Playdough Anyone?

Everyone Likes Playdough!
...especially when we make it ourselves. Today's big activity was making a fresh batch of bright pink playdough. We began by touching and tasting all the ingredients and describing their textures (flour is soft, salt is scratchy,etc...). We then measured them in cups and counted them to make sure the ratios were correct.


Here's the recipe:
4 cups flour
2 cups salt
1/2 cup cream of tartar
2 tbsp. veg. oil
4 cups water
Food coloring or liquid watercolor


Mix dry ingredients first, then add liquids and stir until lumps are gone. We took turns stirring while the next person holds the bowl steady. Pour into skillet, stirring constantly. We watched for telltale signs that it was done: 1)Loses shine; 2)Color intensifies; 3) Thickens with small pointy indentations when spoon is removed.
IMPORTANT: Pull from pan before it is done, as residual heat will finish cooking it. This is ideal anyway, as the children LOVE playing with it while it is still hot. All hyper-fast pounding, smashing and rolling cools it quickly (for a smoother texture) and makes for a new sensory experience. If you keep cooking until it looks finished, it'll get dry and crumbly.

TODAY'S STORY
Shy Charles, by Rosemary Wells. Charles is so shy, he can't even say 'hello'. Even the telephone terrifies him. His parents try help him socialize in ballet and football, to no avail. One evening, his babysitter falls down the stairs. Charles comforts her, calls for emergency services and becomes the hero of the day. How does he respond to all the accolades? By hiding his head in his mother's coat. No matter how shy, there's a hero in all of us.




Some comments on shyness:
Christopher ~ "When you don't want to talk to people."
Belle ~ "It's when you're scared a little."
Henry ~ "When I'm shy, I hide behind Daddy."
Aiden S.~"Shy is when you don't want to be with other people."

Well stated.