Mixing
Playdough
Themes:
I’m Me and I’m Special, Alike and Different, Colors, Five Senses, Light and
Dark, Bodies, Changes
Objectives:
Explore similarities and differences.
Materials:
·
mixing bowls
·
measuring cups
·
measuring spoons
·
large spoon for stirring
·
2 cups flour
·
1 cup salt
·
2 Tablespoons alum
·
1 ½ cups warm water
·
1 Tablespoon oil
·
paste food coloring
Description: With
the children, prepare five batches of playdough, one in each of the following
colors: black, brown, red, yellow and white.
Recipe: Mix
one to three tablespoons of food coloring with the liquid ingredients. Add
mixture to the dry ingredients and stir. Knead until smooth. Store in an
airtight container.
Procedure: Tell
the children there are five different colors of playdough and they can make
different colors by mixing two or three colors together. For example, combining
red playdough with white playdough will make pink playdough. Ask the children
to look at the color of their skin. Encourage them to mix different colors of
playdough so that their ball of playdough matches their skin color. As the
children experiment with combining the playdough, talk with them about the
concepts of new colors, shades of color, and lighter and darker.
Variations:
1. Make
a recipe chart that shows the children how to mix colors.
2. Put
each child’s ball of skin-colored playdough in a plastic bag and allow them to
take it home.
3. During
group time, see if the child can order the balls of playdough from light to
dark.
4. Leave
the five colors of playdough out on the art shelf for two weeks so that the
children can continue to experiment with mixing colors to match their skin
color.
Anti-Bias Activity
Goals (handout):
1. Provide
children with a positive experience exploring similarities and differences.
2. Recognize,
appreciate and respect the uniqueness, beauty, value and contribution of each
child.
3. Increase
children’s ability to interact, talk and play with people who are different
from them.
4. Help
children to be group members.
5. Foster
positive self-esteem and a positive self-concept in children.
“Mixing
Playdough” meets the above goals by allowing children to understand
similarities and differences. They will see that their playdough looks
different from everyone else’s playdough. They will be able to talk to the
teacher and the other children about these differences, and maybe some
similarities. They will work in groups, allowing them to talk amongst
themselves about the color of their playdough.
This
activity is appropriate for 2-4 year olds because they “define themselves and
others by physical characteristics such as skin color, hair color, and anatomy”
(York 16) and “want to know about themselves and others” (York 17).
I
chose this activity mainly because I love playdough. There is just so much you
can do with it. I liked this activity because it would be interesting to make
the different colors. The children can see the different combinations and what
colors mix together to make their skin tone. It is also good for explaining
what it means to be biracial because you are mixing two different colors to
make a new color.
Related Books:
It’s
Okay to be Different by Todd Parr: This book is filled with bright images and
simple statements that celebrate diversity with messages about self-acceptance
and understanding. “It’s okay to be you.”
Shades
of People by Shelley Rotner: Introduces children to the many skin tones that
exist in our world with this photo book of children. 
I believe that Mixing Playdough is a great activity
for children. I think it will really help children understand what it means to
be biracial and that nobody is “white.” Much like the activity shown in
Starting Small, the children will see that colors need to be mixed together to
create “white” skin. It is more pink or peach than white. I think it will be
fun for the children to compare what colors they had to use to create their
skin color.
