Saturday, January 14, 2012

Calm Down Jar

This is one of my new favorite things. It works like a charm in the classroom and I can think of no reason it wouldn’t work great at home too. Meet the “calm down jar” 

(I used plastic for the ones in our classroom for extra safety)

Here is how it works: When a child is having a difficult time settling down, is throwing a fit, or just needs some time gather their thoughts, they can go to a special area in our classroom and use the calm down jar. They shake it up, set it down, and watch all the little pieces of glitter settle. I tell my students that each little piece of glitter is like all their thoughts and feeling swirling around in their body and mind. As the glitter settles, so do their thoughts and feelings. As soon as they are calm again, they come an rejoin our class. This is usually no more than 2 minutes and makes a world of difference in communicating with students. Have you ever tried to talk sense into a child that's throwing a fit? Just doesn’t work... but this certainly does!

Here is how to make your own: 
Fill up an old bottle (empty water bottles work great) with warm water. 
Add a drop or 2 or 3 of food coloring (blue is supposed to be calming, so that’s what I use).
Add half a bottle of Elmer’s gel glue.
Add any color and sized glitter you like... I like mixing colors and sizes. 


Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions!

4 comments:

  1. Live in the UK haven't got elmer gel glue what can I use instead

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  2. Same here relating the glue. Which glue should I use... What are the ingredients in the Elmer Glue?

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  3. Clear tacky glue, clear school glue, glitter glue the thicker the.better. i alwyas use tacky glue

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  4. Or corn syrup or part glycerin part water

    Of all the ways clear tacky glue and or thick glitter glue is how i like it

    ReplyDelete