Flower Fruit Sticks

Idea credit: http://www.lindsayannbakes.com/2011/05/flower-fruit-pops.html

Ingredients:

1. Watermelon

2. Cantaloupe melon

3. Green grapes

4. food sticks

5. Cookie cutters

Directions:

1. Cut out flower shape from cantaloupe and watermelon.

2. Use a round cookie cutter to make a hole in the middle of the flower.

3. Swap the round shape around and place them into each flower.

4. Skewer through the green grapes as leaves for the flower.

5. Skewer through the flower 

6. Here you go, fruit flower sticks :-)

Here are the steps in pictures:

 I ran out of cataloupe and used dark purple grapes instead for the middle part of the flower.

Watermelon Ship

Materials:

1. 1 large watermelon
2. A handful of toothpicks
3. 3-6 satay sticks
4. 2 chopsticks

Directions:

1. Make a flat base by cutting away the bottom curve of the watermelon lengthwise.

2. Cut the watermelon into half lengthwise.

3. Cut out 4 layers of the half watermelon, and then cut them into half, giving 8 pieces in total.

4. Arrange the cut pieces in stairs on both ends of the watermelon and secure with toothpicks, toothpicks with flag as decoration or satay sticks decorated with desired fruits such as strawberries and blueberries.

5. Poke two holes on the bottom curve of the watermelon cut out earlier and stick a chopstick through it to make the sail for the ship.

6. Scatter the remaining fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, melons etc. as desired to make a bed of sea.

7. Put a LEGO man on the front of the ship as captain of the ship. (One of the kids commented that the ship lacked a captain. In the future, we will put a LEGO man on it :-))

Cut the watermelon into half lengthwise.

Additional Information:
One of the Danish moms made this for the kids' snack time in the kindergarten, and we got the inspiration from her :-) Daddy made this on 6 September 2014 as our contribution to the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival potluck that we will be going.

1. Make a flat base by cutting away the bottom curve of the watermelon lengthwise. Then cut the watermelon into half lengthwise.

3. Cut out 4 layers of the half watermelon, and then cut them into half, giving 8 pieces in total.

Arrange the cut pieces in stairs on both ends of the watermelon and secure with toothpicks, toothpicks with flag as decoration. 

Add caption

Poke two holes on the bottom curve of the watermelon cut out earlier and stick a chopstick through it to make the sail for the ship. Decorated with desired fruits such as strawberries and blueberries.

Scatter the remaining fruits such as strawberries blueberries, melons, etc. as desired to make a bed of sea. Lastly, put a LEGO man on the front of the ship as captain of the ship. (One of the kids commented that the ship lacked a captain. In the future, we will put a LEGO man on it :-))

Fun with Watermelon for Toddlers

Idea from Montessori Moments

Age: From 2 years old

Joshua is at a very fussy phase. He doesn't like any other fruits except banana and water melon. I got this idea from Lori from Montessori Moments, that instead of cutting the watermelon into pieces for your child, give him a full ring and let him have fun practising with...

... scooping out the flesh with a spoon (fine motor skills development)

... digging out the seeds (hand-eye coordination)

... separating the soft white seeds from the hard black ones (sorting skills)

... counting the seeds (numeracy skills)

... excavating it with his hands (touch sensory experience)
 
Today, Joshua (2Y4M8D) tried this activity for the first time and he preferred to concentrate on excavating the site though!!!

 

References:

http://mymontessorimoments.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/parts-of-a-watermelon/