messy tray activities

Fun – taken from www.ci2eye.co.uk

Below are a range of things you can use in a messy tray and several recipes for making different types of play dough.  All of these have been widely used, and they are here just as a guide and an inspiration for something new to do – also for you to experiment with and have fun!  The point of them is to help the children engage in a range of sensory experiences, stimulating their language and their senses.

Most of the recipes are merely starting points – you can experiment by changing the colour, (e.g.add glitter or use a range of food colourings); change the smell (e.g.add food essence, aromatic oils or old perfume); change the texture (e.g.add in dried peas, uncooked rice or pulses).

Sand Mousse

What you need:

• Sand
• Washing up liquid
• Whisk Food colouring or coloured sand if required.

What you do:

• Put the sand in a container, squeeze in some washing up liquid (there isn’t any way of measuring it, as it is dependent upon the amount of sand you are using).
• Whisk vigorously for a few minutes. You will be amazed at what it feels like as it goes really soft, – like mousse! If you want to make it into a different colour, then add colouring as appropriate. It can be kept in an airtight container and re-used as required.

Alternative Slime

What you need:

• 1 packet cold water wallpaper paste (non-toxic)
• Water
• Food colouring or powder paint
• Glitter

What you do:

• Mix cold water paste with water and leave to stand until it is thick.
• Add food colouring to give it a different ‘look’. Mix glitter in with it to make it ’sparkly’.

Points to note:

Use this ’slime’ in imaginative play – it can be a swamp in the jungle for the animals, or quicksand by the beach!

Uncooked Salt Dough

What you need:

• 2 cups plain flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 1 cup water
• Powder paint or food colouring

What you do:

• Mix the powder paint (if using) with the flour and salt.
• Add the oil and water (food colouring may be added as an alternative
  to all the water).
• Knead the mixture to make it smooth.

Points to note:

• The dough will keep for approx. 1 week if stored in airtight, cool
  conditions. If the dough becomes sticky, add more flour.
• Small shapes may be baked in the oven at 350C for about 45 minutes to
  make them hard.

Goop

What you need:

• 2 packets of cornflour
• 2 cups of water
• Food colouring
• Large containers
• Aprons

What you do:

• Mix water and food colouring into the cornflour.
• The goop should have a thick consistency – add extra water if necessary.
• Put on aprons!

Points to note:

Encourage the children to plunge their hands (or feet!) into the goop and experience the consistency, Words such as ’slimy’ or ‘gooey’ can be used.  Enjoy exploring the behaviour of the goop. Let it run through fingers and toes.
Patterns can be made on the table or onto paper.

Playdough – Uncooked

What you need:

• 1lb self-raising flour
• 1lb salt
• Water

What you do:

• Mix the ingredients together in a bowl to form a malleable dough.

Points to note:

This may be air dried and painted.

Other variations include:

• Varying the texture by using bread flour or wholemeal flour or by adding sawdust.
• Add glycerine for a smooth texture.
• Experiment with food colouring and different types of paint to colour the dough.
• Add food flavourings (lemon, peppermint, almond etc) to heighten the sensory experience.

Soap Sculpturing Material

What you need:

• 2 cups of soap flakes
• ½ cup of hot water
• Powder paint or food colouring
• Baking foil
• Electric mixer

What you do:

• Add the hot water to the soap flakes and beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is stiff. (Adult)
• Add paint or food colouring.

Points to note:

• Dip hands into warm water before moulding with this mixture.
• If sculpture is made on a base of baking foil, it is easier to move.
• Soap sculptures dry to a porous texture which last for weeks.
• Collage materials may be stuck to the sculpture.

Slime

What you need:

• 1 cup soap flakes (e.g. Lux)
• 2 litres of hot water
• Egg whisk
• Food colouring
• Large plastic container

What you do:

• Dissolve the soap flakes in hot water in a large container, whisking thoroughly while the flakes dissolve. (Adult)
• Add the food colouring.
• Allow the mixture to stand until it thickens.
• Beat in more water if necessary.
• The slime is now ready to use and can be effectively explored with scoops, beaters, whisks, funnels etc.

Points to note:

• Children can have enormous enjoyment from slime but watch out for contact with eyes!
• Also, children with eczema can have problems with skin irritation.

Playdough – cooked

What you need:

• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups plain flour
• 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 cups water
• Powder paint or food colouring
• Saucepan and spoon

What you do:

• Mix together all the ingredients in a saucepan.
• Cook on a medium heat for 3-5 minutes stirring constantly until it reaches the required consistency. (Adult)
• Can be stored for a month or so in an airtight container in the fridge.

Cornflour Dough

What you need:

• 2 cups salt
• 2/3rd cup of water
• 2 cups cornflour
• ½ cup water

What you do:

• Mix 2 cups of salt with 2/3rd cup of water in a pan.
• Stir constantly over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until bubbles appear. (Adult)
• Remove from heat and immediately mix 2 cups cornflour and ½ cup cold water to the hot mixture.
• STIR QUICKLY to form a stiff dough.

Points to note:

• This dough will harden if left exposed to air.
• For a harder set, may be baked in oven at 350c for approx 1 hour.