• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

  • About Me
  • Sensory Play
  • Holidays
  • Places
  • Picture Book Themes
  • Growing Things
  • Ocean
  • Contact Me

Christmas Playdough

December 19, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Christmas playdough infused with cut lemon cypress sprigs and cut silk poinsettia leaves and bracts.

_______

This Christmas playdough activity incorporates lemon cypress branches and cuttings from silk poinsettias. The plant-themed playdough experience evolved from not being able to go on a well-loved field trip this Christmas season.

Most December months our preschool visits a local greenhouse. The children view a vast poinsettia display, smell a lemon cypress tree, participate in a scavenger hunt among cut Christmas trees, and go on a hayride. Then they plant a paperwhite bulb. The trip is always a highlight for preschool families.

This year the field trip wasn’t possible, so I decided to bring a small, feathery needled lemon cypress tree to preschool for the children to view, smell, and use in playdough activities. I wanted to include other seasonal plants as well but realized that most popular Christmas plants are somewhat toxic or poisonous to humans.

Chartreuse green lemon cypress trees for sale during the Christmas season.

_______

My preschoolers loved this playdough invitation, and your little ones will enjoy it too. Here are the instructions.

_______

Playdough Recipes

Make a favorite playdough recipe. Or use my go-to basic playdough recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 tablespoons oil

_______

Add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix them together.

Stir two tablespoons of oil into two cups of water.

Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Place the dough on a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding in one more tablespoon of oil.

Store the playdough in a sealed plastic bag.

_______

A lemon jello playdough works beautifully too. Substitute lemon jello for cherry jello in the recipe.

_______

The Christmas Playdough Experience

Show little learners a potted dwarf lemon cypress tree. This small, fine-textured evergreen is hand-trimmed to have a Christmas tree shape and is sold in pots at Christmas time.

Next, have your little charges rub a branch and experience the resulting lemon fragrance.

Give each child a lump of playdough, a few lemon cypress branches, and a pair of scissors.

Offer lemon cypress sprigs with scissors, cookie cutters, and erasers in a fragrant Christmas playdough activity.

_______

Have them cut the bright yellow-green sprigs into pieces and add them to their playdough. Using the scissors to cut the playdough is fine for them to do too, as it strengthens their little fingers.

Then give little ones a few silk poinsettia leaves and bracts to cut and blend in.

Scissor Invitation with playdough and silk poinsettia leaves and bracts.

_______

Offer additional supplies such as rolling pins, plastic pie cutters, wooden sticks, and Christmas-themed cookie cutters and erasers.

Lemon cypress scented holiday playdough invitation with cut silk poinsettia leaves and bracts.

_______

When blended, the plant parts add pops of seasonal color to the playdough and give it a Christmassy look.

Offer this lemon cypress scented playdough invitation with cut silk poinsettia leaves and bracts.

_______

Tip: A coleus plant can be substituted for silk poinsettia leaves and bracts, as it isn’t poisonous. I plan to take one indoors to save for this activity next fall.

_______

Other Ways To Experience Lemon Cypress Plants

Let your little learners use a mortar and pestle to grind and crush lemon cypress branches. A pleasant, citrus aroma will soon fill the air.

Using a mortar and pestle with lemon cypress sprigs brings out the lemon fragrance.

_______

Or invite little ones to add Christmas decorations to the tiny tree.

Decorate a potted lemon cypress tree with Christmas decorations.

_______

Related: Santa Claus Playdough Tray

_______

You may also like:

Llama, Llama Holiday Drama Sensory Bin

Llama themed sensory bin inspired by the picture book "Llama, Llama Holiday Drama" by Anna Dewdney.

_______

Build A Christmas Tree Steam Activity

Invitation to build a Christmas tree from clear plastic serving trays, plates, and cups. Decorations and lights embellish the tree. A family STEAM activity with many opportunities for learning.

_______

Don’t forget to share this post on Pinterest or your favorite social media channel. Sharing is caring!

Christmas playdough infused with cut lemon cypress sprigs and cut silk poinsettia leaves and bracts.

_______

© Annette Kaminsky December 19, 2021

_______

Follow me on social media for more ideas:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok

Filed Under: Christmas, playdough, preschool, trees Tagged With: Christmas, playdough, sensory play

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Annette Kaminsky. I am a preschool teacher who loves to share easy and fun early learning activities. Thanks for visiting my blog. Feel free to stay awhile!

Instagram

puttingtheprettyin.preschool

St.Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray #StPatrick’s D St.Patrick’s Day Playdough Tray
#StPatrick’s Day #HappyStPatricksDay #playdoughtray #sensorydough #playdough #handson #tactileplay #preschoolactivity #homeschoolpreschool #Edmontonblogger #Canadianblogger #Canadianteacher #teacherblogger #celebratetoday #green #yellow #homemadeplaydough #playdoughfun #greenandgold #kindergarten #puttingtheprettyinpreschool
St. Patrick’s Day Pretend Play Tablescape #StPa St. Patrick’s Day Pretend Play Tablescape

