In this BLOG post I will share our ULTIMATE List of activities to keep your kids learning and playing over the 4th of July!
Materials:
Baking soda
Water
Food coloring (optional)
Glitter
White vinegar
Pipette
Sensory tray or bowl
How-To:
Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom of your sensory tray or bowl.
Sprinkle glitter on top!
Fill squirt bottle or cup with half water/half white vinegar.
Squeeze & squirt & watch as it erupts colorful bubbles everywhere!
The glitter makes this sparkly and fun and a perfect way to ring in the Fourth of July!
Frozen Fizzy Fun:
Materials:
Baking soda
Water
Food coloring (optional)
Silicone mold or ice cube tray
White vinegar
Pipette
Sensory tray or bowl
How-To:
Mix half baking soda, half water & a few drops of food coloring into a silicone ice cube tray. This will depend on the size of your mold. So if you add 1/2 cup baking soda, add 1/2 water.
Freeze for a few hours until solid. Remove & put on a tray.
Fill squirt bottle or cup with a dropper with half water/half white vinegar.
Squeeze & squirt & watch as it erupts colorful bubbles everywhere!
Extend your STEM play by making predictions before you begin, "Which star do you think will melt first? How many squirts do you think it will take? What will happen when the colors mix together?"
Materials:
Construction paper
Sharpie
Q-tips
Red, white and blue washable paint
How-To:
Draw an array of lines on the paper with sharpie.
Squirt out a bit of paint on a plate or sensory tray.
Dip the q-tip in the paint and dot the lines of the fireworks.
Not only is this FUN it is an amazing way to strengthen motor skills. Painting with the Q-tip puts the hands in the pincer grasp, which is important for writing.
Extend your learning by using this technique to practice letters, numbers, shapes or sight words!
Red, White and Blue Star Pasta:
Materials:
Star shaped pasta (or white rice)
Sensory bin or bowl
Spoon
See our Ultimate BLOG Post to learn the THREE different methods to dye a dry sensory base. Click HERE!
Extend your learning and play by adding in your favorite scoops, bowls and trinkets.
Materials:
Cornstarch
Water
Food coloring
Muffin tin, bowl or cup
Paintbrushes
How-To:
Mix equal parts cornstarch and water. This will vary depending on the amount you want to make. If you add 1/2 cup cornstarch, add 1/2 cup water.
Squirt 3-5 drops of food coloring in and mix well.
Continue the above steps for additional colors.
Head outside and PAINT!
Extend your learning by using this technique to practice letters, numbers, shapes or sight words!
Materials:
Your favorite pancake mix
Baking sheet
Bowl
Mixing spoon
Measuring cups
How-To:
Grease your baking dish.
Follow the pancake recipe (or make your own!)
Pour the batter onto the pan and bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through.
Slice and serve!
You can add in any of your favorite toppings: fruit, chocolate chips, sprinkles etc!
Red, White & Blue Oobleck
Materials:
(2) cups Cornstarch
(1) cup Water
Sensory bin or bowls
Spoon
Food coloring
Glitter (optional)
How To:
Mix corn starch, water, and food coloring in a tub or tray and have fun experimenting!
Add in your favorite scoops or bowls and PLAY!!
Make observations as you play. How does it smell? How does it feel? What happens when you add more water to the Oobleck bin? What does it look like as it dries?
Explore color theory: what happens when you mix blue and yellow together?
If you let Oobleck completely dry out and harden, you can store it in an airtight container. The next time you want to use it, simply add water to reactivate!
Messy play is SO beneficial for children. It's open-ended, encourages creativity, provides sensory input & teaches them about their personal boundaries. Messy play activates the senses and has been known to be calming, offering an incredible opportunity to practice self-regulation strategies.
Bubble Wands:
Materials:
Pipe cleaners
Pony Beads
How To:
Make a loop halfway down the pipe cleaner and twist it together. You can turn this into a star or keep it as a circle.
Start stringing the beads on to the pipe cleaner. When you get to the end, leave a little space to twist the end of the pipe cleaner around the last bead. This will keep them secured. Use these as magical wands, as pointers, as bookmarks, as bubble blowers or in any way your little learner wants! They’re fun & festive & fabulous for strengthening fine motor skills!
Red, White and Blue Calm Down Bottles:
These red, white and blue calm down bottles are a festive way to add self-regulation into your day. Especially with the excitement of the holidays, emotions can run high. Click HERE to learn all about calm down bottles, their benefits and how to DIY them at home, in your therapy space or in the classroom.
Frozen fourth of July FUN!:
Materials:
Bowl or ice cube mold
Red, White and Blue Trinkets (gems or pom poms)
Sensory bin or bowls
Pipette or medicine dropper
Wooden mallet
Food coloring (optional)
Glitter (optional)
How To:
Put your trinkets in your bowl or ice cube tray. Add a drop or two of food coloring, if using.
Fill with water and freeze until solid. I like to put them in at night so they are ready for the next day.
Remove them from the bowl or ice cube tray and put them on a sensory tray or in a big bucket. Add warm water, wooden mallet and/or pipette and have them rescue the trinkets!
Frozen treasures are so much fun and a great activity to have on hand when you need a little something! They allow opportunities for mixed ages and abilities to play together at their own developmental level. They are also amazing for strengthening motor skills, working on social skills and practice new language and vocabulary.
Play Dough Tray
We love a good play dough tray; all of these materials are from the Dollar Store. These chip and dip trays are perfect for this kind of play!
Check out our blog post HERE that explains how to make the BEST homemade play dough!
To get the layered look, flatten a ball of red, white and blue and put them on top of each other. Roll them together and then use a butter knife to slice them. You will get swirls of red, white and blue!
You get to decide what is safe and manageable in your home. Always monitor young children in or around water and when using any object that may be a choking hazard.
Comments