Playdough Task Cards

About this resource

Playdough task cards that grow with your students. Each mat has a big outlined number to roll dough over, a place to build that many with dough balls, and a trace-then-write line. Twenty number mats in three levels, 20 small task cards, finished models to show, and everything you need to run it and track it. The mats need no cutting; the task card sheets are trimmed once by the teacher.

WHAT IS INCLUDED - 34 pages

• Start Here page for the teacher (set up, the three levels, how to run it)
• A worked example with an invented student (labeled as invented)
• 3 finished mats to show students what "done" looks like
• 20 number mats, one for every numeral from 1 to 20
• A dough moves page: 8 moves (roll, pinch, flatten, squish, coil, pat, poke, twist), a tick box for each
• A dough tools page: 8 tools (rolling pin, cutter, plastic knife, mat, tray, garlic press, fork, stamp) with a "How do we use it?" fill-in line for each
• 2 sheets of small task cards (10 cards a sheet, 20 cards, numerals 1 to 20) to trim and laminate for a task box or a ring
• Level 1 (circle): numerals 1 to 5, a round target for each dough ball
• Level 2 (square): numerals 6 to 10, one ten frame to fill
• Level 3 (triangle): numerals 11 to 20, two ten frames (fill the first, then the second)
• A trace-then-write line on every mat, with a top line, dashed middle line and baseline
• A note for home
• Answer key
• A data sheet with a 1 to 20 number tracker and a dough moves and tools log

How It Works

Print the mats you need. Slide each into a sheet protector or laminate it. The student rolls a dough snake over the big number, makes small dough balls and presses one into each circle or cell, then traces and writes the numeral. Check against the answer key and mark the data sheet. Any soft dough or clay works.

What This Is, And What It Is Not

It is a print-and-go task box (the mats print whole; the 2 task card sheets are laminated and trimmed by the teacher). It is NOT a digital or interactive file, and it does not include dough, laminating pouches or sheet protectors.

Who This Is For

Special education teachers, interventionists, paraprofessionals and preschool or kindergarten teachers who want a hands-on counting and fine motor center with very little reading and three ways to make it easier or harder.