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Session 3:
Learning with Playdough

Activity
Playdough letters and words
Learners will develop
 Fine motor co-ordination
 Visual closure
Playdough stories
Learners will develop
 Fine motor co-ordination
 Storytelling skills
Playdough Activities
PLAYDOUGH ACTIVITIES
Language
Instructions Tips and Adaptations
You will need Tip
 Playdough Get learners to practise sight,
 Mats conceptual or theme vocabulary.
Instructions Possible adaptions for special
 Make sure you have enough dough for all learners and that each needs
learner has a mat to work on.  Let learners spend time
 Ask the learners roll long snakes from the playdough. playing with dough without
 Then get them to use the snakes to form letters and words. instruction.
You will need
 Playdough in different colours
 Mats
Instructions
 Divide learners into groups
 Let learners make their own imaginary characters.
 Get them to model the characters out of playdough.
 Then let them make up a story using their characters.
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Activity
Pick up playdough balls
Learners will develop
 Fine motor co-ordination
 Visual closure
Playdough Activities
Instructions Tips and Adaptations
You will need Possible adaptions for special
 Playdough needs
 Mats  Let learners with poor fine
motor skills start by picking
 Ice trays
the balls up with their
 Tweezers
fingers.
Instructions
 Divide learners into groups.
 Give each learner playdough in different colours, an ice tray and
a pair of tweezers
 Ask the learners to roll the play dough into tiny balls.
 Then let each learner have a turn to pick up the balls with a
plastic pair of tweezers. (Each member of the group can pick up
one colour.)
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 Playdough Activities

Mathematics

Activity Instructions Tips and Adaptations

Make playdough in class You will need

Learners will develop
 Fine motor skill
 Bilateral co-ordination skills
 Playdough ingredients (see recipe)
 Containers with a tight seal to store playdough in
Instructions
 Let learners measure out the ingredients using spoons, cups and
measuring jugs.
 Encourage them to use the mathematical language related to
measuring.

Make 2D and 3D solid shapes You will need Tips

Learners will develop
 Position in space
 Properties of shape
 Fine motor skill
 Bilateral co-ordination skills
 Playdough  Learners can copy pictures
 Mats made up of geometric
shapes.
Instructions  To extend the activity ask
 Give each learner a ball of dough and a mat. learners to describe, sort
 Ask them to follow instructions to make 2- and 3-dimensional and compare 3D shapes in
shapes. terms of solid and frame
 Let them explore the properties of shapes. shapes.
 Encourage them to express themselves using mathematical
language.

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Activity
Make 3D frames
Learners will develop
 Position in space
 Properties of shape
 Fine motor skill
 Bilateral co-ordination skills
Playdough Activities
Instructions Tips and Adaptations
You will need Possible adaptions for special
 Playdough needs
 Mats  Help learners by ‘cupping’
 Straws and guiding their hands as
they form the shapes.
Instructions
 Give each learner a ball of dough, straws cut to various lengths
and a mat.
 Get them to roll out small balls of dough.
 Give them instructions to make 3D frames shapes.
 They need to build the frames using balls of dough to hold the
straws in place.
 Let them explore the properties of shapes.
Encourage them to express themselves using mathematical
language.
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Activity
Life orientation
Learners will develop
 Sensory motor skill
 Fine motor skills
 Observation
3D models
Learners will develop
 Sensory motor skill
 Fine motor skills
 Observation
Playdough Activities
Life Skills
Instructions Tips and Adaptations
Tips
You will need  To incorporate creative arts
 Playdough in different colours learning, ask learners to
 Print outs of simple drawings related to life orientation topics include art elements (space,
 Laminator shape, colour line) in their
 A4 lamination sleeves models.
Instructions
 Laminate the print outs.
 Give a print out and different coloured dough to each learner.
 Let the learners fill in the details using dough.
You will need
 Playdough in different colours
 Mats
 Materials for decoration (beads, sequence, pipe cleaners etc.)
Instructions
 Let learners use the playdough to create 3-dimensional
models.
 Let them decorate their artwork with beads, sequences, pipe
cleaners and so on.
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 Links to CAPS

Links to the CAPS curriculum

Learners can develop a wide range of skills and abilities when they work with puppets. Here are some of the
CAPS objectives that puppet play is good for.

