Bubble Stuff
Invisible Ink
Homemade Sidewalk Chalk
Edible Peanut Butter Play Dough
Silly Putty
Erupting Volcano
Colored Pasta
"Smelly Jelly" Air Freshener






Bubble Stuff

1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons dishwashing liquid
1 1/2 tablespoon white corn syrup


Gently mix together; add children. Yield: Fun







Invisible Ink
(Ages: 7 and up)

Materials needed:

Lemon juice or white vinegar
Bowl
Wooden meat skewer, toothpick, or cotton swab
White paper
Lamp with 100-watt light bulb


Pour approximately 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar into a small bowl. Dip your meat skewer, toothpick, or cotton swab into the bowl and write your message on the paper, dipping into the bowl as often as needed for the letters to be wet. Let the writing on the paper dry for ten minutes and it's ready to be read. The person reading the message should hold the message in front of an unshaded 100-watt incandescent light bulb, being very careful not to touch the bulb with the paper or fingers. As the paper heats up, the invisible ink turns a deep brown and reveals the secret message!

CAUTION: Adult supervision required. When heating the paper, hold it no closer than two inches from the light bulb. Do not use a halogen light bulb, especially those found in torchière-style lamps, as they burn very hot and may ignite the paper.







Homemade Sidewalk Chalk

Materials needed:

toilet tissue tubes
waxed paper
duct tape
plaster of paris,
water
powdered tempera paints.
disposable plastic mixing container
and disposable stick or
spoon for stirring

(1) Make a mold by covering one end of the tissue tube with duct tape. Loosely roll up a piece of waxed paper and slip it into the tube. This lining will keep the plaster from sticking to the mold.

(2) Measure 3/4 cup of warm water into a disposable plastic container. Sprinkle in plaster a little at a time, until the powder no longer dissolves (about twice as much plaster as water). Stir slowly and thoroughly with a spoon. Then, mix in 2 or 3 tablespoons of tempera paint. Avoid rinsing containers or stirrers in indoor sinks. (You may want to do this entire project outdoors.)

(3) Place the mold sealed-end down on a level surface and pour in the wet plaster. Lightly tap the sides of the tube to release air bubbles in the plaster. Let the chalk harden for a couple of days. Then, remove the tape and slide the chalk out of the mold.



Edible Peanut Butter Play Dough

Materials needed:

1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered milk
1 cup raisins

Wash hands. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and mix well with hands. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator. Play with it (wash hands first, and play on a clean surface), then eat it!



Silly Putty

Materials needed:

2 parts white glue to 1 part cornstarch

Add cornstarch to glue gradually and mix until putty is formed and holds together. If putty sticks to hands, dust with cornstarch.




Erupting Volcano

Materials needed:

1 20 oz. juice can
1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup water
3/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup dishwashing liquid
10 drops food coloring
play dough

Make a mountain around the can with play dough. Pour baking soda in can; in a bowl mix remaining ingredients. Pour into can. Watch the volcano erupt.

 

Colored Pasta

Materials Needed:

1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol
1 tablespoon of food coloring of your choice
2 cups of pasta of your choice
1 quart zip lock freezer bag
large paper grocery bags.


Pour alcohol and food coloring in a ziplock freezer bag. Zip it and shake around to mix. Open it and put in the pasta. Make sure the bag is zipped. Shake the bag enough to evenly coat the pasta. Let it sit for about 10 min, and then shake again. Pour it out onto the paper bags to dry. Let it dry overnight.


CAUTION: This pasta is not to be eaten!!

Use colored pasta to make pictures, picture frames, jewelry, collages, anything your imagination can dream up.



"Smelly Jelly"
Air Fresheners


Materials needed:

16 ounces liquid potpourri
4 pkgs Knox unflavored gelatin
2 Tablespoons salt (to prevent mold growth)


Heat one half potpourri to boiling point. Add all the gelatin. Mix 'til dissolved, then add remaining potpourri. Pour into containers. Use as air fresheners when it is finished setting up.



   




Homemade Clay Projects