molasses cookies

G made these for her snack.  You will need: 

170g unsalted butter, melted
170g light brown sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
170g molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
280g plain flour
2 teaspoons bicarb of soda
1 tablespoon mixed spice
80g caster sugar, for rolling cookies before baking

1. Mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and egg until smooth. Then add the molasses and vanilla extract.
2. In another bowl, sift together the flour, bicarb of soda and spice. Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until combined. Cover and chill dough for about 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 180oC and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Using your hands make round balls. Roll  the balls into sugar and place them onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing them to a wire wrack to cool completely.

Slime

We made two different kinds of slime as you can see. To make them you will need:

Simple Slime (the runner slime in the third photo)

Ingredients

Cornflour

Water

Food colouring (optional)

Mixing bowl/roasting tin, or whatever takes your fancy/needs

spoons (optional)

Put approx ½ cup cornflour in the mixing bowl then add ¼ cup water. Mix, add a few drops of colouring. When blended ( or even before) get your hands in there and experience the odd properties of your slime. How can it be squeezed into a solid then turn back into liquid when you open your hands? Did you know you have created a Non-Newtonian Fluid (This liquid is a runny goo until you apply stress to it, and then it suddenly acts like a solid). 

Super slime (the firmer one in the top 2 photos)

Ingredients

Cornflour

White pva (use the children’s washable stuff.)

Food colour

Mixing bowl

Wooden spoon

Put approx ½ cup of the PVA into the bowl. Stir the glue and gradually add the cornflour, a little at a time, put in a few drops of food colouring and mix until it feels right. Too much cornflour makes a really dry mix so go easy when you’re pouring it in! Get your hands into the mix – if you haven’t already and watch it flow between your fingers, roll it and stretch it

 G loved it and was happily experimenting with the quantity of water and corn flour, as well as how to make it become solid and liquid. P was not so sure and kept asking me to wash her hands.
I have been reading how important messy play is for writing development as it helps children become aware of sensations in their hands. Plus it is really good fun, interesting and I love the feel of corn flour!