Ricky Sticky Fingers

~A lesson about honesty & stealing~



Grade level:  K-5 (used in K – modify discussion for older students)

 Materials:

• "Ricky Sticky Fingers" by Julia Cook
• All-purpose white glue
• Sta-flo liquid starch
• Food coloring
• Ziploc bags – sandwich size

Procedure:

1. Lead a discussion with students about the word “honesty.”

·       What does “honesty” mean? 

·       What are some examples of telling the truth? 

·       What does it mean to tell a lie? 

·       Is it difficult to tell the truth - if you might get in trouble?

Move the discussion towards defining and discussing what it means to steal.

·       Is it ever OK to take something that does not belong to you, without asking?

·       If you see something you would like to use/borrow/have, what should you do?

2. Read the book "Ricky Sticky Fingers" by Julia Cook.  Pose relevant questions to students throughout the book.

·       Is Ricky making smart choices when he takes the bubblegum/ Slime Wads/ ninja?

·       How do the people he steals from feel when their items go missing?

·       Is Ricky being honest when his mother asks him about the stolen items?  What should he say instead?

·       How does Ricky feel when his bike goes missing?  Where do you think it went?

·       How does Ricky feel when he is honest and returns the stolen items?  How do the others feel?

·       Where was Ricky's bike?  How did it get there?  Why?

3. Summarize the book by reestablishing the importance of students being honest and asking for permission before taking things that don't belong to them.  Also discuss how to return an item & apologize if the student has ALREADY stolen it.
4. Introduce Slime Wad activity. 

Directions for making slime:

1.       Mix 1 drop of food coloring with ¼ cup of white, all-purpose glue until mixed completely.

2.      Mix in 1/8 cup of Sta-flo liquid starch and mix until slime is not sticky or wet.

***** Hints and Suggestions *****

·       This recipe makes each student about a ½” ball of slime – increase the recipe if you would like them to have more.  The ratio is 1 part glue to ¾ part starch.

·       Make sure the food coloring is mixed in well before adding the starch.  If not, the color will not mix and you will have colorful hands.

·       If using the Ziploc method, have students keep the bags in their hands so the contents stays thick, not spread out across the bag.

·       If the mixture is too runny/stringy, add more starch.  If the mixture sticks together but is wet, keep manipulating it in your hands until some of the starch dries.

·       Do NOT get this stuff in hair, clothes, or carpet.  You can sometimes rub it out or a vinegar/water solution is also supposed to be effective for removal. 

 

 

Slime can be mixed various ways depending on student abilities, # of students, and how much help you have.  Since I was working with a full class of Kindergarteners and had limited time, I had them mix their ingredients in Ziploc bags.  Before the lesson, I pre-measured the glue into each bag and added 1 drop of food coloring.  After reading the book, each student was given a bag and started by “smooshing”/ mixing the color into the glue.  Then I went around to each student and poured starch in their bags and allowed them to continue mixing without getting messy.  This kept them busy while I went around and helped individual students remove their slime from the bag.  The slime can be difficult to get out of the bag so I did it for them and then they manipulated it unit it became firm.  They played with it for a while and then I gave them each a new, clean Ziploc bag to take their product home in.