Play Dough Small Group

 I don't do small groups like I do in kindergarten. In my room, we go to school 4 days a week.  We have small groups three days. I try not to have them on Monday's.  I am usually introducing centers or adding something that takes time, so I want to get them moving on to centers quickly.

I wish that I could share my small group plans, but my computer crashed and I can't access those plans. :(

I do think that I printed out a hardcopy though lol maybe I can find that ASAP to share :)

The break down, after the first month our schedule is math/science, ELA, and fine motor/art.

The first 26 weeks for fine motor/art is easy as we use Pocket of Preschool's Letter Book.

Now back to the first month of school.  We have a small group to cover all the school supplies.  Some of my students have never held a pencil before.  We get Pip certified as well.

I read the Pip Play dough book as a whole group.  We practice what Pip does in the book.  Then we use these cards from Tara West. Yes, I make them too.  I let them use my smelly play dough during this center.  When we get Pip certified (which we can show that we can make the cards, clean up our messes, and put the lid back on) I put out their individual play dough containers.   I got these smelly dough from Dollar Tree.

Read about how we get Pip certified here.

Grab the cards HERE.

I do have an order but I don't know what that is now lol

I think we pinch first, maybe lol

I show them the card and we do it together.  
While they are working, I have them try to make at least their age. 

Making sure that everyone has at least made one.

Then when everyone has some, we stack them.

We take one off at a time and 

then we press our fingers in them.

Now we make logs.

Then we roll those logs into snakes.

Finally we cut them up.

You can use plastic knives, 

I used some long handled stampers as my knife.

Then we make a big bolder with the dough.

Sometimes, all of it is too much for their little hands.

Then we use rolling pins.

I borrow so I can have enough 

rollers for everyone to try.

We have many rollers but some have patterns and

I want these to be plain because what's next is

Time to use cookie cutters!

I try to grab everyone's initial.

When we're done,

I have them make a boulder and 

turn it into a cylinder to fit back

inside the container.

I remind them not to shove the dough

into the container because then it is difficult to get out.

I do teach them how to get it out with

that long handled stamp though.

Then we practice putting the lid on tight and

getting it open as well.

I put those cards on the ring in the play dough bin.

The following weeks, I add 

these cards from HERE.

Read all about Pip here!!!!