Bubble Puppy Clay Pizza

With a little clay & a large appetite for learning, we'll show you how your tots can serve up smiles, just like the Guppies in the Grumpfish Special episode.

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Materials

• Clay (such as Playdoh or fun dough) in assorted colors

Directions

1. Step 1: Preparing for play

   The only ingredient your kids will need to build this pizza is molding clay!<br><br> We recommend using clay in 4 different colors.<br><br> Before beginning the activity, explain to your kids that the clay pizza may look delicious, but it's not for eating!

2. Step 2: Identifying shapes

   What shape is a pizza pie? Ask your kids to identify the shape, then help them knead white or yellow clay and manipulate it into a circle.<br><br> Then, using red or orange clay, help them create a slightly smaller circle.<br><br> Lay the smaller circle on top of the larger circle. Now you've made the pizza crust and sauce.

3. Step 3: Building recognition skills

   How many ears does Bubble Puppy have? How many eyes? What other features does Bubble Puppy have? Help your kids talk about what makes Bubble Puppy unique before getting started.

4. Step 4: Comparing shapes

   To create Bubble Puppy's ears, help your kids knead the clay of their choice. What shapes does Bubble Guppies ears and nose closely resemble? They kind of look like upside down triangles! What makes them different from triangles? Mold the clay into two large triangles, and round out the edges to take shape of the ears. Do the same for the nose, but create a much smaller triangle. Flip the triangles over and place them on the pizza (use photo for reference).

5. Step 5: Learning left from right

   Bubble Puppy has two eyes that are shaped like ovals, and a spot around one eye. Which one of Bubble Puppy's eyes has a spot? The left eye or the right eye?<br><br> Help your kids manipulate the clay of their choice into three ovals--two should be the same size and color, and one slightly larger and in a different color. Place one of the ovals on the larger oval. Identify which side the spot should go on (left side), and place the clay on the pizza.

6. Step 6: Counting

   To create Bubble Puppy's smile and face outline, show your kids how to create balls of clay by rolling them in between their index fingers and thumbs. Create about 13 large balls and 7 small balls. Using the photo as a guide, use the larger balls of clay to create the face shape. How many balls of clay did it take to create the face? Help your kids count. Place the smaller balls of clay on the pizza in the shape of a smile. Have your kids count the balls of smaller clay.

7. Step 7: Squishing, squashing & creating!

   The Bubble Puppy pizza is complete! Encourage your kids to try their hands at their own one-of-a-kind picture pizza. You can remove the "toppings" used to create Bubble Puppy or start all over with a new batch of clay.