STREET CHALK

Materials:

small paper cups
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Directions:
Mix ½ cup flour with ½ cup salt.  Stir in 1 cup liquid tempera paint.  (Add more or less paint depending on the thickness you desire.  Apply to heavy paper with brushes, fingers, or Q-tips.

Hint!  If you use dry tempera, you will obviously need to add water.

WASH, WASH, WASH YOUR HANDS!

Make sure children wash their hands before and after playing with these mixtures.  You’ll also want to supervise children as they make and play with these potions.

 

NO  WORRIES!

Sometimes these recipes seem to turn out better than other times.  Is it the temperature, humidity, or magic?  I don’t know for sure, but I do know that the children don’t care.  It’s the process of making something messy that they will always enjoy!

 

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