Children take turns combing through the sensory table to find a variety of shape manipulatives.
Children take turns combing through the sensory table to find a variety of shape manipulatives.
What you'll need
- shape manipulatives
- shallow tub
- sensory filler
- paper
- drawing tools
Step by step
Step 1
Bury shape manipulatives (blocks, puzzle pieces, craft foam shapes, lids, etc.) in a sensory table or shallow tub filled with poms, tiny beads, aquarium rocks, or a similar filler. Draw shapes on sheets of paper to represent the shapes that are hidden.
Step 2
Invite children to take turns combing through the sensory table until they find an item. When they pull out the item, have them place it on the sheet with the corresponding shape. When all of the shapes are found, count how many are on each sheet. Then, have children help you bury the shapes again so they can be found during free play.
Playful questions
What shapes did you find buried in the tub?
Did you find all the shapes?
Imagine you could dig for buried treasure in the tub! What would you like to find?
Learning outcomes
Physical Development and Health
Gross Motor Development
Coordinates body movements in place with increasing skill (begins to kick ball with purpose, throws overhand with some accuracy, dribbles balls with increased coordination, throws and attempts to catch balls, begins using bat/racket to make contact with objects)
Coordinates body movements in place to accomplish a goal (kicks ball accurately in game, throws overhand, dribbles, and catches balls with increasing accuracy, swings bat/racket and makes contact with stationary objects, bounces and passes ball)
Physical Development and Health
Fine Motor Development
Refines wrist and finger movements for more control (pours without spilling from small container, successful with some fasteners on clothing, folds paper, manipulates playdough and clay)
Uses small, precise hand movements to complete tasks (fastens clothing, folds paper with accuracy and symmetry; begins attempting to tie shoes, uses a dominant hand)
Science
Observation and Inquiry
Uses senses to make increasingly complex observations in the environment; makes simple predictions and plans to carry out investigations; describes observations.
Uses steps of the scientific inquiry process and all five senses to purposely explore materials; asks questions (why, where, when, how, what) and seeks answers through exploration; makes and explains observations, makes predictions based on observations and past experiences, and draws conclusions; classifies objects by function.
Math
Geometry and Spatial Sense
Locates and names different sizes and orientations of shapes in the environment; describes attributes of shapes; uses 2D and 3D shapes to create pictures or structures; decomposes shapes.
Names 2D shapes no matter the size or orientation; describes and compares attributes of 2D and 3D shapes of different sizes and orientations noting similarities and differences; uses 2D and 3D shapes to create real-world representations of objects; begins to understand symmetry; composes and decomposes shapes; copies/draws simple shapes independently.