Fabulous Fine Motor Activities

Fine motor activities are such an important part of the early childhood experience.  Fine motor activities do not have to be nor should they be confined to the table.  By adding dolls, doll clothes, and dress up clothes children have the opportunity to practice snaps, zippers, and buttons.  They are not only working those small muscles, they are also practicing self help skills.  Even simple finger plays and sign language help develop fine motor skills.  Clay is also a wonderful way to incorporate fine motor skills into your classroom.  I like to make different scents of play dough or add items to it so it has a variety of textures. These are a few of the fine motor activities I have put out at the table. 

 Normally, I try to make my own activities, but I found this cute bee in the hive game on http://www.amazon.com/PlanToys-Plan-Preschool-Bee-Hive/dp/B003COZJXO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1380568688&sr=8-1&keywords=preschool+bee+hive+gameand had to have it for Bee week! 

 We used this during Apples week, the kids put cloves in the apple.

 Using tweezers to put apples on the tree

 This is a favorite fine motor activity, I put it out during Colors week or when I'm struggling to find a fine motor activity.  The tweezers aren't pictured, but they use them to drop the pom poms into the matching tube.  I painted the tubes myself, but you can buy them pre colored at craft stores. 

Marble transfer, we used this during Space week.  The kids used a melon baller to put a marble into each section of a clean egg carton. 

Apple Books

These are the books I am using for my Apple theme.  

When we read Ten Apples Up On Top we made a matching art piece.  The Owlets drew a self portrait at the bottom of a piece of paper and then glued ten apple cutouts onto the paper.  

Apple Theme Books

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Ten Apples Up on Top by Dr. Seuss

Amelia Bedelia's First Apple Pie by Herman Parish

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall

Johnny Appleseed by Steven Kellogg

Apple Picking Time by Michele Benoit Slawson

Ten Red Apples by Pat Hutchins

How Do Apples Grow by Betsy Maestro 

Orange Pear Apple Bear (not pictured) by Emily Gravett

 

More Apple Antics

Making Apple Prints

Apple Patterns

Sorting Big A and Little A

Apples Aplenty!

Our apple tree and apple orchard sign (dramatic play)

Apples and basket match (math)

Picking apples off the apple tree with tweezers (fine motor)