Another CO2 experiment with a POP!

This was a super fun experiment, we used an entire box of antacids.  We used some 35mm film canisters that I have had stored for awhile.  You could use any little container that seals.  The kids filled them about 3/4 full of water, dropped in an antacid tablet, snapped on the lid and ran.  The tablet and water create CO2 which makes the lid pop off.  It is soooo fun.  I was so happy that I actually captured the POP on film, it happens so fast. We counted how long it took each one, though we didn't get past 5. 



DIY Felt Board

I had the best felt board when I was teaching.  Now, as a stay at home mom, one is just not in the budget.  I had this big poster board from something and a big sheet of felt. Put the two together and you've got a great felt board.  I measured and cut the size I would need to cover one side of the poster board.  Then I sprayed the board with spray adhesive and smoothed the large piece of felt onto it.  I wrapped the sides around and gave another couple sprays of adhesive to keep it on.  Voila!  Done. It took me less than 5 minutes yet the kids played with it all day. 

In the pictures, R is playing with our "Little Cloud" by Eric Carle book felt pieces.  For those, I simply placed some white paper over the pictures in the book, traced and cut them out to make templates for the felt.  Really easy, and I am all about quick and easy.

Fluffy, Puffy Paint

I love this idea I saw over at One Crafty Mumma.  It was so easy, you have all you need in your pantry!  All you need is 1 tablespoon flour (I tried self-rising and all purpose, they both work), a tablespoon salt and maybe 11/2 tablespoon water (maybe more).  Just stir it until it is nice and smooth.  Add a few drops of food coloring.  Let the kids paint and then microwave the paper for about 30 seconds.  If they paint really thick it might take longer.  It is so cool to watch it puff up.  Love it!!
**Unfortunately, my computer ate most of the pictures we took while doing this project.  All I have are the results.  You get the idea!

Fun With Chalk

Summer just wouldn't be summer without chalk drawings on the driveway.  The kids love making "chalk paint".  This is yesterday's painting session.  They threw the chalk into the little pool and then painted away.The chalk is so vibrant when it's wet.  I love the little hand and foot prints they made.  We took the chalk to the front drive so we could make chalk shadows.  Just so simple and so much creativity.



Messy Sensory Tub Play

While cleaning out the pantry, I found some fun stuff to dump in the kids sensory table.  I dumped some cocoa powder, salt and flour and mixed it together.  I could tell this was going to messy, so I took it outside.  The mixture lasted a day because R couldn't keep her hands out of  it.  She poured, stirred, packed, and sprinkled.  She loved, loved, loved it!  As you can see from the pictures, it is messy. It smell and feels really nice but doesn't taste very good....she found that out too!

OH SNAP!

I have been wanting to try doing these rubber band paintings with the kids ever since I saw Teacher Tom  do them.  When the kids took out the rubber bands and the plastic weaving looms that we have, I knew these would be perfect.  We took our paper, some tape, paint, and the looms outside.  The kids stretched the bands over the looms and we turned them upside down.  They painted the rubber bands and then snapped the bands.  These looms cost a dollar or two at the craft store. These weren't as messy as I had anticipated and the kids had a blast snapping away.

The Foamanator

Okay, so I have seen these all over the internet lately and had to give them a try.  What kid doesn't love bubbles??  I gathered my supplies, two old water bottles with the bottoms cut off, an old dish towel, cut into squares and some rubber bands.  I secured the towel to the bottom of the bottle with the rubber band. Poured some dish detergent with water into a shallow container, went outside and handed them over to the kids.  It was windy the day we tried these, so the wind kept breaking the bubble chain before it could get to long.  The wind would take the bubbles up into the air and blow them all around.  It was great!  Another super cheap and easy activity for your kids entertainment.

You Spin Me Right Round

Oh my goodness, this was fun.  I found a lazy susan in the back  of the pantry.  I just knew we would find a way to put it to use.  The kiddos were spinning it around and it came to me to try doing some art on it.  We taped some white paper to it and took out the markers and crayons.  We took turns spinning it while the other person held the marker on the paper.  We experimented with moving the markers around the paper too.  When they filled the paper up with colors, they were already to display.  So simply, so easy and so fun.  Lots of social skills, fine motor, problem solving and so much more.



Sticky Paper Fun

We often put the clear contact paper on the tile floor and let the kids hop, jump, dance and stick to it. Today we tried taping it to the wall for a new experience.  We tried sticking shmuzzies (pom-poms), beans, and some balloons to the contact paper.  I had to reinforce the tape with painters tape when they began trying to stick their feet to it!  What a great sensory and problem solving experience.

(Sort of) Stretchy Play Dough

When I saw this recipe in one of my books, I had to give it a try. It is suppose to be stretchy dough but didn't come out how I thought it would.  It is still more elastic than most play dough.  It feels similar to cookie dough.  We didn't add any color but next time we will.  My kids loved playing with this dough.  It feels really nice and doesn't dry out your hands like the dough made with salt.  In fact, it makes your hands nice and soft...and a little greasy.  We saved it in a baggie to use another day, and when I took it out the oil had seeped out, so just be aware of that if you make this.  Here is the recipe if you want to try making your own.

4 cups of flour

1 cup of oil

1 cup of water (add color to the water if you want colored play dough)

That's it....simple huh?