[ December Holiday Camp Day 2 - PastaMania ]

More about PastaMania

At PastaMania, the team works closely with many excellent brands, using only the very best ingredients found all over the world, to create that famous 'PastaMania' experience that consumers love so much. Their purchasing team toils relentlessly, seeking and negotiating with various suppliers and producers from a multitude of countries, often having to speak in different languages to find ingredients that match up to what we call the ‘PastaMania Standard’.

Their Research and Development team then takes over; first testing and assessing the product, ensuring it is of sufficient quality before the recipe is produced. Then experimenting with alternative recipes, trying out and put to trial to a panel of Food Testers and Critics over and over again, before the final recipe is decided. Finally, streamlining and developing the work process for that particular product, and put to trial once again, before it is presented to the customers.

Therefore, more often than not, only Brands that are widely recognized to be of quality can possibly survive this series of arduous and demanding tests.

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The bus ride

Wen Pei

Julian

Miah

Shu Yi

Xin Hui, Charis & Faithe

Kai Wei & Kai Le

Samuel & Elijah

Elizabeth & Miranda

Dillon & Ashley


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Brief Introduction By Cheryl

Cherly was explaining the different types of pastas to the children.

Dillion, Elijah, Samuel, Miranda & Elizabeth

Kai Wei, Kai Le, Miah, Shu Yi, Ashley, Wen Pei & Julian

Charis, Xin Hui, Faithe & Allan


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Kitchen Tour By Lawerence

Lawerence was showing the coffee machine to the children.

Lawerence was setting up the coffee machine.

Lawerence was making coffee to show the children.

Lawerence was showing the electrical stove to the children.

Lawerence was showing the ice maker to the children.


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Getting ready to make Pizza


The ingredients - shredded chicken, mozarella cheese and button mushrooms

Tomato sauce

Pizza dough

Lawerence was doing a demo for the children.

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Kneading the dough

Lawerence with Xin Hui & Faithe

Miranda & Elizabeth

Julian

Elizabeth

Samuel

Wen Pei

Ashley


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Spreading the tomato sauce on the dough


Samuel

Elizabeth


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Adding the ingredients


Miranda

Kai Wei & Kai Le

Miah & Shu Yi

Ashley & Wen Pei


Faithe & Xin Hui

Elijah

Dillon

Allan

Julian


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For Parents:

This had to be the best excursion that the children enjoyed the most. Not only they get to eat pizzas and pastas for their lunch, they also get to make their very own pizza.

We were greeted warmly by Cheryl at the lift lobby. She brought us to take a SUPER BIG cargo lift that could fit in all 20 of us. We stopped at Level 5 where PastaMania Headquarters is located. We started the programme with a brief introduction of pizzas and pastas. Now, the children knew that these foods origin from Italy and there are many different types of pastas. I am really surprised that most of them listened attentively and asked relevant questions! Cheers!

Next, Cherly's friend, Lawerence brought us on a kitchen tour around PastaMania. We explored the coffee machine, electrical stove, ice maker and the oven and Lawerence explained patiently the functions of each machine. The children were very cooperative by taking turns to ask questions. I am really so proud of them!

Last but not least, the children got the opportunity to make their own pizza with the help of Lawerence and other chefs on duty. They kneaded the dough, spreaded the tomato sauce, added the ingredients (shredded chicken, mozarella cheese and button mushrooms) onto their ready dough expressively. They had really put in a lot of effort and creativity in making and deocrating their pizza. I am so sure that they were very proud of themselves. That marked the end of our PastaMania tour. Horray!

Cheers,
Angeline

[ December Holiday Camp Day 1 - Kokeshi Dolls ]

More about Kokeshi Dolls

Kokeshi are Japanese dolls, originally from northern Japan. They are handmade from wood, have a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The body has a floral design painted in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of Kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. The bottom is marked with the signature of the artist.

Kokeshi was first produced by Kiji-shi in Shinchi, in Togatta/Miyagi Prefecture from where Kokeshi making techniques spread to other spa areas in the Tōhoku Region. It is said that these dolls were originally made from the middle of the Edo period to be sold to people who were visiting the hot springs in the north-east of the country.

Traditional Kokeshi dolls shapes and patterns became particular to a certain area and are classified under eleven types including: Tsuchiyu, Togatta, Yajiro, Naruko, Sakunami, Yamagata, Kijiyama, Nanbu, Tsugaru, Zao-takayu, and Hijioro. The most dominant type is the Naruko variety originally made in Miyagi Prefecture, which can also be found in Akita, Iwate, and Yamagata prefectures. The main street of the Naruko Hot Spring resort is known as Kokeshi Street and has shops which are operated directly by the Kokeshi carvers.

Creative Kokeshi allow the artist complete freedom in terms of shape, design and color and were developed after World War II. They are not particular to a specific region of Japan and generally creative Kokeshi artists are found in the cities.

The woods used for Kokeshi vary with cherry used for its darkness and dogwood which is softer. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple is also used. In the creation of both traditional and creative dolls the wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used.

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Children at Work


Shu Yi

Miah

Julian

Elijah

Xin Hui

Charis

Allan

Wen Pei

Ashley

Dillon

Faithe

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For parents:

This camp has successfully transformed the traditional way of making Kokeshi dolls with the use of innovative materials. At the same time, it made this Japanese craft comes ALIVE for the children!

Using concrete materials, such as glass bottles, ping pong balls, felt, wiggly eyes, sequins, collage buttons and yarns, the children designed their own Kokeshi dolls creatively.

