Every single thing you do with young children can be a learning experience. Forget the bells and whistles and high priced electronics. This activity is purposeful; nearly cost free, and it targets fine motor development. Paid $3.00 for 36 electric outlet safety plug covers. I glued google eyes on them and a pom-pom nose and drew on mouths with permanent markers. Then I decorated a plastic ice cream carton head ( to hold the pieces) and hot glued it onto the box. Next, I drew circle faces on the box and made one inch slits (the width of the plug ins) on the front and two sides of the box. The children inserted the silly heads into the slits. This activity generated conversation about likenesses and differences, color, sizes: mine has big/small eyes/nose, they counted how many on each side of the box. They competed against one another, and they had fun. It takes a bit of pushing and pulling to insert and dislodge the plugs. The kids thought they were "just playing" but actually there was so much learning taking place. Using the index finger/thumb (pincher grasp) develops fine muscles and finger/hand strength needed for printing. Originally I designed these little plugs to use with playdough, but the children preferred using the Potato Head body parts with playdough and the plugs just sat there, so...I made Silly Head today and they loved it.
We have been doing a unit on the Native American Indians. Today Nicole dressed as a mama with her papoose. She'd been wearing the dress-up backwards, and when I turned it around to take her picture, she noticed the symbols, and said, "Wow! I like this dress a lot better." That's my silly girl.
10 comments:
Sounds like a fun day at school, Linda. I'm sure the kids loved it!
Pat
Critter Alley
What a clever idea! You should compile all your originals and publish a book!
That's under nine cents per safety plug. I'm sure you have a google-eye supplier, and an insider-deal for pom-poms. I won't ask who emptied the ice cream container.
Sounds great, Linda. The little ones are so lucky to have you as their dedicated teacher. Susan
I'm sure Nicole looked darling even with her Native American dress on backwards.
Kids are so much fun!
It's clear you're both Silly Heads, and life just wouldn't be fun if you weren't.
You have such clever and fun activities. How special. Your granddaughter is so cute too!
You have such great ideas, Linda! I'm sure the kids can't wait to see what activity you have for them next.
On the 100th day of school at my kids' elementary school, they had to find 100 of something and display it for an indoor parade through the halls. My son glued 100 googly eyes to his shirt, which was both cheap and fun! Love the silly head!
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