We run a little booth for the library every spring and our table has a game to attract people over to talk about supporting the library. We tried a spinning wheel with book questions one year but when we had a bunch of kids it got a little confusing.
We wanted a game with:
easy prep time
easy set-up
inexpensive
easy to run ...AND
fun for the kids
We decided on PICK A POP! We've been doing this game for two years now and the kids love it.
So easy. The game is played by picking a pop (obviously...lol) and IF it has a blue dot on the bottom you win a prize and the pop. IF it doesn't, you still get to keep the pop. WIN WIN game and everyone is happy. Well, the first year I really felt bad for the siblings that didn't get a blue dot.
This year EVERY POP HAD A BLUE DOT!!! {{shhhhhhh...don't tell}}
It was funny when the adults would finally click that they are ALL blue after standing at the table for few minutes. Lol. It makes for a really fun day!
Supplies:
Lollipops
Blue sharpie or ink pad
I tried the ink pad and it took forever to dry so I prefer the sharpie.
I sat with the box of pops and sharpie and colored while watching TV.
To display the pops I re-used the same base or stand since 2014!! I've used it for several events and still looks great. How to make it HERE.
Well.........can you believe I found something even easier and even quicker!!?? CHOCOLATE DIPPED NUTTER BUTTER COOKIES! They taste fantastic and I can dip 32 in 4-5 minutes. Not that it's a race but I could totally beat that time!
Look how pretty!!
Everyone goes crazy for them like the oreos. I've made them for appreciation events, birthdays, Christmas, and just recently as a thank you gift!
Coconut oil (optional but it makes the melts easier to work with)
Nutter Butter cookies
Parchment paper or foil (parchment paper works better)
Bags & ribbon
Heat candy melts in a bowl for 45 seconds in the microwave. Stir. Usually I heat an additional 20 second increments until melted. If it's basically melted but a few chunks you can continue to stir until smooth. You don't want to overheat or it will get thick and stay thick.
HUGE TIP!!!! I wrote coconut oil is "optional" because I don't always use it. I apparently do this to make things more difficult for myself. :) Afterwards I always say I should've added it. Soooo I recommend, especially if drizzling chocolate, to add a little coconut oil.
Once the candy melts are melted and you have almost a pour-able consistency, you are ready! I only dip Nutter Butter cookies half way and shake off excess chocolate. Just a couple shakes and place on parchment paper. I try not to touch the bowl or tap the cookie to prevent crumbs and breakage.
Chocolate will dry fast so if you are adding sprinkles you may want to dip 8-10 and add sprinkles. Then continue to dip the rest.
Once they are dry you can drizzle with colors
TIP- I like to drizzle one base color on all of them first. Then I pick two other colors to drizzle on half. For example, the ones pictured I drizzled orange first to all of them. Then I added red on some and pink on the others.
I saw these smaller individual drizzle bags in a bunch of colors and flavors. Very cool. I haven't tried them but it would be great for these treats.
These were made for someone at the local retirement residence that was turning 90!!! Sweet birthday surprise.
Since you are only dipping half of the Nutter Butter cookie, they will go stale if you don't bag them. DON'T WORRY!!! It's okay because I usually bag and give them away soon after I make them. IF I don't....I'll eat them all. It's called motivation to get them out of the house! I've only waited 2 days after bagging before eating them all delivering and they were perfect.
For bagging I ran out of my regular bags so these are resealable 4x5 bags I cut the tops off. I'm closing them with ribbon so I didn't need the closure.
I picked a few different ribbon and packaged one chocolate and one white chocolate for each bag.
So my son is obsessed with Pi. I type this but feel you can't really get the full effect of how obsessed.
For example:
-He's been in trouble for reciting Pi in class...EVERY CLASS.
-The math and science teacher banned it all together and social studies teacher told him to save it for math but it's been banned.
-800 digits of Pi is taped on his locker
-The kids a grade under him call him the Pi Man because he wrote 150 digits on the board and they were all impressed.
-He wants to break some sort of Pi reciting world record.
-I've heard over and over, "Pi is an irrational mathematical number commonly used to find area and volume in circles and spheres in math." and not to mention the countless ramblings of numbers daily.
I think he knows 208 digits of Pi right now and he wants to be part of the Pi 1000 club....what? Yes, if you know a 1000 digits you can be a member. He plans to be the leader one day.
Okay, now that I think you might get the idea of what I'm talking about and can see how tomorrow, National Pi Day, is a big deal.
But this Pi day is special because March 14, 2015 @ 9:26 (53 seconds) will be the only time in a century that National Pi Day will be 10 digits with date and time. Yeah, I'm not impressed either BUT my son is obsessed, remember?
Pi puzzle and his "I ate some Pi ....and it was delicious" shirt
Mini M&M jars with tags. These colorful treats are so easy and inexpensive to make. The kids can help and I've included a FREE downloadable poem to match each color of candy.
Great idea for back to school, teacher appreciation week, end of year, thank you gift, or any time of year!
Fun way to show teachers you are thinking of them!
Other ideas for Teacher Appreciation week. Hope these give you some inspiration.
