Heritage Education: Making the Singapore Flag with Playdough

Mommy's work

Joshua's work (with mommy's help)

Age: From 3.5 years old

Duration: 30 minutes

Objectives:
1. To provide a fun and educational way to celebrate Singapore National Day
2. To train the child's fine motor skills
3. To teach shapes - stars and moons
4. To teach colour - red and white
5. To teach the child to spell the name of Singapore

Materials:
1. 1 container of play dough red colour
2. 1 container of play dough white colour
3. 1 black and white Singapore flag
4. 1 star mold
5. 1 moon mold (i use the cap of a round container instead, and it works fine)
6. 1 rolling pin
7. 1 plastic scraper/cutter
8. 1 tray

Directions:
1. Demonstrate to your child how to make a red rectangle using the red playdough and paste it on the black and white flag.
2. Cut out the stars with the star mold and scrap the red playdough out.
3. Mold the playdough into star shape the stars and paste them into the flag.
4. Cut out the moon from the red flag.
5. Use white playdough to shape the cresent using the crescent mold or round container cap.
6. Make a white rectangle using the white playdough and paste it on the flag.
7. Let your child try and explore also using his own methods.

Additional Information:
Lately Joshua is showing much interest in playing with playdough, and he is crazy about making heart shape pieces. Continuing the fun, and I thought it would be the perfect activity to celebrate Singapore National Day, which falls on Thursday this week 9th August! I told Joshua that, but he couldn't wait until 9th August, so he (3Y4M1D) practised it already today. Practice makes perfect! He has two more days to practise.

Here are the steps:

Make a red rectangle using the red playdough.

Paste it on the black and white flag.

Cut out the stars with the star mold.

Scrap the red playdough out of the stars.

Cut out the moon from the red flag.

Mold the playdough into star shape the stars and paste them into the flag.

Use white playdough to shape the cresent using the crescent mold or round container cap.

Make a white rectangle using the white playdough and paste it on the flag.

Lastly, cut out the flag and let dry.

One of the best playdough set in my opinion is the Play-doh Deluxe Factory Set that comes with the press. Joshua and the children in our church nursery love to make play-doh spaghette with it and many more things with this factory. It also comes with a decent amount of little shapes and tools for cutteg and a variety of colours of play-doh.