First Years Last Forever
 
by the Shelton School Readiness Council
 
 
Summer Science Fun in the Kitchen 
 
Families with young children do not have to travel far this summer to have fun. You can learn something new in the comfort of your home.  In keeping with the stay vacation movement, your kitchen is chockfull of endless possibilities. Open up your cupboards and drawers and let the science fun begin!

By demonstrating how science works in everyday life, you are encouraging your child to develop his or her natural curiosity.  Literacy and numeracy are integral parts of science.  Making observations, asking questions and describing events or objects encourages your child's development of language.  Measuring, counting, and ordering items develop your child's math skills.

These suggestions are based on a recent presentation given by Kim Gugliotti, an Instructional Coach for the Shelton Public Schools about "Preparing Children for Kindergarten-Part Two." 

Try these eight recipes together and you will be creating memorable moments as a family. Plus, you will save money by creating your own playtime out of common household staples.  We have recipes for play dough and silly putty to bubbles, paint and even sand. 
Mix in a little added fun and invite some friends over this summer to share the experience with your family.  It's a recipe for early success! The Shelton School Readiness Council provides this monthly column as a public service to parents of children birth to 9 years old. 

 

RECIPE CORNER

 

Cooked Dough
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tbsp cream of tartar
2 cups water
Food coloring
2 tbsp. oil
 
 
Stir flour, salt and tartar in a saucepan, then add water, food coloring and oil. Cook over a low heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring well until it starts to form a ball.  Any lumps should come out as kneaded.  Store in a plastic container.
 
Kool Aid Playdough
2 ½ cups flour
½ cup salt
1 package unsweetened kool aid
3 tbsp. oil
1 cup + 3 tbsp. hot water
 
Mix dry ingredients then add oil and water.  Stir quickly.  When cool, mix with hands.  Store in an airtight container.
 
Oobleck
2 cups cornstarch
1 cup water with food coloring
Plastic tub
 
Mix cornstarch with water in bowl.  Try to mix slowly and quickly.  DO NOT POUR DOWN THE SINK!
 
Silly Putty
1 cup Elmer's glue
½ cup sta-flo regular starch
Ziploc bag
 
Put water and glue in Ziploc bag and zip closed. Squeeze ingredients so they mix.  Pour off extra starch.
 
Bubbles
8 tbsp dishwashing soap
1 quart water
1 drinking straw
Shallow pan
 
Mix soap and water.  Pour into pan.  Tell child to blow through straw across surface.
 
Colored Sand
½ cup sand
5 drops food coloring
Ziploc bag
 
Allow child to squish ingredients in plastic bag.  Spread on wax paper to dry.
  
Soap Paint
Warm water
3 cups of Ivory Soap flakes
Food coloring
 
Add water, a little at a time, until it is the consistency of heavy cream.  Paint!
 
Salt Paint
 
½ cup liquid starch
½ cup warm water
Food coloring
Sprinkle of salt
 
Mix the starch and water.  Separate mixture into smaller containers and add food coloring. Paint.  Sprinkle with salt to give a glittery look.
 
   
For more information about the Shelton School Readiness Council, please call Elspeth Lydon, Chair of the Council, at 924-1580 or Cara Mocarski, Shelton School Readiness Coordinator, at 929-1430.  Also visit the website www.sheltonpublicschools.org.