Winter Stay and Play Activity Guide

COCHRANE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES

We would love to see you having fun with all your Stay & Play activities! Post them on social media #stayandplaycochrane

N U F G N I T N I A S NO W P Supplies: louring • Food co ottle • Spray b

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Snowflake Art Supplies: • White Paper • Scissors Instructions: 1. Begin with a square piece of paper.

2. Fold it in half to create a large triangle.

3. Fold it in half again to make a smaller triangle.

4. Cut a variety of shapes into the sides of the triangle.

5. Open up the cut triangle and you will have a square paper snowflake.

Cochrane Family & Community Support Services #1, 209 Second Ave W, Cochrane, AB Phone: 403-851-2250 Email: fcss@cochrane.ca cochrane.ca/FCSS fb.com/CochraneProgramsActivitiesOpportunities Monday-Friday: 8:30am-4:30pm

"We are all like a snowflake, all different in our own beautiful way." ~Unknown

Supply List

Please refer to instruction page for quantities for each item or how many of each craft you plan to make.

F Large Mason Jar F Pieces of Paper (sticky note size) F Pen F Food colouring (multiple colours) F Spray bottle F White Printer Paper F Scissors F Plastic Containers F Water Bottle F 3/4 cup small bird seed F 1 packet of unflavored gelatin ( 2 tbsp.)

F Twine F Christmas cookie cutters F Parchment paper F Straw F Mason jar

F Glycerin F Figurine F Glitter snow F Hot glue gun & glue F coloured card stock cut into strips (1inch x 8.5inches) F (orange, blue, red, green and yellow) F grey card stock cut into strips: 1 1/4inch x 4inches F Paper plate (white scalloped) F Clear tape F Green & red paint F Multicoloured pom poms (large & small) F 7 Tbsp hot chocolate powder F Green construction paper (4 sheets) F Red construction paper (1 sheet) F Red ribbon F Pencil F Pinecones (large) F Hole punch F Popsicle sticks (regular sized and small size)

F Embellishments if desired (jingle bells, some faux flocked greenery, and baker’s twine)

INGREDIENT LIST

F 7 Tbsp hot chocolate powder F Mini marshmallows F Candy canes (mini) F 1 cup sugar F 1⁄2 cup butter F 1 egg F 1/3 sour cream F 2 cups flour F 1/3 tsp baking soda F 1⁄2 tsp salt F 1 tsp baking powder F 1 1⁄2 cups confectioners’ sugar F 1⁄2 tsp pure vanilla extract F 1 tsp light corn syrup F 2 1⁄2 Tbsp room temperature water F Pinch salt F All-purpose flour (4 cups)

Sugar Cookie Recipe Ingredients: • 1 cup sugar • ½ cup butter • 1 egg • 1/3 sour cream • 2 cups flour • 1/3 tsp baking soda • ½ tsp salt • 1 tsp baking powder

Instructions: 1. Chill dough, roll it, cut cookies ½ inch thick 2. Bake at 350°for 5-10 mins (until slightly brown)

Paper Plate Christmas Tree Supplies: • Paper plate (3) • Clear tape • Green paint • Glue • Multicolored pom poms

Easy Icing Ingredients: • 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract • 1 tsp light corn syrup* • 2 -2 ½ Tbsp room temperature water • pinch salt*

*Corn Syrup: This is what gives the icing fabulous shine. You may leave it out if you aren’t concerned about shiny, glossy icing. Salt: optional for taste.

Instructions: 1. Whisk the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, corn syrup, and 2 tablespoons of water in a medium bowl.

2. Mixture should be quite thick. If it is much too thick, add ½ Tbsp more water. If it is much too thin, add 2 more Tbsp of confectioners’ sugar.

If you drizzle a little of the icing with 3. the whisk, the ribbon of icing will hold for a few seconds before melting back into the icing. That is when you know it’s the right consistency and is ready to use.

4. If desired, add liquid or gel food coloring. You can pour some icing into different bowls if using multiple colors. If not decorating right away, cover the icing tightly and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Instructions: 1. In order to make the cone shape, you will need to cut a chunk out of your paper plate.

2. Find the center and cut out a wedge (entire quarter of the plate) 3. Roll the plate into a cone shape and seal with tape.

4. Since you will be painting the cones, keep all the tape on the inside. You can make little rolls of tape and used that to hold down the outer flap down.

5. If you find you need tape on the outside, wait until your paint is dry before taping it down.

6. Paint your cone green. While it will work to paint your plate before making the cone.

7. After the paint dries, glue on all your pom poms. You can add other embelishments as you see fit.

https://creativefamilyfun.net/paper-plate-christmas-tree/

Salt Dough Ornaments Ingredients: • All-purpose flour (4 cups) • Table salt (1 cup) • Warm water (1 1/2 cups) • Cookie Cutter

Instructions: 1. Grab your large mixing bowl, and add in the flour and salt. Stir until well combined. Then, slowly stream in the warm water while stirring. Keep stirring until you’ve added all the water.