Language

Grade 1: Listening and speaking

 Listen to simple instructions and respond appropriately
 Describe objects in terms of colour, size, shape, quantity using correct vocabulary

Grade 1: Reading and writing

 Make plasticine or playdough models of letters and objects
 Participate in activities that strengthen fine muscles, and develop fine and gross motor skills and eye hand
co-ordination

Grade 2: Listening and speaking

 Listen to a sequence of instructions and respond appropriately
 Listen to stories and recount

Grade 2: Reading and writing

 Form upper and lower case letters correctly
 Depict main idea of the story

Grade 3: Listening and speaking

 Listen to more complex instructions and respond appropriately
 Retell the story

Grade 3: Reading and phonics (handwriting)

 Form lower and upper case letters correctly: directionality, formation and spacing

Mathematics

Grade 1: Space and shape

 Range of objects
o Recognise and name 3D objects in the classroom and in pictures, e.g. ball shapes (spheres), box
shapes (prisms)
 Features of objects
o Describe, sort and compare 3D objects in terms of size, colour, objects that roll, objects that slide
 Focussed activities
o Observe and build given 3D objects using concrete materials

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 Links to CAPS

Grade 2: Shape and space

 Range of objects
o Recognise and name 3D objects in the classroom and in pictures, e.g. ball shapes (spheres), box
shapes (prisms), cylinders
 Features of objects
o Describe, sort and compare 3D objects in terms of size, objects that roll, objects that slide
 Focussed activities
o Observe and build given 3D objects using concrete materials

Grade 3: Shape and space

 Range of objects
o Recognise and name 3D objects, e.g. ball shapes (spheres), box shapes (prisms), cylinders,
pyramids, cones
 Features of objects
o Describe, sort and compare 3D objects in terms of 2D shapes that make up the faces of 3D objects,
flat or curved surfaces
 Focussed activities
o Observe and build given 3D objects using concrete materials such as cut-out 2D shapes

Life skills

Grade 1: Creative arts - create in 2D

 Draw and paint pictures of self, using different media
 Print patterns with thick paint

Grade 1: Creative arts - create in 3D (constructing)

 Constructions with the emphasis on geometric shapes; discuss shapes
 Make models out of clay/playdough; encourage correct use of materials and tools
 Construct houses/imaginary shelters
 Make models of self in action in own environment using clay/playdough

Grade 2: Creative arts - create in 2D

 Create patterns using geometric shapes; discuss rhythm and repetition
 Draw or paint pictures related to topics of the term; focus informally on line, tone, texture, colour; talk
about geometric and organic shapes

Grade 2: Creative arts - create in 3D (constructing)

 Use clay to make and decorate containers; discuss pattern, geometric shape, line, discuss surface texture
and correct joining techniques
 Make clay models

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 Links to CAPS

Grade 3: Creative arts - create in 2D

 Formal teaching of drawing and painting and other: exploring a variety of media

Grade 3: Creative arts - create in 3D (constructing)

 Clay modelling: animals, dragons, pinch pots and other
 Art elements: shape/form, texture
 Teach simple modelling techniques: rolling, pinching, modelling; include surface textural treatment
 Use of tools: safety, consideration of others, sharing resources

Grade 3: Creative arts - visual literacy

 Art elements: identify and name all art elements
 Use artworks and visual stimuli to relate to own work
 Question to deepen and extend observation of elements and design principles

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 Additional Resources

VOCABULARY

Here are some important words to use when working with playdough:
 roll  knead  make
 push  squeeze
 pinch  model

ADDITIONAL VIDEOS TO WATCH

 How to make playdough - non-toxic, no cooking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSsHvlDf9_g

 Learning math with Play Doh

In this video a parent/teacher explains how she uses playdough to teach counting, addition and
subtraction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXL8vG_vzm4

 Making edible playdough!

Listen to this fun presentation on making playdough that will not make children ill if they should eat it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbm36DcdsSw

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES TO READ

 Learning with playdough

This is an easy-to-read article which contains a recipe for play dough which needs to be cooked. It also
shares 5 Play dough rules to be used in the classroom too.
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/top-teaching/2012/09/learning-play-dough

 Playdough ideas for kids: 39 ways to play and learn with playdough
This article is found on the site – The Artful Parent – and contains ideas for using play dough in
activities. If you are looking for ideas for using play dough, this page offers you 39 ideas, including
ways to create, build, play and learn.
https://artfulparent.com/2012/02/39-ideas-for-playing-with-playdough.html