Dancing Raisins

Materials



Tall clear glass

raisins

club soda can't be flat



Process



First pour the club soda in the glass

Next drop in some raisins

Wait at least 20 to 30 seconds and watch what happens to the raisins



*The reason why the raisin floats to the top is because the bubbles stick to the sides of the raisin and make the raisin more buoyant. The bubbles make the raisin float the way a life jacket makes a person float.

Rainbow Stew

Materials

1/3 cup sugar

1 cup cornstarch

4 cups cold water

Food coloring

Mixing Bowls

Heavy duty zip lock plastic baggies



Process

Mix the first 3 ingredients over medium/high heat stirring constantly until it thickens about 10 minutes then let cool

Divide mixture into 3 containers and add food coloring

Add 3 heaping tablespoons full of each color into a zip locked baggie

Seal the baggie and reinforce it with masking tape

Have the children knead their bag, mixing the colors into a rainbow stew

Hang the finished rainbow stew on windows or store in the refrigerator to use the next day

Clean Mud

Materials

Charmin toilet paper

Water

Water table or plastic container



Process

Have children tear toilet paper apart and put in a water table

Add water until its the consistency of mud

Monster Goop

Materials



Corn starch

Water

Food Coloring (Optional)

Large dishpan or any plastic container



Process



Mix two parts cornstarch to one part water in a large dishpan

Add food coloring, mix with a spoon

Children can mix with their hands, this is an observe and explore process for them

Messy so have paper towels near by



ENJOY

Sea Plaster

What you'll need:
Sand
Plaster of Paris
Water
5 3"-long twigs
Assorted shells
Stiff bristled paintbrushes
4 cup measuring cup
Spoon

How to make it:
This project can be made at the beach right there in the sand or in a large bowl filled with moist sand. If sand is dry, mist it with a spray bottle, or sprinkle it with handfuls of water. Get the sand evenly moist by spreading and mixing with your hands. Form a 6-inch diameter circle, about 2-inches deep; this will be your mold. Smooth the floor of the mold with your hand and pat it down gently.
Place the twigs into the circle, pressing down firmly, but gently, forming a star shape. You do not want any plaster to seep underneath them.
Arrange the sea shells face down in the sand, pressing in firmly, but gently. Mix 3 cups of plaster with 1 1/2 cups of water in 4-cup measuring cup. Stir mixture well until creamy; be sure to remove all lumps. Slowly pour the plaster mixture into the sand mold. You do not want to pour it too quickly or you may disturb the placement of your objects. (Read the tips at the end of these instructions for disposal of your remaining plaster.)
Allow plaster to dry for at least an hour to let it harden.
Carefully dig around the edges of your mold with the spoon and gently loosen and lift the plaster cast.
Let the sand casting dry for another hour. Use stiff bristled paintbrushes to remove the excess sand.


Tips:
If you will be making this project at the beach or at a lake or pond, please be sure to bring along a roll of paper towels and a couple of small trash bags (plastic grocery bags are ideal). Do not wash out the bucket or bowl you mixed the plaster in by sticking it in the lake or ocean water! Instead, wipe out as much of the plaster as you can with paper towels and dispose of them in the small trash bags.
Use whatever you have available to you, such as sticks, pebbles, shells, and stones.
If making this project at home, do not rinse plaster of Paris down your sink drain. Instead, wipe as much out of the bowl as you can with paper towels and throw away.

ENJOY

Idea's on how to display your childrens art work...

You can make laminated place mats from your child's artwork for a wipe-able surface that family member can enjoy for years to come. Try to collect six to eight pictures, and glue the pictures onto an 8-1/2 x 14-inch sheet of heavy card stock paper. You may also glue pieces of cloth to the back of the paper for a reversible effect. Have the mats laminated in medium or heavy plastic.

Inexpensive Wrapping Paper The Children Can MAKE!

Simple Inexpensive Ideas for Creating Original Gift Wrapping

Rolls of plain craft or butcher paper make a wonderful canvas for budding artists. Give each child a pot each of green and red paint and a brush and let them loose for festive Christmas gifts. Grandparents and young children particularly like receiving gifts decorated in these brightly coloured homemade wrappings.
For smaller hands, cut simple shapes out of foam (kitchen sponges work well) and make printed paper. Alternatively, children can use hand prints or footprints to decorate in their favourite colours.
Buy large rolls of gold or silver paper from craft stores. For Christmas accent with red and green ribbon or Christmas stickers. For birthdays or other celebrations, use a favourite coloured ribbon or bow.

Need a bike??

Know of any adult or child in need of a bike??


Mr. Belt and his alternative class fix and repair bikes. Most bikes cost under $5.

If you know of someone who has a bike but needs it looked at or needs a tube give him a call he will work on it for free.


Shannon Belt
854-0810
Press 9, then BELT

Fireworks Picture

Here's what you'll need
• Q Tips• Water• Small container• Food coloring• Paper plate • Black construction paper• Glue

Here's how you make them...
1. Cut your Q Tips in various sizes. You can actually break them off pretty easily with your hands. 2. Now you will need to color you Q Tips. Put some water in a small container and add food coloring (6-8 drops is good). Dip your swabs in to the colored water and place on a paper plate. Repeat for as many colors of fireworks as you'd like.
3. If you are not doing this craft right away, or have time to prepare ahead of time, you can leave your swabs out to dry overnight. If you need them to be dry quickly you can put them in the microwave, on high for 5-6 minutes, or until they are dry. 4. On a piece of black paper glue your Q Tips in a circular pattern. For younger children it will be easier if you draw a black dot on the paper and instruct them to glue their swabs all pointing to the dot in the middle.
Make as many different fireworks as you can, make them all different colors, sizes and patterns!
Keep in mind that the more food coloring you add the more vibrant your swabs will be!

Sand Feet

Here's what you'll need...
• Construction paper• Glue• Sand• Paper plate or shallow dish• Masking tape

Here's how you make it...
1. Use masking tape to secure a piece of construction paper onto your working surface. Pour some glue into a paper plate or shallow dish. The glue blob should be big enough to press a hand into it. Curve each hand into a hook shape (like the picture) and dip it into the glue.
2. Press your hook shaped hands onto the construction paper, making your hands walk across. Wipe your hands off and then dip each finger into glue to make five toes on each of your foot prints.
3. Sprinkle sand over top of the glue and shake off.