Every now and then someone passes on a nice chunky piece of polystyrene packaging to us. All we do is add some children’s hammers and golfing T’s and create a fantastic hammering activity for the children to enjoy. They spend ages enjoying the satisfying feeling of hammering their “nails” into the “wood”.
This was such a simple project and the children have loved getting creative! A twist on story stones that allows the children to create their own pictures or patterns. Also a great fine motor activity that really gets them manipulating their fingers and hands.
Items we used: Stones from the nursery; blackboard paint; chalk
Yes – thats all it took! I used a mixture of flat and irregular shaped stones to create interest. Then just add chalk – white, colour, thick or thin!
This is a super easy project that generates lots of interest and can be adapted to suit your themes at school. I’l set it up for the children with traditional felt clothes or make my own items to suit what we are discussing.
Items we used: wood off cuts; screws; thin rope
The pictures are pretty self explanatory. We made a basic frame and then 2 sides with holes for the rope. Some sanding and varnishing if need be will finish it off. I’ve found that not only do the children concentrate on “hanging” up the washing which is great for fine motor, but they will also sort, discuss and order their items with each other and themselves. (The pics below were adapted for a valentine theme with pink and red feathers and hearts). I’ve also included a miniature “clothes” templates below to print and cut from paper or felt.
FREE CLOTHING RESOURCE:
clothing template free download
I found a little “tree/branch” on a base in the second hand shop a few months ago and turned it into a “who is here to play today” tree. The tree would be pretty easy to make – just finding a nicely shaped branch and fixing it onto a base, light sand and varnish would do the trick. For the picture discs I printed and laminated a picture of everyone and fixed them to wooden curtain rings from the hardware shop.
Every morning the children never loose excitement to go and find their picture and hang it on the tree! During circle time its a great tool to use to count how many friends are at school, discuss who is not at school and why and generally get everyone participating. Even the quietest child is happy to find their picture and join in the discussion and action.
I even find the children playing with the tree during the morning – identifying all their friends and chatting away to each other – turning it into a great social tool and even a fine motor exercise!
My middle son has a great collection of marbles that I sometimes use in activities – depending on the ages attending! I got together a collection of plastic tubs, bottles, spoons, containers, baskets, ice trays – you name it – and left everything out for the children to explore. I don’t have to tell you how much they enjoyed it – they spent absolutely ages sorting through the marbles! Filling, counting, pouring, rolling…After a while they started noticing all the different sizes, colours and patterns and this sparked off a whole new train of conversation and delight…
The pictures say it all – great for fine motor, manipulation, numeracy etc.
sharing ideas on early childhood play provocations and learning environments
sharing ideas on early childhood play provocations and learning environments
sharing ideas on early childhood play provocations and learning environments
sharing ideas on early childhood play provocations and learning environments
sharing ideas on early childhood play provocations and learning environments
Ideas and Reflections from a Project Based Preschool
Inquiry-based Learning / Outdoor Learning / All Things Play
Documenting life without school and free childhood.
sharing ideas on early childhood play provocations and learning environments
sharing ideas on early childhood play provocations and learning environments
sharing ideas on early childhood play provocations and learning environments
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