Harry Potter Chocolate Frogs

A very easy and simple activity that can encourage dramatic play, interaction with peers and learning about safety in the kitchen.

Method:
Melt 300g of chocolate in the microwave, checking every 30 seconds and stirring. Once melted, have kids pour a spoonful each into the frog mould and then put in the freezer for 10-15 minutes to harden.
While the chocolates in the freezer, create the chocolate boxes. Some templates come with famous witches and wizards cards but i suggest making your own using a pentagon shape template and having the kids dress up, take photos and make up characters to be on their cards.
When the chocolate is ready, put it inside the pentagon box and enjoy!

Clash of clans imaginative play

For those of us who are a little obsessed with playing clash of clans:

Types of play engaged: manipulative, creative, constructive, dramatic/imaginative

Suggested further activities: playdough clash of clans, giant scale – gold with gold chocolate coins, elixir with purple food colouring and water and jars, clay figurines, lego, etc

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,4,5

Crocheting

For those kids who love finger knitting!
The video linked here is great for starting off, and it took about 15 minutes for kids and adults alike to master the first steps.
http://youtu.be/eqca00LdmAc

Types of play engaged: manipulative, creative

Suggested further activities: crochet bows, scarves, handkerchiefs, doll clothes, friendship bracelets, different materials

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,4,5

Handprint reindeer

A great sensory experience!
Mix brown paint with cinnamon and ginger for added sensory fun.

Types of play engaged: sensory, manipulative, creative

Suggested further activities: foot print Christmas trees, handprint sleigh and reindeer, handprint santas, toe caterpillars, finger painting, gingerbread playdough

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,4,5

Christmas wreath dessert!

Quick, easy and simple!
Recipe:
3 cups of cornflakes
60g of butter
250g of marshmallows
Green food colouring
Red candies ie skittles, m&ms, etc

Method:
Melt butter in large bowl in microwave. Add marshmallows and microwave until melted (approx 1 minute).
Add green food colouring and combine. Add cornflakes and mix until combined.
Spoon into a bundt tin (sprayed with oil) and put in the freezer for 15 minutes. Remove from tin and place in fridge until it’s time to eat it.

Types of play engaged: manipulative

Suggested further activities: candy cane desserts, snowmen spoons, snowmen pavlovas, hot chocolates, candy cane milkshakes

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,4,5

Snow dough

Snow dough recipe:
1 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of coconut
1/4-1/2 cup of water

Combine ingredients in a bowl until balls begin to form. Use for snowball fights, making snowmen, etc!

Types of play engaged: sensory, manipulative, creative, constructive, dramatic/imaginative

Suggested further activities: snowmen, snowball fights, snowglobes, sensory bin

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,4,5

Peppermint christmas dough

Peppermint scented christmas playdough, including green and candy cane varieties!
Recipe:
2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup of cooking salt
1 tablespoon of cream of tartar
3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
Red/green food colouring
2 teaspoons of peppermint essence
1.5 cups of boiling water

Method:
Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a jug, mix wet ingredients together. Pour into dry ingredients and mix until combined with a wooden spoon.
Cool for 5 minutes.
Knead with hands for 2 minutes then wrap in clingwrap until needed.

 

Types of play engaged: sensory, manipulative, creative, constructive, dramatic/imaginative

Suggested further activities: gingerbread dough – brown dough with cinnamon and ginger, peppermint soaps with moulds, snow dough (desiccated coconut, baking soda and water)

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,4,5

Kinder surprise minions

Use kinder surprise eggs for more than the chocolate and enclosed toy! They are perfect for making despicable me minions.
The images depict a very basic one (this is meant for kids to do after all, not us!)
All you need is a black permanent marker, a keyring attachment, a minion overall template and a kinder surprise egg. Use googly eyes for the best result!

Types of play engaged: creative, dramatic/imaginative

Suggested further activities: playdough minions, watching despicable me (and 2), making more characters, using kinder surprise eggs to make other things i.e. musical instruments

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,4,5

Chocolate playdough

The chocolate playdough recipe, also known as modelling chocolate in pastry chef language:
300g of chocolate
3-4 teaspoons of glucose syrup (corn syrup)

Melt chocolate in microwave or in double boiler on stove. Once smooth, add glucose syrup 1 teaspoon at a time and continue stirring. Once a ball of ‘dough’ forms, wrap in gladwrap and place in fridge for 15-30 minutes.
Then, create and eat!

Types of play engaged: sensory, manipulative, creative, constructive, dramatic/imaginative

Suggested further activities: playdough dessert shop, different types of chocolate, adding essences, learning cake decorating techniques

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,4,5

Candle-making

These candles are great for appropriate risk-taking, mother’s day crafts, valentine’s day crafts and are appropriate for both boys and girls!

We bought some super cheap candle-making supplies at http://www.aussiecandlesupplies.com.au/ like scents, wicks and the tea light candle holders, and then went to the local dollar store to buy some long table candles.

We melted these candles down in a saucepan after breaking them into smaller chunks (the wick can be pulled out like a string in most long candles) and then mixed in the scents. The mixture was then transferred to a pouring jug and the kids took it in turns to put a wick in the tea light holder and pour the mixture over it to hold it in place.

Suggested further activities: candle molds, soap making, candle creatures, colouring of candles

Types of play engaged: creative, sensory, manipulative

My Time, Our Place Outcomes: 1,3,4,5