Sparkle Stories Blog
A home for Sparkle audio stories, crafts, recipes, and kind words!
Screen-Free Week Ideas
Screens are part of our world now, but that doesn't mean it has to be our whole world.
Sparkle Kitchen: Fire-Roasted Marshmallow Strawberries
This week's snack is a spring-themed riff on traditional s'mores — it's roasted strawberries covered with marshmallow fluff. When you cook the strawberries over a fire, the marshmallow caramelizes and the strawberry warms into a perfect balance of sweet, tart, gooeyness. You may like them more than traditional roasted marshmallows.
FIFTY Study Page: Guam- "The Radioman"
This story from the FIFTY collection uses historical fiction to explore the history of the people of Guam from Chamorro to Spanish to American.
What To Expect: The How To Be Super Summer Camp
If you've just joined the How To Be Super Summer Camp, this is for you!
Storybox Playlist: What Is May Day?
Here are some stories that look into the meaning of May Day.
Friday's Kind Words: Beautiful, Gentle Technology
Thank you so much for creating a beautiful, gentle technology that has had such a positive impact on our lives. ~ Erin from California
FIFTY Study Page: Puerto Rico- "Hoy Vieques"
This story from the FIFTY collection uses historical fiction to explore the history of Vieques and Puerto Rico.
Storybox Playlist: Stories for Speaking Out
In honor of the high school students of Parkland, we honor children and adults around the world who are willing to do the hard work and muster the courage to stand up and speak out.
Friday's Kind Words: Thanks to Your Stories
Thank you so much for all the little moments of calm we get thanks to your stories.
~ Denise in Texas
Sparkle Craft: Soda Bottle Rocket
There are few things more inspirational than the thought of rockets blasting into space. While this week's craft won't quite get you to the stars, it is a great science project to get your future astronaut on the path to space exploration.
FIFTY Study Page: Washington, D.C. "The Dress"
This story from the FIFTY collection uses historical fiction to explore the History of the United States capitals. We also cover the history of the White House construction, burning, and rebuilding, as well as the biography of Dolley and James Madison.
Sparkle Kitchen: Johnny Cakes
Made with just a few ingredients, and often fried over a campfire, these cornmeal Johnny Cakes were a staple for Civil War soldiers, particularly in the South. Inspired by the FIFTY story "Kansas: The Rivalry", here is a delicious recipe for making them at home!
Storybox Playlist: America — The Great Experiment
As we conclude our FIFTY: The Stars, the States, and the Stories collection by including the five districts and territories, we review what we learned over the past year. Here are some of those stories.
Conflict Is a Gift
Without conflict there is no growth, no learning, no healing, and no revelation. We need the conflict to inspire the joy of resolution. Thus, avoiding conflict is not only a bad idea, it takes you out of the best parts of life!
Sparkle Crafts: Collaborative Splatter Paint
Inspired by the set painting that occurs for the Dry Gables play, this week's craft project is similarly collaborative — it's a family splatter paint project.
Sparkle Kitchen: Double Berry "Rock" Cakes
Inspired by J.B.'s stack of stones, this week's recipe will help you make your own stack of rocks — the edible kind!
Exploring the Dry Gables Series - “This is Our Moment”
The stories in this collection, Dry Gables: Good Neighbors, give us insights into how we resolve conflict and strive to get our needs met — and what we do when they are not met.
Storybox Playlist: When Kids Clash - Stories and Suggestions for Conflict Resolution
Conflict exists everywhere — even within households. Since this is natural and normal, the question is not about how to avoid clashes, but how to address conflicts with integrity. Here are some stories that use tactics and hold context for authentic conflict resolution.
Sparkle Craft: Rainy Boot “Hens and Chicks” Planters
While you could plant your hens and chicks in many different containers — because they're cute and plentiful at our house at this time of year — I think an outgrown pair of rain boots is just adorable with a bevy of hens and chicks sprouting out of the top.
Sparkle Kitchen: Daffodil Tarts
If you're feeling ready for some of the sunshine a bouquet of daffodils can bring, bake up a batch of these “daffodil” lemon tarts. Even if it's still winter where you live, the bright, tangy lemon curd will have you dreaming of spring in no time.
