Another rainy day at summer camp. The “Can Dos” were getting bored with indoor games and activities. Miss Sue, the camp director, thought…time for a contest!
Miss Sue distributed mazes to each of the kids at camp, announcing that the first one to finish the mazes correctly would win a prize…free admission to the Friday night movie, popcorn and a soft drink. You could have heard a pibn drop as the “Can Dos” worked hard at solving the mazes.
Here are two of the mazes…let’s see how you do.
The “Can Dos” get to go to a movie with each other, under the watchful eyes of their camp counselors. No parents, grandparents or teachers allowed!
The movie starts at 6:30 PM every Friday night, during camp, and is over by 8:30 PM. Parents drop the “Can Dos” off with their counselors and pick them up from their counselors when the movie lets out.
Each “Can Do” gets $1 from their parents on movie night. Admission is 75 cents and snacks are 25 cents.
When Arthur J. reached into his pocket for his movie money, it was gone. His mom had given him four quarters, since she didn’t have a dollar bill. Arthur J. didn’t know it, but he had a hole in his pocket and the quarters fell out somewhere along the way.
He didn’t know what to do. He walked over to where his friends were standing and told them what happened. He was really upset. He didn’t want to miss the movie. Most of all he didn’t want to miss the fun of sitting with his friends and trading snacks.
“Can anyone lend me the money for the movie,” asked Arthur J. “I’ll pay you back tomorrow, I promise.”
His friends were quiet for a few seconds, then Hector said, “If I give you my snack money, what will I eat”? Everyone giggled. They all know how important food is to Hector.
Then Willie said, “There are eight of us who always sit with Arthur J. Why don’t we put our snack money together? We will have 8 quarters. We can give 3 quarters to Arthur J for admission to the movie and still have 5 quarters to buy snacks that we can share.”
All the “Can Dos” thought Willie had a great idea, except Hector who said,”I like to eat all my snack myself. I get hungry watching a movie.” Nellie put her hands on her hips, stared at Hector and said, “Hector, you don’t need a whole snack. Besides, Arthur J is our friend. If you lost your money, he’d help you.”
Hector looked at Arthur J, who was nodding his head, agreeing with what Nellie was saying about how he would share if Hector didn’t have money to get into the movie.
With that, all of the “Can Dos” each put their snack money together. Willie held the money, since it was his idea in the first place. Willie handed Arthur J. three quarters for the movie admission. Then they all went over to the snack table to decide what they could buy with the remaining five quarters.
It wasn’t much of a kitchen but it was all they had to work in. It really was a kitchen for adults. The counters were too high for them. They needed to stand on stools to reach the counter tops and do their preparations. The oven and refrigerator doors were too heavy for them, so Miss Hattie, the club moderator, always had to open these doors for them.
They brought all the ingredients they would need to make sandwiches and flower cupcakes to serve at the “Spring Luncheon” for the seniors club. Every year the “Can Do” Kids Cooking Club made and served sandwiches and a special dessert. They looked forward to the event and so did the seniors, especially since their grandmas were in the seniors club.
Just then the kitchen door opened and there was Miss Hattie who told the “Can Dos” that she had a surprise for them. Then she led them into the kitchen where all the seniors were standing in front of the work areas. The Seniors all yelled, “Surprise!”
When the seniors stepped away from where the cabinets were, the “Can Do” Kids Cooking Club members couldn’t believe their eyes!
The kitchen was all new with cabinets and cupboards and counter tops that were just the right height for kids. Why, there was even a stove and refrigerator that was just the right height for them that had easy to open doors.
Miss Hattie stepped forward and said, “You children are always doing nice things for us. So, we decided to take some of the money from our treasury and pay to have the kitchen made “Kid Size” for your club.”
The “Can Do” kids were so happy. They hugged each and every senior as each senior headed upstairs to their meeting room.
The “Can Dos” were reading when there was a knock on the door of their classroom. All heads came up from their books; all eyes were on the door. When the door opened there stood Grandma Jean. Now the “Can Dos” were really curious. The only time Grandma Jean ever came to their class was to read them a story, but that was usually on a Thursday, and this was a Tuesday.
