Materials

1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid or other powdered fruit drink 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
medium pot, stove

Process

1. Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar and Kool-Aid in a medium pot.
2. Add water and oil.
3. Stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes.
4. When mixture forms a ball in pot, remove.
5. Knead until smooth.
6. Play and explore with this fragrant, brightly colored dough as you would any playdough.
7. Put in a plastic bag and refrigerate to store.

Assemble in a gift bag or small zipper food storage bag (I actually use a baby food jar and put and tie a circle of Christmas fabric on the lid):

1 individual pack hot chocolate mix
3 Hershey's chocolate kisses
10-15 mini-marshmallows
1 small candy cane

For the gift tag:

Was told you've been real good this year.
Always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,
You'll need to warm the spirit.

So here's little snowman soup
Complete with stirring stick.
Add hot water, sip it slow.
It's sure to do the trick!

[Editor's note: The gift tag could be modified to fit other occasions by eliminating the first two lines of the poem, consolidating the remaining lines into one 6-line stanza.

Edible Glacier

• Make a 6 oz. package blueberry flavored gelatin following package directions.
• Pour into a pan.
• Put in refrigerator until solid (several hours).
• Crush about 1/2 package of chocolate wafers or chocolate sandwich cookies.
• Mix with one container of Cool Whip and spread over the set gelatin.
• This is the icy blue center of the glacier, with silty snow on top!

Ice Cube Painting

Materials Needed:

white paper
unsweetened Kool-Aid or powdered tempera paints
white paper

Preparation:

1. Fill ice trays with water.
2. After ice begins to freeze, insert a popsicle stick into each ice cube.
3. Let freeze until solid.
4. Time: 5 or more minutes

Directions:

Sprinkle different colors of unsweetened Kool-Aid or powdered tempera paint on a sheet of paper.

Rub ice cube over top.

See what kinds of designs appear.

If desired, activity may be expanded by writing a paragraph or poem which describes the completed ice painting.