The Chaos and the Clutter

Sharla Kostelyk

Bug Action Cube Gross Motor Fun

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Using this simple bug action cube, kids can work on their gross motor skills and get that all important sensory input. It also of course gives them something to do. This activity can be done inside or outside and is easy to set up.

paper cube on teal wood with flower background. Text reads "Bug Action Cube a gross motor sensory activity"This is a great (and inexpensive) way for kids to burn off energy. If you do an insect learning unit in your classroom or homeschool, it’s also a cute addition to your unit study. You can also pair this cube with our Bug Action Cards.

If you use the cube as part of an insect unit study, one way to expand the learning is to have your child read or research or draw each of the bugs represented.

Bug Action Cube:

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Download the action cube.
  2. Print it out. 
  3. Cut it.
  4. Fold along the dotted lines into a cube and glue or tape to attach.
  5. Have your child roll the cube and follow the instructions on the side that it lands on.

Sensory and learning opportunities:

  • exercise (endorphins, improved mood, health)
  • reading 
  • gross motor practise
  • improving communication skills
  • engaging the visual, tactile, and proprioceptive sensory systems
  • crossing the midline
  • provide a brain break 

Breaking up schoolwork or screen time by providing a quick five minute brain break like this can actually make a significant difference in focus and concentration. These activities involve whole body movement so they are a wonderful reset to mood as well. You’ll be amazed the difference in your child after just a short brain break like this. 

Add your email address to the box below to access your free Bug Action Cube to print off.

You may be interested in these other gross motor activities for kids:

Dinosaur Action Cube

Bug Action Cards

5 Trampoline GamesTrampoline Games and Activities

Button Stacking Fine Motor and Sensory Activities

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With just a few simple supplies that you may already have kicking around the house, you can create all kinds of fun ways for your child to work on their fine motor skills. These button stacking activities are easy and effective. colourful buttons on a dry spaghetti noodle and others stacked on playdough. Text reads: "Button Stacking fine motor activities"You can easily set these up at home or as a learning station in a preschool or Kindergarten classroom. It is inexpensive and fast to set up.

Button Stacking Activities:

Supplies needed:

Directions for the noodles and buttons activity:

  1. Make a ball of playdough and press down to flatten it.
  2. Insert a few sticks of dry spaghetti into the playdough.
  3. Lay out an assortment of buttons. It’s best to include as much variety as you can. 
  4. Show your child how to thread the buttons on the pasta and encourage them to try.
  5. See how many buttons your child can stack without breaking the dry pasta.

Depending on the age and ability of your child you can have them insert the spaghetti noodles or you can set that part up for them. 

Directions for the button tower building activity:

  1. Roll playdough into small balls.
  2. Set out an assortment of buttons in a variety of sizes and colours.
  3. Invite your child to stack the buttons and the balls of playdough creating towers. 

The playdough and buttons create a unique building material. What may seem like a simple activity is actually an introduction to engineering concepts. Kids can discover how many buttons they can stack before their tower tumbles or if stacking the buttons flat or sideways yields better results. They can also experiment with what building methods are most stable.  

Sensory and learning opportunities:

These seemingly simple button stacking activities offer a lot of learning opportunities for kids.

  • language development as kids discuss things like colours and shapes
  • building dexterity 
  • fine motor skill practise
  • STEM (engineering, science, and simple math such as counting buttons and balls)
  • tactile, visual, and proprioceptive sensory input

Check out these other fine motor activities for preschoolers:

Sprinkles Sensory Bag

Rainbow Playdough Fine Motor Activity

Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity

Sprinkles Sensory Bag

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I find that it’s often the easiest activity ideas that are the best. This fits that criteria. By making a Sprinkles Sensory Bag for your child or student, you can create an easy fine motor and sensory activity that also serves as a boredom buster. clear bag with blue edges filled with colourful sprinkles. Text reads "Sprinkles Sensory Bag"

Sprinkles Sensory Bag:

Supplies needed:

*While you can use a sandwich bag, I find that the freezer bags in size medium are thicker and less likely to tear so that’s what I always use for our sensory bags. 

