For a simple playdough activity for toddlers, preschoolers, or kindergarteners, learn about different insects with our free printable bug playdough mats. Choose one of our easy playdough recipes or use store-bought. Then add these printable insect playdough mats, and you have a fantastic hands-on early learning activity to add to your spring lessons.

Learn About Bugs With Printable Playdough Mats

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Spring Science Activities

Learning about bugs is a classic theme for spring theme lessons, but so is play! We have you covered with our playful bug activities, playdough included. Get kids to create fun playdough bugs, bees, butterflies, ants, and more!

Plus, you’ll find each the names of each insect’s life cycle to share with your kiddos while they play! This is a great way to spark a conversation about the bugs in your backyard… you can ask all sorts of open-ended questions!

If you’ve wanted an easy playful learning activity to share with your kiddos, you will love this bug activity. All you need to do is download our free printable playdough mat bundle below, make up a batch of homemade playdough (or use store-bought), and get started!

Combine these bug life cycle playdough mats with other hands-on bug activities for a fun spring lesson in the classroom or at home. Click on the images or links below.

Learn About the Life Cycle of Bugs

These playdough mats are a terrific opportunity to add spring science to your playtime! Explore a variety of bugs and talk about the bugs in your area. Add a nature walk to look for these insects, and then build some playdough bugs.

Which Bugs are Included?

This 8 page, free bug playdough mats pack includes:

  • Ant
  • Fly
  • Moth
  • Spider
  • Ladybug
  • Mosquito
  • Butterfly
  • Praying Mantis
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How To Use These Printable Playdough Mats

Tip 1: Protect your mats by laminating or placing them in clear page protectors!

Tip 2: Set up your area with playdough, a few tools, and mats. Less is more when it comes to accessories or tools, as it may overwhelm your kiddos and decrease their attention span!

Tip 3: If working in a large group situation, try rotating three kiddos through the station at a time, so it does not become chaotic.

Tip 4: There is no wrong way to play with the playdough mat or fill in the shapes but you can demonstrate how to roll playdough snakes if your kiddos need help getting started. Or they can roll balls and squish them onto the shapes. They can use a playdough knife to cut chunks as well.

Tip 5: Add letter stamps for kiddos who want to stamp related words if more time allows.

Tip 6: Read about each playdough mat and ask questions to encourage discussion. But also allow for creative playtime without instruction or talking if desired. Remember that you can also interrupt their thought process if they are independently playing. It’s a balance!

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Homemade Playdough Recipes

Choose from various recipes to make your own playdough and explore a variety of textures, including a taste-safe playdough recipe! —>>> Go here to find all our playdough recipes.

Check out our popular no-cook playdough recipe to whip up a batch of homemade playdough. 

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Playdough Recipes

Free Printable Bug Playdough Mats

Download and print the insect playdough mats below. For durability and ease of use, laminate the mats before use or place them in a sheet protector.

Click below to get your printable playdough mats!

More Free Printable Playdough Mats For Kids

You can find all of our printable playdough mats here or check out some of our favorites…

Printable Bug Activity Pack

Love bugs, or at least have a kiddo who loves bugs? Grab this printable Bug Activity Pack in our SHOP.

More Preschool Activities

Check out a variety of spring preschool activities that you can do with your kiddos from growing plants, to sensory bins and more!

Printable Playdough Recipes Pack

If you want an easy-to-use printable resource for all of your favorite playdough recipes as well as exclusive (only available in this pack) playdough mats, grab our printable Playdough Project Pack!