Engage children in a FUN and EDUCATIONAL activity as they play with space-themed playdough mats. This set comes with one mat for each letter in the ALPHABET, perfect for hands-on learning.
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Your preschool child or kindergarten student will learn the alphabet as they play their way through outer space. This printable Space Playdough Mat set provides a fun space themed activity where kids can learn each letter while having a blast!
I LOVE how this ABC printable set is so versatile for your home or classroom and can be used in multiple ways, repeated, and adapted as your child learns so you get more uses out of it. The playdough mats can be used in a multi-age/multi-ability setting where kids work at their own level to learn letter recognition, letter sounds, handwriting, and reading.
Each mat has a simple design to encourage natural learning through play! Starting with the letter A, the mats have a guided playdough design for kids to follow, helping them avoid any creative frustration, and can stay focused on learning.
Each playdough creation will be of items that can be found in space like J is for Jupiter, M is for Moon, and S is for Sun. It’s a perfect way to introduce your kiddo to new space themed science words.
Benefits Of Using Playdough In Learning
Kids LOVE playdough, so activities that include playdough are naturally inviting and successful because kids want to do them. This increases the time they are engaged with the activity which in turn increases their learning.
Playing with playdough also helps with motor skills and hand strengthening as they roll, kneed, and shape the dough and work hand muscles to make space-themed shapes and words.
Playdough activities also appeal to kinesthetic learners, those who learn best through touch and action. (Read about Sensory Learning Here)
About the Outer Space Playdough Mats
There is one playdough mat for each letter in the alphabet to help kids learn the sound (phonics) of each letter.
Each mat includes an uppercase and lowercase letter and the words, “____ is for _______,” to help students learn to read site words. This section is also written with 3 lines and can be traced if your child is ready to practice handwriting. I suggest laminating the mats and letting your kids use dry erase markers so the activity can be done more than once. If you don’t have dry erase markers you can have them use the eraser end of an unsharpened pencil to trace the letters so they can still practice pencil grip and muscle movement.
There are playdough letters at the bottom of each mat that describe the picture. These letters can also be colored in, or kids can roll out playdough and shape it into the letters. The font looks like playdough pieces, and can help guide kids to form each letter which is a nice way for younger kids to learn letters without the pressure of writing them.
A is for astronaut
B is for Big Dipper
C is for crater
D is for dust (space dust)
E is for eclipse
F is for falling star
G is for galaxy
H is for Halley’s Comet
I is for International Space Station
J is for Jupiter
K is for Kuiper Belt
L is for Little Dipper
M is for moon
N is for Neptune
O is for orbit
P is for planet
Q is for quantum
R is for rocket
S is for sun
T is for telescope
U is for UFO
V is for Venus
W is for wind (solar wind)
X is for X-rays (space X-rays)
Y is for yellow dwarf star
Z is for zodiac constellations (zodiac)
Alphabet Playdough Mats
How to Use the Playdough Mats: Tips For Parents/Teachers
This activity is geared towards young kids so it should be kept fun. Model how to use the playdough mats by showing kids how to roll the dough and place it on the mat. Point to the picture, then point to the words and read them. This way they can learn the site words and learn to use the pictures to help them figure out how to read unknown words.
If you are having your child trace or color the letters, show them how to follow the lines on the top of the mat and/or color the words at the bottom of the mat
Encourage Play
The set includes 2 BONUS FREE PLAY MATS. Give your child plenty of playdough and let them create. Add small items like mini erasers, buttons, or other loose parts to let them come up with their own space themed picture.
Get the Printable Here:
Add to the Fun:
- Rocket I Love You to the Moon Craft (Free Template)
- U is for Universe Playdough Activity
- How to Make a Constellation Mobile Craft
