Dandelion Playdough

LESSON 3

Use dandelions to make pigments that can be used to dye playdough as you create a sensory play-based experience.  

  • 1-2 cups of yellow dandelions heads

  • 1 cup of boiling water

  • 1 cup of flour

  • 1/3 cup of salt

  • 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

  • 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar

  • Blender

  • A whisk

  • A pot 

Materials

  • Gather materials.

Preparations

  • Guide children in collecting dandelion flowers, ensuring safety and emphasizing respect for nature.

  • Provide clear and simple instructions for making dandelion playdough, assisting children as needed.

  • Foster creativity and exploration during the playdough activity.

  • Facilitate a reflective discussion at the end of the lesson, allowing children to share their experiences. 

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children learn the different uses and benefits of dandelions discussed in the lesson.

  • Children participate in collecting dandelion flowers to make playdough.

  • Children follow instructions to create dandelion playdough.

  • Children engage in open-ended play with the playdough, sculpting dandelions through their life cycle stages.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

Practice saying the poem “Dandelion” together with the actions you came up with.

Dandelion

Dandelion fluff, 

Floats on a breeze. 

Tickles my nose, 

And makes me sneeze. 

 

Some see a wish, 

Some see a seed, 

Some see a medicine, 

For those in need.

Activity Flow

  1. Begin by reflecting on the previous lesson by having a discussion with your child about the life cycle of a dandelion. Some questions you might ask: 

  • What do you remember about our exploration of dandelions in the last lesson?

  • Can you tell me about the different parts of a dandelion that we learned about?

  • How do you think the dandelion garland we made represents the life cycle of a dandelion? 

2. Next, initiate a conversation with your child about the usefulness of dandelions. Despite often being seen as pesky weeds, dandelions have many benefits. Begin by asking your child if they know how dandelions could be helpful to humans, animals, or insects. Then share some of the benefits below with your child. 

  • Attracts pollinators: Dandelions are like a snack bar for bees and butterflies! When they visit dandelions, they spread pollen to other plants, helping them grow. Bees can also use their nectar to create honey.

  • Nutritional value: Dandelion greens have lots of good stuff in them, like vitamins A, C, and K, plus calcium. You can eat them fresh in salads or cook them like spinach.

  • Tea: Dandelion root tea is a special kind of tea that can help keep your liver strong. It might taste a little bitter, but you can mix it with other herbs and honey to make it taste better.

  • Culinary uses: You can make tasty treats with dandelions! Use the flowers to make yummy jelly, cookies, or cupcakes. You can add the leaves to soups, stews, or stir-fries. Since dandelion greens are a bit bitter, they're often cooked with other yummy things to make them taste just right.

  • Natural dye: Did you know you can make your own yellow dye from dandelion flowers? Just boil the flowers in water and strain the liquid to get the dye. You can use it to color fabric create paint, or dye Easter eggs. 

3. After discussing the benefits of dandelions, introduce today’s activity by telling them that they will be using dandelions to make yellow playdough. Ask them what part of the dandelion will help turn the play dough yellow?

4. Head outside to collect 1-2 cups of yellow dandelion flowers. If desired, you can also collect the leaves to make green playdough or use green food coloring. When you’re finished, return home to make the playdough. 

Dandelion Playdough

  1. Begin by removing the yellow petals from the green stem and leaves until you have 1 cup of petals.

  2. Bring a cup of water to a boil, then remove it from the heat.

  3. In a blender, mix the hot water with dandelion petals. If you're also using the leaves and stems, repeat this step with more boiled water.

  4. Once the dandelions are well blended, pour the mixture into a pot. Add salt, cream of tartar, and vegetable oil, then mix well until the salt dissolves.

  5. Mix in 2 cups of flour until fully incorporated.

  6. Place the mixture over low to medium heat and stir until it starts to come together, resembling playdough.

  7. Repeat steps 3-6 if you're making green dough. You can also make a portion of dough undyed. 

5. Encourage open-ended play with the playdough you've created. Use the colors (yellow, green, and white) to sculpt a dandelion through its various stages in the life cycle. This hands-on activity is a fun way to reinforce and practice what you've learned.