2. You’ll get to a point where it is too hard to stir with a spoon. Put it down and use your hands to get in there and mix it well.

3. Once the dough starts to come together, keep kneading with your hands for a few minutes until the dough is smooth and pliable.

4. Put down a large piece of parchment paper, and place a good-sized chunk of dough in the middle. Place another large piece of parchment on top.

5. Roll out the dough until 1/8″ thick. You want to err on the side of thinner dough. Too thick, and the ornaments tend to split or break easily because of air pockets that get trapped in the middle.

6. Remove the top sheet of parchment, and then using cookie cutters, cut into the dough—do not try to remove the cut-out pieces! You want those to stay on the parchment. - If you want to use your child’s handprint or footprint, you may want slightly thinker dough.

Evenly press the hand or foot in the dough.

Cut around the handprint or footprint using the rim of a bowl or glass.

7. When you’re finished cutting the pieces, peel away the excess dough, leaving behind the shapes on the parchment.

8. Take a drinking straw, and poke a hole in the top of each ornament for a ribbon to hang from.

9. Bake at 300˚F for about an hour.

10. Let cool completely.

11. Decorate and paint to your liking.

12. Add a ribbon to hang on your tree.

Popsicle Sled Craft Supplies: • Popsicle sticks (2 regular sized and 5 small per sled) • Paint • Twine • Hot glue • Embellishments if desired (jingle bells, some faux flocked greenery, and baker’s twine) Instructions: 1. Paint the small craft sticks red. Allow to dry. Leave the regular sized sticks wood colour.

2. Glue 4 of the small craft sticks together staggering the end stick on each side slightly lower. Allow to dry.

3. Glue on the regular sticks as sled runners to the smaller popsicle sticks.

4. Glue on the last small stick as a cross stick to the front of the sled.

5. Add whatever embellishments you would like at the front of the sled. Faux garland, bows, jingle bells greenery, bakers twine all make great accents.

6. Cut some regular twine to your desired length and attach to the underside of the cross bar using hot glue.

https://www.cleanandscentsible.com/handmade-christmas-ornaments-popsicle-sticks-sleds/

Pine Cone Orn ament

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Supplies: • pinecon es • natural string • mini po mp • hot glue oms gun

ts) Supplies: ion paper (4 shee ct ru st n co en re • G eet) ction paper (1 sh ru st n co ed R

• • Red ribbon • Pencil • Scissors • Glue

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Hot Cocoa & Marshmallows

Instruction s: 1. Add da bs of glue to your pine c you want th one where e p o m p oms to be.

2. Once yo ur glue is in position, ad pom poms d your min . Push each i one gently glue, to giv into the e it a good chance of s shape of th ticking. The e pine cone should help them in. to hold 3. Once th e glue has dried, cut a string and length of tie it aroun d the top o cone. Aim to f each pine have the to p of the pin in the midd e cone le of the le ngth of strin both ends g. Then tie together to make a larg 4. Hang th e loop. em up!

As there’s a ho should do th t glue gun involved, a n adult e gluing for younger ch ildren.

A little tip to avoid lots o f stringy glu over the pla e flying all ce: after yo u’ve added glue, lightly your dot of scrape the glue gun no edge of the zzle over th pine cone s e cale as you This really move it aw helps to lim ay. it the mess . https://gro wingfamily.c o.uk/craft/ christmas-d homemade ecorations -pom-pom-p ine-cones/

Enjoy a hot cup of cocoa after some fun, festive outdoor adventures!

Ingredients: • 7 Tbsp hot chocolate powder • Mini marshmallows • Candy canes • Hot water (use directions as to how much to add) Instructions: 1. For a single serving add 2 tablespoons of hot chocolate mix to 3/4 cup (175 ml) of hot water, stir and enjoy. For a family size serving add 7 tablespoons of hot chocolate mix to 3 cups (750 ml) of hot water, stir and enjoy. For a creamier beverage replace all or part of the hot water with hot milk. Enjoy!

2. Crush candy canes and add them along with the marshmallows as delicious toppings.

be o l G w o n S y l i Fam lycerin Supplies: g r with added • Mason ja • Figurine ow • Glitter sn • Hot glue

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PAPER LIGHT GARLAND Supplies : • coloured card stock cut into strips (1inch x 8.5inches) • orange, blue, red, green and yellow • gray card stock cut into strips: 1 1/4inch x 4inches • twine • a hole punch • glue Instructions: 1. Score the gray card stock at every 1/2 inch and punch holes in the upper half of every 3rd section. Overlap the ends together to form the shape of a hexagon or a heptagon (7 sides) and glue or staple the ends together.

2. To make the paper lightbulbs, fold the colored strip of paper in half by lightly pressing a crease at the center. Pinch the two ends together and push the paper into the palm of your hand. Bring it back up, and it should resemble a Christmas lightbulb shape.

