Clean Mud via the Microwave!

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:

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!

Easter Egg Caterpillars!

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A Few Ideas With Marker Caps (As Promised)

Yesterday, I hope I convinced you not to throw away your markers that "don't work." Today, I will share with you a few ideas for what to do with all of the caps. The possibilities are nearly endless, but here are a few of our recent creations: 1) A Leprechaun/Fairy Ladder/Rope Ladder: 2) #1 if not permanently secured can also double as a rope bridge: 3) #1/#2 can also be made into a train track for your homemade trains :). (No photo available) 4) You can use them as beads for a necklace: 5) You could make them into a wind chime. (No photo available). 6. You can use them as small manipulatives to count, sort, and make patterns with. (No photo available). 7) You could use them as playing pieces in your own homemade board game. (No photo available). 8) You could put them on a wire and glue them in place to make a twirling whirly-gig. 9) You could top them with a lid from a milk jug to make tiny tables or toadstools. 10) You could make them...

My friend died

I learned a hell of a lot from Dan Hodgins. He was mentor, a friend, and a "bone shaker" for many of us in the field of Early Childhood Education. He was and will always be a champion for children, and protector of childhood. I have so many great memories of time spent with him, it just doesn't seem like we had enough time. Dan died this past Saturday. Interestingly enough, Dan and I talked about death quite a bit. It is one of those topics that isn't talked about all that much in our field, but is super important. All living things eat, all living things poop, and all living things die. Dan and I recorded a podcast for awhile called "Shaking Bones." Dan was always shaking bones, even before I met him. To say I was honored to be asked to be his co-host would be putting it lightly. I loved recording with him. He was never afraid to touch on topics that were a bit edgy, or issues that sometimes weren't talked about much at all. We even...

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