Dear Summer Club Families
Hi everyone! My name is Patricia (she/her) and I was a teacher in the Magnolia room this past year. Today I will be conducting a science experiment called ‘Elephant’s Toothpaste’. Elephant’s Toothpaste is a form of sensory play.
Learning/Content Area: Sensory play includes any activity that stimulates your young child’s senses: touch, taste, smell, balance, moving, sight and hearing. From birth through early childhood, children use these senses to explore and make sense of the world around them. Children learn and retain information best when they engage their senses. Sensory activities facilitate exploration and naturally encourage children to use scientific processes in play. This leads to a child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks because sensory play helps build nerve connections in the brain’ pathways.
Video Link: Make Elephant’s Toothpaste with Teacher Patricia!
Since it’s been so hot and Philadelphia did not get snow this winter, I thought it would be a bit of fun to create ‘Winter in Summer.” The following activities are science experiments to create ‘Winter in Summer. Hope you guys enjoy them!
Activity 1 : Make Fake Snow
3 Fake Snow Recipes
1.Fake Snow with Baking Soda and Hair Conditioner
Ingredients:
- 3 c Baking soda
- 1/2 c white Hair Conditioner.
Directions:
i. Mix with hands.
ii. Should become fluffy. If sticky add more baking soda.
2. Fake Snow with Baking Soda and Shaving Cream
Ingredients:
- Box of baking soda
- Half can of shaving cream (to make snow cold, refrigerate shaving cream ahead of time)
- Glitter (optional)
Directions:
i. Mix.
Another activity with this fake snow:
Ø Snow in mason jar mixed with white vinegar makes it erupt.
3. Cloud Dough ( Fake Snow variation #3)
Ingredients:
- 8 c. flour
- 1 c. oil
Directions:
- Scoop and pour flour into the center of a large tub.
- Create a crater in the middle.
- Pour oil into the crater.
- Gently mix it all together.
Tips:
Use with toys, silicone bowls, spoons, measuring cups, cupcake holders…
Activity 2: Build a Snowman with Puffy Paint
2 Puffy Paint Recipes
1. Puffy Paint with Shaving Cream, Flour and Glue
Ingredients:
- 3+ c of shaving cream (foam not gel)
- 1c flour
- 1 c. white glue
- Food coloring or paint
Supplies:
- Ziploc Sandwich Bags or Squeeze Bottle.
- Sturdy Paper or board 9poster, tag, cardboard, watercolor paper, paper plates)
Directions:
i. Put all ingredients, except food coloring in a large bowl.
ii. Mix. Do not over-mix. You want to keep air bubbles in the shaving cream.)
iii. Keep white or divide and add food coloring. Or just add food coloring to the whole batch.
iv. Done. Have fun!
Tips:
Ø If using Ziploc, spoon into bag. Tape closed with Duct tape. Cut a small corner to make a little tip. Ziploc bag method is easier to clean. Squeeze bottles will probably need to be trashed.
Ø Let created artworks dry overnight.
2. Puffy Paint With Shaving Cream and Glue
Ingredients:
- ½ c. Shaving Cream
- ½ c Glue
- Food coloring
Directions:
i. Mix shaving cream and glue.
ii. Add food color.
iii. Mix.
iv. Done. Have Fun!
These activities are so much fun but also pretty messy.
Start by laying something protective over the surface you choose to work on. Try to dress and have your child dress in clothes you won’t mind getting dirty and/or discarded after use. An adult T-shirt is a great smock! Set clear boundaries about the rooms or areas the child can be in while playing or engaged with sensory activity. Set clear boundaries about the kinds of toys/materials allowed or not allowed with these activities.
Closely watch and supervise children who are prone to mouth, taste, or put objects or materials in their mouth.
I’ve included an activity below that is a little less messy and non-toxic.
Activity 3: Ice Cube Fun
Requires a few hours preparation if making ice.
Ingredients:
Ice cubes-either store bought or homemade. I prefer homemade because it provides more chances to get creative.
- Freeze ice in different types of ice cube trays, bowls, and containers.
- Put the desired amount of warm water into a clean tub, kiddie pool, bucket, storage container or any container big enough for children to sit in or to submerge their feet and hands.
- Slowly add the different shapes and sizes of ice into whatever container you have chosen.
- Continually monitor water temperature and children’s reaction as you add ice to ensure their body temperatures remain regulated.
- Keep warm or room temperature water and a towel nearby.
Activity 4: Freeze your Toys
- Another fun ice activity for younger kids is to give them a big bowl that will fit in your freezer.
- Give or let them choose a select number of toys/items that you don’t mind being frozen or wet into the bowl.
- Freeze it.
- Have children chop the ice to get the toys or add the bowl of frozen toys into the tub, pool, container, etc.
Have a fun ‘Winter in Summer’!Stay Cool!
Happy Day,
Patricia