Materials
Self-hardening modeling dough, commercial or homemade
Food colors, blue and green What to do
- Using a globe, show children the location of their city. Talk about the shape of the Earth. Point out the difference between land and water.
- Purchase or prepare a batch of self-hardening modeling dough.
- Divide the dough into three equal portions. Leave one portion the natural color, add green food coloring to the second and blue food coloring to the third. Knead the dough until the colors areevenly distributed.
- Give each child some dough of each color. As they play with it, talk about the Earth. Explain that some of the Earth is dry, like the desert; some of the Earth is moist and green with plantgrowth, like the forest; and some of the Earth is completely covered by water, like the ocean.
- Have each child combine all the dough colors and form into a ball.
- Let the dough air harden (or bake on low for several hours to harden faster).
Self-Hardening Modeling Dough Recipe
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) salt
4 cups (1 L) flour
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water
1 1/2 cups (375 ml) water
Mix together all ingredients and knead. Susan Rinas, Parma, OH
| 
