March brings with it the promise of spring and March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’s birthday - the guy who had plenty of SPRING in his step! Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 - September 24, 1991) was a U.S. writer and cartoonist, better known under name Dr. Seuss. Below you will find two fun and colourful activities. In the first, you can create a piece of art, and in the second you will also create a piece of art with the added bonus that it will be EDIBLE!!
Coloured rice collage (non-edible piece of art)
Colouring rice is a unique way to be creative using a medium that kids don’t often get to play with. The following activity has two options.
The first step, in honour of Dr.Seuss’s birthday, is to create a picture of the famous hat worn by Dr. Seuss’s beloved character, the Cat in the Hat. Red and white rice are used to fill in the stripes.
Another option is to create a picture that personifies the season of spring. The picture can include one or more of the following items characteristic of spring: Flowers, birds, trees, the sun, bees and / or butterflies too!
Below you will find the instructions for “colouring” rice. If you are doing the Dr. Seuss’s hat picture, you will only need red and white rice. If you are creating a spring scene, it is recommended to provide a variety of colours of rice.
Instructions for dyeing rice:
You will need:
· Any white rice (uncooked)
· Rubbing alcohol
· Liquid food colouring
· Mason jars or resealable plastic bags
What to do:
1. In a jar, add 1 cup of rice, 2 tsp of rubbing alcohol and 2 tsp of food colouring.
2. Close the lid on the jar tightly and shake. Watch as the colour of the rice changes.
3. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and pour the rice onto the pan.
4. Spread out the rice and allow it to dry. It usually takes 12-24 hrs.
5. When it is dry, store each colour in its own mason jar and with the lid closed tightly.
NOTE: The above instructions are for one batch of coloured rice. Repeat the above instructions for every new colour.
Dr. Seuss collage (option #1):
You will need:
· White cardboard (any size will do)
· A pencil
· White school glue
· An old paint brush
· Red and white rice (amount depends on how big your hat is – 2 cups of each colour is usually sufficient)
What to do:
1. In pencil, draw the outline of Dr. Seuss’s hat ( If you need help, you can always search for images of the Cat in the Hat on the internet)
2. Don’t forget to draw in the lines with the pencil too!
3. Spread glue all over the inside of the hat using the paintbrush.
4. Using a teaspoon, slowly pour the rice to fill the inside of the drawing. Start with one colour or rice and then move onto the next colour until the whole hat is filled. A teaspoon is helpful, especially if your drawing has small details that can be hard to fill.
5. Place your collage on a flat surface and allow 4-6 hours to dry. When it is dry, shake off the excess rice over a garbage can.
Springtime collage (option #2):
You will need:
· White cardboard (any size will do)
· A pencil
· White school glue
· An old paintbrush
· A variety of coloured rice (amount depends on how big your hat is – 2 cups of each colour is usually sufficient)
What to do:
1. In pencil, draw a picture that best represents what spring means to you
2. Spread glue all over the inside of the drawing, using the paintbrush.
3. Using a teaspoon, fill the inside of the drawing with different the coloured rice, until there is no more white space showing. A teaspoon is helpful, especially if your drawing has small details that can be hard to fill.
4. Place your collage on a flat surface and allow 4-6 hours to dry. When it is dry, shake off the excess rice over a garbage can.
NOTE: You can mix your food colorings to create specialty colors if you are feeling adventurous.
Puzzling cookie (as promised, this one is edible)
This is a super creative activity, which requires the use of your baking, planning and decorating skills. And let’s not forget…eating skills!!
You will need:
· Ready-to-bake sugar cookie dough
· A rectangular baking pan (10” x 14”)
· A piece of wax paper on which you can work so you can keep your counters clean
· Non-stick cooking spray
· A rolling pin
· A knife or pizza cutter
· Cake decorating icing tubes ( in a variety of colours)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to the temperature indicated on the cookie dough wrapper, spray the baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and press cookie dough into it.
2. On a piece of wax paper, roll out the dough to a 1/4 “thickness and then fit it into the pan.
3. Using a knife, cut the dough into about 12-15 puzzle shaped pieces. Bake according to the time specified on the wrapper.
4. When it is done, carefully remove from the oven. Using the same knife, go over the puzzle pieces previously cut.
5. Allow the cookie to cool. Add your own colourful touch by using the decorating icing tubes to create your own spring picture. This can include flowers, bees and other pictures that represent spring.
6. When you are done and after the icing has set, remove the cookie pieces from the baking pan, and separate all of the pieces. Now try to build your “puzzle picture” with the cookie pieces!
NOTE: Ready-to-bake cookie dough is usually found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket.
It is only fitting to conclude with one of my personal favourite Dr. Seuss poems.
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to great places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
Shelley Sefton is a chef, recipe developer & creator of “Yummy in my Tummy” - classes for kids that offers them the opportunity to experience exciting adventures in the kitchen – combining education, art, food and most important of all FUN! Contact: (905) 597-0672 or sdsefton@rogers.com.
(c) Shelley Sefton 2012