Directions:

  1. Reinforce the sides and bottom of a zipper seal bag by folding duct tape over them.
  2. Pour in some sprinkles.
  3. Remove the excess air and seal the bag.
  4. Fold another strip of the duct tape over the top.
  5. Give the bag to your child.

Your child can trace letters, numbers, or shapes in the sprinkles with their finger. This will help reinforce learning and also give them fine motor practise.

If you want, you can write a letter, number, or shape on a piece of paper and lay the bag on top of the paper so that they can use that as their guide. 

As far as sensory benefits go, this activity provides tactile, visual, and proprioceptive sensory feedback. If kids shake the bag, there is also a small amount of auditory sensory input as well. One of the things that’s nice about this is that it is safe for preschoolers and even toddlers because even if they are able to get the bag open, the sprinkles are edible. Of course, adult supervision should be used with all kids’ activities. 

You may also be interested in these preschool fine motor activities:

Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity

Rainbow Playdough Fine Motor Activity

Transportation Alphabet Playdough Mats

Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity

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Helping your child with their fine motor development doesn’t require fancy activities or expensive equipment. There are many things you can easily do at home to work on this skill with them. This ball and bands activity is such a simple fine motor challenge that kids can do with items you already have at home. red knobby sensory ball with coloured elastics on it. Text reads "Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity"

Ball and Bands Fine Motor Activity:

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Stretch the bands to fit over the knobs of the textured ball. Add as many as you want to, but this activity is challenging for small hands, so be sure to consider the ability of the child. It’s best not to put too many bands on the ball which could cause frustration.
  2. Encourage your child to carefully remove the bands from the ball. This will work on their fine motor skills, pincer grasp, and concentration.
  3. Once your child has mastered this skill, you can have them try to place the elastic bands on the knobby ball themselves. 

In addition to working on pincer grasp, fine motor, and concentration, kids will also be receiving that all important sensory input. So this seemingly simple activity packs big value. 

It is quick to set up and inexpensive. This is perfect for preschoolers and with help, even some toddlers can attempt this.

To expand this activity:

For older kids or those with more advanced fine motor skills, you can have them try to create shapes using the loom bands on the spikes on the ball. Let them get creative!

Please note that the rubber bands are small and therefore, adult supervision should be used with this (or any of our other) activities. 

You may also be interested in these fine motor activities for kids:

Rainbow Playdough Fine Motor Activity

Seashell Fossils in Playdough

Simple Scooping Busy BagSimple Scooping Activity Bag

Science Sensory Bins for Hands-on Learning

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Science sensory bins for hands-on learning allow kids to explore through their senses and interact with what they are studying. They are a great way to increase interest and engagement.

collage of images with text that reads "Science Sensory Bins hands-on learning"Hands-on learning is also a great way to increase retention of concepts. Sensory bin are easy to set up but offer a big payoff in terms of interest and interaction. 

Science Sensory Bins for Hands-on Learning

Human Body Sensory Bin

Admittedly, this one is a bit gross, but kids love getting their hands in there and exploring the organs and body parts!

Dig for Fossils Sensory Bin

Learn about dinosaurs and fossil excavation with this hands-on activity.

Bee Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Water beads are the filler for this simple yet effective way to help kids learn the bee life cycle.

Life Cycle of a Chicken Sensory Bin

This sensory play idea includes suggestions for expanding the learning as well as free printables for a farm or chicken unit study.

Magnets, Magnets, and More Magnets

Invite your child to discover the world of magnets in this interactive science experience.

Sea Turtle Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Sea turtles are fascinating. Give your child the opportunity to explore in this simple to make sensory tub.

Praying Mantis Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Bring this sensory play station to your home or classroom as kids learn about these interesting insects.

