Map Mud

Even though the school year might be coming to an end, learning never does. My curruculum ends at the month of May but I use the summer for a great time of sensory, fun, and games. The weather makes it easy to do those messy projects outside. When we did this sensory today, we used a plastic outdoor table and washed the table off with the hose when we were done. Run out of ideas to keep the kids busy? Stay close to this blog this summer and be inspired to teach your kids while having a great time doing it!

Supplies: 3 parts flour, 3 parts salt, 2 parts water, and food coloring if desired

Process: Mix salt and flour in a bowl. Add enough water to make a paste that is thick like frosting. Add food coloring or wait and paint when dry.

This recipe comes from Magic Mixtures Recipes for Fun and Learning by Heidi Stalder, Lane Community College

Teach Well: Some ways to use Map Mud - Spread the mixture on heavy cardboard, a sheet of plastic board, or wood. Shape to land features such as hills, lakes, and valleys. Use it as a sensory mixture and have children spread it like fingerpaint on a hard or washable surface. Use it to build dioramas.

Tulip Fun

Create these cute tulips from scraps of construction paper. Use a glue gun to attach the paper to the craft stick for easy and fast preparation.

Supplies: play dough, paper, craft sticks, glue gun, and a marker

Process: Pre-cut the flowers and use your marker to write letters on the flowers. Glue the flowers to the craft sticks. Set your brown play dough (as your dirt) on the table. Have the children create words that you have been working on in class.

Teach Well: Leave this out as a center and have the children work in pairs. I have seen this done with floral foam (at your local craft store in the floral department) but it can be quite messy. The floral foam can be placed in pots and the children can make their own word bouquet. The floral foam ends up being more of a sensory than literary experience.

Letter Play

Take a break from the usual spelling or reading lesson! Get out the play dough and have your lesson become kinetic!

Supplies: playdough, letter cookie cutters

Process: Pre-make your playdough. You can find this reciepe at my previous post here. You can work together and create words with a few cookie cutters set out. When you are finished, have the children create their own words with all the letters.

Teach Well: Keep a look out for cookie cutters at garage sales and Goodwill! Put a few letters out as a center. Try and keep the letters out that you have been working on in class.

Flower Picking

If you haven't had a chance to make the playdough in my previous post, this activity will give you another chance! Find silk Easter lilies at your local dollar or craft store. I use them for many activities and have several on hand. This makes for a fun center and great for those small motor skills.

Supplies: Silk flowers cut into single stems, brown playdough

Process: Place the playdough on the table and have flowers next to it. Have the children explore and plant their flowers how they like.


Teach Well: Have dice on the table along with this center. Have the children roll the dice and place that many flowers in thier soil. Before this activity read The Parable of the Lily.

Pigs in the Mud

I got so excited yesterday when I went into the attic and pulled out my "spring" and "farm" boxes! It was like Christmas all over again. I haven't looked in the boxes for a year and I had forgot what was inside! One of my favorite centers is "Pigs in the Mud." I found little piggies at the dollar store years ago. I make "mud" from my favorite play dough recipe that I got at a conference about eight years ago. I love to use my liquid watercolors to color my play dough because the colors can be so vibrant and beautiful. But you can use food coloring and it will do the trick just fine!

This recipe was given freely without copy right. Heidi Stalder from Lane Community College compiled Magic Mixtures - Recipes for Fun and Learning. She believed that all should gain from her work... there are so many good recipes! I am sure I will be sharing more as time goes by.

Sauce Pan Play Dough

This play dough is quick and easy to make. It is smooth and requires no kneading. It makes a small quantity and may be doubled or tripled but it can be hard to stir.
1 Tbs. oil (I use baby oil)
1 cup water
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 tsp. alum
a few drops of food coloring

Process: Mix dry ingredients in a sauce pan. Add food coloring, water, oil, and vanilla. Mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it reaches the consistency of mashed potatoes (really!). As it is cooking the mixture will change from a milky color to a translucent color. Remove from heat. Let it cool for a minute. Roll to form a ball. Cool. Store in a sealed container.