Category: Activities (Page 1 of 3)

Here’s a simple science experiment using baking soda and vinegar. Use that old box in your refrigerator instead of throwing it out.

Pour out 1/4 cup of vinegar into little containers. Add a few drops of food colouring to the vinegar. I saved medicine droppers from used-up children’s medicine. Make sure to give them a good wash before using. If you don’t have droppers, you can use a small spoon to scoop out the coloured vinegar.

Pour out the baking soda into a tray.  Before exploring with vinegar and baking soda, let your child feel the baking soda between their fingers, what does it feel like, smell the vinegar, does it smell good?

What does the vinegar taste like?

“What do you think will happen when we add the vinegar to the baking soda?”

“Do you see any new colours as they mix together?”

“Why are there bubbles? What’s happening to the bubbles?”

Switch it up…”What will happen if we add the baking soda to the jars of vinegar? ”

“Can you pop the bubbles? What does the bakingsoda/vinegar mixture feel like now?”

Capture what your child says, sees and does. We learn so much by observing and listening to them as they explore.

Let’s make playdough together. Gather your ingredients and supplies :

1 medium sized mixing bowl

measuring cups & spoons

1 spoon for stirring

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

1 tablespoon cream of tarter (found in the spice aisle)

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

food colouring

1 cup boiling water

Once you have everything gathered:

Click HERE to follow along with me in making playdough together!

Let me know if you try making this and how it turned out. Have fun!

Popcorn Kernels can be planted! Use the plain, loose popcorn kernels. These ones pictured are the no name brand from the grocery store. I used a clear container to plant the corn so that you can see the roots growing on the sides. I added a good few inches of soil and sprinkled the corn all over the soil. I planted the kernels quite close together so that it can look like grass as it comes up.

I placed the containter by a sunny window and made sure to water it. I gently placed the container lid on top to create a greenhouse effect, but this is not necessary. After 3-4 days, you can see the corn starting to root.

After a full week, you will see the blades of corn push through the soil.

After two full weeks of growing, I added some animals and bugs to use as a playscape. Add a pair of scissors for your child to practice cutting each stalk. Try pulling an individual stalk out to measure the roots and height of the plant. What will happen if you continue to let it grow?

How tall will it get? Maybe you can have your child draw the different stages of what they are seeing. Just brushing your hands over the growth feels cool too.

I hope you try this out and have fun taking care of your popcorn plant.

Two ingredients are all you need to make this wonderful cloud dough (scented oil is optional).  I used a few drops of Rosemary oil in this recipe.  This is a great recipe to get your children involved in measuring and stirring. Simply add the 1/2 cup of vegetable oil to the 4 cups of flour. Stir together until the oil is mixed in well. Once the oil is absorbed, start using your hands to finish blending in the flour and oil until there are no more lumps.  You will end up with silky, soft and airy dough.  This dough is different from the regular play dough.  Yes, it is a bit more messy but the texture is worth it.  You will love running your fingers though it.  This dough will hold its shape when squished together or using moulds and can easily break apart.

Cloud dough is great on its own just for sensory, hands on play or you can also add other elements to it such as small animals, cars, rocks, twigs, little cups, spoons and so much more.  Store the dough in an airtight container and keep for up to 2 weeks.  You can also turn this mixture into playdough by adding boiling water, salt, cream of tarter and colouring (playdough recipe found in past blog posts).