How To Make A BB8 Star Wars Playdough Tray

April 11, 2026

Celebrate Star Wars Day with this BB8 Star Wars playdough tray. Made with playdough, orange buttons, black beans, and toy nuts and bolts, this easy playdough tray is the perfect activity for May The Fourth Be With You Day.

I love doing a themed Star Wars Day on May 4th with tons of Star Wars activities like these lightsaber popsicle holders, this Darth Vader hat craft, and this baby Yoda sun catcher.

playdough, buttons, and loose parts put together to look like bb8 from star wars
supplies for the BB8 Star Wars Playdough tray

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What You’ll Need To Make This Star Wars Playdough Tray

  • White playdough
  • Orange playdough
  • Black beans
  • Orange buttons
  • Small toy nuts, bolts, or loose parts
  • Black pipe cleaners

How To Make This BB8 Star Wars Playdough Tray

1. Set the Scene
Place a large ball of white playdough in the center of the tray for BB-8’s body and a smaller ball above it for the head.

2. Shape the Droid
Gently press and smooth the playdough to create BB-8’s round body and dome-shaped head.

3. Add the Details
Use orange playdough to form circles, panels, and accents on the body and head. Flatten small pieces and press them onto the white base.

a kid pressing a circle cutter into orange playdough

4. Create the Eye
Add a black bean for BB-8’s main eye, then layer pieces for extra detail.

5. Build the Antennas
Cut or bend pipe cleaners and press them into the top of the head.

a kid building bb8 from star wars out of playdough

6. Decorate & Explore
Provide buttons, bolts, and loose parts for kids to press into the playdough to create patterns and textures.

7. Encourage Creativity

Let kids redesign BB-8, make their own droid, or mix and match materials. There’s no wrong way to build a galaxy helper!

Benefits Of This Star Wars Activity

a star wars day activity of a kid building bb8 out of playdough

This Star Wars playdough tray has many benefits for kids, including:

  • Strengthening fine motor skills.
  • Encouraging creativity and imaginative play.
  • Building hand-eye coordination.
  • Providing calming sensory input.
  • Supporting early engineering and design thinking.
  • Inviting open-ended exploration.

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04/11/2026 06:04 am GMT
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04/11/2026 06:03 am GMT
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
04/11/2026 06:03 am GMT
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
04/11/2026 06:03 am GMT
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
04/11/2026 06:03 am GMT
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playdough, buttons, and loose parts put together to look like bb8 from star wars

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How To Make A BB8 Star Wars Playdough Tray

Recipe by stacie

This BB8 Star Wars playdough tray is a fun activity for kids this Star Wars Day! Kids will use playdough, black beans, and toy nuts and bolts to create BB8, a favorite Star Wars character.


  • Total Time20
  • Yield1 playdough tray 1x

Materials

     White playdough

     Orange playdough

     Black beans

     Orange buttons

     Small toy nuts, bolts, or loose parts

     Black pipe cleaners


Instructions

1.   Set the Scene
Place a large ball of white playdough in the center of the tray for BB-8’s body and a smaller ball above it for the head.

2.   Shape the Droid
Gently press and smooth the playdough to create BB-8’s round body and dome-shaped head.

3.   Add the Details
Use orange playdough to form circles, panels, and accents on the body and head. Flatten small pieces and press them onto the white base.

4.   Create the Eye
Add a black bean for BB-8’s main eye, then layer pieces for extra detail.

5.   Build the Antennas
Cut or bend pipe cleaners and press them into the top of the head.

6.   Decorate & Explore
Provide buttons, bolts, and loose parts for kids to press into the playdough to create patterns and textures.

7.   Encourage Creativity

Let kids redesign BB-8, make their own droid, or mix and match materials. There’s no wrong way to build a galaxy helper!

  • Prep Time: 5
  • Category: Activities, DIY, Star Wars Day
  • Method: Setup
author avatar
stacie
Stacie is a former first grade teacher who loves to share educational activities to help kids learn, grow, and develop! She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Child Development with a focus on Mental Health.

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