MICHIGAN HISTORY NIGHTMARES BOOK SERIES
FUN Ideas to Explore...
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ARCTIC SHARK GLACIERS! A fun drink while reading…(VOLUME 1 - "learn any interesting information about glaciers?")
All you need are some gummy sharks and something blue to drink! Make blue raspberry kool-aid, try a blue sports drink, or use blue food coloring to tint a clear drink ! Create “arctic shark glaciers” by freezing some of the blue liquid with the gummy sharks – use ice cube trays, small plastic containers, or a larger freezing container if making a punch to share! Once frozen, pour a drink and add your arctic glacier – watch as it melts and the shark begins to swim freely! Add a few teaspoons of vanilla ice cream to mimic the polar ice caps melting or just a bit of lemon-lime soda to “fizz” up your drink for fun! ENJOY!
ARCTIC SHARK GLACIERS! A fun drink while reading…(VOLUME 1 - "learn any interesting information about glaciers?")
All you need are some gummy sharks and something blue to drink! Make blue raspberry kool-aid, try a blue sports drink, or use blue food coloring to tint a clear drink ! Create “arctic shark glaciers” by freezing some of the blue liquid with the gummy sharks – use ice cube trays, small plastic containers, or a larger freezing container if making a punch to share! Once frozen, pour a drink and add your arctic glacier – watch as it melts and the shark begins to swim freely! Add a few teaspoons of vanilla ice cream to mimic the polar ice caps melting or just a bit of lemon-lime soda to “fizz” up your drink for fun! ENJOY!
Make GLACIER GAK! (VOLUME 1 - "Nick and Gary knew they were in big trouble...they were trapped inside a glacier")
Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pztUPIzXglY to learn a little bit about glaciers and make some cool Glacier Gak! At the end of the video, you can also travel to see some real Glaciers still in
existence today!
Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pztUPIzXglY to learn a little bit about glaciers and make some cool Glacier Gak! At the end of the video, you can also travel to see some real Glaciers still in
existence today!
Experiment with Copper! (VOLUME 1 - "Nick suggested that they were probably in one of the copper mines established in the 1800s")
For this experiment you will need: lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and some old-dirty-pennies! Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://www.copper.org/education/Kids/copperandkids_cuexperiment.html Create your mixture, then see how it affects your pennies...Make predictions and record results! Get ready to see Copper Chemistry in Action!
For this experiment you will need: lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and some old-dirty-pennies! Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://www.copper.org/education/Kids/copperandkids_cuexperiment.html Create your mixture, then see how it affects your pennies...Make predictions and record results! Get ready to see Copper Chemistry in Action!
Bake a "Hopewell Burial Mound" CAKE! (VOLUME 2 - "as they approached the burial mounds, they heard a strange, muffled groan")
All you need is a Chocolate Cake Mix, Vanilla Frosting, Green Food Coloring, Coconut, and a medium sized ovenproof glass Pyrex bowl! Preheat oven to 350; Grease/flour Pyrex bowl; Mix cake as directed and pour into prepared bowl (hide "artifacts" in your cake mix before baking like candy, marshmallows, raisins, nuts). Cook until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (35-45 minutes). Let cool 15 minutes, then put plate over bowl and turn upside down to release your "burial mound"! When completely cool, color frosting green and frost cake; Shake coconut with 2-3 drops food coloring, then gently sprinkle/ press coconut "grass" onto frosting. Now it's time to serve your special cake and "dig for buried treasures"! ENJOY!
All you need is a Chocolate Cake Mix, Vanilla Frosting, Green Food Coloring, Coconut, and a medium sized ovenproof glass Pyrex bowl! Preheat oven to 350; Grease/flour Pyrex bowl; Mix cake as directed and pour into prepared bowl (hide "artifacts" in your cake mix before baking like candy, marshmallows, raisins, nuts). Cook until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean (35-45 minutes). Let cool 15 minutes, then put plate over bowl and turn upside down to release your "burial mound"! When completely cool, color frosting green and frost cake; Shake coconut with 2-3 drops food coloring, then gently sprinkle/ press coconut "grass" onto frosting. Now it's time to serve your special cake and "dig for buried treasures"! ENJOY!
Craft a "Dreamcatcher" (VOLUME 2 - "just once, could you have a dream...emphasis on the word dream, not nightmare")
All you need is a paper plate, paint, yarn, a hole-punch, and a few feathers! Click on or copy this link into your URL for a quick lesson on how to make a FUN "Dreamcatcher": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7cLQOMgLig Hang this by your bed so that only good thoughts will come to you...Sweet Dreams!
All you need is a paper plate, paint, yarn, a hole-punch, and a few feathers! Click on or copy this link into your URL for a quick lesson on how to make a FUN "Dreamcatcher": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7cLQOMgLig Hang this by your bed so that only good thoughts will come to you...Sweet Dreams!
Play Games that Native American children play...(VOLUME 2 - "girls had toys and dolls and the boys played lacrosse")
Native Americans used games to teach their children safety, strength, agility, and sportsmanship; Fun with a purpose! Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/games.html to learn some authentic Native American Indian games that you can play at home...Some are easy and some are challenging! HAVE FUN!
Native Americans used games to teach their children safety, strength, agility, and sportsmanship; Fun with a purpose! Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/games.html to learn some authentic Native American Indian games that you can play at home...Some are easy and some are challenging! HAVE FUN!
