Early years activity: Making, shaping and exploring dough
This is an easy, accessible activity that encourages creativity, sensory exploration and expands vocabulary. In this activity children create their own dough and get to explore its properties by mixing, rolling, stretching and shaping it into various forms. It’s a fun way to incorporate early learning concepts such as shape, colour and numbers while encouraging creativity and providing an opportunity to express imagination.
Making, shaping and exploring dough learning aims
This early years activity will help children to use their:
- Creativity and imagination
- Fine motor skills
- Sensory development
- Vocabulary expansion
- Early maths concepts – shape, size, numbers.
Resources you will need
- 2 cups of flour
- 1 cup of salt
- 1 tablespoon cream of tartar (optional – gives a smoother texture)
- 1 cup of water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Natural food colouring (optional)
- Bowls for mixing
- Measuring cups (or any cup – use same consistently for all ingredients)
- Various tools for cutting and shaping.
Making, shaping and exploring dough activity outline
- Measure out the ingredients. Using cups makes this accessible to most children – you could use it as an opportunity to discuss and use the concepts of ‘full’, ’half full’
- Mix the flour, salt, and cream of tartar (if using) in a large bowl
- In a separate bowl, mix the water, vegetable oil, and natural food colouring (if using)
- Slowly and gradually, pour the wet ingredients into the dry – another great opportunity to discuss and use the concepts of ‘dry’ and ‘wet’ and then observe/discuss what happens to the ingredients when combined
- Stir continuously until a dough begins to form
- Knead the dough on a clean surface for about 5 minutes. Encourage the children to describe how it looks, smells, and feels as they knead (some children may not be able to resist tasting)
- Continue to explore the dough using hands and/or tools, for example, knives, forks, cookie cutters, pizza cutters, objects for imprinting etc.
- Store in an airtight container for longer, sustained use.
How to extend this activity
Create a ‘recipe’ which the children can follow independently to make their own dough. Encourage conversations about mixtures that are too dry, too sticky, etc. and how they can adjust the recipe to make sure they have the consistency they want.
NDNA products to support you with this activity
Expressive arts and design – face to face training
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
- Activity
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