Spider Play Dough Invitation
A super simple spider sensory play idea, this Spider Play Dough Invitation features homemade black play dough and is perfect for after reading one of our favorite spider books!
Spider Black Play Dough Recipe
This black glitter play dough can be used in so many different ways (and I have a few more ideas coming up) but today we used it to make a black spider play dough.
This would be perfect for playing with after reading a book featuring spiders, or to help children be less afraid of spiders during the fall when they seem to be invading the house (although if you live in an area with dangerous spiders, you may want to work in some spider awareness).
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Aaarrgghh! Spider! by Lydia Monks
Anansi the Spider by Gerald McDermott
Miss Spider’s Tea Party by David Kirk
While I made a homemade black glitter play dough, you could instead just add a bit of glitter to store-bought Play Doh. In fact, next time, I’ll probably go the store bought route, as homemade black play dough used up too much food colouring for my liking, and the version I made with black paint left the children’s fingers rather dirty (as you can see in the pictures).
Ingredients for Black Glitter Play Dough
- Water
- Vegetable Oil <– you can use melted coconut oil but if it’s cold where you are, it will make the play dough a bit tough at the start of playing (will soften with the heat of hands playing)
- Flour
- Salt
- Cream of Tartar <– I buy the big container or from a bulk store as those little jars are so expensive! A bulk container will last us for months of play dough making – and can also be used for soft sugar cookies, snickerdoodle cookies, etc.
- Glitter
- Black Paint or Black Food Coloring <– this set of food coloring has lasted me forever and I love that it creates highly saturated colors with just a drop
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Along with the play glitter play dough, I included:
- Googley eyes
- Pipe cleaners and straws for legs
- Yellow and red beads to make patterns
I like using these sectioned trays for our craft invitations.
How to Make Black Play Dough
Stir the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together while you are boiling the water.
Measure the boiling water out into a measuring cup and add the oil and paint. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir to fully mix.
Fold the dough out onto a floured surface and knead, adding handfuls of dough as needed to reduce the sticky texture. Knead for at least three minutes before cooling and giving to the children.
Usually I only need 2.5 cups of flour for homemade play dough, but this dough was so sticky that I kept adding more handfuls of flour. As a result, the dough wasn’t a pure jet black as I would have liked, but the thought of the children having sticky black play dough all over their hands
When we made the dough using black food colouring, the result was a deep navy blue.
Spider Play Dough Invitation
We did this spider play dough invitation after looking at some real spiders with magnifying glasses and discussing the parts of the spider. We found it fascinating that spiders had little hairs on their legs for feeling, several eyes, and sometimes patterns on their backs.
When I presented the play dough invitation, it was really cool to see how much of their observations from real spiders came into their spider models.
Inserting the spider’s legs and eyes with their fingers helps children develop hand strength and practice their pencil grips, which helps prepare them for learning how to write. Building hand strength and dexterity allows children to be successful in controlling their hand movements when learning how to write letters.
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Spider Play Dough Invitation
Learn how to make black play dough for this super simple spider play dough invitation, one of the best halloween play dough ideas around
Materials
- 2-4 cups flour
- 1 cup salt
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 Tablespoons oil
- 2 Tablespoons cream of tartar
- 1 Tablespoon glitter (or more)
- 1 Tablespoon black paint or 1.5 teaspoons black food colouring
Tools
- Googley eyes
- Pipe cleaners and straws for legs
- Yellow and red beads to make patterns
- Divided Platter
Instructions
- Stir the flour, salt, and cream of tartar together while you are boiling the water.
- Measure the boiling water out into a measuring cup and add the oil and paint. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir to fully mix.
- Fold the dough out onto a floured surface and knead, adding handfuls of dough as needed to reduce the sticky texture. Knead for at least three minutes before cooling and giving to the children.
- Usually I only need 2.5 cups of flour for homemade play dough, but this dough was so sticky that I kept adding more handfuls of flour. As a result, the dough wasn't a pure jet black as I would have liked, but the thought of the children having sticky black play dough all over their hands
- When we made the dough using black food colouring, the result was a deep navy blue.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Plasticpro 6 Sectional Round Plastic Serving Tray/Platters Clear Pack of 2 -
Acerich 300 Pcs Pipe Cleaners Assorted Colors Chenille Stems for Valentine Day DIY Art Craft Decorations (6 mm x 12 inch)
-
DECORA 500 Pieces 6mm -12mm Black Wiggle Googly Eyes with Self-Adhesive
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Cream of Tartar, 2 Cups by Unpretentious Baker, Highest Quality USP & Food Grade, Better than Restaurant Quality, Non-GMO, Kosher, Gluten Free, Vegan, Slotted Cap Spice Shaker
For more fun spider sensory play ideas, check out our Spider Egg Slime or our Spider Sensory Bin.
