Play Doh Eggs like the ones below, come in handy packs of four, ten and of course, by the dozen. When children create with play doh, the only thing limiting them is their imagination. Activities can be structured targeted towards certain subjects like art, reading, writing, math, and science, or kids can simply use play doh to exercise their imaginations while improving their fine motor skills through shaping the doh. Here some clever ways to use play doh eggs, both at home and in the classroom.
Play Doh Eggs For Creative Learning Fun
1. Story Time
An excellent way for kids to use play doh eggs creatively in the classroom or at home is to use it to tell a story. Give your child or children a play doh egg and ask them to hatch and use the play doh to build and create characters for their own story. They can even use it to build sets and other items for their characters. If they’re studying a certain subject or you would like them to focus on something in particular, assign basic guidelines about what their characters and stories should be about. Finally, after they have had plenty of time with their play doh, each child can present his or her story to the class or to you. This activity encourages your children to exercise their artistic creativity as well as improving language and vocabulary.
2. Writing with doh
The play doh in play doh eggs can be used to mold nearly anything, and this includes words and letters. To familiarize your child or students with letters and words, as well as their shapes, have them use the play doh to ‘write’ words and letters. One way to do this is to find alphabet cookie cutters like Creativity Street Dough Cutters and use them as stencils for words and letters made with play doh. Kids can practice writing their alphabet and start forming words using play doh letters. If you don’t have cookie cutters, it’s as simple as printing and laminating sets of paper letters and using them as stencils. Kids will learn vocabulary, spelling, and the shapes of letters with this fun activity.
3. Following Directions Game
Following directions is an important skill for all children to master, and using play doh is a fun way to practice. Start out by giving yourself an area to work on your own play doh without your child or classroom being able to see it. Give each child a lump of play doh from one of the play doh eggs and instruct them to listen carefully as you give specific directions on molding their doh. As you give instructions, mold your own doh to your specifications. You can make the instructions easy or as difficult as you like, depending on the age of your child and what you are trying to teach. When you are finished, share your own creation with your child and allow them to compare how closely they were able to follow your molding directions.
4. Play Doh Mat
For play doh playtime, consider a convenient play doh play mat like the Play Doh EZ Mat. The mat is designed so that play doh doesn’t stick to and the graphics provide inspiration for play time. With the drawstring, clean up is extremely easy; put the play doh away in the play doh eggs and then just pull the entire mat closed with everything inside. Hang it up for storage or use the handle to carry it and use it as a portable toy. The mat is large enough for two kids to play on comfortably.
5. Energy and Attention Management
Often, children that struggle with paying attention in the classroom or have difficulty focusing or keeping their excess energy in check will benefit from having something do with their hands. Play doh is a useful tool for managing these difficulties. Whether it’s an entire classroom of children or your child studying at home, give them a bit of play doh to fidget with while they are listening, reading, doing homework, or even taking a test. With their excess energy channeled in to their play doh, they will more able to focus on the lesson or the task at hand.
6. The History Of Tools
When exploring history with children, one area that you can focus on is the history of tools and the way that people have used them, as well as how they have changed and improved civilization. Combine play doh from play doh eggs and and tools like these fun Dough Tools for a hands-on lesson on how tools change the way we work and create. Dough tools are just another fun way for kids to engage their imaginations to play and create creatively with their play doh.
7. Play Doh Pictionary
Because you’re not drawing anything, it’s not actually the game ‘Pictionary’, but play doh can be used in a similar way. Instead of drawing the clues, one member from each team must use play doh to form a representation of an assigned ‘secret word’. The other team members have a certain amount of time to guess the secret word or phrase based on the play doh sculpture. Teams take turns guessing their secret word and the team with the most correct guesses wins. This is a fun game for families or the classroom and you can use specific secret words to emphasize certain subjects.
8. Play Doh Math
When learning basic math, it’s often helpful for children to have physical representations of the numbers they are adding and subtracting. While any number of items will work for this task, play doh works perfectly. It can be broken up easily into small lumps for counting and more, and then lumped back together and put away for next time.
9. Play Doh Art
One of the most simple uses of play doh is as an art medium. Children can create whatever they want with their doh, whether during art class or unstructured play time. Working with play doh to create sculptures exercises creativity and improves fine motor skills, as well as developing an appreciation for the arts. In order to use play doh again and again, take snapshots of your child’s play doh sculptures.
Do you have a creative way to use play doh eggs? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, jfiess.