Guest author Jeanette Norman

I found these in my old teaching file box over the weekend. I got them from the instructor teaching our Creative Kids class. Have fun!

The Best Cooked Play Dough

Ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tartar, 1 cup water, 1 tablespoon oil, food coloring.

For group settings double the recipe.

Combine flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a saucepan. Mix liquids and gradually stir them into dry ingredients. When mixture is smooth, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until a ball forms. Remove from heat and knead until smooth. Can use unsweetened Kool-Aid instead of food coloring. The Kool-Aid will color it and make it small great.


*Goop

Ingredients: 2 cups salt, 2/3 cup water, 1 cup cornstarch 1/2 cup cold water.

Mix 2 cups salt and 2/3 cup water, heat for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and quickly add mixture of: 1 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water. Stir quickly. Return to heat briefly if too "goopy".

*Macaroni Coloring

Ingredients: Macaroni, food coloring, small ziploc baggies

In a small baggie add 2 handfuls of macaroni and food coloring. Seal the baggie and have a child shake the baggie until the macaroni is colored. Lay out on paper towels to dry.

*Peanut Butter Playdough **PLEASE REMEMBER ALLERGIES!!**

Ingredients: 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup honey, 1 cup powdered milk, 1 cup oatmeal.

This is edible!!!

*Paint in a Bag

Ingredients: 1/3 cup sugar, 1 cup cornstarch, 4 cups water, ziploc bags, food coloring.

Mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and water. Heat, stirring often until thick. Let cool then divide and put in ziploc bag. Seal the baggie and have fun!
You can leave these in the bag and let younger children squish the bags in thier hands. My 2 1/2 year old loves it!

*Soap Crayons

Ingredients: Ivory soap flakes, food coloring, water, ice cube trays(plastic works best)

Pour 1/8 cup of water into a measuring cup. Fill to the one cup mark with soap flakes.

Mix until you have a thick paste. Add several drops of food color(don't have to use much). Press spoonfuls of soap into the ice cube tray. You can repeat this with several different colors. Let dry for a few days(over the weekend works well).

*Silly Putty

Ingredients: Elmer's glue and liquid starch.

Mix equal parts of Elmer's glue and liquid starch and knead. Don't give up-you may have to add more glue and knead some more. If it is sticky add more liquid starch. If it is stringy add more Elmer's glue. Can add food coloring and store in an air-tight container.

Can leave it white and let the children use markers on it.

Note: This may stick to clothes and hair. Children need to wear paint shirts. If any of the silly putty sticks to a child's clothes or hair use white vinegar to remove it. The white vinegar dissolves the silly putty.

*Sun Clay

Ingredients: 2 cups salt, 1 cup cornstarch, and water.

Mix the salt and 2/3 cup water in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring until the salt is dissolved. Remove from heat. In a separate bowl, slowly add 1/2 cup water to the cornstarch. Stir until smooth, then add to the salt mixture. Return to low heat and cook until smooth, stirring frequently. Store in a sealed plastic bag.

Place the clay on a tray or paper plate and have children work outdoors or in a sunny area indoors. Give children a lump of clay to model. Children may decorate their sun sculptures with small stones, leaves etc..

Place the finished items in the sun to dry. Challenge children o predict how long it will take for the sculptures to dry. When this clay hardens in the sun, it won't crumble.

*Squeeze Bottle Glitter

Ingredients: 1 part flour, 1 part salt, 1 part water, food coloring.

Mix equal parts of flour, salt, and water. Pour into plastic squeeze bottles, such as those used for mustard and ketchup. Add food coloring for variety. Squeeze onto heavy construction paper or cardboard. The salt gives the designs a glistening quality when dry.

The children should be told to make designs with thin lines as this can take forever to dry in clumps!