(CLOUD)y Mandarin juice with flower/flour (DOUGH) Play

With the Lunar New Year’s end, I had my box of leftover mandarin oranges which were too ripe for consumption. Valentine’s Day also just passed 2 days ago. I had my bunch of flowers from my sweetheart. Therefore I combined them for an open play of cloud dough experience.

Orange Globe to Map Demonstration

I had seen this idea from a juvenile book when we were learning about the world map. I thought it was pretty cool! The idea is to help kids understand that the world is a sphere like the globe, and the world map is the flat version of the globe. Unlike the naval orange, the mandarin orange has very thin and delicate peel that can be easily torn open.I took the opportunity of demonstrating this concept to the kids before plunging into the real Cloud Dough Play.

1-2014-02-171 The kids doodled a bit on their oranges using black markers before play

I had first learnt about Clou d Dough Play through The ImaginationTree. Simply add any Oil and plain flour(this time I used Corn flour)!

What amused me most was how the kids relished squeezing the juice from the oranges! It didn’t occur to me that this would be such an enjoyable activity and that they can be involved in making orange juice for the family (the next time)! We had Orange Kebab play, cloudy dough orange juice, and scented petals thrown in for some fun therapy….

Finally some Cloud Dough forming!

We added more flour and flowers, more oil until we had the right density to form cloudy shaped lumps.

Flower Shower play, Flour Power Play

In the process, J (the only one that lasted longer than the rest) also played and practiced his chopsticks grip.

Simple Flower Arrangement

I marvel at how free play can encourage endless combinations of creative play and end up with so much logical play. Namely, how the cloud dough was just the right texture as ‘soil’ for the flower arrangement. I taught them how to balance the weight of the flowers so that the flowers will not topple with the yakult bottle and how they needed more of the ‘soil’ to stabilise it as well. Oh yes, i also had a bunch of dried up lemon grass that was used to deodorise the refrigerator for their play.

Have you plucked petals and wondered at all?

Let’s just take some time to wonder at the marvellous world and sing praises to our Heavenly Father….

Luke 12: 27-31

27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Here are some cool links that i like for our Feb Play!