Flower Patterning with Lemongrass-Scented Playdough
We had lots of fun making and playing with this playdough. And I absolutely love the fresh scent of the lemongrass essential oil (which I already had on hand from the Natural Mosquito Spray we made last year)!
There are so many learning-related things you could do with this playdough (in addition to just playing with it). We used some fake flowers (since I refused to cut the tulips in our yard) to do a little patterning. We also did a little one-to-one correspondence action with Little Brother.
Recipe for Lemongrass Playdough:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups salt
1 1/2 Tablespoons Cream of Tartar
2 1/2 cups water
5 tablespoons oil
Lemongrass essential oil (I used about 7 drops)
Green food coloring
1. Mix the dry ingredients first (2.5 cups flour, 1 1/4 cups salt, 1 1/2 Tablespoons cream or tartar).
2. Add 2 1/2 cups of water and 5 tablespoons of oil.
3. Get ready to add your green food coloring and lemongrass essential oil.
3. Stir over low to medium heat.
4. Once it thickens and congregates in the middle of the pan, stir just a tiny bit longer.
5. Throw on the counter and once it is cool enough to touch, knead several times.
6. Cover with a dish towel until it is cool enough to store in a sealable plastic bag.
Now for the pattern play:
Lay the playdough and flowers out on the table. It was SO beautiful outside today, we just HAD to do it outside. :)
If you have a younger child, demonstrate how to make a pattern for him/her. You might do the first couple pattern units (what repeats itself) and then let him/her finish.
If your child is older and familiar with patterns, ask him/her to see what different patterns he/she can come up with!
Having fun!!!
With Little Brother, we counted as we put each flower in the “grass”…
…but this is what he really wanted to do with it. :)
Who says boys don’t like flowers? My boys certainly do!
Looking for other playdough recipes? Try this chocolate-scented “mud” playdough and let your little one dig for (pretend) bugs in the mud! Or you can try making this DELICOUS edible playdough!
Love this!
I really love the flower play addition to the play dough. So colorful!
Janea, This looks like fun. I never made this particular recipe for play dough. Is this smoother than the recipe makeI without Cream of Tartar? Also, do you find that the food coloring gets on children’s hands? I’ve been afraid to add coloring for that reason, but it makes the dough so much more inviting. Thanks for the recipe and the pictures. Renee
I think the cream of tartar just helps to preserve it. We haven’t had any trouble with food coloring getting on our hands…and we played with it for quite a while. :)
Where did you get the colorful flowers??
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