If you have been around Pinterest for a while, you have probably seen the Ivory Soap Experiment where soap placed in the microwave expands to many times it’s size. We did our own soap experiment and then added some food coloring and shaving cream to make a moldable Soap Dough Recipe. It’s easy to create a fun sensory activity with just a few basic ingredients. For another fun sensory activity, check out Garden Sensory Bin.
Soap Dough Recipe
You will need:
- Bar of soap (I know Ivory Soap works; we used Jergan’s Pure and Natural Mild Soap)
- Microwave and microwave safe plate
- Food coloring
- Shaving cream
This experiment is usually done with Ivory soap but I didn’t want to make a special trip out to get some, so we used Jergan’s Pure and Natural Mild Soap which we found at the dollar store. I would recommend using one of these two soaps as I can’t guarantee any other bar soap will work.
Before we started, I passed around a bar of soap and asked the kids to describe it. They said it was hard, smooth and smelled good.
We placed the bar of soap on a microwave safe dish and put in in the microwave. Within a few seconds the soap started to grow. It looked like smoke or clouds. We would stop it every so often so that the kids could see what it looked like. They were so impressed! Lots of “wows” were heard in the kitchen. We discussed what happened to the soap and their responses were “it melted” and “it became a cloud.”
I added a few drops of food coloring to the soap and mixed it up with my hands. The food coloring doesn’t entirely mix in with the soap, but it does give it a nice tint. Please make sure the soap is cool before touching and do not let your children touch the soap until you are certain it is cool. It is very hot when it comes out of the microwave.
I also added some shaving cream to the mixture. The shaving cream acts almost like a binder to make the soap moldable. You don’t want to over do it with the shaving cream. Add a little at a time until it forms a moldable dough with the soap.
I put the dough in containers and gave my kids some cups and spoons to use with it.
We made a few batches of the dough since we bought a 3 pack of the soap. One of my daughters really wanted pink dough.
The kids wanted some candles so they could make birthday cakes. Time to blow out the candles!
We just used the dough one time so I am not sure how it would store. I love how this activity combined a sensory experience with a fun experiment.
If you are looking for more fun ways to engage your kids, I highly recommend KiwiCo. As a former teacher, I was really impressed with the quality of materials found in KiwiCo. Some moms have told me that they want to do activities like I do on Mess For Less with their kids, but they just don’t have to the time to go buy all the supplies and prepare them for the activity. KiwiCo is the perfect solution. Every month your KiwiCo will focus on a particular theme like Colors, Dinosaurs or Gardening. KiwiCo offer a variety of projects ranging from crafts, imaginative play, science experiments and more.
If you liked this soap dough recipe, check out some more sensory fun:
Tammy - housingaforest.com says
Love, love, love! I am so excited to know that another brand of soap works! We will have to try it again soon and make your recipe:) Looks like lots of fun.
Reduce, Reuse, Renewed says
What a great snow day activity!
PinkOddy says
That looks really great and my youngest is trying to learn the differences between textures/surfaces etc – so that it can change from hard to soft would be a really good activity to show him.
Visiting via Tuesday Tots on Rainy Day Mum
Beth Gorden says
What a wonderful activity! You come up with such fun, playful things to do!!
I am adding it to my bugger to share on social media this week. I am also pinning it to my Preschool Play and Learn Board.
Thanks for linking up to TGIF! I hope to see you linked up again later today =)
Have a great weekend,
Beth
Rebecca English says
Oh this looks wonderful fun!
Thanks for linking to the Sunday showcase.
Diana - FreeStyleMama says
Very cool activity!
Jane says
What if you don't have a microwave?
Jane says
What if you don't have a microwave?
creativelyobsessed says
Would also be great for inside and outside water play!