Foster finemotor development in specialeducation students in prekindergarten and up using Cut, Color, Trace, and Paste. This 64page resource is filled with fun reproducible activities that allow young students to learn and practice finemotor skills and eyehand coordination. The sequence of activities builds in difficulty―from simple to complex―as students finemotor skills improve. Key Education products are intended to engage and educate young and special learners, as well as assist teachers in building a strong and developmentally appropriate curriculum for these children. The product line―comprised of teacherparent resource books, photographic learning cards, and other activity and gameoriented materials―is designed to assist in “Unlocking the Potential in Every Child.”
SPECIAL EDUCATION Reproducible Activities for Learning and Practicing a Variety of Fine Motor Skills Activities are: + developmentally appropriate * sequenced fo increase in difficulty * designed to strengthen fine motor control and improve eye-hand coordination Introduction Strengthening vieual discrimination and fine motor skile are cttical elements in a young child's progress towards learning to read and write The ability to distinguish visually between objects—eventually differentiating between letters and words—is essential to reading readiness And although by the age of five most children have made gains in controling the movements of small muscles, including eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity, developing the fine motor sls needed to write requites time and plentyof practice Cut, Colo, Trace & Paste provides a wide variety of engaging activities to increase visual discrimination and fine motor skills that will help build the foundation for early literacy success This book is divided into five levels of skill difficulty; each type of activity—cutting, coloring, tracing, and pasting—moves from simple to more complex The following are afew examples of each skil's progression: + Cutting activities begin with the short straight cuts of adding fringe to rug, move to the angled lines of a bike race route, and, in level five, follow the spiral of a snail's shell Coloring activities stort with fun and simple objects and progress to more complicated scenes programmed with color keys to help children begin to recognize familiar color words Tracing activities have children follow the straight lines of a rocket blastoff and a colony of climbing ants, make some waves at a pool party, and finish shapes and figures, including the creation of a selfportrait! + Pasting activities challenge children as they accurately position and paste cutouts to complete simple scenes, several-piece puzzles, and even a paper bag bear puppet Also included is a section of innovative ideas for introducing each skill to children With just a few supplies and minimal preparation, these projects wil inspire creativity while helping children build strength and gain control of small muscles in their hands and wrists The activities in Cut, Color Trace & Paste are fun, and will improve young children’s visual discrimination and fine motor skills while gaining invaluable support for future leaning, Table of Contents Ideas to Ideas to Ideas to Ideas to Teach Teach Teach Teach Cutting Skills Coloring Skills Tracing/Pencil Skills Pasting Skills Level Snip, Snip, Snip (cutting) Beach Ball (coloring) Down Come the Spiders (tracing) Up Go the Rockets (tracing), Cut-and-Paste Hairstyle (pasting) Racing Rabbits (cutting) Faney Fish (coloting) Dino Trails (tracing) Mice & Cheese (tracing) Build « Block (pasting) Cut Balloon Strings (cutting) Funny Fruit Faces (coloring) Siding Fun (tracing) Climbing Ants (tracing) ‘A Penguin Puzzle (posting) Level2 Cut Along Sun Rays (cutting) See the Caterpillar Craw! (coloring) Design Time (tracing) Candy Forest (pasting) Running Fun (cutting) Fiying Kites (cutting) Slow & Steady Turtle (coloring) Off to 02! (racing) Make a kite! (posting) Up- and Downhill Bike Race (cutting) Shoot for the Stars (coloring) Have a Ball (tracing) What a Surprise! (pasting) 10 n „ 12 13 14 16 18 16 18 19 19 21 23 24 25 25 2% 28 29 31 32 Level Stay on the Road (cutting) Tallest of Alll (coloring) Home Sweet Castle! (tracing) Flamingo Puzzle (posting) Mountains (cutting) Make a Wish (coloring) Flutter By, Butterfies (tracing) Build-o-Block Tower (pasting) Follow the Bug Parade (cutting) Dotty Dinosaur (coloring) Eimer Elephant (tracing), Three Men in a Tub (pasting) Level Over the Rainbow (cutting) Under the Umbrella (coloring) Funny Faces (tracing) Construct« Robot (pasting) Oceans of Fun! (cutting) On the Farm! (coloring) Kittens and Their Mittens (tracing) Stand-Up Farm Animals (pasting) Roller Coaster Ride (cutting) Frogs and Ui Pads (coloring) Pool Party Fun (tracing) Paper Bag Bear Puppet (pasting) Level Climb the Beanstalks (cutting) Bugs & Bugs & Bugs (coloring) Leaping Lizards (tracing) Pet Goldsh (pasting) Snip the Snail (cutting) Candy House (coloring) Trace a Face (tracing), Make a Dinosaur (pasting) 33 34 36 37 38 AV 42 46 47 48 a9 81 52 ¬ 55 87 58 59 “2 63 Ideas to Teach CUTTING Skills Before children can successuly cut witha pait of scissors, they need to have developed several diferent ski ist, they must have enough muscle sttengih fo be able fo contol and coordinate using two hands together (one hand holds the paper while the other hand manipulates the scisor) Ihey must ao be able fo lkolate the movernents of {hel humbs, middle fingess, nd