Teach Soap

I am the craft lady for our annual Vacation Bible School. This year I want to make soap one night as a craft. We typically do crafts that can be carried home that night and not left to dry as some kids only attend for one night and it never fails that we have abandoned crafts left. My trouble is that I've only ever made soap using lard, lye and a lengthy boiling process. These are things I'd rather not try among a hundred or so children. So, my question here is... does anyone have a suggestion on a quick and easy (preferrably not potentially lethal) way of doing a soap project in a setting like this. I usually get about 15 mins with each class but I can do some prep work before each one arrives. Please someone offer me some outstanding advise that I've never thought of!

You can do Melt and Pour. Some simple molds and colors. They are done in like 20 minutes or so. Then they can just take them home with them.

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Haven

A couple years ago we made soap clay with the kids and they thought it was a blast. Shredded up bar after bar of ivory soap, added just enough water to moisten and make clay. The kids shaped the clay into hearts with cookie cutters. They were white hearts because God cleans our heart and makes us pure. The older kids got to shave a bar of soap with a popsicle stick into the shape of a heart.

I think the key to VBS is cheap and quickly accomplished with minimal supervision. At least at our 1000+ member church.

I like the soap clay idea!

Also - premade bases are easy. Things like bath salts, liquid soaps or lotions.... all the kids would need to do is pick their scent and color and stir it in. You could get blank labels for them to color as well.

Thanks for all the help. I'll keep these ideas in mind. VBS isn't until August so I have time to shop around for supplies. I'll keep checking here in case anyone else wants to pipe in.

Thanks again!!