ON-GOING
WATER TABLE ACTIVITY: Scrap
Paper/Scissors - THIS
TABLE IS SOMETIMES KNOWN AS THE SCIENCE, SAND, PLAY, OR SENSORY TABLE
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- Share
your ideas too. E-mail me at stormie@preschoolbystormie.com
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From Stormie:
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Scrap Paper/Scissors: Each September, I like putting paper scraps (left
over from the previous year) and scissors into the Water Table for cutting practice
(no water, of course). If you're like me, you don't like immediately getting
into sometimes messy sand or water play that first month till children learn classroom
rules and routine. And because I like to do lots of "observing" in September
to see where the children are developmentally, this activity provides a fun way
to observe who needs help with "cutting."
Anchoring the Scissors:
When setting up the above activity, you might also want to consider this: If your
water table is large and will have lots of scraps in it, the scissors can sometimes
get lost, and the children get frustrated digging through all the scraps trying
to find them. To prevent this, tie the scissors to the end of a long piece
of yarn, and then tie the other end of the yarn to the leg of the water table.
This way, when the scissors aren't visible, the child can just pull on the
yarn to find them.
Water Tables don't have to be expensive.
Although I like one large enough for at least two children to play in at the same
time, there are several options: a baby bathing tub, large rubbermaid container,
those old-fashioned rain collecting tubs, etc.
*I
absolutely love this variation of my idea above that was sent to me from Brenda
Burgan, Smithville ISD PK:
"We
visited another school a few years ago and they gave us a "cutting box" idea.
It's a box just large enough for cutting a hole into that's big enough for the
children to crawl in and out. It is filled with paper scraps, and the children
sit it in and cut. It keeps the paper from getting spread all over the floor
and the kids love sitting in it."
*Wow,
do I love this idea from Vikki F:
Hi Stormie,
I fill a small wading pool (that I bought years ago) with scrap paper for cutting
and the children just "dive" in, so to speak. I punched holes
in the rime and tied the scissors to it so they don't get lost. It contains
the paper mess and is easy to empty. The children love sitting in it.
******From
Summer, in Minot, North Dakota:
We have plastic pools in three
of our five classrooms. The teachers fill them with old magizines. During
Center Time, three children at a time are allowed to carry their scissors (properly)
to the pool and cut out pictures. They can then leave their cuttings in
the pool or take them home to show parents. This gives first time cutters
the chance to cut freely, without worrying about "cutting on the lines."
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Reminder
from Stormie: If you would like to begin collecting ALL my current classroom
ideas (each on a 4 x 6" index card), as well as new ones that I create, you
can do so by ordering my "Activity Cards." Click here
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