With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and us being in the middle of Black History Month, what better time to focus on the topic of Love. Love can feel and look many different ways. You can love your family and friends, but you also love different things, like your favorite food (I LOVE pizza!!), your favorite toy, your house, our city and even our planet!
Oftentimes when we love someone or love certain things, we want to show appreciation for them by making them feel happy and taking care of them. CMGT always promotes love not only for our planet but for our different communities. One way to show love to our planet earth is by using recycled materials. When we use recycled materials, we show our appreciation for the earth by creating less trash and keeping our planet clean (which makes the earth very, very happy)!
Have you ever heard of Garret Morgan? He is an important African American figure in the U.S. history as he was the first man to invent the three-position traffic signal. This traffic signal is still used to this day as the common Stop, Slow & Go light at every intersection. Without this important invention, there would be a lot more accidents on the road. Thank you, Garret Morgan!
To show love and appreciation to Garret Morgan here is a fun game you can try at home using the Stop, Slow & Go signals.
Stop, Slow & Go!
How to play:
To play the game you should have 2 or more people to play. To begin, you must have 3 different colored signs that say or indicate Stop, Slow & Go.
To play in-person:
Make sure to have a good amount of room between you and the other player(s), at least 20 feet apart. Everyone must choose 1 person to be Player 1. Player 1 will have the three Stop, Slow & Go signs. The purpose of the game is to have all other players race to Player 1 and whoever reaches them first wins the game. All other players must follow the signs Player 1 is holding. If Player 1 shows the Red sign, it means Stop (all Players must freeze). If Player 1 shows the Yellow sign, it means Slow Down (all players must move at a walking pace). If Player 1 shows the Green sign, it means Go (all players can go as fast as they want to reach Player 1). Every person playing the game can have a turn at being Player 1.
To play on Zoom (or any other video chatting platform):
Everyone will choose 1 person to be Player 1. Player 1 will have the three Stop, Slow & Go. If the person chosen to be Player 1 doesn’t have specific Stop, Slow & Go signs they can use any items they have at the house to indicate Stop, Slow or Go. Since players will not be able to run, players can choose to do another action instead such as dancing. If Player 1 shows the Red sign, it means Stop (all Players must freeze). If Player 1 shows the Yellow sign, it means Slow Down (all players must move slowly). If Player 1 shows the Green sign, it means Go (all players can move as fast as they want). If any player doesn’t follow the direction of Player 1, they will be out of the game. Every person playing the game can have a turn at being Player 1.
Materials:
- 1 red colored paper*
- 1 yellow colored paper*
- 1 green colored paper*
- 3 pencils*
- Scissors
- Tape
Directions:
- Draw a circle on each of the colored pieces of paper.
- With the supervision of an adult, cut the circles out of the paper.
- On the red circle write STOP, on the yellow circle write SLOW, and on the green circle write “GO.”
- Tape each of the circles onto the pencil.
***All materials can be exchanged with any other material you have around your home (remember recycled material is always preferred).
Did you know that one of the most popular snacks in the world, kettle chips, was invented by an African American man named George Crum? Although he is not the first person to invent potato chips, he was one of the first to popularize thinly sliced and pan-fried potato chips initially known as Saratoga Chips from Saratoga, New York. Today, these chips are often known as kettle chips. Without George Crum’s incredibly delicious invention, chips would definitely be crummy!
In honor of the great African American Chef George Crum, here is a recipe you can do with your family to create his one-of-a-kind chips at home. Remember, making food at home contributes to a smaller carbon footprint!
Saratoga Chips (Kettle Chips)
Ingredients:
- 4 large oval Idaho potatoes
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Peanut or vegetable oil
- Ice water
- (optional) ½ cup smoky barbecue sauce
- (optional) Brown paper bags
- Small thin towel (to soak up oil)
Directions:
- Peel potatoes and slice thinly and evenly (a mandolin works well for this).
- Submerge potatoes in ice water and allow to sit for about 30 minutes, separating slices so the starch on each is rinsed.
- Heat oil in a large kettle or fryer to 375°F.
- Drain potatoes from the water and pat dry using paper toweling, making sure they are completely dry.
- Fry potatoes in small batches until golden.
- Drain potatoes and place on clean brown paper. Season to your liking.
- Keep potatoes in the oven on low temperature to keep warm while finishing other potatoes, if necessary.
- Serve chips with smoky barbecue sauce or any other dips that you like.
