Beginner
30 mins
Teacher/Student led
+70 XP
Teacher-led from the board — pupils need no device

Squashing and Bending: Things Change!

In this hands-on lesson, children will squash, roll and bend play-dough and other soft materials. They will notice how pushing changes the shape and learn to describe these changes using simple words.

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    1 - Getting Started ~3 mins

    The untouched dough ball close up, the object the lesson will pushLook! A soft ball of play-dough. What might happen if I give it a big push?

    2 - Look and Wonder ~3 mins

    Key point

    Today's word: change — when something looks different after we push, squash or bend it.

    Will the ball stay round, or will it look different?

    3 - Squash, Roll and Bend ~13 mins

    The four materials laid out ready to push, squash and bendYou each have dough, shiny foil, paper and a bendy stick. Push them. What changes?

    4 - What Changed? ~5 mins

    The same four materials after changing, so children compare shapesHold up one thing you changed. Tell us: what did you do, and how does it look now?

    5 - Make-sense Talk ~4 mins

    Key point

    A potter's hands pushing soft clay, the real-world version of squashingWhen we push, squash or bend soft things, they can look different. That is change.

    Someone who makes bowls pushes soft clay so we can use them. What did your hands change today?

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