Ashley Coalt

EDT 317

4/23/19

Lesson Plan Reflection

The experience I did in my classroom was having the children create different things with

play dough of things they’ve seen before. I chose this experience because it allowed choice and

is very hands on. It made them must recall things from their life or environment. I originally

wanted to do the lesson I had created that allowed painting with different materials. Our teacher

turned down many of the activity ideas I gave so I had to keep it basic. They allow play dough

and slime in the room so I figured that would be a good idea. The children love interacting with

play dough which made me think they would enjoy this lesson.

I think this lesson went decent. It was harder for the younger students due to them not

being able to really shape anything. The older kids did a bit better but this age is hard to do

something that had very little guidance. Some of them just played with the play dough rather

than trying to create something. The creations made were mostly pancakes, some made family

members, cars, etc. I think would have gone better with older kids such as kindergarteners or

first graders. But this allowed the students to use their fine motor skills to manipulate the play

dough and use their imagination into what they were creating.

When the lesson first began, I asked what they were going to make. They said a horse, a

car, some type of family member, and the Easter bunny. They said that they have noticed these

things or people in their environment. After the first round of making something, they said they

made people, pancakes, hot dogs, cookies, and a car. Most of these were just blobs or tootsie roll
shaped. The students were very excited about their creations. They may not have “looked” like

what they said it was, but the children had fun and that’s all that mattered.

If I were to teach this lesson again, I would have made it more guided. Possibly stick to

one topic rather than allowing them to choose from anything. I could have only had it be

something they’ve seen outside. But I felt that this would hinder their creation abilities.

Depending on their age and skill level, the time allotted could be changed to make things easier

or harder.

From this lesson, I have learned that it is hard for students age 3-5 to create something

out of play dough. I also learned that children throw fits if they are not ready to give something

up yet. I gave them a time limit and referred to how much time they had left as well as used a

timer. I thought this would avoid meltdowns but I was very wrong. I had a few students throw

fits because they had to give the play dough back to me. At this age, I think the children struggle

with not getting their way and not feeling complete with an activity. I even learned that all the

students in the classroom need to do this activity at the same time. I did this in two different

groups because trying to control 15 three to five years olds at once is difficult. A child from the

first group threw a fit because the kids in the second group were doing this activity while she was

not allowed. My CT stated that I planned this poorly even though she specifically told me to do

two separate groups. She said the students see it as unfair. I have to disagree because there was

no way 15 students could do that at the same time in a safe and controlled manner. I did what I

could to prevent it but that said child tends to throw fits when she does not get her way. The

biggest thing I have learned from this lesson is that you must be flexible and open minded

investigations. Also, how to NOT act with student teachers. The CT could have easily guided me

but she did the exact opposite even though I was following what she had suggested.
 Overall, I think with the curveballs I was thrown I did well. My lesson was basic but it

showed that the students can manipulate objects, recall aspects of things or people they’ve seen,

and the kids were able to be creative. Obviously there are things I could have changed but I can

reflect on what didn’t go well and learn from it!