Big Willy is a giant desert turtle loved and cared for by my grandchildren. To celebrate this special friend, we are assembling a cute, nutrient packed turtle snack. Children will have fun creating their very own Big Willy after school or even from their lunch pack at school.

Ingredients:

• ½ peach (or apple)
• ½ strawberry
• 2 blue berries
• Dried cranberries
• Banana-cut in two inch strips (or star fruit, sliced)
• Nut butter (peanut, almond, hazelnut)
• Baby spinach leaves

Lay the spinach leaves on a large plate. This is “grass” for Willy. Center the half peach onto the spinach forming Willy’s back. Make a small pastry bag from a plastic lunch bag by cutting a slit in one corner. Place 2 T. of nut butter into a small plastic sandwich bag. Twist the top and force the nut butter from the tip to “glue” pieces to Willy. Glue the strawberry onto one end of the peach, lying on the spinach leaves. Place the blueberries for eyes on the strawberry head. The banana strips or star fruit are legs and tail. Decorate Willy’s shell with the dried cranberries using the nut butter to attach.

Big Willy Fruit Snack Dipping Sauce
Combine 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt with ½ c. drained crushed pineapple. Season with ginger and cinnamon, if desired. This is a healthy dip for the fruit and spinach.

For a special surprise, place the needed fruit pieces in a zip lock bag in your child’s lunch box. Add a picture of how to assemble Big Willy. Your child will be the envy of all his friends as he creates Big Willy at school! There is so much nutrition in this snack that it qualifies as a full lunch entrée.

Bubble Fun on Arizona Midday

From giant orbs to piles of “snow bubbles,” you can ignite the fun with a few simple items found around the house. Because this is both economical and engaging, you can’t go wrong with this homemade bubble juice and imaginative blowers.

Bubble Juice

What you’ll need:

• 1 cup water
• 2 T. light corn syrup
• 4 T. Baby shampoo

Pour the water into a shallow container. I used a clean meat tray. Dribble the measured corn syrup across the top and, likewise, the shampoo. Dish soap can substitute the shampoo, but I like the baby shampoo for little ones.
Gently stir the shampoo and corn syrup into the water. Don’t add too much air or your bubbles will not work well.

Blowers

What you’ll need:

• Any open cylinders such as: cookie cutters; canning jar rings; biscuit cutters
• Empty sewing spool
• Tiny wire whisks
• Snow Maker

For gobs of bubble snow, assemble:

• 1 small plastic water bottle
• 5 inch by 5 inch square of terry cloth fabric (old kitchen or bath towel)
• Rubber bands

Cut off the bottom of the water bottle, leaving the drinking end intact. Fit the square of toweling over the bottom of the bottle and secure with the rubber band.

Dip the towel end into the bubble juice. Lift out and blow through the drinking spout to create mounds of “bubble snow!”

Bubble Blowers

What’s more American than macaroni? This macaroni does not have cheese because we are leaving it uncooked and turning it into a couple of fun activities for your young children. Join me for the fun!

Miss the show?  It’s not too late!  View this segment on Arizona Midday’s website HERE right now!

Click the image to watch "Red, White and Blue Macaroni Fun" segment on Arizona Midday NOW!

Macaroni Necklace

Macaroni Jewelry

What you’ll need:

• Long tube-like noodles any sizes
• Food color (red and blue)
• Plastic bags
• String or yarn
• Scotch Tape

Place 1-2 T. of water in a plastic bag. Fill with the desired amount of noodles. You can use any shape or size that can be laced onto a string. Drop 10-20 drips of red food color into the bag. Seal and shake. Continue to shake and massage the bags until the noodles are covered with color. Add more color if desired. Repeat with blue food color.

Shake the noodles onto wax paper to dry. This may take up to an hour, so have a snack with the kids or turn a hair dryer on and blow the noodles dry.

Place a small piece of tape on the end of a yarn or string to aide in lacing. Children will enjoy making patterns with the plain noodles and the red and blue ones.  Wear your red, white and blue jewelry with pride!

Star Box

Star Box

What you’ll need:

• Purchased wood star jewelry box
• Red/White/Blue washable paint
• Glue
• Colored Macaroni
• Stickers (opt)

Pre-paint the wood star box using red, white, or blue paint or a combination. Be creative. When it is dry, glue the colored macaroni on to further decorate the box. Star stickers can be added for extra pizzazz. Store your macaroni jewelry in the box.

Happy July 4th!

*This activity aired on Arizona Midday on June 26th, 2012.  Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or comments for Sharen regarding this activity.  Miss the show?  View this activity on Arizona Midday’s website here!