SKILLS TO PRACTICE

• Use a large lump of playdough and roll it with both hands (a "log")
• Keep rolling the playdough until it gets longer and longer (is it a snake yet?)
• Break that into pieces, keep rolling (maybe pieces of rope?)
• Roll the playdough with both hands (start from the middle, moving towards ends)
• Try rolling playdough with one hand (for small, short pieces)
• Roll playdough until the rope/snake breaks into pieces (oops! too thin!)
• Roll two pieces near each other, until they join back together
• Coil a long piece of playdough around itself (making a rug or snail or snake
• Form letters or shapes or pictures with the long pieces
• Practice braiding with playdough
• Use old scissors to cut the pieces
• Use a butter knife for cutting playdough into tiny bits
• Poke with toothpicks or a fork or pencil
• Make playdough bracelets (let air-dry to save and wear later)
• Make freeform shapes, flowers, or animals

PROJECTS WITH ROLLING PLAYDOUGH


1. Use colored salt dough to make rugs for the dollhouse. These will air dry hard and last for years, if they don't get wet.
2. Use any colors to make snakes, or start with white to make the snakes, and then paint them.
3. Use ropes to form letters. Bake or air dry, then glue to a piece of heavy cardboard, for a room decoration.
4. Make fake food to fool people with -- pretzels are especially fun to make.
5. Make a coil pot.

BUT DOES IT HELP WITH SCHOOL?

Yes, rolling playdough helps teach concepts and build skills that are important for academic success.

* Increase vocabulary especially in the area of math and science, by learning words about size, shape, and position, comparisons, and concepts such as cause/effect.

* Improve hand strength and finger coordination they need to hold a pencil and write nicely.

* Good Character. It really can be tricky for a young child to learn how to roll smoothly, without lumps and bumps in the rope/snake, and they'll develop their patience, determination, and problem solving skills while they figure this out.

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