#StPatricksDay #shamrocks #pretendplay #dramaticplay #playkitchen #preschoolactivities #kindergartenactivities StPatricksDaydecor #earlylearning #playideas #tablescapes #tablescapestyling #StPatrickstheme #StPatricksDayparty #puttingtheprettyinpreschool
Easy Setup Polar Bear Small World Easy Setup Polar Bear Small World
Beautiful spray paint snowflake silhouettes for an Beautiful spray paint snowflake silhouettes for anyone who is having a snowy last week of February like we are. 😊. #snowflakesilhoettes #snowflakes #snowflakeart #spraypaint #spraypaintart #spraypaintartist #foodcoloring #prek #kindergarten #littleartist #outdooractivities #outdoorart #easyart #colorfulart #colofulartwork
Penguin-Themed Pretend Play Tablescape Penguin-Themed Pretend Play Tablescape
A little sunburst heart art activity using skin to A little sunburst heart art activity using skin tone pencil crayons. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #heartart #sunburst #pencilcrayonart #ValentinesDayart #blackhistorymonth #valentines #earlylearning #preschoolart #kindergartenart #artclass #artclassroom #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #pencilcrayons #skintones #skintone #artsupplies
A dessert restaurant dramatic play center perfect A dessert restaurant dramatic play center perfect for Valentine’s Day.
Llama-Inspired Winter Sensory Bin Llama-Inspired Winter Sensory Bin
Chinese Lunar New Year Sensory Tub Chinese Lunar New Year Sensory Tub
Chinese New Year DIY Decorating Chinese New Year DIY Decorating
Chinese New Year Sensory Bin Chinese New Year Sensory Bin
Winter-themed treasure blocks add interest to smal Winter-themed treasure blocks add interest to small world play. ❄️❄️❄️

#treasureblocks #blockplay #wintertheme #penguin #penguins #polarbear #polarbears #northern #northernCanada #Antarctica #looseparts #loosepartsplay #winterplay #puttingtheprettyinpreschool
This craft is popular on my Pinterest account righ This craft is popular on my Pinterest account right now. Link in profile leads to the New Year’s Craft blog post post with ideas for crafts and free printables to download.  #NewYears #NewYearsEve #newyearsactivities #newyearscrafts #2023 #ringinthenewyear #newyearcountdown #handprintcraft #newyear2023 #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #freeprintables #preschoolprintables
Have a few candy canes around? Try this super easy Have a few candy canes around? Try this super easy candy cane science experiment.  #candycanes #scienceexperiment #candyscience #Christmasactivitiesforkids #kidsscience #kidsscienceexperiments #candycanetree #treeart #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #preschoolscienceexperiment
These trees make a simple but showy last minute ar These trees make a simple but showy last minute art project.  #Christmastrees #Christmastreedecorating #treepaintings #treeart #treeartwork #easyart #prettytrees #monochromaticart #monochromaticpainting #kindergartenart #preschoolart #littleartist #littleartists #funwithpaint #pastelcolors #puttingtheprettyinpreschool
A spicy gingerbread playdough lets children experi A spicy gingerbread playdough lets children experience all the smells. This  no cook recipe let’s early learners help from start to finish. Recipe is on the blog. Link in profile leads to the post.  #gingerbread #gingerbreadplaydough #homemadeplaydough #loosepartsplay #Christmasplaydough #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #handsonplay #gingerbreadcookies #gingerbreaddecorating
Five festive Christmas sensory bins perfect for ho Five festive Christmas sensory bins perfect for holiday celebrations! Link in profile leads to the blog posts. 🎄🎁 🎄🎁🎄 #ricebins #Christmassensoryplay #Christmasplay #earlylearning #Christmaspartyideas #December #playislearning #playideas #playideasforkids #holidayvibes #Christmasvibes #Christmastime #prek #kindergarten #kindergartenclassroom #kindergartenactivities #prekclassroom #handsonlearning #puttingtheprettyinpreschool
Nine ideas for CD Case Christmas crafts that doubl Nine ideas for CD Case Christmas crafts that double up as blocks for block play. Link in profile leads to the blog post. 🎄⛄️🦌

#CDcaseart #DIYblocks #Christmascrafts #snowmancrafts #Christmastrees #treeart #Christmasbling #creativecrafts #snowmen #reindeer #Christmascrafting #craftsforkids #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #teacherofig #instateacher #prekteacher #eyfsideas #earlylearning
Remembrance Day everyday object printed poppy beca Remembrance Day everyday object printed poppy because “We Remember.”

#RemembranceDay #weremember #WeRememberThem #poppyart #printmaking #printmakingart #easyart #funart #meaningfulart #preschoolart #kindergartenart #artforkids #keepingkidsbusy #puttingtheprettyinpreschool
Have you ever heard of orange or yellow watermelon Have you ever heard of orange or yellow watermelon? They are featured in creative snacks in this watermelon-themed video. Link in profile leads to the blogpost.  #creativesnacks #watermelonsnacks #funsnacks #easysnacks #healthysnacks #watermelon #sunflowers #fruitskewers #popsicles #watermelonpopsicles #puttingtheprettyinpreschool #preschoolsnacks #teacherofig #iteachprek #iteach
Load More Follow on Instagram

Subscribe Via Email

Recent Posts

  • Outer Space Pretend Play May 26, 2023
  • Circus Playdough Tray May 21, 2023
  • Spin Painting Butterflies May 19, 2023
  • Tea Party Sensory Play May 14, 2023
  • Popcorn Spice Mother’s Day Craft May 13, 2023
  • Dot Marker Easter Bunnies April 8, 2023
  • Paper Plate Easter Basket April 2, 2023
  • Easter Peeps Houses April 1, 2023
  • Spring Bunny Play Tablescape March 27, 2023
  • Bunny Rice Bin March 26, 2023

Categories

Topics

block play bunnies Chinese New Year Christmas Christmas craft Christmas tree colors dramatic play Easter eggs fall flowers Happy New Year hearts holiday jewelry keepsakes leaves leprechauns light table loose parts New Year's Eve painting paper crafts playdough play kitchen pretend play printables process art pumpkins rice bin scented playdough science experiment scissor skills sensory bin sensory play sensory tray shamrocks spiders spring St. Patrick's Day sunflowers tablescapes Valentine's Day water play

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in