This busy bag is fun for younger toddlers and older preschoolers. The learning activity has pattern cards in the shapes of animals. Kids are free to build animals with 1″ square tiles. I have 2 different options for this activity. The younger children would benefit from the larger cards. These cards act as building mats because the squares on the pattern cards are the same size as the tiles. Kids can place the colorful tiles on top of the squares to complete the pattern! Older children can build the animals off the cards (or use the smaller card set) to try and create the animals without a guide!
OPTION 1. TILES AND SMALL CARDS
– 30 1″ colorful tiles.
– 8 Animal design patterns (4 double-sided cards professionally printed on cardstock and laminated. Classroom tough cards) Cards are 3.5″ x 3.25″ so you CANNOT build directly on the card.
OPTION 2. TILES AND LARGE BUILD-ON CARDS
– 30 1″ colorful tiles.
– 8 Animal design patterns (4 double-sided cards professionally printed on cardstock and laminated. Classroom tough cards) Cards are HUGE – 5.5″ x 8.4″ so you CAN build directly on the card.
What they are learning WHILE having fun:
– Hand/Eye coordination – Being able to line up and place the tiles on or off the mat in the correct location.
– Color recognition and visual discrimination – Kids need to recognize the differences in the colors to put the tiles together in order.
– Fine motor – Practicing using fine motor pincer grasp in order to manipulate the tiles. Builds hand muscles and dexterity which are essential for a proper pencil grasp.
– Concentration. This activity utilizes several tiles so it offers a great opportunity to sit and focus on a task before it is completed and to encourage children to create their own animals.
– Visual Discrimination – Visually discriminate the tiles in terms of color and location on the pattern (position in space).