My name is Joanna Davis-Lanum and I'm the author and voice behind my classroom art blog"We Heart Art". Among other things I'm addicted to (photographing my two boys, anything crafty, crock-pot meals, colorful scrapbook paper, and home-fragrance items) I'm addicted to Pinterest. Recently I came across a little gem on Pinterest that has rocked my classroom. And my house. And my nose. And my inner-child. Behold the the power that is....
Peppermint Play-Doh!
Most teachers don't enjoy using play-doh. It's messy. The kids mix the colors. The kids may eat it. We don't have time for it. It dries quickly. Kids with sensory issues don't like it.
Besides the creativity that abounds from a lump of play-doh, there are other obvious "plusses" to this "go-to" indoor activity! Play-Doh provides fun while increasing strength of those intrinsic muscles in their hands! It's great for dexterity and fine motor skills! It strengthens neuro-transmissions in the brain!...in other words, Play-Doh is supercalafragilisticexbealidocious!
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 Tablespoon Peppermint Extract (by the Vanilla Extract in the Grocery Store!)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup water
red glitter (optional)
red food coloring (optional)
1. Mix flour, salt, & cream of tartar in a medium cooking pot.
2. Add water, peppermint extract and oil.
3. Stir over medium heat 3 to 5 minutes stirring constantly.
4. When mixture forms a ball in pot, remove.
5. Knead until smooth. I use red food coloring to make some red and leave some white as well.
6. Store in any air-tight container or bag, or decorate to give as gifts---like me!
Now, beside this stuff being completely awesome and cute, there are some teaching extensions that you can use to make it classroom-worthy!
- Smell and Build: the aromatherapy of the peppermint extract will fill your classroom with this calming scent! Peppermint has been used as a calming agent for hundreds of years...it may be just what you need for your energetic kids on a cold day right before Winter Break! Encourage your students to describe the smell with words.
- Talk it Out: If you make the play-doh with the students, ask process questions while you're making it: "What will happen when we add the red food coloring?"
- Bead It: use these math mats! Have the kids roll the play-doh up into balls and practice counting!
- Just Beat It: Playing with and pounding on play-doh can offer all children a healthy and safe outlet for releasing extra energy and expressing their feelings!
- Still think that play-doh is just for fun? Check out this article in Young Children Magazine from 2005 outlining the pros to play-doh!
Play-Doh isn't just for child's play anymore...it can be a useful, tangible, therapeutic learning tool that you can use in your classroom! Do yourself a favor...and do your kids a favor...and plunge into some peppermint play-doh. You'll be glad you did, and you'll be hooked!
Joanna Davis is a National Board Certified Art Teacher and teaches at Garden Elementary School in Venice, Florida. She is a mom to two young, energetic boys, and sometimes besides kneading play-doh for therapy, she takes peppermint bubble baths! 
This post has been added to:
I Heart Nap Time link-up
Hi Sugarplum! Christmas Cheer link-up
Thirty Handmade Days Pity Party
Catch My Party link-up
La-la's Home Daycare Holiday Linky
The Girl Creative link-up
No Time for Flash Cards linky
C.R.A.F.T "Making Monday Marvelous" link-up
Somewhat Simple SYS linky
Craft Junkie Too linky
Crafts Unleashed Holiday Link-Up
The Grant Life Friday link-up
If I've left you off, my apologies, I think the peppermint is getting to my brain! Leave me a comment so I can right my wrong!
We love playdough over here too! I plan on giving some as Christmas gifts this year! I love the idea of storing it in a mason jar.
ReplyDeleteI love this! Thanks for visiting my site. I tried to copy and paste the Montessori link to my site but couldn't get it to work. I don't know if there is a limit as to how much i can put on my right column? Can you give me the link address again (forgot where I found it) and I'll try again. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower!!!! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteAlso, wanted to share my new GIVEAWAY with you :)
You can WIN a $20 Gift Card for Amazon and shop till you drop :)
Come by & enter to WIN!
http://www.ateacherstreasure.com/2011/11/treasured-giveaway-20-amazon-gift-card.html
Happy Holidays!
