Pretend Play with Play doughs (Make whatever you want!)
Date: June 29, 2022
Time: Work & Small Time
Facilitators: Jasmine, Sifat, Simran K
PROPS USED
Play dough, Printed sheets (different shapes made on it), and scissors
What was the activity?
Here, the kids were supposed to cut the play dough at one table and roll the play dough into long thin lines to put them over the geometric shapes.
Improvisation: The activity was improvised since the kids were enjoying playing randomly with the play doughs. They engaged in pretend play where they gave different shapes to the playdoughs.
Why did we plan this activity?
Fine and gross motor skills: Arthlings engaged in cutting the playdough with scissors, and then shaped and made diverse patterns with them, all of which enhances fine and gross motor skills.
Creativity & Imagination: The toddlers were encouraged to wear their imaginative hats and explore making different patterns out of the dough. For instance, they were introduced to clay bangles, clay rings, clay burgers, and clay pizzas with the dough.
Sensory Experience: Play dough provides a wide range of tactile sensations and learning exposure for the kids while they roll, cut or dab the play dough.
Social skills: The kids were invited to share their burgers and pizzas with their friends that the educator made out of the playdoughs. Eating together and waiting for your turn are an important social skill for this age group.
Cognitive skills: the kids developed the concepts of form, shapes and colors while playing with the doughs.
The Series of Steps engaged in?
Today, two tables were set up, each with different coloured play doughs. One table (held by Jasmine) had the printed sheets for geometric shapes making and another table (held by Sifat) had scissors for cutting the play dough into smaller pieces. The arthlings were invited by showing them different coloured playdoughs.
How did it go? (Finally!)
Today the work time was carried ahead and from cutting the doughs and making geometric shapes, the activity was taken forward into ‘Small time’ activity where they engaged in forming advance level shapes like food and ornaments from the playdough. Many kids participated in this activity today, including Daksh, Neyansh, Prisha, Ratujit, Ayaansh, Shivansh, Janya, Jasvi, Taksh, Vanya, Atharv Gupta, Aaradhya, Kaira, Radhya and Yasha. Prisha, Aayansh and Neyansh seemed interested in cutting while all others had big smiles on their faces while making and pretending to eat clay pizzas and burgers. Radhya and Kaira seemed to connect more with the idea of making ‘Roti’ (chapati) with the doughs while the remaining roamed around wearing clay bangles and rings. Vanya, Atharv Gupta, and Ratujit also got excited with the idea of putting play dough over their noses and chin. Overall, The activity turned out to be quite interesting for the class and eventually they helped in cleanup time by putting the clay back into the trays.