Solar System Sensory Bin

Photo Credit: team-cartwright.com

How To Make a Tasty Dino Dig for Toddlers and Preschoolers (STEM Fun!)

Create your own archeological dinosaur dig with this fun sensory treat! Dig like a real scientist through the jello Earth layers to dig up your dinos.

Photo Credit: activelittles.com

Hand Washing Experiment for Kids

Proper hand washing experiment for kids using a sensorial water bin.

Photo Credit: www.thekeeperofthememories.com

Whale Investigation Station for Preschoolers

Learn about whales with this Whale Investigation Station for little kids!

Photo Credit: faithandgoodworks.com

Swamp Sensory Bin

Bring the swamp indoors.

Photo Credit: www.adabofgluewilldo.com

Ocean Sensory Bin Sorting Activity

Practise matching and sorting with this ocean themed sensory activity.

Photo Credit: preschooltoolkit.com

Marble Roll STEAM Activity in the Sensory Bin

Combine sensory and science to explore how a marble rolls through different sensory bin fillers.

Photo Credit: teachingmama.org

Arctic Animals Sensory Bin

Photo Credit: www.funlittles.com

Create a pond sensory bin

Explore the possibilities in this pond wildlife habitat small world play activity.

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Icy Ocean Sensory Bin And Ice Melt

An icy ocean science activity transforms into a fantastic ocean water sensory bin! Explore the ocean with an under the sea science and sensory play activity!

Using these ideas for science sensory bins, you can expand on a unit study or introduce a new concept to your child or students. 

You may also be interested in reading:

Layers of the Earth Science Project

Easy Earthquake Experiment

Easy Outdoor Sensory Activities

 

May Emotions Printables for Kids

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It is not uncommon for students to have mixed feelings about summer break coming up, but this year, that is particularly true. These free printable May emotions worksheets can help them to sort through those feelings. They can also help them to realize that it’s okay to feel all of them. printed worksheets laid out. Text reads "May Emotions printables"

Most children this year didn’t get the closure of their school year ending the regular way. They may feel disappointed about things such as vacations or summer camps being cancelled. They may worry that summer won’t feel much like summer since they’ve already been home for weeks or months. 

I know that some of my kids are struggling with big emotions about not being able to go on our usual summer family camping trip and uncertainty about the upcoming school year. 

Simple activities that focus on emotions help kids to learn the vocabulary as well as to get used to talking about their own emotions. 

The printable emotions copywork pages help kids practise their printing while at the same time, associating the emotion word with the appropriate facial expression.

The My Feelings Log for this month helps kids put a name to the feelings they are experiencing. This is the first step in learning to manage those feelings. It is so important. 

May Emotions Printables for Kids:

May Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

  • May Emotions Printable pages (download them here)
  • pen or pencil OR
  • plastic sleeve AND dry erase marker

If you want the sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or slip them in a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

  1. Read the sentence.
  2. Fill in the outline.
  3. Trace the dotted words.
  4. Write the sentence on the lines provided.
  5. Discuss the various emotions.

These worksheets can be a jumping off point for a discussion about various emotions. You can further expand this activity by having your child describe a time when they have felt that emotion. They can also come up with a story describing why the bee might be experiencing that particular feeling.

May My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

  1. Choose one icon each day to colour, cut, and paste to your log.
  2. At the end of the month, you can look back and see the various emotions you felt.
  3. Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

The bee emotion visuals help kids better identify and work through their own feelings in a way that feels less vulnerable because it’s a cute bee face. Once you know HOW they are feeling that day, you can help them dig into the WHY behind those feelings.

After identifying the feeling, you can work together on strategies for better managing that emotion.

Simply enter your email in the box below to download the May Emotions Printable Worksheets. Print them off to use them with your child at home or with your students. 

You may also be interested in reading:

Spider Emotions Matching Game

Outdoor Sensory Activities at Home

Where to Find Free Homeschool Printablesmother sits at table teaching a boy in a green shirt and girl in a purple shirt. Text reads "Mega List Free Homeschool Printables"