❤ Mor Zrihen ❤
A Teacher's Treasure
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I'm definitely going to try this~ and I've already "pinned" it! :)
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to make my own play doh to use at home. I really want to try this!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from TGIF!
Brittney
www.moms-heart.blogspot.com
As a home daycare provider, I LOVE play dough!!! Not a big fan of glitter, but we play with playdough a lot here! Love yours! I'm planning on making some for Christmas. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE playdough!! I love the idea of putting peppermint extract in it! And it looks sooooo cute in the jar =-) I am sharing this with my Facebook readers - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-Life-Intentionally/261252997248957 - Thanks for linking up at TGIF & see you next week,
ReplyDeleteBeth =-)
LOL that is totally something by boys would make with play dough! I love this! I used to make this every year when I taught pre-school - need to start making it again for my own kids :) Thanks for linking up with Girl Creative (coming from co-host Broken Treasures)
ReplyDeleteHi! Visiting from Sundae scoop. Thank you for the great recipe! Ill have to make some for my kiddos.. I cant wait to try it. :)
ReplyDeleteI would love for you to share this at my Friday link party if you get a chance :)
this is such a great idea and such a fun kid's gift.
ReplyDeletemegan
craftycpa.blogspot.com
I, too, have a candy cane play dough recipe bookmarked and can't wait to make it! Thanks for linking those mats - those are great!
ReplyDeleteWow this is awesome and just may try it!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing!
Lori
I just used your recipe and I was so amazed at how easy it was and how awesome the play dough turned out! This is my first year as a preschool teacher and this recipe just made it go a little smoother! I decided to use baby food jars to put it in and give one to each of my students as christmas presents! Thank you thank you thank you!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, Joanna! I had found it through one of the linky parties and added it to my Kids' Christmas Activities Pinterest board at http://pinterest.com/debchitwood/kids-christmas-activities/
ReplyDeleteJoanna....I love how this activity integrates our sense of smell and our kinesthetic sense of feel. Being a pianist, I can tell you that this activity would really help our little future pianists! My wife, who's a concert pianist, also agrees.... It's also lots of fun and fun is not fluff....thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that I featured YOU today! Come check it out and grab a cool button:)
ReplyDeletehttp://kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com/2011/12/good-morning-sunshine_19.html
Kim, thank you! Grabbing the button ;)
Deletedoes it matter if i use "all purpose" or "self rising" flour for this playdoh recipe?! and can i substitute reg vanilla extract for the peppermint? or maybe almond? thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure! I used all-purpose. Stay basic ;)
DeleteThanks for the idea of adding peppermint scent to the playdough. The cream of tarter recipe is my favorite too! Here are two resources: check out the science in making playdough at The Early Years, a National Science Teachers Association blog. MaryAnn F. Kohl's book, Mudworks: Creative Clay, Dough and Modeling Experiences, has recipes in the "cooking", "no cooking", "air dry", "bake dry", "edible", "caution", and “adult supervision always necessary” categories.
ReplyDeletePeggy Ashbrook
www.nsta.org/earlyyears
http://nstacommunities.org/blog/2009/12/13/making-playdough-is-science/
I used the same recipe for peppermint play dough last weekend. All I had on hand was 100% whole wheat flour. Turned out INCREDIBLY sticky! Nasty stuff. Bought some white flour tonight & will try again!
ReplyDeleteHi Joanna, this sounds like a really good recipe for playdough. I wish we had this when my kiddies were small. Thanks for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
ReplyDeletehttp://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.com/
Thank you so much!!!!!
DeleteHappy New year! My boys just love play dough and received a lot of new play dough toys for Christmas. I love the peppermint idea for Christmas, must save this idea!
ReplyDeleteI pinned this and it went crazy. Love it . Hope you will visit my blog sometime: Kindergarten for Teachers and Parents. Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteChildren will definitely love this peppermint play dough. Thank you for sharing your ideas with us. Keep posting.
ReplyDeletechild care San Antonio