Teacher Gift

My girls like to give the new teacher a gift on the first day of school.  For the last couple of years we have been decorating organizers that we get at the office supply store.  We add pens, pencils, paper clips, rubber bands, and sweet treats.

We use 3D paint or puff paint to write the teacher's name.  The girls decided to decorate their pencil boxes too.

Playdough

Homemade playdough is simple to make using ingredients from your pantry. It is smooth and softer than store bought brands. Kids love to play with playdough all year long. It is the perfect activity for a cold, rainy day, home-from-school-snow day, and summertime.

When I was teaching I always put a handful in a plastic bag and handed them out on the first day of school. Add some cookie cutters, plastic utensils, and various shapes and you have a wonderful birthday, holiday gift, or party favor.

Materials:
1 cup water
2 teaspoons food coloring
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar

Step 1: Mix water, food coloring, and oil together. Then mix in other ingredients.

 Step 2: Cook over medium heat (stirring the whole time) until dough forms a ball.

*Store in an airtight container. It should end up looking like this: