes
-picture
-felt or cardboard piece
-small pom-pom

Very easy to put together, start by gluing puzzle pieces together. Set to dry overnight and finally add picture!

Early Childhood Education-"Benefits of offering healthy treats in Childcare"

With the holidays around the corner, children will be eating lots of tasty treats. A great way to keep there diet healthy is to offer healthy snacks in preschool or daycare. Very simple to make and children will enjoy them.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups low-fat yogurt (any flavor will work)
  
• 1 cup assorted berries (seasonal)
• 5 pretzel rods
  

Directions

1. In a large bowl gently stir together the yogurt and chopped fruit. Spoon into 4-ounce ice-pop molds or 3-ounce paper cups. Then you cover molds or cups with foil; using a sharp knife to cut a small hole in the foil and insert cut side of pretzel rods. Freeze until firm. Remove foil and mold or cup before serving.

2. Store for up to a month. Makes 6 pops.