Little mess and lots of fun, gel bags are easy to make and a squishy way to practice writing.
What You Need:
- Ziploc bag
- Hair gel
- Food coloring
- Glitter or sequins (optional)
- Duct or packing tape (optional)
What You Do:
- Fill the Ziploc bag about a quarter full with hair gel.
- Add a few drops of food coloring to the bag (and glitter if you’d like).
- Seal the bag, getting as much air out as possible while mixing the gel and food coloring.
- Add duct tape to completely seal the bag shut.
- Smooth the gel out to create a writing surface.
- Use your finger to write letters in the gel.
Words to Use:
- Impression: a mark left by pressing something into a soft surface
- Gel: a thick wet substance used in beauty or cleaning products
- Texture: the way a surface or material feels when you touch it, especially how smooth or rough it is.
What to Talk About:
- What sound does this letter make?
- What words have that sound? (Example: A for alligator)
- What does the letter look like? Is it round? Straight? Have an open space or no space?
Change It Up:
- Try mixing 2 colors in the bag with the gel. What colors did it make?
- Try writing words or blends. Try numbers.
- What other things can you practice writing with your finger?
Learning Connections:
- Communication
- Creativity
- Language Development
- Literacy
- Fine Motor Development
Curriculum Connections:
NC Standard Course of Study
- ELA: RF.K.2, RF.K.3, RF.K.4, RF.K.1., RF.1.2, RF.2.2