3. Use a hole punch to punch a hole through the ends of the colored strip together, near the top, keep the hole centered.

4. To string the lights together: move the colored paper into the gray base and line the holes up to string the twine through the holes of both the gray base and the colored strip.

5. Repeat this step for all the paper Christmas light bulbs until you have created a full garland. https://www.nobiggie.net/paper-christmas-lights-garland/

Cool Colour Ice Castles Supplies: • Water • Food Colouring • Plastic Containers • Water Bottle

Instructions: 1. Gather up small containers to fill with water. You can use ice cube trays, baking pans, small food storage containers, old cardboard milk cartons, disposable cups, balloons etc.. Use a variety of shapes and sizes.

2. Fill with water and add food colouring (you do not need a lot of food colouring).

3. Place outside overnight or for a couple of days in subzero temperatures. Over the course of a couple of days you can make a whole basin of your coloured ice blocks.

4. Once you have enough ice blocks you can run the containers under warm water to loosen and remove the ice.

5. This is a perfect activity for a sunny winter day. Make sure it is still below zero otherwise the sculptures may begin to melt. Bundle up and begin creating your masterpieces. Use water (and count to ten) to stick the ice blocks together.* *Please keep in mind that food colouring may stain clothes/skin.

Festive Bird Feeders : Supplies: • 3/4 cup small birdseed • 1 packet of unflavored gelatin • 1/4 cup water • Twine • Christmas cookie cutters • Parchment paper • Straw

Instructions: 1. Bring water to a boil over medium heat.

2. Add in packet of unflavored gelatin.

3. Stir until gelatin is dissolved (about 1-2 minutes).

4. Take gelatin off heat and let set for a couple of minutes.

5. Stir in bird seed.

6. Place cookie cutters on a piece of parchment paper.

7. Scoop the bird seed into cookie cutters, and using another piece of parchment paper, press the bird seed down.

8. Stick a straw in the top of each filled cookie cutter to create a small hole.

9. Set cookie cutters in the freezer for 20 minutes.

10. Remove cookie cutters from the freezer, let them sit in room temperature for approximately 10 minutes.

11. Carefully push the bird seed feeders out of the cookie cutters.

12. Thread a piece of twine through the hole at the top of the bird seed feeder and tie it into a loop.

13. Wrap your cookie cutter bird feeder up to give as a gift or hang one up, enjoy!

https://www.freebiefindingmom.com/homemade-bird-feederscookie-cutter-bird-feeders

Fill a bag of books to donate to the library

Write a friendly message with chalk on your sidewalk

Hug someone

Tell silly jokes to make someone laugh

Make cards or decorations for a local seniors’ facility

Introduce yourself to someone new

Smile at everyone you see today

Leave treats for your mail carrier

Donate toys to a local toy drive

Tell a stranger to have a nice day

Do yardwork for your neighbour

Clean up a mess you didn’t make

Leave a happy note for someone to find

Make a thank you craft or card for your teacher

Let someone go ahead of you in line

Share something with someone else

Do a SECRET act of kindness for someone

Candy cane BOMB a parking Call/Facetime a lot with a happy faraway friend or message attached relative to say hello

Fill a bag of clothes to donate to a shelter

Pay for a Make stranger’s coffee csrds for your local Fire, EMS, or Police in a drive though (with parent’s help) station

Make a thank you card for someone who has helped you

Take supplies to an animal shelter

Tell someone all the reasons why you like them

Give a compliment

Do a chore for someone in your family

Make a list of things you are thankful for (Gratitude Jar) Draw a picture or make artwork for someone

Feed the birds

Donate food to your local food bank

Winter Scavenger Hunt A fun winter activity that you can do while still physical distancing! Take a walk, and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature while you hunt! Don’t forget a pencil, and your Scavenger Hunt checklist!

LISTEN FOR:

TO FEEL:

TO LOOK FOR:

F Water dripping

from a branch

F Chilly cheeks

F Animal tracks

F Tree bark

F A flying bird

F Ice

F Clouds

F Snowflakes on

your face

F Berries

F Birds chirping F Wind blowing F Frozen tree crackling TO SMELL: F Bark F Cedar F Snow

TO FIND:

F A frozen puddle

F Twig

F A tree with no leaves

F Pine needle

F An evergreen tree

F Pine cone

F An icicle

F Winter buds

F Pine

Gratitude Jar :

If you want to teach your k ids what gra how to go ab titude is, but out it, this is are not sure a fun way to concept and help kids un teach them d e rstand the how to expre ss gratitude!

You can also use this Gra titude Jar wit It will help ev h your whole eryone to re family. m ember little for, especiall things to be y with all the thankful things happe We forget th ning around at we alread th y e world. have the mo right at hom st important e. things And not only that, gratitud e has other family, such great benefi as increased ts for your happiness, b stronger imm etter sleep, a une system! nd a

• A Large M ason Jar • Pieces o f Paper • Markers