Gelatin Bugs Kmart Sensory Tray

Today, we are rescuing our creepy crawlers from a swampy gelatin.

What you will need:

• a tray (we are using this one)
• spaghetti (try to look for expired pasta or one which is otherwise not suitable for eating)
• food coloring
• gelatin
• tongs
• bugs (use what you have or even better use wild flowers, moss, rocks you collect during nature walks)
• a spark of imagination!

How: cook your pasta according to the instructions but add food coloring to the water while cooking. If you don’t have brown coloring, mix red and green. Once cooked, do not drain pasta and add gelatin proportionally. Mix well, allow to cool and pour into a tray filled with creepy crawlers. Let the gelatin harden either at room temperature or place the tray in a fridge to speed up the process. Offer your child tongs to rescue friendly bugs while secretly strengthening muscles on the hands, and exercising fine motor control.

If you have smaller children, offer to retrieve creepy crawlers with bare hand while firing multiple neurons during this awesome sensory play. And the best part is that this activity is taste-safe (well, except the crawlers!)

Please always supervise your children while they are learning through play, Xo

You can see this post on Instagram here. You can see our entire Bugs Insects and other Arthropods Preschool Unit Study here.

Leave a comment whether you will consider giving it a try!