Last week, we dedicated our time to expressing gratitude for items and experiences starting with the letter I. Today, we encourage you to join in by sharing something you are thankful for that begins with the letter J. Your contributions can enrich our collective spirit of appreciation and reflection. Let's come together to celebrate the things that bring us joy!
I'm feeling incredibly thankful for Jelly and Jam, they add such sweetness to my day! What about you? What’s something you're grateful for that starts with the letter J? Let's hear your thoughts!
🍓 Spread the Joy: Jelly vs. Jam and All Things Delicious
They wobble, they squish, they sparkle in toasting light… but what really makes jelly and jam so irresistible? Besides being best friends with peanut butter, these fruity favorites have fascinating roots and personalities all their own.
Let’s dig in!
🥄 What's the Difference?
Jelly is smooth and shiny, made from fruit juice that’s cooked down until it sets into a clear, jiggly spread. Jam, on the other hand, is made from crushed or pureed fruit; it’s thicker, chunkier, and full of fruity texture. Jelly likes to dance on your spoon, while jam likes to hug your toast with juicy flavor.
🌍 From Orchard to Spoon
Jam and jelly have sweet origins that stretch through time. Ancient Greeks preserved fruit with honey, while medieval kitchens bubbled fruit with sugar, crafting the first versions of jam. By the 1700s, jelly had made its debut in European feasts and in the United States. Resourceful cooks used beet sugar and apple pectin to create their own preserves.
🍇 Fruity Fun Facts
- The most popular jam in the U.S. is strawberry; classic, sweet, and spreadable.
- A single tablespoon of jam might include pieces from up to eight strawberries.
- Concord grape jelly was a favorite in WWII field rations, easy to transport, and a quick energy boost!
- And just so you know: jellyfish may wiggle like jelly, but they are absolutely not toast toppings.
🎉 Celebrate the Sweet Stuff
There’s even a day dedicated to jam lovers: National Jam Day, celebrated on June 1st, right when summer fruit starts to ripen. It’s the perfect time to stir up your own batches or try fun treats like jam-filled cookies and fruity parfaits.
Expressing gratitude is associated with numerous benefits for individual well-being. Research indicates that acknowledging the things we are thankful for not only enhances our own happiness but also positively influences those around us. Therefore, cultivating a habit of gratitude can lead to enhanced emotional well-being and stronger, more fulfilling interpersonal relationships. It is important to remember the positive impact that expressing gratitude can have on ourselves and others.
Next week, get ready for an exciting celebration of everything that kicks off with the letter K! Let’s come together to express our gratitude for all things kites and kangaroos. Let's appreciate the wonderful wonders that this charming letter brings into our lives! Join us next week to embrace the magic of the letter K!
🍓 J Is for Jelly & Jam: “Spread the Love Sandwich Studio”
Let kids celebrate jelly, jam, and the kindness we can “spread” just like our favorite fruity flavors!
🖍️ What You’ll Need:
- Paper or felt bread cutouts
- Colored construction paper, tissue paper, or felt in jammy tones (red, purple, orange, pink)
- Glue, markers, scissors
- Optional: actual sandwich ingredients and plastic knives for a snack version
- Printable gratitude notes (tiny paper hearts or sticky notes)
🥪 Activity Instructions:
Design a Sandwich of Gratitude
Each child chooses “bread slices” and layers them with jam-colored cutouts. On each layer, they write or draw something they want to spread in the world—like kindness, joy, encouragement, or smiles.Add a Gratitude Garnish
Stick on a mini heart or note with a sentence like:- “I’m grateful for sweet moments with friends.”
- “Like jelly, I want my kindness to stick!”
Display the Sandwiches
Hang them on a bulletin board titled “Spread the Love: Our Jam-Packed Gratitude Café!”
🍇 Optional Extension:
- Create flavor names for each sandwich: “Berry Brave,” “Peachy Peace,” or “Grape Goals.”
- Write a mini recipe poem:
“One scoop of giggles, a spread of hugs, this sandwich tastes like thank-you bugs!”
Books about Jelly:
1. PB and J: Two
Friends in a Jam! by Gio Velino
2. Peanut Butter &
Jellyous: by Michael Genhart PhD
3. The Jelly Donut
Difference: by Maria Dismondy
4. Jams and Jellies: by
Jennifer Williams
5. Jam and Jelly Book:
by Brendan Fawn
6. 175 Best Jams,
Jellies, Marmalades by Linda Amendt
Parents, please ensure that the books you read to your child are child-friendly.
ABC letter Jj
ReplyDelete