fine motor skills: scissor practice

make it fun


At the beginning of the school year, every year, the first cutting projects we do, I have brand new kindergarten kidlets who go crazy cutting with scissors. 

These are the  kidlets with the pile of tiny tiny tiny snippets of paper under their chairs. 

It's obviously a developmental/skill acquisition need.

This year, I figured, if you can't beat them, join them. Make it a legitimate activity.


At the end of last school year, I asked people to save their extra scrap construction paper for me rather than recycling it.

Into the sand table it went - a mass of different colours, shapes, types of paper, even some old border strips that I was tired of looking at.  Regular scissors (actually fancy art scissors with camo  and pink tiger stripe  handles) and the fancy-dancy scissors that make cool zig zag cuts were reassigned from the art supplies basket.


It was so popular, it was almost a cult hit!

''
Kids were around the edge of the sand table cutting.  When there was no more room there, they found space on the floor with their paper and scissors.  
Fabulous cutting.  Then the stapler came out.  Cutting, stapling, stapling cutting.  One little kidlet proudly took home a bag fill of tiny bits of bright pink paper!

When kidlets have difficulty holding their scissors correctly, we chant this oldie (but goodie).

Click on the graphic to get a free download.  

And, happy cutting. 


            

6 comments

  1. What a great idea! I'm trying to stay focused on vacation time, but it is hard!!
    Jenny
    Owl Things First

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  2. I start work on Aug. 5; I'm in planning mode! I hope there is a "sand" table in my new classroom. Your idea is terrific!

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  3. Great chant. We love chants in my room! Started to read Catching Readers Before They Fall this mornIng. Liz:

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  4. Great center idea! Kids naturally love to cut up paper anyway. Why not let them cut away and practice at the same time?!

    Karen
    An Apple a Day in First Grade

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  5. My office looks exactly the same!
    I think some grade ones would benefit from this also:)

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  6. Love it and I know my Kinders will get a chuckle as they cut and chant!
    Thank you very much,

    ReplyDelete

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