Foam Dough Experiment in Proportions

Foam Dough

Foam Dough: Experiment in Proportions

Welcome to our first edition of 12 Months of Sensory Dough where 12 KBN Bloggers will bring you their special spin on a popular sensory dough. It is my hope that here you will have a one-stop resource for all things Sensory dough! This month we are featuring Foam Dough. I am excited to share our foam dough experiment.

I started this series because I have always loved sensory doughs and homemade versions, but I am not “Suzy Homemaker” and something usually goes wrong. That never stops me from pinning enticing pictures on Pinterest, and attempting new recipes. This is how my spin developed.

I love explorations, investigations, and trial and error. I love science.

Sometimes it turns out and sometimes it doesn’t. The fun is in exploring. That is why each month you will find out how we made sensory dough. I will define each dough, link to recipes we referenced, show you what it SHOULD look like, describe our experiment and show you want it DID look like. You can help us decide if it was a fail or success!

What is Foam Dough?

Foam Dough is simple.

Shaving Cream and Corn Starch.

Simple right?

What Should Foam Dough Look Like?

What is foam dough?

According to these beautiful recipes at Mom Trusted and Instructables, Foam Dough SHOULD be:

Fluffy
Moldable
Silky &
Easy to Clean Up

What Experiment Did We Do With Foam Dough?

During our day of Shaving Cream Fun, I told my boys we were going to make dough with shaving cream and corn starch, but they didn’t believe me. Immediately they asked me how to make it.

I told them I didn’t know, but they could help me.

ingredients for foam dough

I gave them measuring cups, a bowl, the ingredients and some paper/pencil to document their findings.

Legoman was all over this. Bones just watched (he does not like to be wrong so he waited to see if his brother could come up with the perfect solution.foam Dough recipe

One cup of shaving cream. One cup of corn starch. (which is actually what all the recipes say)

Foam Dough Experiment

It was determined that it was too dry. So back to the drawing board.

Finally he had reached perfection. A recipe was made…

Legoman’s Recipe for Foam Dough:

  • 3 cups Shaving Cream
  • 1 Cup Corn Starch
  • 1 Tablespoon of Cornstarch after everything is mixed together.

Mix the shaving cream and cornstarch together until everything is mixed well and you can form a ball. If it is too wet, add 1 extra TB of cornstarch.

I would have stopped there. I wanted to take pictures. Document our success, and play with the dough. Legoman played with this for about 5 minutes. Cutting it, rolling it, and making star wars figures when he decided…Foam Dough recipe

It wasn’t Perfect. It was too Dry. (at least to Legoman)

I think foam dough is supposed to be crumbly and it was actually the right consistency, but I wanted to give him the freedom to explore and experiment. I did not want to take over. I wanted to just observe and facilitate.

Foam Dough

So more shaving cream was added. And more was added. And More was added. At this point, Legoman remembered making Ooblek and started to talk about how he was turning his “solid” foam dough into a liquid.

Now the goal had changed… He was no longer trying to make Foam Dough. Now he wanted Oobleck. If you are unfamiliar with Oobleck, it is a substance that is both liquid and solid depending on the amount of pressure you put on it. It is usually made with corn starch and water, but apparently can be made with shaving cream.

oobleck

Were We Successful At Making Foam Dough?

He played with this mixture for over an hour. He discussed the textures. He estimated, measured and recorded the amounts needed. He used reasoning and problem solving to adjust his recipe. He predicted the reasons it changed states of matter. He received tactile sensory input. He felt empowered by leading his own investigations. If I alter my idea of successful to be geared toward the process; then this was a huge success. If I judge this experiment solely on the final product, then I would call it a fail.

You decide!

Now for the fun part…

Would you call this recipe a success or a fail? Do you have a favorite Foam Dough recipe that you consider a success or do you have a fail you want to share? We want to see! Link up your recipes or post pictures to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Google+. Tag your pictures with #ilovesensorydough.

