By Betty Klem I'd like to share some of my favorite basic recipes for sensory activities that explore materials and the way they behave and react. All of these are tried and true. There are many newer recipes for potions and doughs. Playdough This is the standard for playdough and should be available in all early childhood settings. The basic recipe is: · 4 C flour · 2 C salt · 8 Tbsp. Cream of Tartar · 4 Tbsp oil · 4 C warm Water Mix ingredients in a large pot. The mixture will be runny. Cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, at medium heat until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan and is the consistency you want. Knead. There are many variations on playdough. To color it, add food coloring or liquid watercolor to the water before cooking. You can scent it with essential oils or extracts. When I was teaching, we found we needed to make a new batch weekly, and my grandchildren love to speculate o