School's Out For Summer!

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Caitlin Channing, contributor

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I have no kids of my own but I do understand the difficulties that parents and other caretakers have when trying to entertain and occupy children during their summer vacations. I found some wonderful recipes, thanks to Can Teach, using ingredients almost everyone has in their kitchen.

No-Cook Playdough

Ingredients

• 4 cups of Flour
• 1 cup of Salt
• 2 Tbs. cooking oil
• 1- 1 1/2 cups of water
• food coloring

Mix flour, salt, oil. Add food coloring to water. Gradually add flour to water mixture. Knead. Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Cornstarch Finger Paint

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 package unflavored gelatin
• 2 cups boiling water
• food coloring or poster paint

In saucepan, mix cornstarch with 3/4 cup cold water to a smooth paste. Soak gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water. Set aside. Pour boiling water slowly over cornstarch mixture, stirring. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and clears. Remove. Stir in gelatin. Cool and divide into separate small screw top jars. Add color. Refrigerate to store.

Goop

Ingredients

• 1 part liquid starch
• 2 parts white glue
• food coloring (optional)

Add starch to glue until mixture becomes a workable ball. Add food coloring if desired. Store in refrigerator in a covered container.

Cornstarch Clay

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1-1/4 cups cold water
• 2 cups baking soda
• food coloring

Mix all ingredients except paint in saucepan over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring constantly until thick (like mashed potatoes). Add food coloring to mixture. Remove from heat, turn out onto a plate and cover with a damp cloth until cool. Knead like dough. Store in airtight container.

Bubbles

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup liquid detergent
• 1 Tbs. cooking oil

Mix ingredients together and use.

Sidewalk Chalk

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 2 cups plaster of Paris
• 2 tablespoons of wet or dry tempera paint
• toilet paper tubes
• duct tape

Use duct tape to cover one end of the toilet paper tube. Mix all ingredients and set aside for 5 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper or foil. Place tube upright on paper with open ends facing up. You might want to tape the tubes upright onto the wax paper or foil to make it more steady. Pour mixture into holders. Leave standing until chalk mixture is almost firm. Rip off the toilet paper tubes and let the sidewalk chalk dry for another 2 hours.

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