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4625975762000Dandelion ActivitiesDandelion Fun Facts:right635000Dandelion is a common meadow herb of the Asteraceae or sunflower family.There are about 100 species of dandelion worldwide, and all are beneficial.The name “dandelion” comes from the French “dent de lion” – lion’s tooth, which refers to the serrated, jagged leaves.The dandelion flower opens to greet the morning and closes in the evening to go to sleep.Animals such as birds, insects and butterflies consume nectar from the flowers or consume its seeds.Dandelion seeds are often transported away by a gust of wind and they travel like tiny parachutes.398653036131500Dandelions were well known to ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, and have been used in Chinese traditional medicine for over a thousand years.Dandelion is used in folk medicine to treat infections and liver disorders. Tea made of dandelion act as diuretic (makes you wee a lot!).The dandelion is the only flower that represents the 3 celestial bodies of the sun, moon and stars: the yellow flower resembles the sun; the puff ball of seeds resembles the moon and the dispersing seeds resemble the stars.4442460698500Dandelion Sensory BottleYou will need: dandelion flowers, clear bottle and lid, water.Put the dandelion flowers in to the bottle and fill it with water.You could add other things such as other flowers, glitter etc.Seal the lid well (for younger children you could hot glue the lid on or seal with tape).Shalk the bottle and see the dandelions swirl around.left11239500Variation:You could also collect the dandelion seed heads and put them in a jar and seal (don’t add water!), as a collection of dandelion wishes!right1460500Dandelion CookiesMake delicious dandelion and lemon cookies. TeaHow to make dandelion tea from Wildlife Watch. CrownYou will need:DandelionsScissors (optional, but useful for cutting the dandelions)InstructionsTrim the dandelion stems to be about they're about 7cm long.Use your nail and create a small hole in the middle of a dandelion stem.Slip a second dandelion stem inside of your previously created hole.Now create a small hole in your second dandelion stem. Slip a third dandelion into this hole.Keep creating holes and sticking dandelions inside of them until you have a chain of flowers long enough to wrap around your head.left4953000449199021082000Once you're satisfied with the length, tie both ends of your flower crown together.Trim any stems that jut out too much. (But be careful not to trim them too short, because you don't want your holes to break.)Variation: Use glue and stick the dandelions on a band of card to make a crown / headband.2999105508000Dandelion PicturesYou will need:Empty toilet paper rollsScissorsWhite poster PaintCotton WoolColoured paperCotton budsA paint pallet (eg a plastic)First, cut a fringe at one end of your toilet roll.Make a little pool of paint on the plastic plateDip the toilet roll into the paint and then stamp paint dandelions over the paper.right5715000Then use the cotton wool and the same stamping technique to make the dandelion seeds blowing in the wind.Use the cotton buds to paint in the dandelion stalks.Variations:left5715000right25146000185547026098500Dandelion JamWhen picking your Dandelion flowers, make sure that you are picking them from an area that has not been sprayed with weed killers or insecticides, you don’t want that stuff in your yummy jam!right571500You will need:Glass jam jar with twist off capBowl Funnel Sieve / strainerIngredients:4 cups of fresh dandelion petals (green bits removed)8 cups of boiling water2 tablespoons lemon juice4 cups sugar (Use jam sugar that includes pectin or use separate pectin)right12446000Preparation:Collect your dandelions and prepare them. Wash the flower heads thoroughly in cold waterPluck or cut the yellow flower from the small green leaves that hold it, it’s ok if a few small green bits are still in the mix, but ideally you just want the yellow flower for this jam. The small green leaves have a bitter taste and can turn the jam a light green, so it is worth the extra effort. Gently twist the petals away from the rest of the flower using your fingers, or trim the heads with scissors.Ensure your jam jars are clean and sterile.right32893000Mix water and flower heads and bring to boil in a pan.Remove pan from heat and allow to steep overnight.left698500Pour the mixture through a sieve into a new pan to remove the flower heads (you can leave some of the petals in the mix if you like, they are edible and look really great in the finished jam – a bit like yellow marmalade).Or you if you want really clear jelly, strain again through a jelly bag, muslin or coffee filter. It should make just under 8 cups of liquid. Top up with boiled water if necessary.right5842000Add 1 cup of sugar for each cup of liquid. Use jam sugar or sugar and pectin as per the pack instructions.Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.right16129000Boil on rolling boil until the setting point is reached. (Test frequently). the setting point has been reached, pour into sterile jars, seal and allow to cool.Adapted from: ................
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