• Blog
  • Write for Us
  • About
  • Meet the Authors
    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Classroom Freebies

  • PK-2 Freebies
  • 3-5 Freebies
  • 6-8 Freebies
  • 9-12 Freebies
  • All Freebies
You are here: Home / All Freebies / Back to School Idea! Playdough!

August 3, 2018 · 3 Comments

Back to School Idea! Playdough!

3-5· All Freebies· PK-2

The students are coming! Whether we are ready or not!  They’re coming! It’s time for back to school! As teachers, we all know that those first few minutes of the first-day help set the tone for the whole school year!  So, how do we make the first few minutes of the first day of school productive, calm, and most importantly FUN?

PLAYDOUGH!  I love using playdough with my “twoodles” on the first day of school.  They are busy making stuff, talking to their new classmates about what they are making and talking to YOU, the teacher, about what they are doing!  They are engaged, happy, and learning about their new friends!  It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN!  I also let the students keep their playdough for the first week of school to help stave off the dreaded “I’m done!  Now, what?” that we inevitably hear until we have all of our classroom procedures set!   Read on about how I use playdough and playdough mats to help make back to school run a little smoother!

Fun back to school idea with a fun playdough mat freebie! #backtoschool #playdoughmats

 

Back to School! Here they are!  What are they doing?

So, it’s back to school and here come your new class.  They trickle in a few at a time.  Some with their parents, some on their own.  The students who came to open house so they know where their desk is and they are ready to go.  The ones that didn’t come to open house and are a little nervous!  They walk in the room and see PLAYDOUGH!  Hurrah!  I have a can of playdough on each desk with a fun mat with suggestions of things to make.  Of course, they are also welcome to go “freestyle” and do their own creating.

Fun back to school idea with a fun playdough mat freebie! #backtoschool #playdoughmats

 

Got fast finishers?

Playdough and mats are also a perfect thing for the kiddos who are fast finishers.  They can play with their playdough while they are waiting for their classmates to finish up! They LOVE to play with their playdough!  I usually let them keep their playdough and their mats in their desk until the third week of school.  Then, they take their playdough home and I collect the mats for next years class, or to put in my Maker Space, STEM/STEAM center, or with my indoor recess stuff!

Fun back to school idea with a fun playdough mat freebie! #backtoschool #playdoughmats

FREEBIE!

Now, of course, you want to try this in your classroom for back to school!  You can download this freebie!  I print both onto legal sized paper and laminate it back to back. I hope your students enjoy them as much as mine do!

Fun back to school idea with a fun playdough mat freebie! #backtoschool #playdoughmats

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking this out!  Don’t miss out on anything Primary Planet by signing up for my newsletter HERE!

You Might Also Like:

  • Last-Minute Leprechaun Fun!Last-Minute Leprechaun Fun!
  • 7 HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD STEM ACTIVITIES THAT KIDS WILL LOVE7 HOLIDAYS AROUND THE WORLD STEM ACTIVITIES THAT KIDS WILL LOVE
  • THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY (PLUS A FREEBIE)THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY (PLUS A FREEBIE)
  • FUN FALL STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS (Plus FREE STEM Posters)FUN FALL STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS (Plus FREE STEM Posters)

About Primary Planet by Hilary Gard

I am a teacher, mom, blogger, and teacherprenuer from the great state of Indiana! I have been teaching in the primary grades (k-2) for 18 years now! I love teaching all areas, but my favorites subjects are reading and writing!

« Ideas and Ice-Breakers to Get to Know Your Students
Reading Response Journal Freebie – Letters to the Author »

Comments

  1. Sandie says

    September 21, 2018 at 1:26 pm

    This is a wonderful classroom aid! Thank you! However, I cannot get it to print. 🙁

    Reply
  2. Dawn says

    July 2, 2021 at 10:30 am

    Hi! What a great idea! Where can I print the mat??

    Reply
  3. sandy glacet says

    August 6, 2021 at 11:56 am

    I would a copy of these

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Pin Us!

Proud Member of:

PEN Group Online, Inc.

SPECIAL COPYRIGHT NOTE
This site is copyright protected. Nothing can be reposted on this site (excluding the button features) without written permission from the author. This includes writing, photographs, images, and downloads. This blog is a collaborative blog written by a group of individuals, and each author owns and is accountable for his/her postings. Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, the author may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For questions about this blog, please use the contact form link located HERE.

*Privacy Policy*

Copyright © 2022 PEN Group Online, Inc.