Earth Day 2013 is just around the corner (April 22). This fun Planet Earth Playdough Invitation is a creative way to activate your child’s background knowledge and initiate a conversation about caring for our planet.
Handmade playdough mats are an exciting way to introduce new concepts and extend your child’s learning. I created space playdough mats for the boys from black construction paper and space stickers. When the scenes were finished, I covered the mats in clear contact paper.
- 1 cup of flour
- 1/2 cup of regular kosher salt (flaked kosher salt = smooth playdough!)
- 1 TBSP vegetable oil
- 1 TBSP Cream of Tartar
- Food coloring (green and blue)
Stir the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until the mixture forms a ball and pulls away from the pan. Knead the playdough until it is smooth. Cook two batches of playdough, one green and one blue. When both batches are ready, break them in half and swirl the green and blue together until you are holding a ball of playdough that resembles Earth.
Place the space playdough mat on a table with the Earth Playdough, space toys, and a miniature flag (make one from white paper and a toothpick). Here is how I lured the boys away from their superhero toys to come see the invitation:
Are there any astronauts in this room that are ready to blast off into space? (The boys came running over to me.)
Rocket launching in 5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1. Blast off! (I picked up the boys and flew them towards the table!)
While the boys were playing, I told them that a special holiday, Earth Day, was coming up soon. I explained that Earth Day was a day to celebrate our planet and to remember how important it is to take care of it. I asked them for their suggestions of how we could celebrate. They both had some great ideas that I will be sharing throughout the next few weeks!
Does your family honor and celebrate Earth Day?
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