Developing Fine Motor Skills with Chenille Stem Sculptures

Awhile back, I was once again inspired by

to build another amazing engaging contraption : a Pegboard Platform

This simple contraption is made with pegboard, pvc pipe and duct tape. It isn't exactly the same as the one that Tom built, but it serves the same purpose. During sensory table play- It gives the children another level to play- and all of the holes in the peg board cause whatever substance to fall through. Hours of great learning fun and exploration!

When we build contraptions like this- I tend to try to think about as many ways as possible to utilize them. You can change up the material in your sensory table- I bet this would be fabulous with sand- colored rice- I bet you could even squish play dough through it!

At the UP Early Childhood Conference, I put a big glop of flubber/slime on top of it and let it sit. The stringy ooze was fun to watch and provides a great visual! (Photo courtesy of Lisa Murphy aka The Ooey Gooey Lady)

Most of the slime came off- but some of it hardened in the holes of the apparatus. So... I thought- what could we put through those holes to open them back up?

Chenille Stems! (Pipe Cleaners!!!!!)

We didn't use the contraption in the table this time. Instead, I just placed it on the floor with our big bin of chenille stems/pipe cleaners.

It did not take long for one child to figure out how to put the stems through the holes.... and then another, and another.... until we had a whole group of children concentrating on adding stems to the work of art.

Some of the children worked hard to try to get the stems to fall straight through to the bottom while others worked to bend them to keep them in place.

Some of the children worked from the top-

Others thought it would be fun to work from the bottom.

Some of our younger friends had a hard time figuring out how to put the stems in.....

But they sure had fun pulling them out!

Easter Egg Caterpillars!

OOOPS! This post has moved, please click on the photo to be redirected!

A Few Ideas With Marker Caps (As Promised)

Yesterday, I hope I convinced you not to throw away your markers that "don't work." Today, I will share with you a few ideas for what to do with all of the caps. The possibilities are nearly endless, but here are a few of our recent creations: 1) A Leprechaun/Fairy Ladder/Rope Ladder: 2) #1 if not permanently secured can also double as a rope bridge: 3) #1/#2 can also be made into a train track for your homemade trains :). (No photo available) 4) You can use them as beads for a necklace: 5) You could make them into a wind chime. (No photo available). 6. You can use them as small manipulatives to count, sort, and make patterns with. (No photo available). 7) You could use them as playing pieces in your own homemade board game. (No photo available). 8) You could put them on a wire and glue them in place to make a twirling whirly-gig. 9) You could top them with a lid from a milk jug to make tiny tables or toadstools. 10) You could make them...

My friend died

I learned a hell of a lot from Dan Hodgins. He was mentor, a friend, and a "bone shaker" for many of us in the field of Early Childhood Education. He was and will always be a champion for children, and protector of childhood. I have so many great memories of time spent with him, it just doesn't seem like we had enough time. Dan died this past Saturday. Interestingly enough, Dan and I talked about death quite a bit. It is one of those topics that isn't talked about all that much in our field, but is super important. All living things eat, all living things poop, and all living things die. Dan and I recorded a podcast for awhile called "Shaking Bones." Dan was always shaking bones, even before I met him. To say I was honored to be asked to be his co-host would be putting it lightly. I loved recording with him. He was never afraid to touch on topics that were a bit edgy, or issues that sometimes weren't talked about much at all. We even...

Tom Bedard said…

Amy, thanks for the shout-out. I like how you speculate about possible uses and how you relate how one idea morphs into another. It sounds to me like how children think and try things out.

May 31, 2013 at 8:07 PM

Amy A @ Child Central Station said…

You're welcome Tom! I'm always happy to share my inspiration :). Thanks- I'm always trying to think of new ways to use the same things over and to expand not only upon that use, but also to stretch the learning opportunities.

June 1, 2013 at 4:45 AM

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