Pirate Sensory

It was a crazy week, and I didn't have time to take a picture of my sensory table, but it is fairly easy to explain. First, I added dry black beans, which can be found in any grocery store.

Then I added GOLD COINS! Well, plastic gold. But I didn't see any kids trying to bite the coins to find out if they were genuine gold. Kids are happy to pretend.

Finally, I added small plastic pirate characters, as an invitation to do even more pretending. Of course, the usual pouring objects such as measuring cups, funnels, spoons, and what have you, were in there too. Since I don't have a photo, you'll have to imagine the gold shining in contrast to the black beans... it looked very cool!

PIRATE PLAYDOUGH!

Another sensory activity I offered was Pirate Playdough! According to, well, me, the pirates snuck into the classroom at night and left us this awesome playdough to play with. The kids were excited to learn that the pirates did not want the playdough back, and that they could play with it every day! I even let them each take a little bit home at the end!

I start with my very favorite playdough recipe. But I add some secret ingredients... black food coloring, and gold glitter!

When making this recipe, you'll have to be a little careful. The food coloring does come off of nonporous containers, but it takes a little time to clean up! So don't spill!

You will need:

2 cups plain flour (all purpose)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup salt (or a little less... Less salt makes it last longer because the salt tends to dry it out!)
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1.5 cups boiling water
BLACK food coloring
Gold glitter
A strong spoon (like a wooden one)

First mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Include the glitter in this step. I poured in my entire jar!

Second, get the water boiling. You can add the food coloring at this point as well

Add the vegetable oil to the boiling 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!

As you can see from the picture to the right, we used it at first to make sight words. Later on, they were allowed to play freely with it. They enjoyed both ways!

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