Ok So here is a project that I have done in one of my summer art classes! This is a really neat idea to keep little ones actively engaged in learning! Its relatively low cost and a very innovative. So First of all you want to emphasize the idea of originality. This project is a family time keepsake that they will love to go back to in future years, and even while they may not record everything, they will be learning soo much!
Supplies:
posterboard
playdough
glue gun
hot glue sticks
beads or jewels
scraps of fabric
index cards
markers
illustrated dictionary or children’s encyclopedia
The emphasis of this project is to teach improvisation skills, and organic innovative creativity, as well as good researching habits and practice!
My own two boys have a four year age gap, and so watching them work together on this was really interesting. My oldest was very independent and helpful and he took off on his own roads of discovery while my younger one stayed occupied with working his motor skills, and practicing primary ideas (Apple starts with “A” etc.) 
It is so fun to make things with our hands. I know lots of children’s modeling clay is sold with tools for shaping and stamping the clay, but I really like just teaching the little ones to move their fingers and hands and control the movement and pressure organically, this is the true birth of original creativity. It is great for motor skills, and kids love to see what they can do just from their own mind to their hands. Sometimes we may look at pictures or talk about familiar items that we know and that helps them correlate the project. We start with the letter “A” and shape the alphabet from clay. You can add a decorative flair by wrapping a strip of fabric or pressing a piece of magnetic strip into the mold. Little ones are storing information about their alphabet in a hands on phonological lesson. Then we talk about things that begin with that letter, or get out the encyclopedia and dictionary. The older kids will really dig in and look for their own words to throw into the mix, so they can make new and exciting things like an “Allosauras”. Younger kids will be excited and happy to see they can make their own miniature apples and apple basket from the clay by using their own hands.
The other side of the project is the box.
Take the poster board and fold the sides so they are all lined up and glue them together to form a box. Glue strips of fabric in a modge podge collage to cover the inside and the outside of the box, give your box handles or a lid! Decorate the box with jewels, buttons, or whatever you’d like! Once your clay figures have dried you can store them in the box. For each letter of the alphabet pick one item that is in your box and write the word, underlining the “emphasis letter” and write down an interesting fact about that thing. Fold it up and slip the little information snippet in your Playdough Dictionary Box!
The end result will be a keepsake, with tiny handmade sculptures of memories and bits of information from A-Z a miniature life dimension dictionary, that makes this craft item a novelty! Parental supervision and engagement is advised! I hope you guys have fun please stop in and post pictures ! Thanks for stopping by !
-Courtney Paige
thepaintedpeacock254 