index tinges The ability to sola the actions ofthese fingers allows chien to control the opening and closing of the sossors Here are some helpful suggestions: + Make sure you have a good poi of sclgor that were designed to fit property in child's hand + Have the children practice touching each fingertip tothe thumb Fist touch the pointe finger to the thumb; next, the midale finger o the thumb; then the tng finger to the thumb: and finaly, the pinke finger fo the thumb + Discuss safety prior fo giving a child « pa of solssors: You should never run while holding @ par of scssors You should be siting when ate cutting with a pair of scissors, andif you are walking with scisos, be sue to hold the ‘blades in he palm of your hand, + Lot the children st and practice opening and closing the sclso%s before you give them ‘anything to cut — + Use « heavier weight paper when children are fist Ieaming how fo cut Is easier to “© hhold and fo cut As the chia’ skis increase, then introduce lighter weight papers + Start with smal pieces of paper because they are easier to cut + Introduce the concept of “sipping,” Let he children snip finge (approximately one inch in length)on the edge (of @ ship of paper + Let children practice cutting using a wide variety of paper and textures such as sandpaper, aluminum fol paint sample squares waxed paper yam stiaws play dough or any other items that you might have handy + Be sure that young children have mastered cutting straight ines and georneic shapes before introducing the concept of cutting ona curve Sniping Funny Shapesclot contoc! paper, and coat constuction paper Yeu tl meet score ‘What you do: Let your chid enjoy cutting coloted construction paper It does not matter big of paper what shapes 1e pieces ate The adult should cut out and remove the backing on an 8.6"x 11" piece of clearhowcontact When the chid has a smal ple of colored shapes she can smply “tick” the shapeson the contact paper When finished, the contact paper canbe tuned over and applied to another sheet of paper The resufEø wokof scisor orl:eody lo đeploy, Scissor Maggzines and You will ne d? scisoss glue sticks, consituction paper and old magazines and catalogs What you de: This simple activiy is very educational ands also one that children enjoy doing for long periods of ime Provide chikdren with old magazines and catalogs and let them cut out pictures and glue them onto paper using the give sticks This activity also help chikdren leam how to categorize and sort Have the children cut out pictures then sơn them into spectied categories such as people furniture, clothes, or food Extra idea: Chidien wil ako enjoy making a collage of pictures of thet favorite things Fila plece of paper or a paper plate with pictures they have cut out and have them arrange and give the pictures on another piece of paper ‘Mosaies, You will need: scissors, white glue, paintbrushes a vatiely of colottl tssue paper, and clay pols ‘What you do: Ask the chidien fo cut ou many small pieces of colored tistue paper When they are finshed cutting, have them paint thei clay pols with diiied white glue As sections of the pols are covered in glue, childten can apply their cutout pieces of tissue paper to the pots Let them dry thoroughy Extra ideas Provide each chid with a smple coloting book page Have chidren use their cut tssue paper pieces to.cteate mosaics Using glue slicks, chicken may glue the small pieces of paper in each section fo fnh thelr pages ‘The Cutting Box You will need: sciso1s « box and a wide variety of materials for the children to cut What yeu de: Ihis simple activity wil quickiy become a classioom favorite Fil a large box with al sorts of materia that the chidren can cut, Leave scissors glue sticks, and paper near the cutting boxso that the “cutting” remnants” can be turned info wonderful ait projects Chien wil ove To practice thet cutting skis when they know they can go to.a special box in which everyihingis "OK" to cut! Ideas to Teach COLORING Skills Crayons ore often the fist “fine motor tools that children use to explore learning about colors, how to draw lines ‘and shapes and how to create thet fist works of art! You should notice that when children fist begin fo use crayons {o.colo, often they wil color using whole aim movernents, Eventual, of they mature and thet sklls increase, the aim ‘movements wil change fo wrist and then to finger movements, Practice Coloring Fun Hete ate some Wdeas to practice coloring sil Idea 1: Using white glue, trace around the edge ofthe picture and let it ry This wil provide a raked border which makes easter forthe child to color within the lines The child can then colo in the picture using crayons, markers, paint, for any other medium he chooses Idea 2: Glue yarn around the border of the picture This wil ako provide ø ralsed border to help guide the child's coloring Idea 8: Atte creating a glue ot yarn border let the child filin the rest of the picture with colored glue Apply the glue by squeezing some into the center (6f each section to be coloted and then moving the glue around with a cotton swab of a small paintbrush, Idea 4: Add color to any of the reproducible coloring pages with bingo ‘makers The chldten smply dab colo in each section of the chosen pictur Build Fine Motor Skills by Providing, Tactile Experiences, Before young chidten learn to pit it important to provide them with a wide vatialy of tactile experiences Toelle experiences alow chicten 10 “fee” shopes eer, ond numbers as they