A Sweet Holiday Treat

Each year the children at our little yellow school make a holiday present for their families.  As the children enjoy baking and food activities, we decided to make a tasty treat that could be enjoyed over the holidays. 

What's inside the bag?

The making of our holiday present utilized some of the skills the children had acquired through their Montessori work.  Some of the first activities a child is introduced to in the Montessori environment are those of the Practical Life area.  Many of these activities allow the child to do what the adults around him/her are seen doing everyday.  These activities are divided into Manipulative Skills, Care of the Environment and Self-Development.  The making of our holiday present would focus on manipulative skills.

Spooning

We only needed a few key items - sugar, cinnamon, sea salt and popping corn - to make our holiday present.  

The Ingredients

Each child made his/her own present.  We started by scooping a half cup of popcorn kernels into a clear bag.  Next we made the popcorn topping.

Topping Ingredients ~ Sugar, Salt and Cinnamon

Each topping packet consisted of two tablespoons of granulated sugar.

Measuring the Sugar

A pinch of salt.

A Pinch of Salt

Measuring the Salt

The final ingredient was a half teaspoon of cinnamon.

Adding the Cinnamon

Stir the ingredients to combine.

Stir to Combine

  

The Popcorn Topping

Can you guess what we made?  We made cinnamon bun popcorn!

Cinnamon Bun Popcorn

Before the children took their holiday presents home, we all gathered together to make some cinnamon bun popcorn.

The popcorn is popping.

The Popcorn

It was fun to see, hear and smell the popcorn popping.  When the popcorn was ready, we drizzled some melted butter over it and mixed it.

Next we sprinkled on some cinnamon bun topping and mixed well.

Cinnamon bun popcorn!  It looked and smelled good!

Now for the taste test.

It was so good!  We hope all our families enjoy their sweet holiday treat!