| This example uses the colouring image as a base for a three dimensional picture. The simple idea is that you use the salt dough to create small shapes that eventually fill out the body of the hero. A little food colouring will make the final effect much more dramatic. If the youngsters leave their creation to dry undisturbed it will harden to be a character to keep. |
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If you’ve not made salt dough before then it’s really simple. You need 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, one table spoon of oil and one table spoon of lemon juice.
Put everything into one bowl and give it a mix
Slowly add a cup of water, mixing well at each stage. (see the changing images)
Once you add the last of the water it will start to stick together as a dough.
Flour a clean surface and start to kneed the dough. Ideally the dough will start out a tiny big grainy and after about 10 minutes will start to feel smooth.
If the dough is too wet it will stick to the surface and you’ll need to add more flour to continue, working the flour in from the surface. If the dough is too dry, wet your hands and work the moisture in from the surface.
I split the dough into three balls. Put each into a small plastic bag and started again until I had enough for each child.
At the end of the session I gave each child the excess dough to take home by reusing the same plastic bags.
You also want to pack wet-wipes and paper towels in your bag. I did give the youngsters toothpicks, but I would advise against giving rolling pins and many sculpture tools.
3 ways to use this could be :
As your main craft for the session
as a way of telling the story by making these characters to ‘act out’ the events
As a way of rewarding children, by making these as prizes for them completing a term or showing evidence of the character trait.