"Life of a Voyageur" Video (VOLUME 3 - "shouts replaced songs as the voyageurs tried to navigate the treacherous rapids")
Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-RNt4wNxb4&t=23s to learn about the "Life of a Voyageur". Fun songs, gross food, hard work, beautiful scenery...a bit like camping, but very rustic! Do you think this life would have been fun? or are you very happy to be living in modern times?
Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-RNt4wNxb4&t=23s to learn about the "Life of a Voyageur". Fun songs, gross food, hard work, beautiful scenery...a bit like camping, but very rustic! Do you think this life would have been fun? or are you very happy to be living in modern times?
Go on a Scavenger Hunt...(VOLUME 3 - "What treasures did you find? Katie asked")
The best part about a Scavenger Hunt is that it is FUN with a group of friends or all by yourself. Print off the "Scavenger Hunt List" below and you're ready to search for "treasures" and start your Adventure! Isn't it interesting that you can explore the outdoors in the same way that children did hundreds of years ago...right in your own back yard and neighborhood! READY...SET...GO! Good Luck Exploring!!
The best part about a Scavenger Hunt is that it is FUN with a group of friends or all by yourself. Print off the "Scavenger Hunt List" below and you're ready to search for "treasures" and start your Adventure! Isn't it interesting that you can explore the outdoors in the same way that children did hundreds of years ago...right in your own back yard and neighborhood! READY...SET...GO! Good Luck Exploring!!
| SCAVENGER HUNT LIST |
Craft a Model Canoe...(VOLUME 3 - "the children found themselves being swept along with bits of the canoe")
For each canoe, you need three craft sticks, markers, glue, tape, two toothpicks, and a brown paper lunch bag; Just a few easy steps...(1) decorate two craft sticks on one side and gently bend/arch them with your fingers (these are the canoe sides, be careful not to break them); (2) glue "side" craft sticks together at the ends, use tape to hold in place until glue dries; (3) glue canoe sides to the last craft stick, which is the bottom of your canoe; (4) decorate lunch bag to make canoe seats and paddle ends that glue onto the toothpicks (attach paddles to canoe...see picture) - FUN and EASY to make!
For each canoe, you need three craft sticks, markers, glue, tape, two toothpicks, and a brown paper lunch bag; Just a few easy steps...(1) decorate two craft sticks on one side and gently bend/arch them with your fingers (these are the canoe sides, be careful not to break them); (2) glue "side" craft sticks together at the ends, use tape to hold in place until glue dries; (3) glue canoe sides to the last craft stick, which is the bottom of your canoe; (4) decorate lunch bag to make canoe seats and paddle ends that glue onto the toothpicks (attach paddles to canoe...see picture) - FUN and EASY to make!
Go on a Virtual Field Trip to Daniel "Boonesborough" (VOLUME 4 - "welcome to Boonesborough, the ghost said")
Click on or copy this link into your URL to join a very interesting look into frontier life through a virtual Field Trip to
Daniel "Boonesborough" in Kentucky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayt6XF5gDEY Learn how people lived
long ago in forts; woodworking, candle making, basket weaving, lighting a fire, bartering/trading, pottery making, growing food/gathering water, going to school! Travel back in time from the comfort of your own home!
Click on or copy this link into your URL to join a very interesting look into frontier life through a virtual Field Trip to
Daniel "Boonesborough" in Kentucky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayt6XF5gDEY Learn how people lived
long ago in forts; woodworking, candle making, basket weaving, lighting a fire, bartering/trading, pottery making, growing food/gathering water, going to school! Travel back in time from the comfort of your own home!
Learn to Weave a Basket (VOLUME 4 - "stores displayed crafts of pottery, woven baskets, and wool spun from sheep")
All you need is paper, pencil, ruler, scissors, and clear tape to weave a basket. Try different types of paper: different colors, textures, and weights all create different styles of baskets. Use a brown paper grocery bag for a look that is more like a real basket woven out of tree bark, like frontier people would have made; and, add "natural" decorations like frontier people may have used: leaves, bark, small stones, pinecones, beads, feathers! Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ-LTIVkum8 to make this fun and easy craft!
All you need is paper, pencil, ruler, scissors, and clear tape to weave a basket. Try different types of paper: different colors, textures, and weights all create different styles of baskets. Use a brown paper grocery bag for a look that is more like a real basket woven out of tree bark, like frontier people would have made; and, add "natural" decorations like frontier people may have used: leaves, bark, small stones, pinecones, beads, feathers! Click on or copy this link into your URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ-LTIVkum8 to make this fun and easy craft!
Cook Corn Meal Pancakes...(VOLUME 4 - "now that we have solved the invisible mystery, please let’s get something to eat")
Mix together: one Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, one egg, two TB melted butter, and 1/2 cup milk - your batter will be lumpy. Make sure a parent is helping with the cooking. Spray pan/griddle lightly with non-stick oil and cook on medium heat; Pan is ready when drop of water sizzles. Pour in 1/4 cup batter and cook until pancake bubbles; Flip and cook until nicely browned. Serve with fresh berries, butter, and maple syrup - just like the frontier people...DELICIOUS!
Mix together: one Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, one egg, two TB melted butter, and 1/2 cup milk - your batter will be lumpy. Make sure a parent is helping with the cooking. Spray pan/griddle lightly with non-stick oil and cook on medium heat; Pan is ready when drop of water sizzles. Pour in 1/4 cup batter and cook until pancake bubbles; Flip and cook until nicely browned. Serve with fresh berries, butter, and maple syrup - just like the frontier people...DELICIOUS!