Hello my Omschooligans! Teacher Omi is back with more fun activities and lesson plans from the Omschool Tree Fort! Since we're heading back to school soon I thought I'd throw us a back-to-school party with games, snack crafts, craft projects and of course, children's literature connections! These free printable lesson plans are available for non-profit and homeschool use and may be shared with proper attribution.
Back-to-School themed snack crafts
You know that we in the Omschool Tree Fort love multipurpose educational activities that address several learning objectives (and are fun, must have fun!). So we make edible crafts that are fun to make and eat! They also help us develop food prep, fine motor, kitchen science and following directions skills! Today's craft treats feature school supplies themes.
Pretzel Pencils: Use the picture above to create these pencil snack crafts! You'll need
- pretzel rods
- cream cheese, almond or peanut butter or spray cheese (in the can)
- color a bit of cream cheese brown with dark cocoa powder for pencil tips
- or use dark chocolate frosting (see healthier frosting recipe below)
- or use black decorator icing
- pink marshmallows or pieces of watermelon (for the eraser)
- carrot tips (you can "sharpen" these in a vegetable spiralizer.
- cheese slices (optional)
- plastic knives
Book Sandwiches
What better snack to enjoy in the reading corner than a book sandwich? They're so easy to create, too!
- Make your favorite kind of sandwich using square or rectangular bread (like Pepperidge Farm): tuna or egg salad, PBJ, cheese and pickle, you choose!
- "Frost" the top of your sandwich with any color cream cheese (see tips below for natural coloring dyes) or homemade frosting (for sweet sandwiches). Keep reading for a healthier low sugar frosting recipe.
- Frost with yogurt if you prefer.
- Place some cream cheese or frosting in a decorator bag and write your book title across the top. Or use Milo's spray cheese idea. Use a known book title or create your own!
- You can also use letter pretzels or cereal for shorter titles.
- Tuck a strip from your cheese slice in as a bookmark. Or use a Fruit Roll-up.
- Decorate cover with fruit or veggie pieces cut like hearts, stars, etc.
Fruit and Veggie Markers and Crayons
What could be better than coloring with crayons? Coloring with edible crayon that's what! Use different sized vegetable corers to create a rainbow of markers you can eat, using fruits and vegetables. Cut tube shapes from pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew. Cut and de-string celery into skinny sticks. Use skinny mini cucumbers, rainbow carrots and carrot sticks just as they are. Cut pepper strips to resemble crayons. Serve in pencil cases which can be reused for real markers and crayons, later. Children will enjoy cutting the fruit and vegetables. 
Alphabet snack crafts
- Edib-letters: Reading is so much more fun with edible ABCs! Look for ABC cookies, pretzels and snack crackers at Walmart, Aldi (Benton's), Target, Trader Joe's and Meijer. Check Amazon for letter themed Haribo fruit snacks, Cheez-Its and Earth's Best Organic Sesame Street letter cookies.
- Alphabet Mak-sheesh: That's what my granddaughter called mac and cheese. So for back-to-school, we'll cook up some letter pasta and make yummy macaroni and cheese. Here's Omi's recipe.
- Cook one box letter pasta till al dente (tender but not falling apart). While it's cooking...
- Make cheese roux:
- melt one stick salted butter over low heat
- add 8 oz cream cheese cubes or blended cottage cheese and melt
- add 1-2 c. sharp cheddar and melt
- season with garlic, black pepper and celery salt
- slowly add milk you've allowed to warm to room temp (use as much as it takes to get roux to thick, creamy consistency.
- Drain pasta and pour roux over pasta.
- Gently stir and add a little grated parmesan cheese.
- Alpha-Veggie Soup: A classic favorite, kids will love prepping this!
- Cut carrots, red onions, celery and yellow peppers into bite-sized pieces.
- Shred purple cabbage to make one cup.
- Sauté in butter with poultry seasoning or umami seasoning.
- Add chicken broth (without MSG) to make about six cups.
- Cook pasta in this mixture, slowly.
- Snip cilantro, parsley and basil and top soup with these.
- Alphabet pasta salad:
- Cook pasta, drain and rinse.
- Add chunk imitation crab meat or canned chicken or tuna.
- Halve grape tomatoes.
- Cut yellow and orange bell peppers into pieces.
- Blend with mayonnaise and Dijon mustard to taste.
- Season with black pepper and dill weed.
🌈 Rainbow Edible Playdough
Safe, taste-tested fun naturally colored with kitchen ingredients!
Base Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option)
- ½ cup honey or agave syrup
- 2 cups powdered milk (or oat flour/ground rolled oats)
Natural Color Tinting Options
- Red / Pink: 1–2 tsp beet root powder or concentrated berry juice
- Orange: 1 tsp carrot powder or carrot juice reduction
- Yellow: ½ tsp ground turmeric
- Green: 1 tsp spirulina powder or matcha powder
- Brown: 1 tbsp unsweetened dark cocoa powder
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the butter/nut butter and honey together until smooth.
- Gradually add the powdered milk or oat flour, kneading with clean hands until a soft, non-sticky dough forms. If too sticky, add a bit more powdered milk; if too dry, add a drop of honey.
- Divide the dough into smaller balls for coloring.
- Knead your chosen natural color ingredient into each dough ball until the shade is evenly distributed.
- Shape, play, and snack! Store unused dough in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Ingredients
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
3 tbsp raw honey (adjust to taste)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Pinch of fine sea salt
Instructions
Beat the Base: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium-high speed until completely smooth and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
Blend Sweetener & Flavor: Add the honey, vanilla extract, and pinch of salt. Beat on medium speed for another 1–2 minutes until fully incorporated and creamy.
Chill & Set: For best piping or spreading consistency, cover and chill in the refrigerator for 20–30 minutes before using.
Tips & Variations
Flavor Boost: Add 1/2 tsp of cinnamon or lemon zest for extra warm or bright flavor notes.
Frosting coloring tips: "Dye" frosting with beet or berry juice, spirulina or spinach powder, dark cocoa powder
Storage: Store frosted baked goods or leftover frosting in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
