Insects in Gelatine
Explore texture and the use of tools.
This activity is best prepared the day before you need it as the gelatine needs to set.You need:
Packet of gelatine (usually found alongside baking items in the supermarket)
Blue food colour
Hot water
Plastic insects or fish
Tongs and tweezers
Shallow tray
Dried pasta and spaghetti
Directions
Fill a pint jug with hot water and sprinkle on two sachets of gelatine and stir until dissolved.
Pour into a shallow tray and stir in a little blue food colour.
Add a further pint of dissolved gelatine.
Add two pints of cold water.
Add plastic insects or fish.
Add dried spaghetti and pasta shapes.
Leave to set overnight.
Children should be encouraged to use tongs and tweezers to remove the insects and pasta. Some children will want to use their hands, while others will not wish to get sticky. The gelatine is not sticky and is nice to touch. Pulling the spaghetti out provides is a very statisfying feeling.
Children practice using tools, exploring the texture and properties of the gelatine.
They may count the items as they catch them. Some children will find exploring the gelatine challanging and they can be encouraged by watching others exploring it first. The gelatine can be reset by warming again, but I would advise that this is only done once for hygiene reasons.
Wash hands after wards.
Planning
Birth to Three
Competent learner - making connections
Foundation stage
Knowledge and understanding of the world - early learning goal for exploration and investigation
Stepping Stone - Realise tools can be used for a purpose