Dough Detectives Slides
Kindergarten Readiness Mission
Listening + Early Math
DETECTIVE SQUAD ASSEMBLE!
Dough Detectives
Listen to the secret cues, roll colorful clay, and solve shape & number mysteries!
Listen Close
Follow the secret bell
Roll & Build
Warm up your fingers
Solve Puzzles
Count, sort & match
STEP 1
Detective Secret Signals
Listen for the chime!
Ears Big!
Touch both ears when the teacher says "Detectives!"
Statue Freeze!
When the chime sounds, hands off dough and freeze like ice!
Eyes Forward!
Look at the mystery board to see what shape or number comes next!
Practice round: When you hear the bell, freeze in 3... 2... 1... FREEZE!
STEP 2
Dough Simon Says!
Only move if Simon says!
"Roll a Ball"
Roll between flat palms round & round
"Pinch 3 Dots"
Use thumb and pointer finger to pinch
"Stretch a Snake"
Roll on the mat back and forth long
"Squish FLAT!"
Smash with palm... then FREEZE!
Did Simon say it? If not, keep your hands still!
MISSION 1
The Cookie Counter (1 to 5)
One-to-One Counting
Place 1 Dough Ball in Each Spot:
1
2
3
4
5
Touch each ball with one finger as we count together!
A
Roll 5 Little Balls
Make them about the size of a coin.
B
Squish One by One
Squish #1: "ONE!" Squish #2: "TWO!"
Detective Check: How many cookies did we bake altogether?
Listening Ear Challenge: Wait until the bell rings before touching ball #5!
MISSION 2
Shape Builder Clues
Corners & Sides
O
Circle
Round and curved!
0 corners • 0 flat sides
Triangle
3 straight snakes!
3 corners • 3 sides
4 = 4
Square
4 equal snakes!
4 corners • 4 equal sides
Clue Challenge: Make a snake and bend it into your favorite mystery shape!
MISSION 3
Pattern Caterpillar
AB • AB • AB Pattern
What comes next in the caterpillar?
A
BIG
B
SMALL
A
BIG
B
SMALL
A
BIG
?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Say it out loud together:
"BIG, small, BIG, small, BIG... ____!"
Detective Action:
Roll the missing ball & add it on!
Bonus: Can you make a 2-color pattern with your dough colors?
Badge Earned!
Readiness Mastery
Super Sleuths Succeeded!
You listened to every cue, counted your cookies, and built amazing shapes!
1. Roll Ball
Gather all your dough into one giant shiny ball.
2. In the Tub
Tuck the dough inside and snap the lid tight: "CLICK!"
3. Rest Pose
Hands folded flat on the table, quiet detective smiles.
"One, two, dough is through! Three, four, back in the drawer!"
Dough Detectives Activity Mat
Readiness Mission 1 • Hands-On Mat
Dough Detectives: Cookie & Shape Lab
Name:
Date:
1
Cookie Counter Tray (Count 1 to 5)
Roll 5 balls • 1 in each spot • Squish as you count!
# 1
1
ONE
# 2
2
TWO
# 3
3
THREE
# 4
4
FOUR
# 5
5
FIVE
2
Shape Builder Outlines
Roll dough snakes • Press onto the dotted lines!
Circle 0 corners
Round & Curved
Roll 1 long dough snake and curve it into a round ring!
Triangle 3 corners
Roll 3 straight sticks. Put 3 dough balls on the corners!
Square 4 equal sides
4 Sides Same
Roll 4 straight sticks of the same length to make 4 corners!
Listening Rule: When the teacher rings the chime, freeze hands in your lap immediately!
Ready Check
Readiness Mission 2 • Patterning & Sorting
Dough Detectives: Patterns & Sizes
Follow 2-Step Directions
3
Caterpillar Pattern Track (AB • AB • ?)
Say: BIG, small, BIG, small... what comes next?
HEAD
A
BIG
B
SMALL
A
BIG
B
SMALL
?
YOU BUILD
?
YOU BUILD
4
Size Sorting Nests (Small • Medium • Big)
Roll 3 different balls • Match to correct nest
SMALL BALL
Like a tiny marble
MEDIUM BALL
Like a bouncy ball
BIG BALL
Like a golf ball
5
Length Clue: Short vs Long Snake
Roll snakes to fit the tracks!
Short Snake Track: Stop at the red flag
Short Snake
Long Snake Track: Stretch all the way across!
Long Snake
Clean-Up Cue: When the song begins, roll your dough into 1 ball and put the lid on tight!
Badge Ready
Dough Detectives Teacher Guide
Kindergarten Readiness Facilitation Guide
Dough Detectives: Session Guide
Target: 35–40 Minutes
Whole Group Carpet → Table Pods
Target Skill 1
Auditory freeze cues, 2-step direction following, impulse control.
Target Skill 2
1-to-1 counting (1–5), 2D shape attributes, AB pattern completion.
Materials Needed
1 tub playdough per child, 1 bell/chime, laminated mats, wipes.
1
Phase 1: Establishing the Cues & Simon Says (8 Min)
Listening & Freeze Control
Before passing out dough, teach the Chime = Freeze Pose. Children fold their hands flat in their lap and look up instantly.
Teacher Script & Cues:
"Detectives, touch your ears! When my secret chime sounds, show me your frozen statue pose in 3... 2... 1... Freeze!"
Dough Simon Says: Give dough. Say: "Simon says roll a ball... Simon says pinch 3 dots... Squish it flat!" (Catch anyone who moves without 'Simon says' with a warm chuckle).
2
Phase 2: Cookie Counter 1-to-1 Math (10 Min)
Counting & Cardinality
Guide students to Activity 1 on the mat. Emphasize that one number word matches exactly one physical object.
Teacher Script & Cues:
"Pinch off 5 little pieces of dough. Roll each one into a sweet cookie ball. Put ONE ball on box #1... ONE on #2... all the way to 5!"
The Squish-and-Count Challenge: "Use your pointer finger to squish each cookie as you count aloud: 1... 2... 3... 4... 5! How many cookies are on our tray altogether?"
3
Phase 3: Shape Architects & Corner Clues (10 Min)
Geometry & Fine Motor
Students roll dough snakes and fit them onto the circle, triangle, and square templates. Focus on tactile corners.
Math Prompts to Ask:
- "Run your finger around the circle. Does it have any sharp corners? (No, smooth & round!)"
- "Roll 3 little dots for the corners of your triangle. Count them: 1 corner, 2 corners, 3 corners!"
- "How many sides does your square have? Are they all the same length?"
Dough Detectives • Kindergarten Readiness Page 1 of 2 (Turn over for Patterns, Clean-Up & Assessment)
Phases 4–5 • Observational Assessment
Page 2 • Teacher Guide
4
Phase 4: Pattern Caterpillar & Size Sorting (8 Min)
Algebraic Thinking
