We made green play dough today, and it was not to make frogs. Although, I am sure that will happen at some stage this week.
My new 'Fun Play Dough' packet has students making 'monsters' to help with addition and fine motor strength.
All you need is the printed play dough mats (laminate them), some green doh and wiggly eyes.
Encourage your students to say the rhyme as they work with their dough. The rhyme will help remind them of the dough-manipulating skills you have taught them!
Rolling a ball to start.....
and patting with a firm flat hand down on the table to flatten and make a 'pancake shape'. This will make the monster body.
The rhyme tells the students how many eyes to count out...
And instructs them to share them equally amongst the monster eyelids. Students can finish off their monster by dragging their fingertip through the dough to make a 'frown'.
In this activity, your students are not only learning early skills for division, but essential play-dough skills that will help them bring their own creative ideas to life, and build fine motor strength. They are using different parts of their hands to create different effects with their modelling.
I am sure, like me, you have been surprised with how many students do not know how to confidently use play dough. A telltale sign is a desk covered in tiny confetti like pieces of play dough. These students just sit and shred the play dough into tiny pieces, rather than working with it effectively.
Not long after teaching them the basic skills and providing opportunity for practice, you will see huge improvements in their creations - and even their writing and drawing.
You can find my new Monster Play Dough Mats at TpT
Thanks for stopping by my friends! Have a great day!