We brought out our salt trays for the children to explore this week and will continue to bring them out over the rest of the school year at different times. Â This week, we invited the children to explore salt tray printing and writing…
It always seems, now that I look back, that January is a good time to introduce the salt trays. Â Up until this time, we spend time in the sand and salt and through other means of play scooping and pouring and digging (and we will continue to do so) but by this time of the school year the children are more ready to focus and use the salt trays for printing and writing…
I always discuss the salt tray process  with the children first to give the children a few boundaries and understanding of why the salt trays are out and how they are to be used.  The children easily understand that the salt trays are different than when we play in the sand table or our other sensory tray play…
To invite different types of printing and writing, I like to set out cookie cutters with the salt trays. This week, we were talking about hearts so I set out heart shaped cookie cutters along with the salt trays…
I have found that if the children can blend a little creative printing along with the salt tray writing, that it stays more interesting and inviting to give the salt tray a try…
Some of the children like to print their names in the salt while other enjoy printing with the hearts while others prefer a combination of both…
It is important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t overfill the tray with salt. A shallow amount of salt in the tray produces a better result when the children are using their fingers or other tools for writing or drawing or printing…
It is also important to remember that if the children are asking for more salt in their trays, the chances are that they are wanting to scoop and play with the salt versus print or write in it. Â If they really need to scoop and play – offer up a second table for this purpose so the children will keep the salt tray process focused on writing rather than on sensory type play…
My students really took their time with the salt tray writing this week and we will continue to add gradual changes to the process or materials so they will stay interested in the salt tray writing process…
We did not have a “right” or “wrong” approach to the writing and printing process. It was and is and will continue to be an invitation to explore the writing and printing process…
As the children print or write in their tray, they simply erase their work by giving the tray a little shake…
The shake-to-erase method is partly what makes salt tray writing and printing such an inviting process. With a little shake, the writing or printing disappears and you can begin again…
I am excited to bring back the salt trays and like last year, we will expand on our use of the salt trays over time…
And every good salt tray experience almost always ends up with the best handprints ever!!
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