March 2016
STREET CHALK
Materials:
small paper cups
plaster of Paris
craft sticks
dry tempera paint
water
plaster of Paris
craft sticks
dry tempera paint
water
Directions:
Put ½ cup of plaster of Paris in a cup. Add a heaping teaspoon of dry tempera and stir with a stick. Add a little water at a time as you stir until it is like thick gravy. (Add a little more plaster of Paris if it’s too runny.)
Let it harden for several hours, then peel away the cup. You’re ready to be sidewalk artists!
GIANT BUBBLES
Materials:
2 cups Joy dish detergent
¼ cup glycerine
10 cups water
¼ cup glycerine
10 cups water
Directions:
Mix the ingredients in a large pan. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for one hour. Blow bubbles with fly swatters, plastic rings from drink cans, or berry baskets.
•Make a giant bubble wand out of a straw cut in half. Thread an 18” piece of string through the straws and knot ends. Holding a straw in each hand, dip in the bubble solution, and then slowly pull the straws through the air.
KARO BUBBLES
Materials:
2 cups Joy detergent
6 cups water
¾ cup white Karo corn syrup
6 cups water
¾ cup white Karo corn syrup
Directions:
Combine the ingredients and let stand at room temperature. Make individual bubble wands for the children by twisting the end of a pipe cleaner into a circle.
HOMEMADE PAPER
Materials:
newspaper
blender
water
screen
blender
water
screen
Directions:
Tear the newspaper into tiny pieces and soak in warm water for 10 minutes. Put the newspaper pulp in the blender and blend for 10-15 seconds. Squeeze out the excess liquid, then pat flat on the screen. Set the screen on rocks or bricks in the sun and dry.
•Paint or decorate with ribbons, foil, buttons, etc.
•Experiment by using funny papers, construction paper, wrapping paper, foil, etc.
•Add food coloring or glitter to the paper pulp before drying.
•Add small leaves and flowers to the pulp.
Hint! A spatter screen for frying pans works well to dry pulp.
RAINBOW RICE
Materials:
1 bag of rice
rubbing alcohol
food coloring
4 plastic bags
rubbing alcohol
food coloring
4 plastic bags
Directions:
Divide rice into the four bags. Add 1 TB. rubbing alcohol and a squirt of food coloring to each bag and shake. Dry on wax paper. Mix together and use for sensory activities.
•Color alphabet pasta and use for making words or crafts.
•Color tube pasta and string into necklaces.
GLUE GLOB
Materials:
school glue
food coloring
heavy paper
food coloring
heavy paper
Directions:
Put a large glob of glue (1-2 TB.) in the middle of the paper. Add a drop of blue, yellow, and red food coloring to different corners of the glue. Roll the paper around to create colors and designs.
•Glue globs are also fun to make on paper plates.
SHAVING CREAM PAINTING
Materials:
shaving cream (non-menthol)
Directions:
Squirt a pile of shaving cream on a non-wood surface and let the children squish and play.
Hint! This is a great way to clean up tables and desks!
SPAGHETTI ART
Materials:
spaghetti noodles
food coloring
food coloring
Directions:
Cook spaghetti according to the package directions. Drain the noodles. Add a few drops of food coloring to the noodles and toss. Children can take the noodles and arrange them on a piece of paper. (No glue is needed because the starch in the noodles makes them stick to the paper.)
FLOUR AND SALT PAINT
Materials:
flour
salt
tempera paint
salt
tempera paint