April
| Published: 26th March 2008 09:37 |
April
Things to do out and about in April
1. Play a trick on someone. Just make sure it won't hurt or scare anyone!
2. Put on a mini Shakespeare play, basically just the gist of the story with a lot of dressing up.
3. Do some running run say an eight of a mile and then explain a marathon is 208 times that distance! If you time yourselves you can calculate how long it would take you to run a marathon.
4. Have a George and the dragon sock puppet battle.
5. The leaves are out on the trees and some early blossoms are out, in Japan they have a cherry blossom festival at this time of year, go out and about looking for the prettiest tree and when you get back home, sketch, draw, paint or cut and stick a picture of your own beautiful blossom.
Events around the world in April
April fool's day 1st April
A day to play tricks on your friends and family. Famous pranks include The BBC television programme Panorama ran a famous hoax in 1957, showing the harvesting of spaghetti from trees. A large number of people contacted the BBC wanting to know how to cultivate their own spaghetti trees. In 1998, Burger King ran an ad in USA Today, saying that people could get a Whopper for left-handed people whose condiments were designed to drip out of the right side.
The London Marathon 13th April
The London Marathon has been taking place each year since 1981, thousands of runner complete the 26 miles every year. A small number of runners known as "the Ever Presents" have completed each of the London Marathons since 1981. They are all male and by 2007 their number had shrunk to 24.
St Geor
ge's Day 23rd April
Famously portrayed slaying a dragon and saving a maiden, Saint George is the Patron Saint of England. St. George's day is not a public holiday in England but is celebrated by the wearing of a Red Rose, England's national emblem. The celebration of St. George's Day was once a major feast in England second only to Christmas.
Shakespeare's Birthday 23rd April
Born in 1584 in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, William Shakespeare contributed more to English literature than any other writer.
ANZAC day 25th April
ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Held to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli, which took place in Turkey on 25 April 1915, during the First World War. 50,000 Allied soldiers (from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, France and India) and 87,000 Turkish soldiers died, and many more were injured. This was the first time that soldiers from Australia and New Zealand had been involved in a major battle. Australians and New Zealanders use this occasion to remember those who have served their countries and the Commonwealth in times of war.
Vaisakhi 27th April
Vaisakhi is one of the most significant holidays in Sikh calendar, based on an ancient harvest festival in Punjab, which also marks beginning of a new solar year, and new harvest season. Traditionally marked by processions through the streets and floral offerings at the gurdwaras and temples.
See our recipe for a child friendly Indian snack of vegetable pakora.
Also..........
The Grand National, 5th April
The famous annual horse race is a "steeplechase", which involves jumping over fences is run at Aintree, near Liverpool.
Olympic Torch Relay 6th April
The Olympic flame will be carried through London on its way to this year's Beijing Olympic Games. The torch will be carried through London by 80 torchbearers leading to the lighting of a cauldron by the final torchbearer. Olympic flame will travel along the historic Silk Road, and visit 22 cities, including London.
Favourite Websites:
Have a look at this cool website with great ideas for relating Shakespeare to children.
www.shakespeare4kidz.com
Have a look at the history behind the Olympics both ancient and modern at www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/
Have a look at the cherry blossom festivals in Japan at
www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011.html
Fun things to make in April
ANZAC biscuits
Made by Australian and New Zealand women for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers during World War I, that they were first called "Soldiers' Biscuits" then renamed "ANZAC Biscuits" after the Gallipoli landing. These biscuits are really simple to make and actually quite healthy.
Ingredients
100g Butter, melted
1 tbsp Golden syrup
1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
2 tbsp Boiling water
100g Plain flour
150g Caster sugar
150g Desiccated coconut
150g Rolled oats
1 tsp Ground ginger
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C. Melt the butter and golden syrup together
2. Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water and add to butter and golden syrup.
3. Mix together flour, sugar, coconut, rolled oats and ginger, make a well in the centre of the flour, stir in the liquid. Combine until thoroughly mixed
4. Place teaspoonfuls onto a greased tray, allowing room for spreading, flatten slightly and bake on the middle shelf for approx. 18 minutes until golden brown and crispy
Vegetable Pakora
In Sikh temples it is traditional to serve free food and every day thousands of free meals are served. Langar is free, vegetarian-only food served in a Gurdwara (temple) and served to anyone who turns up and is eaten by everyone sitting as equals, including non-Sikhs.
Ingredients
8oz gram flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp red chilli
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 pinch of ground cumin
Water to mix
Sliced vegetable, preferably potato
Oil for frying
Method
1. Sieve all dry ingredients into a good size bowl and add sufficient water to make a thick batter mixture. 2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan, ensuring the oil is no more than half way up the side of the pan.
3. Cover the sliced vegetables with a liberal coating of the batter mixture. Fry in the hot oil, for 3-4 minutes until golden brown.
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