Play dough nature printing in preschool

Today is National Play-Doh day!

Shara Lawrence Wiess of Early Childhood News and Resources is great about remembering special or unique holidays and this one of them – be sure to see all her ideas here!

I was trying to come up with something different to do with play-dough and my brother suggested that I try some nature printing. I didn’t have any play-dough on hand so I borrowed a recipe from Polwig and made my own!

I wanted to make fall colors so I added red, yellow and a mixture of red and yellow to make orange play-dough. I have to say that it only took me about 20 minutes to whip all of these colors up. I forgot how easy it really is to make your own play-dough.

Next, I went out into my back yard and gathered up some leaves, acorns, walnuts, and a few sticks. I wanted to find a pine cone but you should know that I started this so late that I was hunting for these things in the dark with a flashlight! I recommend taking your class out to hunt for nature items during the day – it is much easier :-).

I brought my basket of nature items inside then started playing. I pinched of a few colors of play-dough and rolled them out.

Then I selected nature items from my basket to press into the dough. I had no idea which items would leave a good print but found it really didn’t matter. There is just something relaxing and inviting about decorating the dough with the nature items.

My acorns and walnuts left nice deep prints. I could take them out of their spot then put them right back again – kind of like a puzzle.

My leaf print was a little more difficult to see. The stem was great but the leaf shape was a little more of a challenge to make and to see.

After I finished making my collage of nature on play-dough, I decided that this would be fun for the kids at school to try so I put the play-dough in little baggies and my walnuts and acorns in the basket to take them all with me to school. I will let the children go and find more leaves and other symbols of fall to add to the collection I have started.

Do you have any cool play dough ideas? I would love to hear about them.  Leave a comment below or linky up if you have a post so I can check it out!

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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