Age Group

Preschool
Kindergarten

Supplies

pink playdough, white navy beans, cardstock, white glue

Description

This is a fun and easy craft/activity you can do with preschoolers during a theme on Dentists / Community Helpers. 

It incorporates skills, such as:

* learning about your body (teeth and gums)
* fine motor skills (rolling playdough, manipulating small objects)
* math skills (counting, relating number to quantity)

Beforehand, cut 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock in half.  Can write or print on the top of the cardstock sheets "How many teeth?  10 on top and 10 on the bottom".

First, explain to children about their teeth and visiting the dentist at circle time or through a story (click here for books about the dentist).  Explain that they have (or will have) 10 baby teeth on top and 10 on the bottom, for a total of 20 teeth in their mouth. 

Next, have children make playdough gums by rolling out small pieces of pink playdough between their hands (to make a long "snake").  Add a curve of glue on their cardstock and have them adhere their pink playdough gums (one for top gums, one for bottom).

Then, have them count out 2 groups of 10 white navy beans (10 for the top of the mouth, 10 for the bottom) - and have them press them into the playdough gums. 

This idea was adapted from activities on the "Preschool Playbook"  and the "Our Crafts N Things" blogs.

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