Ice Cream Theme Playdough Shape Mats

Nothing says summer fun quite like these ice cream theme playdough shape mats—and they’re perfect for preschool math activities in the summertime, too! These colorful, sweet-themed mats make learning shapes feel just like playtime.

Whether you’re a teacher setting up a math center or a parent looking for an easy way to keep the kiddos learning over summer break, these mats are a must-have. Using these mats, kids will practice identifying and forming shapes while strengthening important early math and fine motor skills. Plus, who can resist a little pretend ice cream play?

Ice Cream Theme Playdough Activity Mats for Fine Motor Skills | Ice cream theme playdough shape mats | How to teach shapes using ice cream playdough mats

If you’re on the hunt for hands-on preschool shape activities or playful fine motor activities for preschoolers, you’re going to love this printable set!

These ice cream playdough mats invite kids to shape colorful “scoops” while exploring shapes like circles, stars, squares, and even tricky ones like hexagons and octagons.

Each mat features a sweet cone topped with a different shape, along with a matching shape outline for extra practice. They’re a great addition to a summer theme, an ice cream shop pretend play area, or just everyday math fun.

These mats are so versatile—you can use them with playdough, crayons, or even finger tracing! And I’m sharing all the ways to use them at the end of this post, too, so your kiddo will never get bored this summer!

Read this: Playdough Shape Mats Pack

What Kids Learn From Ice Cream Shape Mats

Using these ice cream shape mats helps build so many important skills, all through playdough fun! Here’s what kids will work on:

Shape Recognition

Each mat highlights a different shape for kids to study. Children will quickly recognize circles, hearts, triangles, and more. Repeated play helps them build a strong foundation in shape recognition, and each mat features the shape in written word, too, so they work in a little literacy as well.

Fine Motor Skills

Rolling, pressing, and shaping playdough strengthens little hands. These movements improve coordination, strength, and hand muscles for writing later. Tracing the shapes with fingers or crayons is great for control, too! Read about our hand strengthening playdough activities.

Build Fine Motor Skills with Ice Cream Shape Mats

Kids will love using playdough to recreate the shapes and build ice cream scoops!

What’s Included

Each printable mat includes:

  • A colorful ice cream cone with a unique shape “scoop”
  • A black-and-white outline of the same shape
  • The shape name in bubble letters for coloring or tracing
  • Bonus! – This freebie also comes with a blackline version that can be sued as a coloring page.

Shapes included:

  • Rectangle
  • Heart
  • Star
  • Square
  • Diamond
  • Oval
  • Circle
  • Triangle
  • Hexagon
  • Octagon

Additional Materials

You’ll want to have these on hand:

  • Playdough (various colors)
  • Crayons or markers
  • Laminator and laminating sheets
  • Or dry erase pouches
  • Dry erase markers

The Set Up

  • Print each ice cream shape mat on heavy cardstock.
  • Laminate the mats for durability and easy clean-up, or place them in a dry erase pouch.
  • Set them out with colorful playdough and dry erase markers.
  • Add a tray or bin to keep materials organized.
Shape Learning Fun with Ice Cream Playdough Mats | Ice cream theme playdough shape mats | How to teach shapes using ice cream playdough mats

How to Teach Shapes Using Ice Cream Playdough Mats

Alright, let’s dive into the fun! These ice cream shape mats aren’t just adorable—they’re packed with playful learning! Here’s a simple and easy way to use them:

Step 1: Introduce the Shapes

Gather everyone around and hold up a mat. Point to the colorful scoop and say, “This is a circle!” Have the kids repeat it with silly voices—try whispering it or saying it like a robot! It makes shape names stick like glue.

Step 2: Explore the Shape

Now, let’s use our magic tracing fingers! Have your kids trace the black outline slowly. Talk about the shape: “Look! No corners! It’s round like a pizza!” Fun comparisons make the shapes easier to remember and connect with real life.

Sweet Shapes Ice Cream Playdough Mats for Preschoolers | Ice cream theme playdough shape mats | How to teach shapes using ice cream playdough mats.

Step 3: Playdough Building

Time to get those little hands moving! Roll the playdough into little “snakes” and shape them to fit the outline. Let kids squish, stretch, and build their ice cream shapes. Remind them it’s okay if it’s a little wiggly—practice makes progress!

Alternately, children can make pancakes to smoosh into the shape outline, too.

Step 4: Add More Fine Motor Fun

You can stop and forming the shape with playdough, or you can add even more fine motor work by inviting your preschoolers to “add some toppings” to their playdough ice cream shapes. Try cutting up colorful straws into small pieces to be like sprinkles, and have them press the straws into the playdough to make the shape outline one more time.

Step 5: Extend the Learning

After the building fun, let’s bring out crayons or dry erase markers! Invite kids to trace the big bubble letters and maybe even try writing the shape word underneath. Bonus points for rainbow tracing or using finger tracing to erase the word after it’s written with the dry erase markers.

Scoop and Shape Summer Playdough Mats for Early Learners | Ice cream theme playdough shape mats | How to teach shapes using ice cream playdough mats

More Ways to Use Ice Cream Shape Printables

These playdough mats are super flexible and can be used in so many fun ways:

  • Coloring Fun: Give kids crayons and let them color the shape scoops and cones for a relaxing, creative break.
  • Shape Booklets: Once each page has been colored, assemble them into a booklet.
  • Shape Sorting: Print extra mats and have children sort them into groups like “shapes with straight sides” or “shapes with curves.”
  • Mini Ice Cream Shop: Set up a pretend ice cream stand where kids “sell” the correct shapes to each other using the mats.
  • Shape Spelling Practice: Challenge older preschoolers to trace the letters and then build the letters themselves using playdough!
  • Story Time Connection: Read a fun ice cream-themed book (like Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems) and then use the mats as an after-story activity.

Read this: Ice Cream Playdough Recipe

Ice Cream Theme Preschool Activities

Ice cream themes are perfect for summer or pretend play units! These activities make learning feel like a real treat. Our Summer Number Identification Pack is loaded with ice cream activities for preschoolers.

Preschool Shape Activities

Need roe activities for teaching preschoolers about shapes? Try some of these!

Free Playdough Mats for Sensory Play

If you use playdough in your classroom as much as I do, then you’ll love these printable playdough mats.

Get Your Ice Cream Playdough Shape Mats Here

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What ages are best for ice cream playdough shape mats?

These mats are perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners, usually ages 3-6. They’re simple enough for beginners, but also give a little challenge for older kids. Even toddlers who love playdough can enjoy them with some guidance!

2. What kind of playdough works best with these mats?

Any soft, non-drying playdough is great! Easy cooked playdough recipes or an allergy friendly playdough recipe without gluten will work. Or make it super fun with kool-aid playdough recipe or even our playdough recipe using jello is a good choice for extra sensory fun.

3. Can I use these mats without playdough?

Absolutely! Kids can trace the shapes with their fingers, use mini erasers to outline the shape, or color them in with crayons. You can even use wiki sticks or yarn pieces for building.

4. Are these mats good for kids who are still developing hand strength?

Yes! Rolling and shaping playdough is fantastic for hand strength. Kids can start with bigger pieces if needed and work their way to smaller, more detailed movements.

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