📖

Poking and Pinching

Squishy Play Dough

Day 24of 180
Week 5of 36
20Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Develop fine motor skills by using fingers to manipulate play dough

2

Explore different textures by poking and pinching

3

Practice gentle, intentional movements

📖 Scripture Connection

Genesis 2:7

“Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

— Genesis 2:7 (WEB)

Just as God carefully formed humans, children will carefully form shapes with their hands

📦 Materials Needed

  • Play dough (multiple colors)
  • Play mat or plastic tablecloth
  • Small tray
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

In today's BibleMouse lesson, we're going to use our fingers to make special designs in play dough!

💭 Review Question: What did we do with play dough yesterday? (Rolling snakes!)
2Teaching (7 min)

Let's learn how to poke and pinch our play dough to make fun textures

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Gently poke the play dough with one finger
  • Use all your fingers to pinch and squeeze
  • Make bumpy and smooth areas
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What happens when you poke the play dough?
  • Can you make big holes or tiny holes?
3Activity: Texture Exploration (8 min)
hands-on

Children will create a play dough landscape with different textures

📝 Instructions:
  1. Take a piece of play dough
  2. Use your pointer finger to make holes
  3. Pinch some areas to make bumpy spots
  4. Try making smooth and rough areas
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent helps guide child's hand

Challenge: Try making a specific shape with textured areas

4Closing (3 min)

Look at all the amazing textures you made!

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did your fingers do to the play dough?
  • Did you make big or small holes?

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll make a big play dough sculpture!

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Fine motor skills are crucial for future writing and crafting

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Demonstrate slowly and gently
  • Let child explore without too much correction
  • Praise effort over perfect results
🤔 Common Struggles:

Some children might squeeze too hard or get frustrated

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Intentional finger movements and curiosity about texture

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Take photos of play dough textures
  • Talk about how God made things with different textures

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 25 →Back to Art