Fine & Gross Motor Skills-Further

Hello to all our subscribers. I think I am always apologising for the time in between blogs but I am sure you are all so busy you are happily not inundated.

Previously I had promised, a couple of blogs back, to give you some more ideas around fine and gross motors skills using our books.

I have also been doing some google searching to see what articles address this.

I have found :

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6901663/

The following link has great tips:

https://www.earlymovers.org.uk/planning-tips

Following are some ideas for developing fine and gross motor skills.

In this book the koalas have made a big mess. This is a great opportunity for the children to learn about making a mess and cleaning up in a fun way. ( I wouldn’t suggest this idea with real rubbish!)

MAKING ‘RUBBISH’ AND A ‘RUBBISH BIN’

You will need coloured paper, scissors, string and a large cardboard box with lid

1. Ask the children to tear or cut up pieces of coloured paper
2. Scrunch them up
3. Find a large cardboard box with a lid and cut a large hole in the lid that the balls of paper will fit easily through the hole
4. Have the children throw their scrunched up balls of paper into the box
5. When the box is full have the children try to remove the paper balls from the hole in the lid
6. Take a string and help them to make holes in the scrunched balls and have them thread the balls onto the string
7. Hang the string across the classroom as a decoration

CREATING A ‘FEATHER DUSTER’

You will need scraps of material, scissors, tape or string and wooden or cardboard ‘sticks’

1. Have the children take a number of pieces of fabric and cut them into strips of approximately 20cm length
2. Each child should have enough strips to tie or tape around a stick to create a ‘feather’ duster.
3. Once this is done the children can be asked to jump up and use their feather dusters to ‘clean’ spots that a higher then themselves. (In this case I am recommending cardboard ‘sticks’ as would worry about accidents.
4. The children could also make spider webs from wool to hang around the classroom and then use their feather dusters to remove them
5. Whilst they are doing the cleaning in both activities they could be singing “Roll up, roll up to the greatest clean up. Our houses a spick and span. We like it that way so we clean when we can. Come and join us and make it fun. Do a good job and then it’s done!”

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The school year is nearly over and it is not without some sadness that I am watching the events across the globe with anxiety. I wonder if you and your children are feeling this. Making music, in whatever way we do, is a great way to create a happy and fun time and take our minds off bigger issues.

Using ‘A Brand New Band’ as and example I think you will find there is the opportunity to engage fine and gross motor skills.

USING KITCHEN UTENSILS AND OTHER OBJECTS TO MAKE A BAND

Whilst I am an avid anti-plastic proponent there are, I have to admit, some uses that can serve a purpose. In this case, plastic bottles in different shapes and sizes can come in very handy. If you also don’t want to encourage plastic in your ELC the children can bring in other types of containers. The idea for this is to have the children use their fine motor skills to put various objects into the small opening of a container and then use it as a musical instrument.

1. Have the children bring clean and empty plastic or other types of bottles or receptacles to their ELC.
2. Collect various small objects such as frozen peas, sand, seeds both large and small. This is an opportunity for them to go on a seed hunt within the class or at home.
3. Ask the children to put the various objects into the small holes of each receptacle.
4. Fill each receptacle with one type of object to achieve various sounds from various receptacles when shaken.

1. To add to the ‘band’ the children can bring a number of kitchen utensils such as wooden spoons, whisks, spatulas etc., to their class.
2. Ask them to use these to make different sounds by banging them on various surfaces.
3. A sturdy piece of paper stretched across a saucepan and hit with a wooden spoon can act like a drum. Different sized saucepans will make different sounds.
4. There are many ways to make music. Have the children participate in creating their own band and have them dance around the classroom playing their instruments. Good luck with the sense of order!!

As previously suggested, we would love you to add to this blog with clever ideas of your own. We will always welcome suggestions.

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Until next time, have a wonderful last few weeks of term.

With kindness,

Penny Harris