Happy Chinese New Year

The Grade Ones have also been busy preparing for the Chinese New Year and welcoming the Year of the Tiger. The students have enjoyed completing art projects that we have decorated the outside bulletin board with. This way everyone that comes to the second floor and to our classroom gets greeted with good wishes for the new year. Hope everyone is enjoying the celebrations and time with their families.

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting:
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon milk
Food coloring


Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg, milk and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Chill for 1 hour or until easy to handle.

2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with cookie cutters of your choice. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 5-8 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

3. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, extract, salt and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Add food coloring if desired. Frost cookies; decorate as desired.

Sharing Our Love With Chocolates

The Grade Ones were busy this week with Valentine's Day activities. After our success with baking cookies, we decided to hit the kitchen again to make chocolates. This time we made chocolates to show our appreciation for those that help us everyday. Each student took a bag of chocolates they poured home for their families as a gesture of their love for them. We also assembled bags for all of the elementary staff to show our appreciation for the hard work they do every day. The students had so much fun doing this activity and they also enjoyed the opportunity to share their efforts with others.

In Love With Baking Valentine's Day Cookies

In the spirit of St. Valentine our class hit the kitchen again to enjoy working together and share another fun baking experience. This time we made sugar cookies. We had fun rolling out the dough and using Valentine cookie cutters to make our cookies. When they were finished baking in the oven, we had to let them cool, while we had lunch. Afterwards, we came back to the kitchen to decorate our cookies with frosting and Valentine decorations. The students got to eat a cookie at school and take some home to share with their families. Hopefully the cookies made it home and you all enjoyed them. = )

Happy Birthday Kevin

This week we celebrated Kevin Park's birthday. He was very happy to share the day with the class and we were just as happy about it. Kevin's parents brought a cake to the school that we shared at the end of the day. We loaded the top with candles and Kevin struggled to blow them all out. The class found it all very amusing and the cake to be very yummy. Happy Birthday, Kevin!

January Birthdays

In January we celebrated Annie and Michelle's birthdays. Annie's birthday was January 11 and Michelle's birthday was on the 19th.

Annie's mother joined us with some cake for the class that they gobbled up. When it comes to birthday cake our Grade 1 class cannot get enough. Michelle's mother brought individual cakes in for the class at the end of the day for the students to enjoy at home.

It is always exciting to have a birthday added to the class schedule and we are always thankful to the parents for thinking of us. Plus, the fact that these Grade Ones will never say no to cake. = )