Idea of the Month

Christmas Candy Canes

Everyone has seen the red and white striped candy canes around at Christmas time, but do you know the story behind it? Not only are they a yummy treat, but a reminder of Jesus, our King who who's birth we celebrate at Christmas. 

The Legend of the Candy Canes ...

A candymaker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would help usremember who Christmas is really about. So he made a Christmas Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ.

He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Jesus. Hard candy to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and firmness of the promises of God.

The candymaker made the candy in the form of a “J” to represent the name of Jesus. It also represented the staff of the “Good Shepherd”.

The candymaker then included red stripes. He used three small stripes and a large red stripe to represent the suffering Christ endured at the end of his life.

So, the candy became known as the Candy Cane to remind people both young and old, of what Jesus has done for you and me. 

Around the World in 20 Days - What an Adventure

A brilliant topic for your unique Onomy-year. Imagine...

• every time a new destination
• learn about each country and it’s culture
• what about Christians in this country?
• enjoy a traditional snack
• get your personal passport stamped when passing the border at the start of each afternoon
• collect the main truths (bible verse) in your and the foreign language
• pray for the country
• sing a song in the foreign language (e.g. shalom chaverim)

A lot of hot air ...

In addition to hot air for each balloon, you will need ...

• 8 sheets of tissue paper 50x76cm (various colours looks nicer and you can get large quantities from amazon)
• glue
• scissors
• masking tape
• a large empty tin
• matches
• cotton wool balls
• methylated spirit

How to build the balloon ...

1. Fold the 8 sheets in half, lengthways
2. Unfold four of the sheets and cut like in the image on the right side.
3. Lay all the different pieces out like seen in image below.
4. Glue all the pieces together. It works best if you glue in the order of the number

1. To glue the top bit follow the example in image below.
2. For strength, fold masking tape around the edge of the opening, where the hot air will be entering.

 

 

 

 

Tips ...

• Use as little glue as possible. If glue is too thick you can thin it with a bit of water. This will also enable the children to use the glue better.
• Don't use too much masking tape, think of the weight of the balloon.
• Make most of the possibility to teach the children about the science of hot air and how the balloon works.
• Balloons will rise more the colder the temperature is, so winter is ideal.

Getting your balloon to rise ...

Choose a day thats not too windy! Use cotton balls saturated with methylated spirit to light a small fire in the tin. Carefully put the opening of the balloon over the tin and wait until the air in the balloon has heated up As soon as you feel the hot air "pulling" the balloon upwards, let it go and watch it rise into the sky.

 

Be an Indian and make your own headdress

For one indian headdress you need ...

• about 6 artificial feathers
• 2 matches
• one piece of corrugated cardboard (from large boxes is best) (17x5cm)
• glue
• a hole puncher
• elastic
• scissors
• coloured pens or paint

Prepare the cardboard ...

1. After you've cut the cardboard to the right size, use the hole puncher to punch at both ends.
2. Then put some glue into the space next to the hole and slide a match on each end into it, like below.

Let your imagination run free ...

1. decorate the cardboard piece how you like
2. choose the colours and order of the feathers for the headdress

 

  

One step and you've nearly an Indian ...

Cut the elastic to a length that is comfortable around the head, tie it through the two holes at each end, and it's finished and ready to wear.

 

 

Leather Craft - for big and small people

Stuck for an interesting craft for boys and girls? How about creating wonderful and unique leather name bands during an afternoon? The children get to experience the craft of leather work and they will also have something to keep. It's not often you get to work with leather is it?

Your basic material list is as follows ...

• 1 mallet
• 1 leather hole punch
• various stamps (and if not already integrated: handles for the stamps)
• 1 sponge
• 1 wooden board as a work service
• 1 pencil
• veg. tan leather (e.g. cowhide strip,
  veg tan is the name for that thickness)
  
  => We bought most of our equipment at www.tandyleatherfactory.co.uk

 

Steps to make your wristband ...

