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Saturday, December 10, 2011

the power of peppermint play-doh

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.



I sit here writing this while my 3-year-old makes a "flesh-eating penguin" (his words, not mine! Certainly he didn't learn that from me?!) out of some peppermint play-doh. It's soft. It's super-pliable, and we LOVE 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!


Here is my wunnerful no-dry super-soft peppermint play-doh recipe! The trick is in the cream of tartar and the vegetable oil...it's the BEST recipe I've ever used!


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!


photo of: Peppermint Play doh Recipe from We Heart Art @ PreK+K Sharing

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:

Toys in the Dryer blog hop!
Living Intentionally blog hop

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!

27 comments:

  1. 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.

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  2. I 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!

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  3. I'm your newest follower!!!! What a great idea!


    Also, wanted to share my new GIVEAWAY with you :)
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    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

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. This is great! I'm definitely going to try this~ and I've already "pinned" it! :)

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  6. I've been wanting to make my own play doh to use at home. I really want to try this!

    Stopping by from TGIF!

    Brittney
    www.moms-heart.blogspot.com

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  7. 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!!

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  8. We 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,
    Beth =-)

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  9. 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)

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  10. Hi! Visiting from Sundae scoop. Thank you for the great recipe! Ill have to make some for my kiddos.. I cant wait to try it. :)

    I would love for you to share this at my Friday link party if you get a chance :)

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  11. this is such a great idea and such a fun kid's gift.

    megan
    craftycpa.blogspot.com

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  12. 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!

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  13. Wow this is awesome and just may try it!
    Thanks so much for sharing!

    Lori

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  14. 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!

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  15. Awesome 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/

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  16. Joanna....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!

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  17. Just wanted to let you know that I featured YOU today! Come check it out and grab a cool button:)

    http://kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com/2011/12/good-morning-sunshine_19.html

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  18. does 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!!

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    Replies
    1. I'm not sure! I used all-purpose. Stay basic ;)

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  19. Thanks 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.
    Peggy Ashbrook
    www.nsta.org/earlyyears
    http://nstacommunities.org/blog/2009/12/13/making-playdough-is-science/

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  20. 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!

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  21. Hi 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
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.com/

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  22. Happy 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!

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  23. I pinned this and it went crazy. Love it . Hope you will visit my blog sometime: Kindergarten for Teachers and Parents. Have a wonderful day.

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  24. Children will definitely love this peppermint play dough. Thank you for sharing your ideas with us. Keep posting.

    child care San Antonio

    ReplyDelete

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