Bread Recipe

Youth/children in groups of 4-5 can make bread from scratch, and sculpt it into a turtle, a mushroom, pumpkin, etc. Bringing the finished product to the care home to share the spectacle and eat the sculptures is a great harvest time activity. Stories will abound with the smell of fresh bread.

Single Recipe (you can double with good results):

In a large warm bowl, in a warm room free from drafts, measure accurately, and

MIX

• 2 1/2 cups of white flour
• 2 Tbsp. instant yeast (Fast Rising or Fermapan brand name)
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• Set this aside once it is stirred together

MIX

• 1/4 cup, plus 1 Tbsp. margarine or butter (melt and cool to room temperature)
• 2 medium eggs

To the margarine/butter and eggs add: 2 cups WARM water

POUR the wet ingredient bowl into the flour/yeast mixing bowl. Mix well. Stir until the mixture is ‘elastic’.

ADD another 2 1/2 cups of flour. Mix well. You may have to use your hand.

When it works into a smooth ball, place in a large oiled bowl (three times the size of the dough ball). Cover with oiled waxed paper. Put in warm oven to rise for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, gently ‘stir’ down dough, then form into buns, or loaves. Place in oiled pans, cover with oiled wax paper, let stand in warm oven for 20 minutes.

Take out of oven. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F. Remove wax paper, bake for 15-20 minutes.

If you would like, you can add raisins, candied peel, etc. before mixing in additional flour.

You do NOT need to knead this bread dough. If you use whole wheat you will have to adjust your yeast according to your experience.

Grade 1 Interpretation of Senior Buddies	Intermediate Student’s Portrait of Senior Buddy

Painted Cookies

YOU NEED:

• a batch of sugar cookie dough, or similar light coloured rolling dough
• simple cookie cutters in various shapes (can be seasonal)
• rollers, pans
• small water colour or craft paintbrushes (size 8-12) that are clean
• several cups or glasses and teaspoons
• raw, medium or large sized eggs (fresh eggs have stronger protein and are create thicker more controllable ‘paint’
• small amounts of various colours of food colouring (liquid is best).

After cookie dough has been rolled out, and the cookies cut (about the thickness of a pencil), have participants lay them on pastry paper or directly on to the cookie tray.

Pre-mix the ‘paint’. This is one of the first type of paints made by artists, and was used in the Renaissance to paint on wood and other surfaces.  It was called ‘egg tempra’. We like painting it on cookies… much easier to eat!

1. 1. Separate yolks from whites, save whites for adding to soups, etc.
   2. Stir the yolks to a smooth consistency, adding one teaspoon of water for each yolk.
   3. Divide the yolk mixture, putting approximately three tablespoonsful into separate clean cups
   4. Add a few drops of each of the colours to each cup,  three primary colours,  then mix to create secondary colours (R&Y=O, B&Y=G, R&B&Y=Black , or you can purchase paste in Black).
   5. Mix colours  into the yolk thoroughly
   6. Place clean paint brush in each cup
   7. ‘Paint’ the yolk mixture onto the dough WHEN RAW, covering the surface thoroughly.
   8. Bake as usual.

SURE TO PLEASE, EASY TO DO, FUN TO SHARE.

Local Artists

Take advantage of local senior artists. Arrange to visit them at
their studios, or bring them in as guests. Try to have the artists
assist the children/youth in making their own art in that medium.

Bob Kingsmill the potter and two kids

Senior Musicians

Find seniors who will share their musical talent as back-up for a
sing-a-long. Choose songs the senior knows, classic campfire songs,
old favourites. “Playmates, come out and play with me…”

Senior Plays for sing-a-long (Mr. Cochrane on piano)

Simple Crafts

Share a simple craft: wax crayon melt for greeting cards, leaf
rubbings, painted wooden ‘helping hands’ to be screwed to stakes for
the senior care home garden. These are friendly reminders of the
children/youth when they have left the care home.

Sketching

Have children/youth make simple pencil sketches of their senior
buddies. A wonderful picture to stick to a fridge door in the senior’s
room. Some seniors might want to sketch their younger buddies too

Sketching at Mackie House

Collages

Launching a Mama Steps or Full Immersion Project? Have students make
collages (Me Boards) with pictorial information to introduce
themselves. These can be posted at the Seniors’ Centre so elder
friends can review the photo stories of their young new friends.

Crocheting and Knitting

Crocheting and knitting are teachable arts, and seniors may be
teachers, advisors, and/or share their own work. Use # 5.0 or 5.5mm
crochet hooks and medium thickness synthetic yarn. Approach adult
community craft groups to act as teachers at the care home for the
first few sessions, for both children and seniors who would like to
learn.

Poetry

Nothing like a poetry recitation! Have students choose, memorize and
prepare poem for presentation. Make sure they have access to a
microphone, and do a test to find the best level for seniors (consider
hearing aid levels). The young people will have to speak clearly for
seniors to hear. Some seniors may still recall a few lines from a poem
they too learned in as children. Hand them the mic!

Celebration Hats

Simple pie plates and bits and pieces from home, outside, and craft
drawers can be turned into personalized Spring, Winter or Fall
‘bonnets’ using hot glue guns and staplers. Hole punch opposite sides
of the hat in order to attach the chin strap ties. Then, take a
portrait of the Milner and the Client! Post them on the Care Home
Bulletin Board. Points to the seniors who wear their hats to lunch!