1. Make sure you find a good, stable surface to work on (e.g. wooden board).
2. Once you have your desired length and width of band then punch one hole at each end of your band. (approx. 11cmx3cm)
3. Gently mark the center of your leather piece with a pencil.
4. Choose your stamps and lay them down in correct order.
5. Start with the letter/pattern that is on or next to the center mark.
6. Strike the handle sharply once or twice with the mallet. Hold the handle strong, so that it doesn't move and cause dual impressions. Keep going until your design is complete.
7. Once finished you can put string through the holes and adjust and tie the band around your wrist.

To get the best results ...

• It's a good idea to draw your design on paper first, especially with children.
• If you work with letters: Always check the small letters at the bottom of the stamp head to make sure it is the right way up!
• If you work with letter-stamps try to keep the stamp in place as you remove the handle for alignment and as a guide for the next stamp.
• Wetting the leather once or twice with a fairly wet sponge makes it easier to imprint. Don't soak the leather!
• Don't hit excessively, it just causes dual impressions.
• Mistakes can be erased slightly by wetting the leather.
• Using leather cord to fasten your band looks really professional!

 

 

Chicken in clay - something to impress!

A fantastic way to cook a chicken without using pots and pans. Children and adults love it.
It can be a days activity or can be squeezed into an afternoon. Don't be put of by time, its something that never fails to impress and is great fun!

You will need to have the following ready... 

• a chicken (a medium sized chicken should feed about 6 people.)
• about 3-5kg clay per chicken (you can get good clay from riverbeds, quarries, beaches etc.)
• a bin bag per chicken
• plenty of clean grass / leaves
• spices such as salt, pepper, garlic...
• fillings; use something that adds moisture like tomatoes, onions, apples, stuffing, mushrooms, fresh herbs and garlic (they cook well and create steam which helps the chicken cook and stay moist)
• a fire with about 10cm deep glowing ember bed (this requires a lot of wood and time to burn down)
• soap and water to wash your hands after touching the chicken.

Children can really get stuck in...

• they can collect the fresh grass or leaves (long grass, nettles, beach, maple etc...)
  Don't use leaves which you don't know, some leaves are poisonous, from example yew tree. Also be careful of some foliage which is suitable or poisonous in your area, this is great information to pass on to the participants.
• collecting the clay with the children is always fun, use clean buckets and spades
• for the hard core amongst you, you could even catch your own chicken! more details in another blog some time :)
• Be adventurous with the fillings, but be careful, nature can be dangerous. Make sure you have the knowledge and experience to use wild mushrooms, berries, and herbs etc...
  Remember, if in any doubt - leave it out!
  
  

Steps to achieving a yummy chicken...

1. make sure your Onomy fire is burning well and that you have at least 10cm deep bed of glowing embers.
   Don't forget: hardwood burns longer
2. Remove all stones from the clay and flatten out onto the clean bin bag. Form it into a piece about 40x25cm and 2cm thick.
3. Place the grass and leaves on one side.
4. Stuff the chicken with the fillings you have chosen and generously season the outside. It might be good to bind the chicken with long grass or string to help eliminate cracks in the clay as the chicken cooks.
5. Now its time to wrap the chicken. Bring together the two sides of the clay, meeting at the top. Seal it well by rubbing the seams, making sure there are no holes or gaps and that the clay is of even thickness all over.
6. Place the chicken clay bundle in the hot ember for 2-3 hours. Once, the clay has dried out you can also cover the bundle with hot embers.
7. If you keep the fire going around and ensure that the chicken is always surrounded by hot embers then the cooking process can be as quick as 1 hour. Although, if you do this the clay heats too quickly, cracks and then the chicken can burn in places so it really pays to be patient!
8. Remove the clay bundle with a shovel or piece of wood and break the clay. Enjoy your meal, but it will be piping hot. Jacket potatoes and caramelized onions go a treat with the chicken. The potatoes need to be wrapped in foil and placed on glowing embers for 2 hours - delicious! See our previous entry for how to do the onions.

 

Enjoy! And let us know how you get on. 

 

Caramelized Onion- an idea from the Orient

Ideal as a snack or with a BBQ

You will need onions, smaller onions are ideal so that every person can have their own.

You don't need to do anything with them, simply place them nestled in the embers for about 20-40min until the skin turns black all over.

