Fun with Character: Two Frogs In Cream

Two frogs fell into a can of cream,
Or so I’ve’ heard it told:
The sides of the can were shiny and steep,
The cream was deep and cold.
“O, what’s the use?” croaked Number 1.
“Tis fate; no help’s around.
Good-bye, my friends Good-bye, sad world”
And weeping still, he drowned.
But Number 2, of sterner stuff,
Dog-paddled in surprise,
The while he wiped his creamy face
And dried his creamy eyes.
“I’ll swim awhile, at least,” he said-
Or so I’ve heard he said:
“It really wouldn’t help the world
If one more frog were dead.”
An hour or two he kicked and swam,
Not once he stopped to mutter.
But kicked and kicked and swam and kicked.
Then hopped out, via butter!

Author Unknown

Use this poem to illustrate the need for positive thinking. There are many versions of the poem/story on YouTube and other websites that you can use. After reading it, you can demonstrate how to make butter. Label a mason jar or old mayo jar "Enthusiasm," and fill it half-full with room-temperature heavy whipping cream. You can make this go faster by adding a marble or culturing the cream first by adding a few teaspoons of cultured yogurt or sour cream. Pass the jar around and let each student shake it. It will take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to form butter. Don’t stop when it looks like whipped cream. The butter will form and separate from the buttermilk that remains, if any. Drain the buttermilk off, stir in a pinch of salt, and enjoy on crackers. You will make half as much butter as the cream with which you started. It should taste delicious, slightly sour, with no aftertaste. If it is bubbly, or smells yeasty or gassy, discard. You may need more than 1 jar depending on your class size.

This website has a kid-friendly science lesson on butter making.

To process this activity, ask these or similar questions:

• Did you like the story of the frogs?

• Did you think we could make butter from the whipping cream?

• Did you like the taste of the butter?

• Will you remember the frogs and butter the next time you get discouraged and lose enthusiasm?