Angel's Place
SENSORY
The following are a few ideas for lemon-themed sensory activities. Enjoy!
Sensory Bin(I will write more later about what a sensory bin is)
You will need: At least one packet of lemon-flavored powdered drink mix, such as Kool-Aid or Flavor-Aid.
Materials for pouring and stirring. (Plastic cups, funnels, measuring cups, spoons, funnels, etc.)
Water
Optional - Plastic lemons (I found mine at Dollar Tree, but you can also find them on Amazon!)
Fill your sensory bin no more than half full of water. Add one packet of lemon drink mix. The powdered drink mix will give it a cheery yellow color and a lemony scent. With the cups, spoons, and other pouring and stirring materials, kids will be able to pretend to make and serve lemonade! (You may want to remind them not to drink it. Obviously it won't hurt them, since it is just extremely watered-down Kool-Aid with no sugar. But they probably shouldn't drink something that everyone's hands have been in!)
The plastic lemons are an extra touch that made it even more fun for the kids I provided it for. They all loved it, and played with it every chance they got!
LEMON PLAYDOUGH
This recipe uses my very favorite homemade playdough recipe, but with some lemon scent added. Look for my page on Learning With Playdough for more ideas on what to do with it! Of course, you can involve kids in helping you make this playdough, stretching out the fun even longer.
You will need:
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2 cups plain flour (all purpose)
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2 tablespoons vegetable oil
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1/2 cup salt
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2 tablespoons cream of tartar
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1.5 cups boiling water
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food coloring (optional)
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A strong spoon (like a wooden one)
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Something to add lemon scent (2 packs of lemon-scented drink mix, lemon tea mix, or several drops of lemon extract, or several capfuls of lemon essential oil. I have heard of some people who actually add real lemon zest, but I was not that ambitious!
First mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. If you are using powdered drink mix, add that as well.
Second, get the water boiling.
Add the vegetable oil to the boiling water. If you are using lemon extract, lemon essential oil, and/or food coloring, add it to the water.
Now, stir the boiling water into the bowl of dry stuff. Just keep stirring it until all of the dry stuff is wet. Keep stirring until it starts to clump together like dough.
Knead the dough for a while. You should let it cool for a few minutes first, so you don't burn your hands!
Keep kneading it and squishing it together into a big ball.
Store it in an airtight container. You do not have to refrigerate it. It should last for at least a few months!
