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new for us friday–going coconutty!

home / Activities / cooking / new for us foods / new for us friday–going coconutty!
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Wondering what new something we could try for our next New for Us Friday, I grabbed a coconut while I was at the grocery store this week. I remembered my mom having one for us when we were younger, and it was so amazing to me that there was liquid inside of this strange fruit.

Having already unnecessarily butchered our mango a few weeks back, Maddy suggested I search on the Internet for a lesson on how to open the coconut before I do the same to this poor guy. How’d she get so darn smart?

Here’s our story:

  • Going Coconutty: I found that there were way too many crazy videos online on how to open a coconut, and since I don’t have an icepick, meat cleaver, or sledgehammer, I had to settle on FreshFruitDaily.com’s how-to video. I also watched About.com’s video, and I found that a combo of both techniques worked for me. (Well, kind of. . . )
Woo-hoo! I made a hole in our coconut!

First, I handed the coconut to Maddy, then Owen, then Cora to hold and shake a bit before I attempted to open it. I wanted them to feel how rough the outside was, how heavy the fruit was, and to hear the liquid inside it.

I used a wine bottle opener and scored one of the “eyes” so the water could drip out. This was easy to do, and Owen thought it was so cool to empty the water into a small bowl. We all tried a tiny sip of it–and everyone said that they didn’t care for it. We were off to a good start.

Emptying our coconut.

Next I tried to open it. Not so easy. I found the “equator” and tried to use the back side of my (ahem. . .) bread knife to knock around the circumference, but that did nothing. Then I grabbed a hammer and some sort of awl-like tool I found on my husband’s work bench and tried to hammer around the equator to crack it. Unsuccessful.

My kiddos covered their ears while flecks of coconut shell wound up all over the counter and floor. Eventually Owen ran into the living room–too much excitement for him–and eventually the darn coconut cracked.

Finally! Our cracked coconut next to the coconut that Cora
spit out on the counter. Not yum.

I broke off small pieces for everyone to try, just like the video demonstrated, and consensus was that they didn’t love it. Maddy said it tasted like “hard and chewy nothing” and Owen just said “Yuck.” In fact, after Cora spit hers out on the counter, Maddy and Owen followed suit, and they all just about fell over laughing.Most likely, if they remember anything from this coconutty-afternoon, it will be an image of their mom pounding the life out of a coconut with a hammer and some strange tool and them spitting out their coconut on the counter and falling into a fit of hysterics. We were all a little nutty after this experience.

So that’s what was this week’s NFUF. We determined that we are not a coconut family after all. I’m seriously hoping we can hunt down a winner for next week.

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

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This yearโ€™s registration deadline is approaching, but you still have time! 

What better way to get students to engage in civics and contribute to their communities? 

https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

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Have you heard of The National Civics Bee? #ad 

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Organized in partnership with The Civic Trust of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in your community will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. 

Learn how to bring The National Civics Bee to YOUR community now: https://teachmama.com/bring-the-national-civics-bee-to-your-community/

Iโ€™m thrilled to have partnered with @mom_select and @civicsbuzz for this exciting campaign! โ™ฅ๏ธ๐Ÿค๐Ÿ’™

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(Itโ€™s what Rusty the ๐ŸฆŠ is currently reading.) 

Find it at your favorite bookstore or order here: https://amzn.to/3Pu3tWs

(This is my affiliate link, so when you use it, I will earn a small percentage of the sale, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for using my link and supporting my small business!)

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Okayโ€”how do we know if someone has dyslexia? 

Which professionas are able to make that important determination? 

โ–ถ๏ธ Watch to find out. 

Hit me with the questions you still have about dyslexiaโ€”and know we have a few more posts to go!

#demystifyingdyslexia #raiseareader #teachreading #readingteachersofig
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Watch to learn and find out!

#demystifyingdyslexia #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading #dyslexia
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Open
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#demystifyingdyslexia #dyslexiaeducation #readingteacher #raiseareader #teachreading
View
Open
What do you know about dyslexia? 

What questions do you have about dyslexia? 

For the next few weeks leading up to my own start to the school year I am sharing a new series called โ€œDe-Mystifying Dyslexiaโ€ and I would love for you to join me! 

Follow in my stories or on the highlight above!

#dyslexia #teading  #readingteacher #raiseareader #demystifyingdyslexia

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