
CONFECTIONER’S SUGAR (SUGAR, CORN STARCH), CHEWING
GUM BASE, CORN SYRUP, NATURAL PEPPERMINT FLAVOR, NATURAL FRUIT
FLAVOR.

Make your own chewing gum with chicle, the sap
of the Sapodilla tree that grows in the rainforests of Central
America. Everything is included!
As a former teacher, I think all 3 of the Verve
Make-Your-Own kits are just so cool! While learning first-hand how some
of kids' favorite treats are made (I am a huge fan of the show "How It's
Made:!), kids also connect to historical traditions and global
economies by understanding the history as well as the economies of these
products, learn how raw materials are sourced and made, and learn new
cultural traditions.
But mostly, these kits are just plain fun! Even adults (like me) can get into them!
These kits would make a great classroom activity, either
for connecting to particular historical/ cultural units, or for a fun
holiday activity. Having a Halloween party at your house? Why not have
your kids make their own candy, providing fun, entertainment, and
learning all at the same time.
All of the kits take about 20-30 minutes to complete,
require a stove or microwave, and of course, we strongly recommend adult
supervision. Makes a great gift for kids (ages 8 & up).

From the Glee Gum website, a bit about the unique experience these kits provide:
"Connect kids
to the global community by tracing the origins of raw
materials we encounter in our daily lives. Our
gum kit uses natural chicle. Our chocolate kit
includes organic cocoa butter from Costa Rica,
and the gummy kit contains carrageenan made from
seaweed from the Philippines.
Create
something exciting and delicious. At Verve, we believe people
learn by doing. By creating delicious edible treats
with our kits, kids also create connections to
each other, between various fields of studies,
and to other communities and cultures.
Captivate
kids' interest. Kids have always loved to stir, mix, touch
and taste our great activity kits. Now children can
make yummy treats while learning about: the
rainforest, ethnobotany, chemistry, mathematics
and measurement, ecology and environmental
issues, home economics, nutrition, the oceans and more!"
This score is a ranking based on how natural, eco-friendly, and non-toxic a product is, and is rated out of a possible total 5 stars.
STARS: 5 out of 5 stars for naturalness
COMMENTS: Glee
Gum is made with all natural ingredients including:
pure cane sugar, rice syrup, natural flavorings and
colorings. Our gum base has super chewy natural
chicle harvested from Sapodilla trees in the rain
forests of Central America.
Glee Gum does NOT have: artificial preservatives,
artificial flavors, artificial colors, artificial
sweeteners (e.g. aspartame, saccharin or cyclamate).
A bit about Verve, the manufacturer of Glee Chewing Gum, from their website:
"In 1992, the concept for Verve was born
when we visited an economically depressed chicle-producing
community in Northern Guatemala. Up until then, we had never really
thought about how chewing gum was made. When we realized
its origins, we learned that prior to the synthetic
resins, chicle was the basis of the entire industry. Our
goal was to support chicle-harvesting by purchasing
chicle.
Today,
Verve provides a sustainable source of income
for those communities while simultaneously offering fun,
educational, and environmentally friendly activities
for kids.
Verve's commitment to environmental and social justice
is twofold; first, we closely monitor the environmental
and social impact of our own business practices, and
second, we create products and curriculum that help
children think about environmental and social issues in
innovative, interesting, and developmentally appropriate ways.
Our finished products are designed to help people think about where
products come from, how raw materials and natural resources
can be used responsibly, and how communities around the
world depend upon one another to help build a healthier
future."
This product was added to our catalog on Saturday 01 October, 2011.