• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup butter or margarine
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 box (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding
• 1 ¾ cups milk
• 1 can (21 oz.) cherry, strawberry, blueberry pie filling
• Optional: chopped nuts, mini-chips or cinnamon/sugar mix
• Large bowl
• Spoon
• Cookie sheet
• Cooling rack
• Knife for spreading
  

• Plan a special party for family members or plan a small party for a school class or community group.
• Discuss what makes a party fun for everyone who is there.
• List ingredients for a good party:
• Invitations sent timely to guests.
• Guests introduced.
• Fun things to do that include everyone.
• Thoughtful and flexible hosts.
• Good food and drink provided.
• Good manners.
• Fill in invitations with who, what, when and where.
• Plan decorations, games/activities and refreshments.
• Make name tags and decorations.
• Prepare enough Fruitzza crusts, pudding, toppings and beverage to serve the total number of guests.
• Learn party manners.
• Read a book (see two suggestions) that will discuss the “what and why” of manners. Ask what manners should be used at the party.
• Assign a job for each family member on the day of the party: Greeting, providing name tags, decorating, leading games, serving refreshments.
  

Baking Activity:

Make Fruitzzas
Makes 8 small dessert pizzas

Ingredients:

• Crusts:
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Topping:

• 1 box (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
• 1 ¾ cups milk, 2%
• 1 can (21 oz.) blueberry, cherry or strawberry pie filling
• Optional: Chopped nuts, mini-chips or cinnamon/sugar mix to sprinkle on top

Directions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, stir sugar, margarine, vanilla and egg together; add flour and mix to make a soft dough.
3. Divide the dough into 8 parts and roll each into a ball. Press each part into a 4-inch
   circle on an ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute before
   taking cookie-pizza off cookie sheet. Cool completely on wire racks.
5. While crusts bake and cool, mix vanilla pudding and pie filling mix with 1 ¾ cups milk as directed on package. Spread about 2 tablespoons vanilla pudding on each cookie-pizza. Top each with 1 tablespoon fruit pie filling and optional sprinkles to decorate.

Note: Crusts may be made ahead of time and frozen.

Source: Gold Medal Flour Rainbow Bakery Cookbook

• How do you help everyone to feel welcome, comfortable and included in the party?
• What other toppings could you use for the Fruitzzas?
• Arrange a variety of toppings for guests to top the Fruitzzas.
• Each week practice a manner.
• Hosts and Hostesses Check List:
  • Send the invitation in plenty of time with clear directions to the party. Make the day and date clear plus when the party will start and end. Provide a phone number for responses or questions.
  • If activities are outdoors or active, let guests know so they dress for the plans.
  • Welcome each guest.
  • Introduce each guest or plan a game to help everyone meet.
  • Provide name tags if it is a large group and people do not know one another.
  • Plan several activities that keep people involved and help everyone to participate.
  • Have a few extra prizes or refreshments so no one will be left out.
    

Vocabulary:

Hospitable

welcoming and generous to guests

Manners

polite social behavior

Books for Reading Together:

The Little Red Hen Makes a Pizza. Philemon Sturges. 1999.
Manners. Aliki Brandenberg. 1990. Greenwillow Books.
Grover ’s Guide to Good Manners. Constance Allen. 1992.

Party planning resource: www.familyfun.com