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Children enjoy making graham cracker houses

Sabin, Davis,Hetrick, Anderegg, Macalady, Walker, Darling and Katers

When it is too cold to play outside children especially enjoy being cozy while making art projects for display inside. Graham cracker houses and villages can be simple for little hands or very elegant and complex for older ones.

Collect small cartons of different sizes. Children’s school milk or coffee creamer cartons work well. You’ll also need a box of graham crackers, royal icing, and candy for decorations.

Royal icing is the glue that holds the graham crackers to the small cartons, candy decorations, and to each other.

Royal icing

The icing recipe is two egg whites, two cups powdered sugar, and ½ teaspoon cream of tartar to keep it looking creamy even though it is hard. Beat the egg whites and the cream of tartar with an electric mixer until the egg whites are stiff and form peaks. Children can hold their hands over yours to get the feel of mixing. Slowly add one cup of the powdered sugar and beat five minutes with the mixer. Scrape the bowl from time to time for good mixing. Add the second cup and beat until the mixture makes peaks again. If the icing doesn’t look thick enough gradually add a little sugar as you mix the icing. If it is not moist enough add a few drops of water until it is a creamy consistency. The size of the eggs varies and affects consistency.

Building houses

Transfer to a bowl and cover with a damp cloth or cover with a plastic wrap directly over the frosting and add a plastic lid. Lift off the cover only when needed because icing will harden.

Place the carton on the final display surface before constructing because it will not transfer well.

Using a table knife, spread icing over one side of the outside of a small carton. Immediately cover with a graham cracker and press gently. Continue with the other sides and make a peaked roof. Use a cookie decorator bag or knife to fill in where the cracker edges meet. Use icing to add candies, doors, windows and other decorations.

For more quiet fun see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com or wnmufm.org/Learning Through the Seasons live and pod casts.

Editor’s note: Grandparents Teach, Too is a non-profit organization of elementary and preschool teachers from Marquette, Michigan. Writers include: Jan Sabin, Mary Davis, Jean Hetrick, Cheryl Anderegg, Esther Macalady, Colleen Walker, Fran Darling, and Iris Katers.Their mission since 2009 is to help parents, grandparents, and other caregivers of young children provide fun activities to help prepare young children for school and a life long love of learning. They are supported by Great Start, Parent Awareness of Michigan, Upper Peninsula Association for the Education of Young Children, Northern Michigan School of Education, U.P. Children’s Museum and the Northern Michigan University Center for Economic Education.

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