Making Playdough to Learn Mixtures and Solutions

Next Generation Science

This engaging video tutorial from Lighthouse Lab combines practical kitchen chemistry with a fun hands-on activity. Host Halle demonstrates a simple, step-by-step procedure for making homemade playdough using common household ingredients. The video is designed to be interactive, encouraging students to follow along or observe closely as raw ingredients transform into a malleable toy. The content goes beyond a simple craft tutorial by integrating key scientific concepts relevant to elementary chemistry. As the host combines flour, salt, and cream of tartar, she introduces the concept of a "mixture." When water and food coloring are added, the lesson shifts to explain "solutions" and the process of dissolving. The video clearly distinguishes between physical combinations of dry ingredients and the interactions that occur when liquids are introduced. For educators, this video serves as an excellent dual-purpose resource. It can be used as a direct instructional guide for a classroom laboratory activity where students make their own playdough. Simultaneously, it functions as a concrete visual aid for teaching the abstract differences between mixtures and solutions. The clear, paced instructions and visual labeling of measurements make it accessible for students to practice procedural listening and observation skills.