How to Change Salt Colors

I was looking through my pins on Pinterest for a very quick activity to do with the boys between when they woke up from their naps, and I left for work.  I came across this one (http://www.flaxandtwine.com/2011/03/rainbow-in-jar.html) and thought:  there is no way that you can really make salt change colors by rolling it in chalk.  I showed Pierce to see if he wanted to do it, and of course the answer was yes.

Each of the boys were given some old sidewalk chalk we had laying around downstairs, and a plate full of regular table salt.  I showed them how to do it, and they took off with it.  Pierce wanted to mix every color together and see what would happen (he is totally into the color mixing phase), and Carter was just giddy with excitement.  Eventually Carter gave up with changing the salt colors, started swirling it around with his finger, and then dumped the plate on the table.  From there salt went EVERYWHERE.  Thankfully, it is very easy to clean up, and it was also a fantastic sensory experience for him too.

I did not have jars to put the colored salt in, which left me wondering what to do with it.  Pierce was very proud of his colored salt, and wanted to display it (he ended up with an awesome periwinkle color).  Then the idea struck:  why not let him play with glue, and glue the salt on paper in whatever design he chooses?  He picked out a yellow paper, took hold of that glue bottle, and promptly made a cool design.  We then dumped the salt on the paper and shook it around to disperse it.

Pierce's creation looked amazing!  And this is where I was a slightly bad mommy.  Before I could take a picture of it, I had brought it downstairs to dry by the wood stove.  When I carried it upstairs, I dropped it, causing all of the pretty salt to fall off.  I know I said it already, but I am SO SORRY PIERCE!  Yes, there were a couple of tears about that one, but I did get an, "I am OK Mommy, as long as I can make it again."  So, after I go grocery shopping this week and pick up more salt, I will be happy to do this activity again.

I highly recommend this project for any age, since it is really inexpensive and a great sensory experience.If you look at her blog, it does look really cool in the containers.  Let me know how it goes!

Kelly