Modeling Dough Prints

Ages/Grades

Preschool, Early Elementary

 

Learning Domains

Language, Fine Motor, Science

 

Materials

• • Modeling dough (any colors)
• • A variety of objects with different textures, such as shells, plastic animals, gems, buttons, beads, rocks, and pouch tops
• • Rolling pin (optional)

 

Ready, Set, Create!

• Lay out your materials on the work surface.

• Flatten modeling dough with your hand or rolling pin.
• Push objects into the modeling dough, with the textured side touching the dough, and pull objects out to reveal prints.

• Take photographs of these different textures to display around the classroom. Take notes and write down the words children use to describe their prints.

Engage Children in Conversation

• Comment on what you observe, such as “I notice you pressed buttons into your dough" or What do you think will happen if you press a shell into your dough and then an animal?”
• Ask children open ended questions that encourage critical thinking, such as:
• What happens when you press more than one manipulative into your dough? What do you notice about the patterns you created?
• What do you think will happen if you push your shell really hard into your dough? What if you only push lightly? Which technique do you prefer?
• What happens when you use the other side of your shell/button/animal to make a print in your dough? How does your print look different?
• For very young children, try asking “either/or” questions, such as “Are you using the shell or the animal to make a print?” or “Is your print bumpy or smooth?”

Extensions

• Learning about patterns in your classroom? Encourage children to create patterns in the dough with manipulatives (ABAB, AABBAABB, BBAA, etc.).
• Ask children to count the number of prints they make in their dough.

Modifications

• For younger children or those with fine motor challenges, use larger objects for printing in the dough.