Lesson Plans for Playdough

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1 Lesson Plans for Playdough Rationale: Children are spellbound by activities and materials they can manipulate, change and transform. They are drawn to activities that involve all their senses because using their senses is the way they learn about the world. Through these kinds of activities, children observe, make predictions, and develop problem-solving skills. They learn about the world of science, physics, and mathematics, in appropriate, hands-on ways. (Curtis and Carter, Reflecting Children s Lives, 1996) Suggestions on How to Begin You might begin your exploration of playdough by going on a nature walk and collecting items such as twigs, pinecones, small pine branches, leaves, flowers, pebbles, bark, grasses Spend time looking at the collection of natural items using magnifiers, mirrors, tweezers, and tongs. Have children sort and classify the objects several ways. They may sort by size, shape, type, or colour. You might explore the various shades of brown or green by using paint to correspond with the colours of the natural objects in the collection. This might take several days to fully explore these natural objects. Children might want to draw some of the natural materials. Ask the children if they would like to make their own playdough? Over a few days you can make playdough with a small group of children. You might ask a parent to come in and do this with groups of children. To make the dough, boil water in a kettle. Have the flour, salt, oil and cream of tartar ready on the table. You will need a large mixing bowl and some wooden spoons, measuring cup and measuring spoons

2 Begin by giving children a small amount of flour to spread out at their table. The children will enjoy playing with the flour, so give them some time to enjoy the sensory nature of the flour. You can ask them if they know where flour comes from and what we use it for? You might even have some whole grains available to show the children that the flour is made from grain (wheat) that has been ground up (children do not always make the connection from farm to food on the table). Show children the recipe. Read it together. Ask children if they would like their own recipe? Have the children help you measure out the flour, salt, cream of tartar and oil. Let them feel the salt. Is it the same as the flour? How is it different? The children can take turns mixing the dry ingredients together. Have a container of water close by. Ask the children what they think will happen when oil is added to the water? Show them by putting a few drops of oil into the water (it floats). Oil in the playdough makes the dough soft and smooth. Ask them what they think will happen when you add the boiling water? Add the boiling water and the oil to the dry ingredients. The teacher should do this. For best results make sure the water is at the boiling stage. The children can help mix the dough once the boiling water and oil have been added. Dump out the dough onto a floured surface and begin to knead the dough. You can show children the part of your hands you use to do this. This is the same process bakers use when making bread. Break off a small piece of dough and give it to the children. The children can help you kneed the dough! Ask the children if they would like to colour the dough or add a scent. There are many things you can add to playdough to give it colour or scent. You can also leave the dough plain and add twigs, pinecones, branches, pebbles and other treasures. The lists below are some of the things you can do with playdough. You will think of many more as you explore this kit with your children.

3 Creating Colour and Scents: Things to Add Kool-Aid (add the Kool-Aid to the boiling water to dissolve it) Food Colouring Natural dyes (use the water from boiled onion skins, beets, or cranberries) Select one of the following: vanilla extract, lemon, peppermint, or lavender oil Put spices in small shakers for sprinkling such as cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, star anise, coriander, curry, turmeric, pumpkin pie spice For texture: mix in lavender flowers, cornmeal, rose petals, rosemary and other herbs, or lentils For sparkle: add glitter, sequins, or small shiny beads Found objects: pine cones, star anise, cinnamon sticks, cloves, twigs, pebbles, beads, shells, coins, small toys, wooden spools, toothpicks, leaves, pine branches, feathers, tiles, and more. The items used in the playdough creations, might be gathered on a nature walk with the children. Having magnifiers available helps the children look closely at the things they put into their playdough sculptures. Making Sculptures Children can use playdough to make sculptures. They can create collages by pressing dough into small papyrus pie plates and adding natural items. Let dry. Patterns and Designs Encourage children to explore and make discoveries using the wooden tools in the kit. Many of the tools will make many different types of marks and designs in the playdough. Teachers

4 might like to have a camera ready to capture the creations, particularly if they are to be taken apart after the children have made them. The photographs will become the documentation of the learning process. Children can reflect on what they made, how the dough felt, what they were thinking, what they noticed, what they discovered Other Explorations Cut playdough with scissors or metal cookie cutters, or small objects. Roll playdough into balls, ropes, snakes, logs, and other shapes. Create spirals, braids, animals, people, and more. Flatten dough into a slab and press in various objects to make patterns and designs. Pound, poke, pull, roll, push, press, are all ways children will use their hands when working with playdough. Roll snakes to form letters or numbers; use alphabet stamps to press into the dough. Use the form, included for children to draw (write) the steps used to make their playdough creation. Curriculum Connections Visual Arts -make 2-D and 3-D images -using a variety of design strategies, including elaboration and magnification -engage more than one of the senses -demonstrate an awareness that people make and use art -demonstrate respect for the work of self and others -identify the elements of colour, shape, line, and texture, and the -principle of pattern in images and in their environment. -demonstrate an awareness that a variety of materials, tools, -equipment, and processes can be used to create images -demonstrate care of the materials, tools, and equipment they use

5 Mathematics -demonstrate an understanding of repeating patterns by identifying, reproducing, extending, creating -sort 3-D objects using a single attribute -build and describe 3-D objects Science -use the five senses to make observations -share with others information obtained by observing -describe features of local plants -describe properties of materials, including colour, shape, texture, size, and weight -describe ways to rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle -demonstrate the ability to observe their surroundings -describe features of their immediate environment Social Studies -participate cooperatively in groups -gather information from personal experiences, oral sources, and visual representations -demonstrate an awareness of the concept of change Language Arts -use speaking and listening when engaging in exploratory and imaginative play to express themselves, ask for assistance, exchange ideas, experiment with new ideas or materials -use oral language to explain, inquire, and compare -connect what is already known with new experiences during speaking and listening activities -recognize that writing can be talk written down and that print carries a constant message

6 Guiding Questions To understand children s point of view you might consider the following: What are they trying to do in their play? What experiences, knowledge, and skill are they building on? What questions, inventions, or problems are they encountering? What do they find meaningful? Frustrating? Challenging? What might they want from you or their playmates? What s Next? This playdough kit will provide many hours of play. The children might use some of the materials in many new and novel ways. Take time to show children how to handle the items with care. These materials are designed to provoke curiosity and exploration of new ideas. The emphasis should be placed on doing to know. When the children have finished working with the utensils, you can let a couple of children wash and dry them with warm soapy water. Working with playdough might lead to explorations with clay, paint, collage, construction, pretend, role play, to name a few. Follow the lead of the children and you will have many hours of playful learning. Remember to take photographs. You can document this theme by taking photographs and doing reflective writing. (Reflective writing is your reflection of the process, the children s new learning, and anything that you might like to share with families, colleagues, and the children. Let us know what worked with your children. The ideas the children come up reflect their knowledge and understanding.

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