Powdered Honey?

Just back from the annual newCAJE conference: The Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education. I'm gearing up to start another school year, and I tell ya, I'm feeling pumped and inspired! So I'm sitting here thinking, ok, apples apples apples, but honey is also a huge part of the New Year to remind us to have a sweet year ahead. Honey is so sticky! But I think, hey! What if there was powdered honey? And guess what?! There IS! I can't wait to try it! I ordered it on amazon immediately. Since I have apple pie spice play dough planned the first week of school, I'm thinking I can add this to cloud dough! To let you know, once school starts, I will be posting the recipes I've tried with the kids and give reports on how it went. So I don't know yet, how the oil will react with the powdered honey. This is what I am going to try, and I promise to report how it goes!

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Cloud dough

16 cups flour

2 cups vegetable oil

powdered honey- enough to make it smell good!

optional- powdered tempra paint

 

 

I should note that this recipe is a sensory bin size recipe, for home use I'd suggest 8 cups flour 1 cup oil.

 

I'll report the results in a few weeks when we try it!

 

Xoxo,

GG

 




**TAKE CAUTION IN USING HONEY WITH CHILDREN, DO NOT GIVE TO CHILDREN UNDER 2**

Content vs. Formatting

Goopy Gal,
"You're writing good stuff, but your blog's format isn't the best. There's so many spaces, and your photos aren't where you wanted them." Well, I can tell you this. My philosophy on life, and on teaching is that what's more important is what is inside. Also, I'm fairly impulsive. I knew I wanted to do a blog, I knew I wanted it to be about sensory play, once I found a name I was comfortable with I knew I had to post as soon as possible. Even if it didn't look "pretty" it gave important information and had a fun recipe to try. I feel the same way about children and humans in general. What's inside matters. Sure, it's nice look good, and for things to be in a pretty package, but to me, the meat, the guts, the core- that's the sweet spot. So mainly, my friends, I'm asking for forgiveness if it doesn't look as awesome as other blogs out there, I know I'll get there, but I was in a rush to get content out there, to get people playing, mushing, gushing and getting messy!


Xo,
GG

Apple Spice Play-Dough

So Goopy Gal, we hear you are into concoctions, how about some recipes already?!

Here's one I always begin on a table top in my classroom for the beginning of school. In Judaism, we follow a lunar calendar. The beginning of the Jewish Calendar begins in the month of Tishrei which, almost always coincides with the beginning of school. The holiday is called "Rosh Hashannah" or head of the year. Our new year. Apples are a huge symbol of the holiday, round and sweet they represent the cycle of the year. My favorite play dough recipe is the following (I usually double the recipe for classroom use, but honestly, making two small batches yields the softest, squishiest dough):

You need:

• 2 cups plain flour (all purpose)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 tablespoons cream of tartar (the more the better) so I don't usually measure this ingredient
• Up to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right)
• food colouring (optional) I usually start my year with plain old white play dough
• Apple Pie Spice (a lot of it, pour in until it smells awesome and "appley")
• What to do:

• Mix the flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil in a large mixing bowl
• Add food coloring or liquid watercolor to the boiling water then into the dry ingredients (color optional)
• Stir continuously until it becomes a sticky, combined dough
• Allow it to cool down then take it out of the bowl and knead it vigorously for a couple of minutes until all of the stickiness has gone. * This is the most important part of the process, so keep at it until it’s the perfect consistency!*

(If it remains a little sticky then add a touch more flour until just right)

Happy playing!

xoxo

GG

Why sensory play?

My parents will tell you stories of me from when I was younger. I was a mess. I'm still a mess, but I mean, like typical, child who isn't afraid to get dirty. My kindergarten teacher told my parents that there wasn't a smock big enough for me. I've always been interested in how to get kids to play with all five senses.

So why sensory play?

 

 

 

THE VALUE OF SENSORY PLAY

Sensory play is a valuable part of quality early childhood programs (or home life for the home school parents). Children are provided with sensory materials used to enhance their senses of touch, sight, taste, smell, and hearing. The use of sensory materials allows children the opportunity for hands-on and self-directed play to encourage the development of the following:

Fine/Gross motor skills - Children are able to improve their fine/gross motor skills through the manipulation of sensory materials – pouring, molding, lifting, carrying, sifting, sorting, etc.

Creativity - Sensory play allows the child to experiment with a large variety of materials in new and creative ways. Uninterrupted play (by adults) allows creativity to flourish. The children are able to use the materials as they see fit and are able to enjoy the process and have no concern for the end product.

Self-esteem – The children build self-confidence and positive self-esteem as they master what they set out to do. They have the opportunity to choose on their own what they plan to do and how they will accomplish it. When their personal goals are achieved, there is a great sense of fulfillment.

Social development – As children interact with each other, they learn to share and cooperate while building their vocabulary. They also learn effective ways to resolve conflicts among each other.

Cognitive development – Children develop their cognitive skills through sensory play by observing, experimenting, and formulating solutions to problems that arise while manipulating the sensory materials. They learn to count, group, sequence, construct, measure, etc.

Sensory materials are often gooey, goopy, slimy, wet, squishy, squashy, messy materials that children enjoy playing with, but parents are squeamish about! Most children only get the opportunity to play with these materials in a childcare setting. Rice, mud, water, play dough, sawdust, dried beans, cotton balls, shaving cream, cornmeal, oatmeal, sea shells, Styrofoam peanuts, bubbles, sand, coffee grounds, Jell-O, aquarium gravel, fall leaves, salt, ice cubes, wood shavings, goop (cornstarch & water mixture), potting soil, marshmallows, whipped cream, pudding, silly putty, clay, confetti, shredded paper, beads, feathers, buttons, pasta, Easter basket grass filler, and bird seed are examples of sensory materials. Keep in mind your children’s allergies when using food items and do not allow the children to eat food items that have been used in sensory play.

A large variety of toys and miscellaneous items should be easily accessible to utilize with the sensory materials to encourage a broader range of play. Miscellaneous items may include measuring cups, measuring spoons, scoops, funnels, egg beaters, shovels, small plastic animals, margarine tubs, strainers, tongs, spoons, strawberry baskets, whisks, sieves, lids, magnets, slotted spoons, rakes, buckets, sand molds, cookie cutters, muffin tins, hoses, ramps, sponges, eye droppers, straws, toilet paper tubes, aquarium nets, etc.

If you're doing sensory play for the first time I suggest that you prepare your parents to dress kids for success! I will say that again!
PREPARE YOUR PARENTS TO DRESS THEIR KIDS FOR SUCCESS! Your kids will and SHOULD get messy at preschool! Stretchy pants and comfy t-shirts.

My mentor and dear friend (who was also my florist at my wedding) taught me the following impressive line to tell your parents as to WHY kids should do sensory: Every new sensorial experience a child feels on their finger tips, palms and on the bottom of their feet create dendrites in their brain that last for the rest of their lives! Dendrites are receivers in the brain! (Told ya it was impressive!)

That's all for now.
xoxo
GG