<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7473-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-983" alt="plastic sea creatures" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7473-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a>

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<p style="text-align: center;">After a few too many hours on Pinterest, I scrolled past a link to Montessori-style play involving Jello.  I just couldn't resist this cute but messy idea.  They buried zoo animals in green jello, but we have a collection of plastic sea creatures.  So, we chose blue jello.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7478-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-984" alt="animals in jello" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7478-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">I mixed up 4 large boxes of blue Jello to fill one of these great plastic bins.  I use them all over my house for organizing and fun.  My mom collects them at work for me.  I think they originally contained parts for hip replacements.  Yay repurposing!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7505-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-988" alt="jello sea creature hunt" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7505-2.jpg" width="362" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">I placed a few on the bottom and poured over the first layer of Jello.  I then let it set up a little.  I used my deep freeze to speed up the process.  Once the first layer was set and the creatures were stuck in place, O added another layer of animals.  We poured more Jello over the top -- make sure you don't put super hot Jello in or it will melt the existing layer.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7493-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-986" alt="toilet paper tube butterfly" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7493-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">O got bored and anxious waiting for the Jello to set.  We decided to make use of the toilet paper rolls that I have been saving by creating a butterfly.  We also had on hand foam hearts for the wings and pom poms for decoration.  Think spring and it will come, right?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7490-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-985" alt="butterfly craft" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7490-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">The girl loves using glue.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7499-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-987" alt="toddler butterfly craft" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7499-2.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">Can you tell that O decided on the placement of the eyes?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7510-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-989" alt="montessori jello play" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7510-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">We poured in the final layer and let it set.  I put it in the freezer, but the drawback to that is that it was a little too cold for her hands when she started playing with it.  I'd suggest refrigerating and having patience, maybe even taking it out of the fridge for a few minutes before play.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7565-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-990" alt="jello animal hunt" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7565-2.jpg" width="378" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">She was skeptical at first.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7584-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-991" alt="jello play" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7584-2.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">But, she got into it more and more as she realized there were "prizes" buried in the artificial sea.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7606-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-993" alt="bathtub fun" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7606-2.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">O loved the feeling of the Jello on her toes.  She did start to turn into a Smurf, but the long soak in the tub post-play took care of her blue feet and hands.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7599-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-992" alt="jello hands" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7599-2.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">AHHH!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7609-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-994" alt="sea creature hunt" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7609-2.jpg" width="409" height="500" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">We must have reburied the creatures 1,000 times.  It was then that I realized you could just let the Jello set up without any creatures in it initially.  Then, use your hands or a spoon to break it up and bury the animals down inside.  You do have to use a lot of Jello, though, to be sure that everything is sufficiently covered.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7621-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-995" alt="jello clean up" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMGP7621-2.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">After we finished, I put the tub of jello and animals into the fridge.  We are hoping to use it again before her next bath.  She helped me to wash all of the Jello down the drain.  Lord, I hope that doesn't mess with our pipes!  What a fun sensory activity.  So many textures and feelings, watching it dissolve, observing the changes in consistency and temperature, lessons in counting, animal names and colors.  Projects like this and time with my girl make me feel so lucky to have been blessed a daughter like O.</p>
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