Geometry with playdough and toothpicks

Use playdough and toothpicks to learn about and experience Geometry in a fun, hands-on way!

Discovering the concept of Geometry is so much more fun while playing! Use playdough and toothpicks in this classic, hands-on activity to learn about shapes on a 3-dimensional level. Also check out our Colors and Shapes Ebook)

Shape recognition are an important building block in children’s early development because it forms part of visual perception- a skill needed for reading and mathematics, for example.  This activity, to name a few:
– Develops literacy and language skills
– Reinforces key math concepts
– Teaches comparisons
– Develop problem solving.

We used homemade playdough and toothpicks to make different shapes. We started out with some 2D shapes and named them as we went along:

Then we moved onto 3-D shapes and gave them the correct names like cube, cone and cylinder. This way the children learned how to pronounce and recognize the 3-D shape according to the attributes (how many sides, corners) of the shapes. They discovered which shape is the most stable(engineering skills), the triangle of course! PS: Get printable cards HERE!

To reinforce the learning experience take everyday items and compare them to the shapes. Here are a few ideas:
– A party hat as a cone-shape
– A ball as a sphere
– A can of cooldrink as a cylinder
– A dice as a cube.

And then of course we just made some funny things as well, creating  with the playdough and toothpicks.

A fun way to use playdough and toothpicks to learn about and experience Geometry!

More Playdough Resources to check out!