They used white glue to attach the ping pong balls to the opening of the glass bottles, thus creating the visual effect of a doll. Next, they cut clothes for their dolls using the felt. They also used collage buttons and sequins to decorate their masterpiece artistically. They could easily pass off as fashion designer for famous labels, such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. The next step was to add yarn to put in place the hair for their Kokeshi dolls. Last but not least, they sticked the wiggly eyes on their dolls to complete the craft. Horray!

Cheers,
Angeline

[December Holiday Camp Day 1 - Ikebana]

More about Ikebana

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement.

In contrast to the massing of blooms typical of flower arrangement in western countries, Japanese flower arrangement is based on the line of twigs and/or leaves, filled in with a small number of blooms. The container is also a key element of the composition. The structure of a Japanese flower arrangement is based on a scalene triangle delineated by three main points, usually twigs, considered in some schools to symbolize heaven, earth, and man.

Ikebana, one of the traditional arts of Japan, has been practiced for more than 600 years. It developed from the Buddhist ritual of offering flowers to the spirits of the dead. By the middle of the fifteenth century, with the emergence of the first classical styles, Ikebana achieved the status of an art form independent of its religious origins, though it continued to retain strong symbolic and philosophical overtones. The first teachers and students were priests and members of the nobility. However, as time passed, many different schools arose, styles changed, and Ikebana came to be practiced at all levels of Japanese society.

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Children at Work

Elijah

Allan

Miah

Shu Yi

Julian

Dillon

Ashley

Charis

Faithe

Xin Hui

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For parents:

Piaget stated that children learn best through active exploration of concrete materials. There you go!

This activity was one of the ideal way for children to grasp concepts. It made use of fresh flowers to engage children in discovering more about Ikebana, nature and their creativity. Children get to touch, smell and see the different varieties of flowers, such as daisies and baby's breath.

The children were encouraged to select and arrange the flowers in their flower pot creatively. Therefore, all the end products were the children's very own work, which gives them a great sense of satisfaction. They were definitely very very proud of themselves when they showed it to mummies and daddies at the end of the day. Well done!

Cheers,
Angeline

[ HoLiDaY caMp fOR dEceMbEr 2007 ]

Day 1



Ikebana – Japanese art of flower arrangement
Young children get a chance to gain hands-on experiences of this traditional Japanese art when they create their own masterpiece expressively!





Japanese Kokeshi Doll
These dolls are simple stylized dolls that are made for tourists on vacation in Japan. Let’s try creating one using different materials too!





S is for Sushi
Hungry for afternoon snack? Then let’s whip up some yummy sushi to fill our tummies!

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Day 2

Pasta Mania Kitchen
At Pasta Mania, young children get to tour their kitchen, see a demo on making pizza, experience making one themselves and even to sample food from the restaurant. Souvenirs include a Pasta Mania T-shirt, balloon and a pizza.




I want to be a Pizza Chef
Can't wait that long? This art activity of making pizza will help you to realize your dreams in an instant. Young children get the opportunity to create their own pizza using interactive art materials.



C is for Cheesecake
Baking cheesecake is not challenging enough for us! We’re going to decorate our own cheesecake! Maybe we can add crushed nuts, marshmallows, caramel syrup, chocolate chips, whipped cream and many more on our appetizing cheesecake?

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Day 3

Hay Dairies Goat Farm
At Hay Dairies, the guide explains interesting facts about goats to young children. A tour of the farm is naturally a fascinating experience for many first-timers. Children also get the opportunity to see a live demo on milking the goats and feeding them in the barn. Souvenirs include a door gift and a bottle of goat milk.




Showering with Goat Milk Soap
Goat's milk makes soap gentle and moisturizing. It adds natural proteins, vitamins, and minerals to soap and lowers the Ph of the soap to make it more compatible with skin. What are we waiting for? Let’s start to make one to pamper ourselves!

V is for Vegemite SandwichesVegemite makes the best sandwiches for everyone! A simple and healthy snack that gives us all the energy we need for the day!

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Day 4

Yakult Factory
Why is Yakult good for us? How is Yakult being produced? Are all Yakult the same everywhere? Let’s find out the answer at Yakult Factory! Souvenir includes Yummy Yakult for everyone!





What is that?
What can children design from recycled Yakult bottles? Let’s just wait and see all of their ‘one of a kind’ creation!

K is for Kabobs
Using satay sticks to make kabobs helps to promote children’s creativity and patterning ability. Not only that, children get to enjoy a round of healthy snacks!

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Day 5

Qian Hu Fish Farm
After a tour around the farm to introduce the different species of fishes, young children get the chance to try the once-in-a-lifetime experience of ‘longkang’ fishing. Let’s guess how many fishes the children can catch!




Fishy-Fishy
Hm.. It isn’t too difficult to make a fish with paper plate, glittering sequins, wiggly eyes and many other decorative, or is it? Let’s see what the children can do with it!



T is for Tuna Salad
Scrumptious Tuna Salad is just minutes away. It helps children to eat their greens in an interesting way! They can choose from a variety of ingredients to be added, such as cherry tomatoes, lettuces and crotons!

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Date: 3 Dec 2007 to 7 Dec 2007
Time: 9am to 3pm
Venue: Gracefields Childcare – Gilstead
Cost: $200.00 / child

For more information, please kindly contact Ms Angeline at 62566018. There are limited spaces and it will be based on a first come first serve basis. I thank you for your kind understanding and I look forward to hear from you soon. Cheers!