Dough Creatures

Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive
In this technology activity, learners light up the room with electrifying play dough creations. Learners use conductive and insulating homemade play dough to build simple circuits. Learners then build a battery-powered creature that can light up and/or buzz.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
45 to 60 minutes
Learning Time:
1 to 2 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:
Over $20 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Types:
Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
Language:
English

Materials List (per group of students)

  • mixing bowl
  • wooden mixing spoon
  • saucepan
  • hot plate or stove
  • 2 airtight containers
  • measuring cups/spoons
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup salt
  • 3 tbsp. cream of tartar
  • 4 tbsp. vegetable oil
  • food coloring
  •  ½ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. granulated alum
  • ½ cup deionized or distilled water
  • 4 AA batteries or 1 9V
  • battery holder or connector
  • 4 to 8 LEDs, 1.9–2.4 V / 20 mA–40 mA
  • paper and pencil
  • electric buzzers 2V (optional)
  • aluminum foil (optional)
  • switch (optional)
  • wire terminals (optional)
  • soldering iron (optional)
  • assorted craft supplies (optional)

Keywords

Subjects

  • Engineering and Technology
    • Engineering
      • Electrical Engineering
    • Technology
  • Physical Sciences
    • Electricity and Magnetism
      • Electric Charges and Currents
      • Electric Circuits
    • Energy
    • Vibration and Waves
      • Light and Optics
    • Structure and Properties of Matter
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Conducting Investigations
  • The Nature of Technology
    • The Design Process
      • Research and Development
      • Invention and Innovation
      • Problem Solving
      • Troubleshooting and Maintenance

Informal Categories

  • Arts and Crafts
  • Electronics
  • Toys

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • hear
  • touch

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills
  • Involves hands-on or lab activities

Culture, ethnicity, and gender

  • Girls

    • Explicity developed for this group
    • Acknowledges this group's contributions to STEM
    • Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
    • Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
    • Uses inclusive images of people from this group

Other

Components that are part of this resource:

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2010

Funding Sources:

  • National Science Foundation, 0813519
  • ExxonMobil