Exploring Shapes with Play Dough (18–36 months)
Text on screen: 18 to 36 months. Exploring shapes with Play Dough.
Logo: Count, play, explore – for early education.
On screen: In a classroom, three children sit at a low table as they use small rolling pins to flatten play dough on trays in front of them. The children then cut out a variety of shapes with cookie cutters. An educator kneels between the child in the middle and the child on the right, watching as the child on the right presses a star-shaped cookie cutter into a mound of blue play dough.
Educator: Oh, you made a star. That’s a star shape.
On screen: The educator then turns to watch as the child in the middle presses a triangle-shaped cookie cutter into the dough. The educator points to the resulting shape in the dough.
Educator: What shape are you pressing into your play dough?
Child 1: A shape.
Educator: That is a shape. That’s a triangle shape.
On screen: The child in the middle picks up a circle-shaped cutter and presses it into the dough. The educator points to the circle-shaped imprint in the dough.
Child 1: What’s that?
Educator: A circle.
On screen: The educator notices that the child on the far left has picked up a circle-shaped cutter, too, and is pressing it into the dough. The educator stands up, moves to the left, and kneels between the child on the left and the child in the middle.
Educator: Can you stamp there?
On screen: The child on the left points to the circle-shaped imprint in the dough.
Child 2: Circle.
Educator: You made a circle.
On screen: The educator watches as the same child picks up a heart-shaped cookie cutter and presses it into the play dough next to the circle they made.
Child 2: Square.
Educator: It’s close. This is a square.
On screen: The educator picks up a square-shaped cookie cutter. She holds it up for the child to see and uses her finger to trace the four sides of the square. She places the square shaped cookie cutter down. She points to the heart cookie cutter the child is holding.
Child 2: Wow.
Educator: Square. You made a heart.
On screen: The educator is kneeling at the table between the child in the middle and the child on the right. The child on the far left has cut a circle out of the dough and walks over to the educator to show her.
Child 2: A circle!
On screen: The child in the middle holds up a piece of flattened dough for the educator to see. The educator responds to the child in the middle.
Educator: Yes, you made a shape. What shape did you make?
Child 2: Circle!
On screen: The child from the left hands the educator the circle and returns to their seat. The educator responds.
Educator: You made a circle.
On screen: The educator hands the circle to the child in the middle, who squeezes the dough, vocalizes excitedly, and holds it out to show the educator. The educator points to the dough and responds.
Child 1: Aahh.
Educator: Oh, what shape did you make?
Child 1: [indistinct]
On screen: The educator points to the play dough on the tray in front of the child in the middle.
Educator: This is a triangle. What shape is this one?
On screen: The educator points to the play dough the child in the middle is holding.
Child: Triangle.
Educator: This one’s a circle.
Text on screen: A special thanks to the children, families, and staff of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools’ Lighthouse Development Center without whose help these videos would not have been possible.
Logo: Count, play, explore – for early education.