Zoo Alphabet Play Dough Mats

Lions and tigers and bears… oh, my! If your kids love zoo animals as much as mine do, they will have so much fun using these Zoo Play Dough & Letter Mats and some play dough to create their favorite animals.

Sensory activities like this one are such an engaging and entertaining way for children to play! 

Zoo Letter Mats:

Play dough is one of my favorite sensory play tools because your kids can use their senses as they squeeze, roll, and squish it with their hands.

It’s a fun way for kids to develop their fine motor skills and hand muscle strength too. These developmental skills are so important for pre-readers and pre-writers.

What Is A Sensory Activity?

A sensory activity is anything that your kids can play with that stimulates their five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing.

Through sensory play, your kids can explore, investigate, and discover new things. This can help them develop critical thinking, problem solving, and many more important skills. 

Getting Ready To Use The Zoo Alphabet Mats:

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What’s Included:

• 7 Zoo Play Dough & Letter Mats

The play dough pictures include an elephant, giraffe, lion, tiger, monkey, zebra, and zoo sign. 

What’s Else Is Needed:

• White Card Stock or Copy Paper
• Laminator and Laminating Pouches
• Play Dough
• Dry Erase Marker

To get this activity ready for your kids, fill out the form below. Next, download and print the mats.

Then, laminate the mats or put them in reusable dry erase pockets.

If you don’t want to use store-bought kind, make play dough out of shaving cream. This sensory-friendly recipe is soft to touch. Your kids will love it!

How To Use The Zoo ABC Mats:

First, your children will select a mat and identify the capital and lowercase letter on it. They will then read the name of the animal or the place.

Next, your kids will use play dough to create the animal or the sign on the mat. They can then trace over the capital and lowercase letters that it begins with and the name.

To extend this activity and learn even more, read fiction and non-fiction books about the zoo and animals. As you are reading, name other animals that live in the zoo. 

These Zoo Play Dough & Letter Mats can be used as a fun sensory activity for preschoolers to practice letter recognition and develop their fine motor skills.

You May Also Like The Get Ready to Read Summer Camp:

Do you want to prepare your preschoolers for the upcoming school year?

Or, have your kindergarteners review concepts to prevent the summer slide?

This month-long bundle of engaging and educational activities will keep your kids learning this summer.

Click on the picture below to learn more about the “Get Ready to Read Summer Camp.”

More Zoo Literacy Activities:

If you are looking for more zoo-themed literacy activities for your kids, try these fun, hands-on resources! 

Zoo Animal Letter Recognition Activity

Zoo Play Dough & Letter Mats

Zoo Name Letter Recognition Worksheets from Books and Giggles

Download The Zoo Alphabet Play Dough Mats:

To get these Zoo Play Dough and Letter Mats, fill out the form. Then, download and print the printables.