Ants on a Log Celery Snack

What you need

• Plate or tray, 1
• Celery, 2 or 3 stalks
• Cream cheese or seed butter, a few tbsp
• Raisins, a small handful (optional)
• Knife, 1, grown-up only
• Cutting board, 1
• Bowl, 2 or 3 small
• Spoon, 1 per bowl
• Towel, 1

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Check for allergies before serving. Cream cheese contains dairy, and some kids react to seeds or celery. An adult washes the celery and cuts it into short sticks. For younger kids, cut the sticks thin and short and peel off the stringy bits. Raisins can be a choking risk, so leave them off for children under 4 and let them make plain 'logs' instead. Put each spread in a small bowl with a spoon.

1. A grown-up washes the celery and cuts it into thin, short sticks. A grown-up does this
2. Wash your hands with soap and warm water, then dry them.
3. Lay your celery logs on the plate with the curved channel facing up.
   Ask: What does the dip in the celery remind you of: a boat, a slide, or a river?
4. Scoop a little cream cheese or seed butter and spread it along the channel.
5. If you're 4 or older, press raisins on top to make marching ants.
   Ask: How many ants can you fit on one log?
6. Try a pattern: raisin, gap, raisin, gap, all the way down.
7. Count your ants, give your logs a silly name, then crunch away!
8. Now make more logs for friends! What silly snack name will you try next?
   Ask: Who would you love to share a log parade with?

Play it again

• Taste test: make one log with cream cheese and one with seed butter, then pick a favorite.
• Pattern parade: make a new ant pattern on each log and let someone guess the rule.
• Snack chef: invent a name and a tiny recipe card for your best log.