Walt Disney presenting The grasshopper and the ants

The Ant and the Grasshopper

Ant and the Grasshopper

February was the month that we focused on an old fable or story that has been around for a very long for a long time. This classic story was made into a movie by Disney in 1937 called the Ant and the Grasshopper and can now be viewed on You Tube.

This story was told thousands of years ago by Aesop is goes like this In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?""I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."
"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; "We have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.

When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger - while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for days of need.

This story showed well the importance of preparing for the winter but could be a great example about family preparedness as well.

Activity This week's activity was to show the children how to have heat when there is no heating system in the House. Heater in a Can

Uses:
Heater in Home
Heater in Car during winter months.
Heater for Camping
Heater for your 72 hour kit.

Supplies:
1 empty quart can (you can purchase at any paint store)
1 bottle of rubbing alcohol
1 roll of toilet paper (with cardboard removed) paint can opener (you can purchase at any paint store or mini Philips screwdriver. ) pack of matches or lighter.

To make as a gift: Remove core of toilet paper. Fold the roll of toilet paper in half and stuff into the empty quart can. Put the can and the rest of the items in a ziploc bag separately so the recipient may pour the alcohol in the can when heat is needed. Copy the text below and include it with the kit.

Assembly for Use:

1. Remove core of toilet paper

2. Fold the roll of toilet paper in half and stuff into the empty quart can.

3. Slowly pour 1 pint alcohol into can.

4. Light w/ lighter or match.

5. To extinguish, replace the lid.

6. Put the following instructions in with the rest of the items.

Instructions for using Emergency Car Heater:
Use 70% isopropyl alcohol-any higher percent the flames could be too high. Do not use scented alcohol, it will smell awful in your car. 4 pints of isopropyl will keep a car 60 to 70 degrees for 24 hours. They are extremely safe and don’t produce carbon monoxide.

Warnings: Be careful the can rim will be hot to touch during and for a while after burning, although the can could be held from the bottom even while the heater is burning. It is suggested that you carry a metal pan or cookie sheet or fold a square of tin foil into fourths to set the heater on. Do not pour more alcohol on the heater while burning. Wait for it to burn out or smother with metal lid.

Each child was invited to make their own heating can, and report their initials on it. Once the alcohol is poured into the can and can be sealed up well and stored on a shelf in a cold dry place. Then when emergency occurs the can can be open and lite used as a heat system or burner for cooking. There was a great successful evening and the kids enjoyed it.

The Wiseman Prepared

During the month January we decided it to began a program of interest and creativity that it would incorporate children of all ages. We planned a special night the night and invited the family. The night before the event we invited a robust granddaughter over to help us fill our new kerosene lamps. She was impressed by them especially as he let them turn off the lights and explore a little bit around the house. We thanked her for helping us out and she dashed home that night. The following evening the family arrived and we had a wonderful family dinner nothing unusual about that.

Then as a dinner came to end my husband Michael slipped out to without anyone noticing and flipped the switch to her breaker box. And of course as planned all the electricity went out. inside the house everyone was shocked there was a little bit of fear. One the children yelled get a flashlight I made my way to get a flashlight and turned it on. Then Jaycee called out Grandma get the kerosene lantern,and we made our way to the pantry retrieving the kerosene lantern taking it to the table and lighting it.

As he sat around a table in a comfort in the light of the kerosene lamp the mood changed well felt safe having light. A few minutes later my son of all looked out the front door and reported that we seem to be the only house on the block without lights. I has been came in from outside and announced that we had planned this little disaster then post a question what would be like if it was real,which of the ready?

We had an object lesson ready to go and so we began. We divided into group A and B trying to make the teams even. Their adults and children in both.

Supplies for the object lesson.
1. 2 large flat plastic containers
2. sand
3. one flat stone-or garden walkway stone
4. two bags of wooden blocks with cardboard for roof inside
5. kitchen timer
Place the fill with sand place the stone in one and before the activity begins.

the object of this lesson is to divide into two groups of people each group is given a one of the time for containers and a bag of blocks. There given five minutes to build a house place people around it and put a roof on top.

Each group started building their house,but when the timer went off everyone stepped away.
Michael came in the room with a large bucket of water. And poured it in side group A's large plastic storage container,and of course agreed at a bit of a flood like affect. We all watched the peril of the House that was built on the sand. When the water came near the house on this stone it stood. This is a parallel to the parable told by Jesus Christ about the wise men who built his house upon a rock. It was easy for the children to see as we watched the effect of the water.

Scripture reference Matthew 7:24
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock."


children's song

The Wise Man Built His House
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
The wise man built his house upon the rock
And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the wise man's house stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
And the rain came tumbling down

Oh, the rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
The rain came down
And the floods came up
And the foolish man's house went "splat!" [clap hands once]

So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
Build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ
And the blessings will come down

Oh, the blessings come down
As your prayers go up
The blessings come down
As your prayers go up
The blessings come down
As your prayer go up
So build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ.