Playdough adds a level of engagement for students that is out of this world! I have found this to be true in my PreK, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and reading intervention classrooms. Listed below is my favorite recipe for homemade playdough that lasts several months when stored in an airtight container. Click here for a printable version of the recipe.

Easiest Gluten-Free Playdough Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup salt
1 Tbsp cream of tartar
1-1/2 tsp vegetable oil
1 cup water, hot but not boiling
Food coloring to your liking (gel paste creates the most amazingly vibrant colors)

Directions:

1. Mix all dry ingredients together in a medium pot.
2. Add in the vegetable oil, water, and food coloring. Mix until thoroughly combined.
3. Heat the pot on the stove over low heat for about 3 minutes. To prevent sticking, stir the mixture constantly with a rubber/silicone spatula.
4. When the dough starts to pull away from the sides easily, turn out the dough onto parchment paper. Let it cool briefly until you can knead it with your hands.
5. Knead the dough for one to two minutes.
6. Allow to fully cool down before placing the dough in an airtight container. Covering it up too soon will cause moisture to collect in the container, which makes the dough sticky.
7. If the dough is a bit too sticky upon first use, have your students knead in a few tablespoons of cornstarch into the batch. They looooooove doing this for me!

Additional Notes:

💡Don’t overcook the dough! It shouldn’t require more than five minutes of cook time. If you do not work with gluten free flours often, know that the texture of this mixture will look goopy until it has been kneaded and the dough has cooled.

💡 If you are in need of having a container of playdough for each student, the dollar store has very affordable containers that work perfectly for the task.

Playdough Resources for Your Classroom

Over the years, I have created numerous resources to support my teaching teams with playdough activities, and I am happy to share them with you, too! When creating these resources, the goal was to combine a high level of student engagement with an intent to strengthening fine motor skills while refining knowledge of either CVC or heart words. The resources below help make that magic happen. Check them out…