Ever since seeing this fun post on Teach Preschool, I have been wanting to try a "Sticky Easel"
It's so easy, tape down some contact paper or sticky-back plastic (sticky side up), on an easel or any other surface, and let kids stick materials to their heart's content. The possibilities for learning, creativity and skill practice are wide and varied.
Ages: 2-6+
Materials: Contact paper/Sticky-back plastic (the stuff you cover books with), sticky tape, coloured craft sticks & straws
I set up the easel with the contact paper/sticky-back plastic and provided two tubs.
Coloured craft sticks and cut-up recycled straws
There was no instruction necessary, she was straight into it after touching it for a bit
Working with small materials. Fine motor skills being practiced
Making a house and putting straw tiles on the roof
Even I was surprised by how long she sat there working away
"I love this" she declared and hugged the easel.
We had a lot of great discussion about her creation and her thought processes.
At about this stage she wanted more room so we popped them back in the containers and she started all over again.
We hope your kids enjoy it as much as we did and keep coming back to it over the week for a great progressive art/exploration.
Handy Tips:
- Simplify this activity by providing materials for sticking that are appropriate for your child. If cut up straws pose a choking risk, try keeping them at a longer length or switching them for other light-ish materials. Also, if sitting/standing at an easel won't work, try sticking the contact onto a baking tray and giving them that to play with on the floor.
- Extend this activity by having your child test the strength of the stickiness by trying to stick other objects from around the room on there. What weight or size becomes too much? Use the sticky easel for early literacy practice such as making letters, writing words etc.
-Ask questions to help connect their understanding and use vocabulary to give them words to describe what they're creating, eg. "That looks great, tell me about it" "What are you creating?" "Why did you choose that?" "How are you going to fill this space?" "I love how you've lined them all up in a row" etc.
- Listen to your child talk as they go through their experiences. This will help you determine where they are at with their learning, knowledge and understanding and help you to develop the activity (or future activities) to their level and interests.
Here are some more fun activities of ours using craft sticks
Happy playing,
Debs :)
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