Rainbow Salt Printing - Conference Idea

My first conference project was inspired by Deanna Jump - Rainbow salt printing.  Deanna had a friend that used a box lid then added construction paper and salt for writing.  I  liked the idea, but I had visions of the lid being dropped during transporting and the salt going everywhere.  Plus, I was worried about storing the lid on a shelf.

I decided that I needed a container with a lid, so I went to Wal-mart to get a couple of containers. I thought I had the perfect size container not too big or too deep.  The problem - I didn't check the inside of the container and I bought the divided containers, geez.  I, really wanted to make it for my kids to use right away - so I checked the house and found two Ziploc containers that I could use.  Of course, I couldn't find any construction paper in the house - so I scavenged through my scrapbook paper.

Total cost of the project - $.48 for the salt.  Score.

Below are the directions for the project.

First, I made a template of the bottom of the container and traced it on to black cardstock for a base.  I thought it would be easier to attach the rainbow pieces to something.

Gathered my cardstock, which is so much brighter than construction paper.

I divided the base into 6 sections and made a paper template - then traced on to the color cardstock.

I found the middle and worked my way out.  I tucked the pieces under the other color cardstock - so there were no gaps.  I used scrapbooking adhesive squares because I wanted to be able to move it around a little when I was laying it out and tucking the paper underneath.

This is what it looked like when it was finished sticking to the black piece. I turned it over so the black side was showing and cut off any of the color rainbow that was sticking over.  Per Deanna's recommendation, I laminated it - so the salt wouldn't get in between the rainbow layers.

I taped it to the bottom, but will probably end up gluing in down - not sure yet.  Pour in the salt.  I used about 1/2 the salt for both containers.  If you put in too much salt, it is hard to move the salt around.  I understand why she used the box lid - it gave them a bigger working surface to move the salt around.  But, I still like the idea of not having the salt everywhere and the kids being able to manage this center on their own.

I gave them a small paintbrush to write in the salt with.  They enjoyed writing in the salt.  I will probably make letter and word cards for them to copy in the salt.  They were super quiet when they were playing with this center.  Cleanup was easy, they put the brush in the container and made sure that they snapped the lid on tight.

I noticed that I had a pin on my Pinterest page where they put the salt into a pencil box.  This idea would work that way too - but I didn't have any pencil boxes at home.  I couldn't wait to get it made for the kids.  I will probably try that idea, too.

Sensory Rice

I am kinda of obsessed with making sensory boxes.  My mind has been spinning all weekend with all the different boxes I can make.  These are the reasons:

1.  The little people love them

2. I enjoy making the little people happy.

3. My classroom is quiet when they are playing with them.

4.  Hubby and I get to go hunting for different things to put in the boxes - which always

includes lunch together after.

This is how I dye my rice for my containers.  There are a lot of different ways, but this is what works for me.

Gather all your supplies.

You will need a measuring cup, measuring spoons, a gallon ziploc bag, food color paste, rubbing alcohol, bowl, 2 - 5 lb bags of white rice (cheap is good), paper towels and cookie sheets or baking pans (for drying).

Take the ziploc bag and put it inside a big bowl.   A 5 pound bag has about 10 cups - so I just pull out 2 cups and set aside (I will use this later).  Then, I add the rest of the rice bag, about 8 cups, to the ziploc bag.

**Do not put all 5 pounds of rice in the gallon ziploc bag.  It fits, but you can't mix it.  I tried, lol.  You could use a bigger bag, but I didn't want to go to the store.

To the rice, I add 3 Tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and 30 drops of food coloring liquid paste (this will give it a nice rich color).  You can always add more if you want the rice to be darker. 

Close the bag and smoosh it all around- turn the bag.  

When you get it all mixed together - leave it sit for about 10 minutes, so the color soaks in a little.

Lay paper towels in your drying container and dump the rice in.  I use about 4 to 5 containers for all the rice.  You don't want the rice layer to be to thick.  It will dry faster.  The weather in California has been so nice, so I set mine outside for a couple of hours to dry.  You can dry them overnight inside too.

Repeat, all the steps again for the other 5 pound bag.

My big container fits 2 batches nicely.  It is enough to cover the bottom, but not too much that it escapes from the box, when the babes are playing with it.

To dye the other 4 cups of rice,  I added 1 Tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and 12 drops of color.  I am going to use this smaller batch in a smaller container and make it a color box.  So, I would add all sorts of blue things that I can find around the house, at school or from new purchases.  I want to make it an "I Spy Color Box".

Hubby and I went shopping at the Dollar Tree today for goodies.  I think he had as much fun as I did.  There are about 5 different box ideas in this picture.  Of course, we had lunch after.  I love  3 day weekends.

Centers

I started using my new center rotation leis yesterday and it was wonderful.  I don't know why I didn't do this in first grade.  I rotate classrooms every three months, so I needed something that wasn't permanent and easy to move.  I, also, share a classroom with a morning Kinder teacher, so I was short on space.  This is what I came up with, totally portable.

This is what it looked like after the kids picked their centers, it was originally full on both sides. 

 Two big cookie sheets from Target for $4.99 each.  Bull dog clips from Wal-mart (2 packages) for $1.88 each.  My laminated center signs and the leis.  I stuck in on the ledge of my whiteboard during center time, then back on my desk at the end of the day.  No one was playing with the leis during the day.

I put the number of leis on the clip based upon how many kids can go to that center.  For example, kitchen had 2 leis because I only wanted 2 babes to go to that center.  If they wanted to change their center, they cleaned up the center they were working on - put the lei back on the clip. Then checked to see which color leis were on the board.  There was no fighting, at all.  I loved it.

Here is one of my little ones playing with puzzles wearing her lei.

I was checking out Monday Make-Its and was inspired by Heather's sand sensory box. This is her box below.  You need to check it out, because she made it academic.

I thought it would be perfect for TK, so I checked out her inspiration link from Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes.  Sandi has made a bunch of them, I loved her scissor practice bin.  I needed it, now, like 5:30 in the morning now.   I emailed her and asked what size her container was.  She got back to me immediately, so sweet of her.  So I went to Wal-mart before I headed to school at 6 in the morning and bought my first box.

I filled it with scraps of paper, the kids loved it.  It was the favorite center of the day.  They cut pieces of paper and glued them to a plain sheet of copy paper.  It was perfect for cutting and gluing skills.  I think I am going to add some scrapbook paper scraps today.  My mind is spinning with ideas for these boxes, shocking I know.  Of course, I need for the witness (hubby) to go back to Hawaii next week.

Today's little person quote, "Mrs. Sasaki, he isn't coloring in the lines.  Is he going to get a time-out when he gets home."

I love my class.