Activity

Playdough

Summary
Home made playdough is cheap and easy to make. It takes half an hour and needs a stove.
Science content
Chemistry: States of Matter, Properties of Materials (K-7)
Chemistry: Physical Changes, Solutions, Mixtures and Separating (2, 4, 5, 6)
Materials
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 1 cup salt
  • 2 cups water
  • food colouring
Procedure

This recipe makes just over 2lb.

Mix ingredients together in a pot over medium heat.
Stir constantly as the mixture heats up.
Once it starts to make a paste, remove from the heat, keep stirring until it is all playdough consistency.
Put in a large ziplock back and knead every few minutes as it cools.
Keep sealed.

If some of the playdough dries out, just knead it into the mass again.

Double this recipe makes enough playdough for a class of 24 students, with a golf ball-sized piece of playdough each.

Grades taught
Gr 1