Building fine motor skills at the apple tree play dough table

As part of our fun with apples, I thought it would be a good time to set out our homemade red play dough and invite the children to practice their skill of rolling the play dough to make apples for our apple tree…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

I created a tree with bare branches out of tape on our magnet board. On top of the tree, I added some red homemade play dough (made and donated to us by one of our parents) and cut-up brown pipe cleaners (Chenille Stems)…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

 

Here’s another game using pipe cleaners that helps develop fine motor skills

 

The children used their hands to roll the dough into apples and then added the pipe cleaners for the stems. Once they had an apple ready to go, they found a spot on our tree to place the apple…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

Some of the children would stop by the table and stay for quite awhile rolling dough and making apples while others would stop by for just a few minutes and then move on…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

I loved how the apple tree naturally invited the children to work their hands to roll the play dough especially since rolling play dough into balls can be quite challenging for young children…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

We had all sizes and shapes of apples added to our tree by the end of the day…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

Including this extra large apple. I wouldn’t want to be standing under the tree when this apple falls off the branch

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

And one of my students had the brilliant idea of bringing over our scales to weigh their play dough apples which added a new dimension of play to our apple tree table…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

And as you know, when one child comes up with a fun idea, more children will want to give it a try too…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

I never know where an idea will lead but it is always fun to watch my students take an idea and do something I wouldn’t have thought of…

Apple Tree Playdough Table by Teach Preschool

PS. You can read more about the Magnet Board being used for this activity here!

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Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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