Remove them, let them cool down a few minutes, gently peel away the blackened skin to reveal a yummy caramelized onion. Enjoy!

This has been tried and tested many times and have even been a hit with onion haters.

 

 

 

An authentic treasure hunt: an exciting way to spend an afternoon!

A real treasure hunt is a great way to captivate children and use your imagination, nothing is impossible! (or shall we say nearly nothing)

The Story: First you need a realistic story line. History is great for this. 

Make it real: Props help children believe the story, feel part of it and help their imagination run. Be careful though, children can very quickly pick up when something is 'cheap' and 'unreal'. Make the afternoon extraordinary by using antiques and replicas. How about a replica old pistol, an animal scull, an old book, a uniform, some old tools? Anitque shops are often happy to lend you items if you tell them what it is for. 

The Aim: What are you going to hunt for? treasure? a person? a place? the afternoon snack? or even on a mission to stop an explosion?

Here's an example...

Topic: Don't forget your wellies!

Theme: World War 2 smugglers

Props: An old hollow book containing old newspaper clippings, old photos, real ration books, and the secret note. (see below) 

After the Bible lesson, Tom told the children that over the weekend, while clearing out the loft with this dad they came across a really old book, which he showed them. He showed them the contents, and explained how during WW2 there were smugglers in the area who smuggled food and other rare items. The children had a good look at the items and Tom read the note to them. He told them that while researching 'squirrels acre' he found out that it is actually nearby. The children had listened intently and were now enthusiastic about going to follow the directions and find the treasure and started guessing what the treasure might be! After walking a while, including an hours walk up a river (this is where the wellies came in!) the children found the tree with 14 trunks and the treasure which was a metal tin. The children were so excited and after locating a penknife to open the tin, we all tucked into WW2 'white chocolate sauce'(evaporated milk!) We dipped marshmallows on sticks into the sauce and then into chocolate powder. Very sickly but very yummy! and well worth hunting for. 

How to make the note: Using a typewriter font (squirrelfont.com or dafont.com) write the message. Once printed, make some concentrated black tea and dab over the note, creating spots, darker patches and lighter areas. Singe the edges with a match or on the hob. Voila!

 

 

Be proud to make your fire the real way

An Onomy fire is much more fun when you build it the 'real way', using natural products.We should pride ourselves in being able to make good fires without items such as newspaper.Challenge yourself and you'll soon see how much easier it is.

You will need:

• a flint stone or matches
• silver birch bark*
• dry wood**
• skills

Good to know

* The bark from silver birch trees makes excellent tinder and works well even in very wet conditions, due to the flammable oils in the bark. (there is so much silver birch bark can be used for, such as crafts and even as a medicine) There is enough information on the internet about the uses of birch bark to base several afternoons on it. 

Attention: The oil is only in the outer layer of the bark. Make sure you don't damage the treeby peeling to deeply!!! You usually don't have to look far for birches that have died and can be used, too.

** To get really dry wood you can split big pieces of dead wood which have not been lying on the wet floor; The middle of the trunks/branches will be still dry. Also, dead twigs from trees are great to use when starting a fire.

 

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Sam's chocolate cake in an orange!

 

A delicious snack with a twist to be baked over a camp fire.

1. Slice off the top of the orange, which becomes a lid.
2. Hollow out all the orange flesh, eating as you go.
3. Fill the orange rind half way with the cake mixture.
4. Place the lid back on.
5. Wrap in the foil, gathering and twisting the foil at the top to create a handle.
6. Place on top of hot embers for about 10-15mins until its cooked.
7. Bon appetite!

 

You will need...

Per person:

• an orange
• a spoon
• a portion of cake mixture
• a piece of silver foil (ca.30cm)

Per group:

• a few sharp knives
• a fire

Tips:

• make incisions into the orange flesh with the knife, making it easer to get out.
• When using a dough made with eggs, make sure that your cake is baked right through.
• Mark the foil so that you know whose orange cake is whose.
• The more orange flesh that remains in the rind the soggier your cake will be.

Have fun, enjoy and let us know how you get on...