Playdough Spiders

Title of Activity: Play Dough Spiders

Age/Grade of children: grade K-4
Group size: 6-13
Materials Needed: play dough, drinking straws
Alaska Early Learning Guideline(s) OR Alaska Content Standard Addressed:
(A) A student should be able to create and perform in the arts. A student who
meets the content standard should (1) participate in visual arts, (3) appropriately
use new and traditional tools, (C) A student should be able to critique the students
art and the art of others. A student who meets the content standard should: (1)
know the criteria used to evaluate the arts.
What is the Purpose of the Activity (in your own words why are you doing
this activity? To provide students with an opportunity create insects using play
dough as body parts and drinking straws as legs.
Procedure: (the steps you would take in implementing the activity)

1. introduce activity and materials used

2. introduce use of materials: play dough, drinking straws
Evaluation: (how will you know the children achieved the purpose?)
Students will actively participate in activity.
Extensions: How would you make this activity more of a challenge for advanced students?
Encourage students to make a variety of insect parts to enhance their creations, ie: abdomen, head,
thorax, and legs
How would you make this activity appropriate for less advanced students?
Encourage students to make basic shapes to make their insects, ie: rolling dough between their hands
to make a ball.