Be sure to check out each blogger, as we will each provide a different take on the dough, some of us with have the BEST recipe ever, while others (probably me) will show you our attempts (both failed and successful)

You can read more about each Co-hosts and more about the Series  or follow along below:

Lemon Lime Adventure~Look! We’re Learning!~Glittering Muffins~Still Playing School~

Little Bins for Little Hands!~Natural Beach Living~The Eyes of a Boy~Powerful Mothering~

Wildflower Ramblings!~I Heart Crafty Things~Delightful Learning~The Life of Jennifer Dawn

Please read the following guidelines before linking up.

  • Share family-friendly posts related to the month’s theme. Feel free to link old or new posts that highlight your favorite recipes for sensory dough. Failures and unsuccessful attempts are welcome.
  • We ask that no posts are linked with copy/paste recipes from other sources. If you use a recipe from another source, please link back to the original recipe.
  • By linking up, you give permission to share your post and one photograph in future posts and through social media channels.
  • Visit 2-3 other posts that others have shared. Discover new ideas and meet new friends!

The linky will remain open for two weeks. On the 12th of each month, all co-hosts will post a new dough with their spin, highlighting at least one post from the month before and pin each post to the 12 Months of Sensory Dough Board.

Cloud Dough

February: Cloud Dough

‘); // ]]>

FREE DOWNLOAD

Discover how to get siblings to get along even when all they do is annoy each other with the Sibling “Get Along” Poster Pack!

32 thoughts on “Foam Dough Experiment in Proportions”

    1. I agree. I would call it a success too. Although I am a little envious (“dough envy”) of your beautiful dough. Thank you for hosting with me!

    1. It’s actually pretty funny how many things we turn into experiments or math activities in this house. I wish I was as good at connecting to social studies 🙂

  1. I love that you were so exact about making it! And that you let your son go crazy with the shaving cream 🙂 Thanks so much for hosting!!

    1. I agree. I would call it a success as well. However, I have “dough envy” looking at some of the others posted today. What a great collection of Foam Dough.

  2. Definitely a success! I love the way you give them absolute freedom in the science experiment and how they record all of their findings. I am looking forward to your posts every month in this format! 🙂

    1. Thank you for your encouragement. I believe that children are able to explore their world if we just facilitate their learning. I am really enjoying this series and am so happy everyone else is too.

    1. Thank you. It is something I try very hard to do. But sometimes I can’t help and I jump in. I really wanted to jump in and “fix” the dough. But I didn’t!

  3. OMG wow, this is just one of those things that excites me. I am constantly trying to come up with ideas to keep my son interested and that aren’t too messy, this is one of them and I have the ingredients, yay! Thanks a heap for linking up with Mummy Mondays. !

    1. Thank you. I hope you can join in and link up each month. Next month is Cloud dough. My boys are getting really excited.

  4. That is fantastic! I hope you link up! Even though we should be doing next months dough, I want to try everyone elses now. They are so fantastic!

  5. Would you believe I’ve never made this before! I have to try it. So easy!

  6. Pingback: Shaving Cream Activities For Learning Fun | Lemon Lime Adventures

  7. Pingback: 100 Sensory Activities to Celebrate 100th Day | Lemon Lime Adventures

  8. Pingback: Baby Safe Cloud Dough - Lemon Lime Adventures

  9. Pingback: Cloud Dough: Experimenting with Perfection - Lemon Lime Adventures

  10. Pingback: Portable Sensory Bins: Alphabet Scavenger Hunt - Lemon Lime Adventures

  11. Pingback: Edible Playdough: The Best Recipe Experiment - Lemon Lime Adventures

  12. Pingback: 15 {Fantastic} Sensory Play Ideas - Kids Activities Blog

  13. Pingback: 12 Sensory Play Ideas to Encourage Hands On Learning - Lemon Lime Adventures

  14. Pingback: Portable Sensory Bins: Lego Storytelling - Lemon Lime Adventures

  15. Pingback: The Ultimate FUN Shaving Cream Ideas for Kids! - Blessed Beyond A Doubt

  16. Pingback: Chocolate Cloud Dough – Kid Safe, Edible, and Totally Fun!! 12 Months of Sensory Dough

  17. Pingback: Define Foam Up – Your Source of Health

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CONNECT WITH ME

Scroll to Top