Miss Pat nodded and turning to the class said,”Please close your books and give Grandma Jean your undivided attention.” Grandma Jean smiled and said, “As you all know, it is almost Valentine’s Day and I know the school has some special ways you are going to celebrate the day. I’m here to ask you to do something special for the ladies in the Seniors group at the recreation center. Please be part of our Valentine’s party this Saturday from 1-3 PM.”
Well, some of the “Can Dos” nodded and others didn’t look as if they thought it was such a good idea. “Hector said,”Ive got plans. Besides, I can see my grandma on Saturday and give her the valentine I made for her.” A couple of the other “Can Dos” agreed with Hector.
Grandma Jean reminded the class of all that the seniors do for them year-round such as helping them decorate for their parties at the rec center, fixing the food for their annual picnic and the indoor camp sleepover. Why how would they be able to hold their meetings of the “Can Do” Kids Cooking Club? Who would cut up the fruits and vegetables for their recipes, and help them with cooking and baking? Who indeed.
Then Grandma Jean reminded them that many of their grandmas would be at the event, and would be expecting to see then there. ” Ok, Ok,” said Hector. I get the message. Its time for me, I mean us, to do something nice for them, because they do so many nice things for us.”
Grandma Jean handed a Valentine’s card to each “Can Do” with instructions to make the card out to his or her grandma. Just them Jay raised his hand, “I don’t have a grandma in the Senior group. Who will I make a Valentine’s card for?” Grandma Jean smiled and answered, “Just like you don’t have a grandma in the Senior group, not all the seniors have grandchildren, or they may have grandchildren who live far away. These ladies would love to share their Valentine’s party with one of you. “
Wendy and Yundi and Jay each agreed to be a Valentine’s Day partner for a lady who did didn’t have a grandchild to share with at the Senior party. Orrie raised his hand and said, ” My Grandma Maureen has so many grandchildren, I know she would be proud if I kept another lady company at the party.” Grandma Jean and Miss Pat told him that was a very kind thing to do. Grandma Jean handed them each a Valentine’s Day card and the name of a Senior who would be their partner.
After Grandma Jean left the “Can Dos’ all agreed that being nice to others is not only a good thing to do, it can be fun!
Parents and grandparents were invited to join the “Can Dos” for games, a sing-a-long and then the buffet.
Given what Miss Sue had seen in the past with “Can Dos” forgetting their manners, she thought it might be best to practice buffet manners before the actual buffet lunch. Good thing she did. Wait till you hear what some of the “Can Dos’ did during the buffet rehearsal!
First of all, Miss Sue had a long table covered with a white cloth and had the cafeteria ladies set out several different dishes with serving spoons and forks laid out next to them. She had napkins, plates, forks, knives and spoons at one end of the table. At the other end she had glasses and pitchers of juice and water.
Miss Sue instructed the children to start the buffet at the end of the table with the napkins, plates and utensils. They were to move down the table, in a single line, taking what foods they wanted. When they got to the beverage, an adult would serve then a drink. Then they were to find a table where they could sit down and eat with each other.
Then others broke out of line and soon it was a mess with “Can Dos” yelling, “No fair, I was ahead of you and now I’m waiting for you to go.”
Then Miss Sue saw Hector take food put it on his plate and then put it back in the buffet bowl. As she walked over to him, she saw Kathy use her fingers to pick up fruit from the buffet and put it on her plate!
That did it! “Children, said Miss Sue, “Come away from the buffet table. we need to have a lesson in buffet manners right now!”
When the “Can Dos” gathered around her, Miss Sue said, “When you are at a buffet these are the things you must remember to do or other people at the buffet will thing you have bad manners and you will embarrass your family:
The “Can Dos” listened carefully and when Miss Sue was finished speaking Annie asked,”May we try again Miss Sue?Miss Sue thought a minute and answered, “I think that is a good idea.”
The “Can Dos” lined up and went through the buffet line remembering to stay in line and using utensils to take food. No one used their fingers and no one put food back on the buffet after putting it on his or her plate.
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"Can Do" Street is the intellectual property of Jean Campbell, registered with the US Copyright Office TXU000476431 and the WGA West, Inc, under Campbell Development Group LLC, 1294415. "Can Do Street" and The "Can Do" Company © 2010. All rights reserved.
