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Peppermint Writing Tray

Nov 18, 201414,342 views
Holidays
Sensory Activities for Kids : Peppermint Writing Tray Save
Peppermint sensory writing activity Save
Write your sight words sensory writing Save
write with scented salt Save
Christmas sensory activity with a scented writing tray Save
Scented peppermint salt Save
Christmas sensory activity with peppermint salt Save

by TurkeyMom in Holidays

Ages4–6 yrs
Prep15 min
Activity20 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Shake salt with a drop of gel food color and peppermint extract to make a pink, Christmas-scented writing tray. Kids copy sight words into it with candy canes or pipe cleaner candy canes, then brush it smooth for the next word.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Salt stings eyes and cuts. Remind kids to keep salty hands away from their faces, and wash hands after play.
  • Not a snack: the scented salt is not for eating. Supervise so kids don't taste it.
  • Adult handles the peppermint extract. It is concentrated, so add it to the salt yourself and keep the bottle out of reach.
  • Real candy canes can break into small, hard pieces. Supervise closely, and use the pipe cleaner candy canes for kids who still mouth things.
  • Gel food color can stain hands and surfaces before it is fully mixed into the salt.

Before the kids arrive

  • Write a few sight words on small sheets of paper.

Steps

  1. Adult: put 2 cups of salt into a large plastic baggie.

  2. Adult: add 2 drops of gel food color and peppermint extract to taste. We used 1 tbsp.

  3. Seal the baggie and shake it really well to mix in the color.

  4. Dump the scented salt into a bowl and mix it with your hands until the color is even.

  5. Spread the salt in a foil pan or clear tray with a lip and explore it.

  6. Add candy canes, pipe cleaner candy canes and brushes to the tray.

  7. Set up a sight word card and copy the word into the salt.

  8. Write with a candy cane or pipe cleaner candy cane.

  9. Smooth the salt with the pastry brush, then try the next word.

Tips

  • I purposefully used a gel color so the remnants of the food color add to the nice texture of the peppermint salt. If you prefer a much cleaner look, go with liquid food color.from the author
  • The children took this one step ahead and mixed the salt by hand in a bowl. It was a wonderful addition. Once the peppermint permeated, they screamed 'Smells like Christmas!'from the author
  • Let the kids have their time exploring the salt first, then add the props to make it a writing tray.from the author
  • Depending on their preference, some kids adore using the real candy canes and some have fun holding the pipe cleaner ones. Both are a fun way to introduce sensory writing.from the author
  • Use a foil pan or a tray with a lip to keep all the salt inside.from the author

Make it your own

  • Change the colors (think red, green and gold) for a visually appealing Christmas sensory tray.
  • For a different sensory writing surface, try the rainbow writing tray made with shaving cream and paint.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · November 2014
materials needed
In a large plastic baggie add 2 cups of salt, 2 drops of food color and peppermint extract. My kids love the scent, so we ended up adding 1 tbsp of extract.
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Peppermint Writing Tray: the original post

It has been a while since the children and I had some fun time with sensory activities. We used to be really big on sensory activities for kids simply because my children enjoyed getting their hands in all kinds of sensory bins and exploring. They still love them. Since my oldest is 6 and younger is 4 years here we are adding a learning twist in their usual sensory play. We did a similar sensory activity for kids using shaving cream and paint. {Check our rainbow writing here} Materials

Scented Peppermint Writing Tray Base materials needed In a large plastic baggie add 2 cups of salt, 2 drops of food color and peppermint extract. The amount of peppermint extract depends on your preference. My kids love the scent and we ended up adding 1 TBSP of extract. I adore the Americolor gel food color (link in the materials section) and always use that brand. I purposefully used a gel color so that the remnants of the food color can add to the nice texture of the peppermint salt. If you prefer a much cleaner look, go with liquid food color. After the extract and the food color is added, shake the baggie really well to mix the color. Scented peppermint salt The children took this one step ahead and dumped all the scented salt into a bowl and used their hands to evenly mix the salt. This step was a wonderful addition to this easy writing activity. Once the peppermint permeated the kids on cue screamed ” Smells like Christmas, smells like Christmas” … I think so too. You can change the colors ( think red, green and gold) and make a visually appealing Christmas sensory activity. { All our Christmas activities here} Christmas sensory activity with peppermint salt Once the kids had their time exploring the salt, I added a few more props to make it more of a writing tray. Doesn’t mean we can’t make it fun! I there in candy cane pipe cleaners and real candy canes { My children think they are too spicy. Yes!!!} Along with the writing props I added a couple of brushes to smooth the tray between writing sessions. Now take a look at this one. Isn’t this a fantastic Christmas sensory activity which doubles as a wonderful sensory writing activity. { All our playful writing activities here} Peppermint sensory writing activity I wrote down a few sight words on small sheet of paper and my older one had fun practicing writing them. Write your sight words sensory writing Between words, she would use the pastry brush to smooth the peppermint writing tray and get ready for the next one. write with scented salt Depending on the kids’ preference some would adore using the real candy canes or some would have fun holding on to the pipe cleaner candy canes. Either way both are a fun way to introduce some sensory writing. Christmas sensory activity with a scented writing tray To keep all the salt inside tray using a foil pan or a y tray with a lip.

More writing activities here

Thanks for reading

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