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The GIANT Encyclopedia of Preschool Activities for 3-Year-Olds

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The GIANT Encyclopedia of Preschool Activities for 3-Year-Olds

Materials

Fliers

Trucks (see below)

Instructions

1. Make Soda Clay. Mix 16 oz (450 g) of baking soda and 1 cup (125 g) of cornstarch
in a pot. Add 1 1/4 cup (300 ml) of cold water. Stir over moderate heat
until the mixture thickens and resembles mashed potatoes. Scrape it onto a
plate and cover with a damp cloth. When it is cool enough to handle, knead
until smooth. Store it in a tightly covered container.
2. Give each child a piece of clay (about the size of an egg), a rolling pin, a
cookie cutter, and a section of plastic straw.
3. Help the children roll the clay until it is about 1/4 " (6 mm) thick.
4. Encourage them to cut out a shape with the cookie cutter.
5. Show the children how to cut a hole into the top of the shape using the straw.
6. Place each shape on a piece of white paper and write the child's name on the
paper. (At this stage, all stars look alike!)
7. Allow the shapes to dry thoroughly, at least overnight.
8. Encourage the children to paint their dried ornaments. If desired, spray the
finished ornaments with clear polyurethane (adult only) to make them shine
like ceramic.
9. Attach a ribbon or piece of yarn to make a hanger.

More to do
Language: Use the following words as you work with the clay: knead, smooth,
soft, white, cold, wet, thick, thin, roll, cylinder, round, even, large, small, and hole.
Science: Describe the difference between wet clay and the dry ornament. How
did the clay change in appearance? In the way it feels? Why do you think this
happened?

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