Stimulate children’s senses with our Scented Playdough Activity that encourages children to look at, smell and feel the playdough throughout the stages of the activity.
MATERIALS
Other
- Porcelain mortar and pestle 25121328
- Kettle 18884867
- Assorted herbs and spices
EARLY YEARS LEARNING FRAMEWORK
Early Years Learning Framework Outcomes:
Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity.
1.2 Children develop their emerging autonomy, inter-dependence, resilience and sense of agency.
Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.
3.2 Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing.
Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners.
4.2 Children develop a range of skills and processes such as problem solving, inquiry, experimentation, hypothesising, researching and investigating.
Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators.
5.3 Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media.
PROCESS
1 Sift 2 cups of flour with 4 Tbsp cream of tartar into a large mixing bowl, then mix in 2 Tbsp of cooking oil.
2 Pour 500mL of boiling water into the jug and mix in 1 cup of salt until dissolved.
3 Slowly pour salt water into the dry mixture. Using the wooden spoon, mix continuously until all the water is added and the dough comes together.
4 Let the dough cool slightly until it’s cool enough to touch. Then tip dough out onto a bench and knead until smooth.
5 Lay the playdough, mortar and pestle, chosen herbs and spices on the bench so the children can access them.
6 Demonstrate to the children how to use the mortar and pestle by showing them how to crush the herbs/spices and point out the different smells and textures they can create.
7 Encourage the children to add the herbs/spices to their playdough, demonstrating how to incorporate them through kneading.
ACTIVITY QUESTIONS
Open-ended questions that can be asked during this activity:
- What can you hear when you are crushing the herbs/spices?
- What can you smell?
- What can you see is happening to the spices when you crush them?
- Why do you think they are changing?
- What does the playdough smell/feel/look like without the herbs/spices?
- What do you think will happen to the playdough when you mix the herbs/spices in?
- What does the playdough smell/feel/look like now that the herbs/spices are mixed in?
