At the end of our day we have literacy stations. During this time the kiddos complete fun activities at one of 5 stations while I work with one group of 5-6 students on very specific things (you may have seen the little books and writing papers that come home). This is a FAVORITE time of day for our kiddos. They may be at writing where for now they are practicing writing strokes, handwriting, and drawing. Later in the year they will be writing sentences!!! They may be at reading where they are reading words or pictures in books that are on their level and above, you should ask them to read you a to hard picture book one day, the stories they make up are usually WAY better than the actual words!! They may be at technology, using the computers, leapsters, or iPads playing word building, reading, or phonics based games. They may be at word work building words with play dough, magnetic letters, or dry erase markers! It is amazing to see their learning in use at the stations!
Probably one of their favorite stations is Explore! In the explore station we work on the very important fine motor skills that we don't get to practice much! So far in explore tubs they have been building letters with legos, practicing building pyramids, making letters with play dough, and cut, rolling, and slicing play dough (we REALLY like play dough!!).
It is time to change these tubs and I am looking for a little help! A lot of the things I need you may have laying around your house!! Check out these pictures with links that are explaining what the students would use the items for, and if you have these items and can share please do!!!
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| For this we need colored puffs and a muffin tray. In this one the kiddos will be sorting by color-- twist from this version I would have them use tweezers to practice pinching!! |
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For this activity the kiddos have to search for the correct keys to open each lock. They will be practicing math skills as well as fine motor placing the key in the lock.
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For this tub we will need buttons for the students to work on carefully placing them on the lines
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| This one is practing putting nuts and bolts together and will probably be one of the kids favorites! |
That is it, if you have any of these things not being used that you would like to donate we would love to take them off your hands!! Also if you have something and you think "this could really work some fine motor skills" then send it on it and I will make it a tub!!!
Thanks for all your help!!!! I couldn't do it without you!! Of course I would never leave you without something from our class!!! Check out these kids segmenting words with---you guessed it PLAY DOUGH!!
