Saturday, January 31, 2009

Clean Mud


Clean mud is interesting. Some kids seem to ignore it, but a few like to use it. I've noticed that sometimes older kids get really into it. Last year one of the pre-K classes turned some clean mud into a volcano. Depending on how you make it, it can behave like clay or mush.

The recipe is very simple:

1. Grated soap (Ivory is typically the brand mentioned in recipes for clean mud)
2. Toilet paper, torn up into small bits (Charmin supposedly is best but I've done it with whatever's on hand)
3. Warm water (warm water helps the soap dissolve better than cold water)

You can add as much of these ingredients as you like. As it dries it will harden. If it gets too hard, add more water. Remember NOT to clean this up by putting it down the drain. The toilet paper will clog pipes.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Lesson Plan for Week of January 26, 2009: Toilet Paper!



Today was what we like to call a "too much" kind of day. We asked our parents to each bring in two rolls of toilet paper to supplement what we had on hand. Far and away the most favorite activity was the two rolls we rigged up from the ceiling. Luckily we made it relatively easy to reload those rolls because we went through a lot of them! It's hard to see in the picture at left because of the wind sock, but that roll of paper is hanging from the ceiling and the paper is dangling where the kids can reach it.
Here's a rundown of our plan:

Sensory Table: Clean Mud

Manipulatives: Rolls of toilet paper on a thing that had safe prongs so the kids could unroll the toilet paper

Easel: Two rolls of toilet paper rigged up on the easel with two colors of watercolors and small diameter brushes

Gooey: Play dough, colorless

Art: Toilet paper on a table with markers, scissors, and stickers; Also a ramp was set up against this table so toilet paper could be rolled down

Other: Two toilet paper rolls hanging from different areas of the room that could be pulled with force

Sadly the rest of the week was taken up by bad weather cancellations. We might keep the clean mud in a bowl for future use.