Bunny Bonanza
Hop to it and join the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in a celebration of all things bunny! Participate in a virtual egg hunt at the museum, conduct kitchen science experiments with marshmallow bunnies, and plan a tea party with Peter Rabbit. Below are activities that all have a Bunny Bonanza theme. These activities include things that will help your child develop fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving and engineering skills, and can help them engage in cooperative play, while fostering creativity and perseverance. Each theme also comes with recommended literature connections. Feel free to throw in your own activities that might relate, and don’t forget to post your results to social media and tag @discoverymuse to share with everyone else!
Join Us For an EGGSCELLENT Virtual Egg Hunt
Hop to it and join Dr. Diane on a virtual egg hunt inside the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum. See if you can find all 26 eggs hidden in the museum. Graph them by color and post your answers @discoverymuse. We’ll announce the correct answers on social media.
EGGSCELLENT EGG HUNT TRACKING GRAPH! Making Math Connections
Fine Art Activity: Bunny Handprint Card
For a little extra fun, make a bunny handprint card and mail it to someone you love!
What you need:
- Washable paint
- Brushes
- Paper
- Markers or crayons
Directions:
- Squeeze or add a bit of paint on one hand. You can also squeeze the paint onto a small plate or in a cup and have the child paint their hand with a brush
- Paint only the palm and 4 fingers of one hand, leaving the thumb unpainted.
- Press the palm onto paper, separating the four fingers (pinkie and ring fingers together and middle and index fingers together) to make the bunny’s ears apart. Slowly and carefully lift the painted hand off the paper.
- Wash the hand.
- Let the card dry!
- Time to decorate! For the face, you can either use a paintbrush or a black marker, whichever is easier. Draw the eyes, nose, whiskers, mouth, and bunny teeth.
- Write a nice note on the inside and send the card to someone who needs to smile.
Bunny Bonanza Kitchen Science:
Bunny Peeps In the Microwave
What You Need:.
- marshmallows (Peeps are awesome, but you can use regular marshmallows too)
- microwave safe plate
- microwave oven
Directions:
- Put two Peeps (or two marshmallows) on a microwave safe plate.
- Put the plate in the microwave. Set the timer for 30 seconds on high.
- Stand back and watch through the window of the microwave. After about 20 seconds, you’ll see the Peeps start to puff up. They’ll grow to about four times their original size!
- When the microwave turns off, take the plate out and put it on the counter. (You may want a grownup to help with this part as the marshmallow Peeps may be very hot!
- Wait a few seconds, then pull one Peep off. Is the Peep hollow inside? Is the inside the same color as the outside?
- Leave the other Peep on the plate and watch it cool down. What happens?
What’s Going On?
Marshmallows, which is what Peeps are, are basically sugar and water wrapped around a bunch of air pockets. Normally, the air pockets or bubbles help give Peeps their shape. When you heat them up in the microwave, the gas expands and the air pockets grow, pushing against the soft marshmallow walls and causing the Peep to blow up and look like a monster! As the Peep cools, the air bubbles burst and shrink and the Peep collapses into a mushy puddle because its original structure is gone.
Let’s Make Bunny Slime!
What You Need:
- 5 Peep Bunnies (marshmallows and food coloring will work in a pinch)
- 1 TBS oil
- 1 microwave safe bowl
- 1 spoon
- 3 TBS cornstarch
Directions:
- Put the 5 Peeps in your microwave safe bowl. Add 1 TBS oil.
- With your grown-up’s help, put the bowl in the microwave.
- Microwave the Peeps for 30 seconds on high. What happens to the Peeps?
- Have your grown-up help you take the bowl out of the microwave.
- Stir the Peeps.
- Add 1 TBS of cornstarch at a time (you can add up to 3), stirring the cornstarch in completely each time.
- Your slime should be stretchy and fun to play with when you finish. It will only last about a day.
Tea Party With Mary Bruce, Charlotte, and Peter Rabbit
Join Mary Bruce, Charlotte, and Peter Rabbit for a special tea party and read aloud of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter.
Spread your own blanket outside (or in your living room or bedroom) and have a tea party of your own. You can pour punch or tea into small glasses and serve them up to your family members, your stuffed bunnies, or any other stuffed animal friends you want to invite to your tea party. We’ve suggested a number of bunny books below to read aloud at your tea party.
Make Some Peter Rabbit Carrot Cake Muffins for Tea
Author: Amy Palanjian Prep Time: 10 Cook Time: 16 Yield: 24 mini muffins / 12 servings
Description: These are delicious served warm soon after baking, at room temperature or even chilled, so see what your family prefers. They are naturally dairy-free and can be made gluten-free and egg-free as well. See the Notes section for details.
What You’ll Need:
- 3/4 cup whole wheat flour or gluten free cup for cup flour blend
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons canola or melted coconut oil
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1/4 cup raisins, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and coat a 24 cup mini muffin tin with nonstick spray.
- Add all ingredients to a medium bowl and stir together to mix thoroughly, but gently.
- Add a heaping 1 tablespoon of the batter to each prepared muffin cup and bake for 16-18 minutes or until lightly golden brown around the edges.
- Remove from the oven, cool in the pan for 2 minutes, and remove gently.
- Serve warm, at room temp, or chilled.
Notes
- To store, place in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. Reheat slightly to serve if desired. Or, place cooled muffins into a zip top freezer bag, remove as much air as possible and seal. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or in the microwave in 10-15 second increments.
- To make these standard size muffins, follow the instructions, divide batter among 12 standard muffin cups (that will be about 1/4 cup each), and bake for 20-22 minutes.
- To make these egg-free, omit the eggs and add 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed meal and use 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (up from 1/4 teaspoon in the recipe). Let mixed batter sit for 5 minutes before adding to the pan. Bake for about 2 additional minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center of a muffin comes out cleanly.
- To make these gluten-free, use gluten free cup for cup flour and certified gluten-free rolled oats.
More Read Aloud Fun for Your Bunny Tea Party
Bunny Read Alouds:
- Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
- Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown
- The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes by Du Bose Heyward, illustrated by Marjorie Flack
- Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal & Tom Lichtenheld
