We have recently introduced new experiences to the children in Preschool 2 at RisingOaks | John Sweeney to encourage children's creativity and expand their understanding of different materials and textures. Our latest activity focused on cornstarch, and we're thrilled to share it with you!
Before we dive into the activity, allow me to highlight the many benefits of sensory play. Sensory play is an effective way to support brain development, stimulate children's senses, and develop their fine motor skills through tactile play. It fosters curiosity, creativity, problem-solving skills, and learning through exploration.
Our objective is to showcase the versatility of cornstarch and the different alternatives available while exploring different textures. We have created a fun and messy play and science activity called "Gloop," which introduces children to language, sensory play, and science.
To begin, Maria asked the children a descriptive question, "What does the Gloop feel like?" The children expanded their vocabulary to describe the texture as gooey, slimy, sticky, hard, and runny. It was fascinating to see how they used their senses to describe the texture.
Then, we learned about the science behind Gloop. We explained how applying pressure to the mixture joins the particles, making it feel solid. But when left to rest, the particles slide over each other, making it feel liquid. It was exciting to see the children experiment with the texture and learn through play. Scout made a ball of Gloop by applying pressure, but when she stopped pressing, the Gloop became runny, just as Maria explained.
Later, Anthony came over to see what we were doing. Initially hesitant to participate, Natalie's encouragement helped him take the plunge. Once he started playing with the texture, he couldn't stop! It was heartening to see him have such a great time and learn through play.
It's worth noting that cornstarch is also a great ingredient used to make delicious cookies!
Our educators are looking forward to encouraging new strategies for continuous learning and providing materials and support to our children in Preschool 2. We believe that such activities will help them develop their skills and understanding of different materials and textures while having fun.
