Stellar Science

An important thing in an early childhood classroom are animal habitats!  Use them!  They are fun, and you learn so much!

Science Ideas for Everyday

October

November

December

Sensory Material Recipes

Some of my favorite times teaching and learning with children is baking, cooking and making things!
Cooked Play Dough
2 cups flour
2 cups water
1 cup table salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or baby oil)
and food coloring or scents such as oil of peppermint or vanilla if desired.
Mix all ingredients and heat over medium heat, stirring constantly till mixture forms into large ball. Remove from pot, let stand till cool enough to handle, and then knead for several minutes.
If you know me at all, I believe cooking, and, making things with your child/student's is very important.  Why buy play dough, if you can make it and the children can play with something they have made themselves?

Oobleck (also known as goop)
1 part cornstarch
1 part water
When mixed together, the material confounds children because it exhibits proper ties of both solids and liquids

Silly Putty (also known as gak)
1 part liquid laundry starch
1 part white school glue
Food coloring may be used to tint it
Mix together and knead on a flat surface until it has the texture of silly putty.

Colored Rice or pasta
2 cups uncooked white rice or pasta plus
1 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and food coloring to achieve the desired color intensity.
Dissolve food coloring in alcohol and add to pasta
stirring till evenly colored.
Let dry.  Because the rubbing alcohol takes the place of water, the rice or pasta does not become gummy and the resulting colors are bright and durable.

Moon Sand:
4 cups play sand
2 cups cornstarch
1 cup of water OR
9 cups sand and 1 1/4 cup baby oil
(if colored sand is desired, use powdered tempera added to dry sand for best results)

Artificial Snow:
Ivory Snow powder or flakes and water; mix with rotary or electric beater till light and fluffy. Using brand-name soap achieves the best consistency.

Artificial Mud:
1 or 2 toilet paper rolls
2 bars of Ivory Soap plus hot water.
Grate soap with a cheese grater; tear toilet paper roll in pieces and soak everything in a bowl of warm water, mixing with hands till it reaches the consistency of mud.

Slime (also known as flubber)
1 tablespoon borax powder dissolved in 1 cup water
1/4 cup school glue (clear or white)
1/4 cup water (add food coloring if desired or glow in the dark paint)
Pour both mixtures into a sealable plastic bag, seal, and knead. Keep refrigerated when not in use.