Stoplight Crackers

Description

In Kindergarten we usually do a unit on traffic, vehicles, or safety where traffic lights or stoplights are talked about and what each light represents. This is a easy activity that all kids enjoy especially the eating part! For visual learners, this was a great way to learn.

Materials

• Graham Crackers (Honeymaid is recommended because they makes a good sized rectangle cracker)
• White Frosting Tub or you can make it with our Royal Icing. This makes it really smooth and shiny....great as a party activity. The tub frosting is best for a classroom activity.
• M and M candies in red, green and yellow

Other Materials

• Clorox Wipes
• Small paper plates
• Plastic spoon or knife (spoons work fine if plastic knives are a safety concern)
• Small paper cup or dish for frosting if a group of children are doing this activity
• Paper Towels or Baby Wipes

Steps

• Wipe down tables to be used.
• Place m and m's in a dish, muffin tin or small paper cups and have each child select a red, yellow, and green m and m using a spoon or have it pre-selected.
• Carefully remove graham from package and leave intact, do not break.
• For younger children adult should put a tablespoon of frosting on the cracker for each child and let them spread using the back of a plastic spoon.
Have them arrange the order on their plate before placing on the graham cracker with frosting.
• Use directional words like top, middle and bottom and color words.

Some variations on the Stoplight Crackers

• These were with tub frosting
• The minis on the right are 1/4th crackers

Play the Game "Red Light, Green Light"

Educational Value

Learning what green light and red light means and following verbal directions.

Object of the Game

Be the first to reach the "stoplight".

How to Play

• Establish a start and finish line. Make the distance shorter for first timers or younger children.
• The person selected to be the "Stoplight" stands at the finish line. This is usually the teacher or adult to demonstrate how the game is played. The other players spread out across the start line.
• The person who is the "Stoplight" says, "Green Light!" and turns away from the players and counts out loud from 1 to 5 (for young children 1-10 for older children), during which time the players run toward the finish line.
• When the person who is the "Stoplight" reaches 5 or 10, yell, "Red Light!" and turns back to the players. At the sound of the words "Red Light," the players stop running and freeze.
• The person who is the "Stoplight" or an adult helping on the sidelines sends anyone still moving back to the start line.
• The person who is the "Stoplight" yells, "Green Light!" and the game continues until someone reaches the finish line and tags the person who is the "Stoplight." This person becomes the next "Stoplight". Now the teacher or adult can help monitor the game.

Tips and Suggestions

When it is very young children, just call out Red Light and Green light at intervals without counting which can confuse them. Keep facing forward so you can verbally encourage them and guide them. If they move when you say "Red Light", have them sit in a wait area for the next round. It is less confusing then to have them start over.

Other Ideas to Reinforce the Concept of what a Stoplight Is

• Read a book on safety or find a picture of a stoplight prior to this toddler activity to introduce what a stoplight looks light and what it is for.
• Color a picture of a stop light. Find a printable online or draw a simple rectangle with three circles. Your child can refer back to his coloring to place the correct color m and m on their cracker.

A Graham Snack Idea

Description

An easy to make Smores idea.

Ingredients

• 1 whole graham cracker
• 1 large marshmallow
• Hershey's Chocolate sauce

Steps

• Break graham cracker in half to make a square.
• Place one half on small paper plate or microwavable plate, top with a marshmallow.
• Drizzle chocolate sauce on the marshmallow.
• Place cracker with marshmallow in microwave. Microwave for 12-14 seconds (time will vary from different microwaves) just until marshmallow puffs up.
• Place top cracker on marshmallow and press crackers gently together.
• Cool slightly before eating.