This week, over in the Crust & Crumb Academy @Sandy Chong and I are experimenting with homemade pita pockets, let me know if you'd like the recipe. Here in the community though, we're wrapping up sweet science week with one of my favorite treats - brownies. For the full activity, complete with twists and variations by age check out #The Great Brownie Experiment the short version is provided below. What's your favorite sweet treat? Brownies can be thin or thick, chewy or cakey, crisp at the edges or soft in the center. Small changes in how you prepare or bake them can create surprisingly different results. If you bake, don't forget to share your results with us. Gather Your Gear: Use your favorite brownie recipe or a boxed brownie mix. You'll also need: - Ingredients required by your recipe - Mixing bowl - Spoon, whisk, or spatula - Measuring cups and spoons - Two small baking pans, or one pan divided with folded aluminum foil - Parchment paper or cooking spray - Oven mitts - Timer - Knife and cutting board - My Science Notebook (optional) Optional additions - Cooled caramel - Mini marshmallows - Sugar crystals - Chocolate chips Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before handling food. Adult help is required when using the oven and handling hot pans. Steps: 1. Read the recipe together before beginning. 2. Choose one brownie question to investigate. Examples: - Thin brownies or thick brownies? - Warm brownies or completely cooled brownies? - Plain brownies or marshmallow brownies? - Plain brownies or caramel brownies? - Shorter baking time or longer baking time? 3. Predict what you think will happen. 4. Prepare the brownie batter according to the recipe. 5. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans or pan sections. 6. Change only one variable while keeping everything else the same. 7. Bake with adult supervision. If one section is thinner, begin checking it a little earlier. 8. Allow the brownies to cool enough to handle safely. 9. Compare:

Hello! I just found out Class Crunchlabs is a free STEM education site with cool experiences for middle schoolers and up. https://www.classcrunchlabs.org/curriculum Did you know about this project?

Welcome to Connected Through Play! We're so glad you're here! This community just got a whole lot brighter with all of you joining us. I've been a bit remiss in welcoming our new members and wow wait until you see who has joined us. Pull up a chair, explore the classrooms and Play Prompts and ideas and let us know how we can help you have more play in your day. @Jasmine Foster is searching for fresh ideas to keep her curious 15-month-old engaged and exploring the world around them. @Isabell Hie has an 18-month-old daughter she's excited to nurture as fully as she can. @Andrea Nichol is a primary teacher and mum of three looking for creative ways to connect with her neurospicy kids. @Erika Clough is navigating a high-conflict divorce and wants to open a line of connection with her 5-year-old daughter, especially through crafts. @Ágnes Molnár has a 3.5-year-old boy and a 2-month-old girl and is excited to dive into play with both of them. @Sophie Oborne is a mum of three (ages 6, 3, and 5 months) working to help her older two play better together, check out her Skool community Wonderers Club. @Bianca Evans has five children with a 2-year-old at home and knows how critical these early years are. @Kenney Purchase is here for his nephew and his own inner child, see his Skool community Imagination Station. @Andrea Neel has a beautiful niece and is always looking for ideas to challenge her mind. @Samantha Davenport has kids aged 14 and 8 and wants to encourage more play at home. @Michelle Lightly has a 5-year-old daughter and is looking for creative, nature-based ways to play with less screen time — @Samantha Davenport, @Michelle Lightly, and @Sarah Cooper (who's working to reduce her 10-year-old son's screen time after dealing with chronic health issues) could all share strategies on reclaiming play from devices. @Sarah Cooper runs The Essential Oil Circle — definitely worth checking out.

Does anyone else remember this saying? Either way, here in Tennessee it’s another hot and humid summer day and another reason for ice cream. This week’s Curious Kitchen Lab will focus on sweet science. The first activity goes live tomorrow. Today, a sneak peek in honor of Ice Cream Day. Answer our flavor poll and then let us know if you make your own ice cream. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?