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Clean Mud via the Microwave!

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Have you ever put Ivory soap in the microwave? I first learned about this experiment from over at Housing a Forest.  (We have been microwaving small pieces of soap quite frequently since then. Not full bars, I cut them into about 6 pieces). We have been saving all of the soap sculptures and crushing them into "soap flakes" for later use.
We added the flakes and today's sculptures to our sensory table with a double roll of toilet paper.  The children had a great time shredding and cutting the toilet paper while crushing the microwaved soap.

Then, when we were satisfied with the cutting and shredding, we added some warm water.

This wonderful mixture is known in the field of early childhood education as "clean mud."
 Our batch ended up with a little more water than necessary, but it sure is fun to play with!  This is the first time we have made clean mud in the microwave. In the past, we have used a cheese grater to grate the soap. (When I first started in early childhood, we make ours with soap flakes, but those are nearly impossible to find around here now!)

I shared this post over at The Amazing Mess:


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UPDATE!!! We have not been able to find soap flakes ANYWHERE around here, but it does appear that we might be able to start buying them by the case from downstate distributor!!!!! I really miss all of the fun things we have done with soap flakes. Oh, and I am doing a "soap swap" with an Australian blogging friend. I hope to have a box of Lux Soap Flakes any day... and she will have a box filled with Ivory!

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Comments

Theresa said…
That looks like GREAT fun! I can't wait to try it for my kids this summer when it's too hot to go outside! Thanks!
May 19, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Julie said…
This looks like so much fun! And I love the way it kept evolving. I was aware of each of these activities, but had never thought about doing them together. This sounds like it'd be perfect for my little one and his very short attention span!
May 19, 2011 at 5:47 PM
Play for Life said…
I SOOOOOO want to do this!
Donna :) :)
May 20, 2011 at 4:52 AM
Scott said…
I've never done this. But it looks like so much fun - and messy. I like messy.
May 22, 2011 at 5:23 PM
Stacie said…
Wow! I never even considered microwaving soap!! That's awesome -- I got several bars for free with some coupons, so I'll have to give this a try! This just might be perfect for Fun on a Dime!!
May 25, 2011 at 10:47 AM
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