Water Bottle (Pittsburgh) Penguins

I saw the cutest project on Pinterest where penguins can be made out of water bottles and have been dying to make them with my students ever since. After saving up our bottles of H2O, we simply cut wings and feet out of black construction paper and adhered them to the bottle using double-sided tape. Using Poly-fil, (for whatever reason, I had a ton of it) we filled the bottles (the instructions on Pinterest call for cotton balls) to the top. We cut thick strips of black, tissue paper to wrap around the tops of our bottles and cut fringe into it to resemble feathers. The students were instructed to cut out their own beaks and eyes out of construction paper and adhere them to the bottles. Wa-lah!...except, we weren't that impressed and thought it needed a little somethin' somethin'...



Here's a pic of the original water bottle penguins. LOVE!!!



 Enter my staff's collective brilliance in suggesting we make them Pittsburgh Penguins, in honor of our favorite (and best ever) hockey team! We quickly printed and cut out Penguins logos and hockey stick and puck clip art found online and adhered them to our no longer lame birds. Unfortunately, the penguins were sent home with the students before I could suggest jerseys and names for them, but maybe simple is better...maybe! Anywho, as our team moves on to the second round of playoffs, all I can say is...

LET'S GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Easter Treats How To: Chocolate Chicks

My aunt just sent me the instructions for these sweet (pun very much intended) little Cadbury egg chicks, courtesy of A Mummy Too. As if Cadbury eggs weren't amazeballs enough on their own, now you can turn them into cute lil' Easter-themed creatures! PS-these could also be penguins for a penguin-themed party or classroom unit (but I'd highly recommend making them around Easter time, 'cause if you're anything like me, those Cadbury eggs will never make it to the freezer to use for a later date, nah-mean?). Thanks, Julie, for bringing this delicious idea into my life!

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CHICKS

INGREDIENTS

-5 Cadbury Creme Eggs

-1 pack of orange flavour chocolate buttons (from the baking aisle)

-6 squares of cooking chocolate

-2 packs of white chocolate buttons

-2 packs of milk chocolate buttons

-1 black writing icing pen

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Melt the cooking chocolate and get a clean teaspoon ready

2. Turn a clean, empty mug or bowl upside down (this bit’s important!)

3. Place two orange buttons side by side on the upturned mug/bowl

4. Using the teaspoon, put a small blob of melted chocolate behind the two buttons, where they meet

5. Stick a cream egg on top, pointy end up

6. Using the melted chocolate as glue stick on:

          -Two white chocolate buttons for the eyes

          -One orange button, cut into a triangle for the beak  
           (keep the leftover pieces)

          - Two milk chocolate buttons for the wings

          -One milk chocolate button for the tail at the back

7. Draw the pupils on with the icing pen

Allow the chicks to set and then free them from the bowl by turning it right way up again and filling with a little boiled water – carefully pull on the chick after a few seconds and it should come off whole.