draw with thet fingers Tactle ond mleensory expetiences ate wonderfulfo al chidien, bul can be especialy helpful for chidren whe fad visual motor Gnd fine motor Tasks Ct Cookie Sheet Trecing -Dry Fila cookle sheet with any of the folowing materia tice, clean sand, sige, coffee, sugar, seeds small beads, or'oofrneol Let the children draw and frace with thei fingers Draw specific shapes and then ask the chid fo ty to copy each of the shapes that you have drawn Gritty Finger Point, Yeu wil Ree: | cup fou cup water food coloring 11014 cups of salt or sand, large mixing bowl @ spoon oF ther utensl fr string, and finger paint paper ‘What you de: Combine the four with the sit or sand Add the water and str until thorough ited, Add the food Coloring one diop ata time until you achieve the dested colr ‘Smelly Finger Paint Ren mee eipoper pate ot wheat pate, wae od clan, ot wheres og ing bow spoon of other ulenal fr sling, and finger palnt paper ‘What you do: Mix the wallpaper paste or wheat paste with water unt you have @ thin paste Add the food color Ing and a few drops of ol of wintergteen For mote fun, try adding other scents such as vanila, peppermint, lemon, or mond ‘Yummy Yogurt Finger Paint You will need: catfon plain yogut, Ys package favored gelatin, a mixing bow, a spoon ot other utensifr sting ‘ond finger point paper ‘What you do: Mix lof the ingredients together and then use as inger paint on a paper plate of on wax paper A "heolty to taste” art experience! (Yurnmy Yogurt Finger Paint and Giggle Jiggle Gelatin Finger Paint ơre "edble" 1eclpes The does noi mean that the chidten can consume an ene at expetionce Eble recipes are meant isl to be fasted Ako, ring the chidren to wash the hands before they create any edible at experience.) Ideas to Teach TRACING/PENCIL Skills ‘Teach Children to Hold » Peneil Below ate some tips that wil help youteach pene si + Good Posture Chiren should maintain good posture when they are learning how lo pin The feet should be ‘onthe floor and the desk surface should be at a height fo the arm and elbow to rest Comfortably Ankles hips ‘and knees should all be at 90 degree angles If the chai fo high place a foot stool under the child's feet + Slanted Surface Learning how to use a pencil is easier when chidren are permitted to work on a slanted surface Place 4inch three ting-binder on the desk in ttont of the child The spine of the binder should be near the top of the desk Rotate the binder 1o a 45 degree angle Tape a piece of witing paper on the 'placed Witing binder on this slanted surface is fun and be extremely beneficial, + ˆ Algn Paper Evenif you not use a santed surface, be sure that the paperis aligned parallel to the arm of the ‘dominant hand and is ata 48 degree angle The non-dominant hand should be used fo hold the paper stable, + Proper Pencil Grasp Ine pencil should be held between the pads ofthe thumb and the Index finger while resting on the middle finger Another appropriate vetson o this rasp 'sfor the pencil o be held between the pads of the thumb and the index and middle fingess while resting on the ting finger ‘Extra Helpful “Learning.to Use » Peneil” Tips: + Pencil Grips Use pencl rips for chien who have ø dificul time remembering how to hold thel penci + Short Pencils Break oF sharpen pencils down to about a 2inch length This wil ‘encourage smal hands fo hold the pencil properly + Chubby Wilting Tools Use sidewalk chalk chubby crayons, or a chubby penel cut down 16.0 shor 2inch length to helo children gain more control Other Ideas to Strengthen Fine Motor Skills + Fine motor sis are best developed when chidren work on vertical, of neat vertical surfaces, such os Chalkboards, easels, te-bights, magnets on retigeratos, wipe-off boards or flannel boards + Attach o large sheet of paper fo @ wal chalkboard oF buletin board The teacher should draw a tine or a simple outline and then have the chid trace over what the teacher hos drawn using « large piece of chalk ‘rayon of marker Afr the child hos laced the outine several mes ask him fo draw an identical outine nex to your, + Draw large dots on a black board, ease, oF chatt paper Let the child have fun connecting the dotsin any đieolon There should be no right of wiong way lo Connect the dots + Provide many tool for children to practice thelr fe motor sis: crayons markers, colored glue paint ‘watercolors colored pencils, colored chalk and bingo marke for dabbing cob + Let the children use blackboards, eases, and chart paper to experiment with wiling Encourage chien lo cdtow shapes, nes, cuved lines, and objects Many young chien wal want fo draw pictures of tho (ortlos, pels, and favorite toys ‘The following activities will help children peneil contol end meresge early more ‘Make Your Own Steneils Cut out steno from card stock (ee istration.) There are several ways fo use stoncls Fist have the child hold the stencll with ihe non-domminant hand while the dominate hand traces {round the inside edge of the stencil fo complete the picture or shape Tel neieernbersddersreoersei || SC) Moslchlcten rưựW erloy thi ocfwfy Provide each child with a page of shapes letters numbbets designs ora card with thế: norne on i, Have them trace over the Images several ines, each time using a diferent color crayon Peneil Paintin Fil several sal containers of a mulfin tn, with a vatlely of colts of tempera paint The children wil aip the eraser fend of @ penal nto the paint and then "dab" the colots on thet piotures When completed, the pictures wil ]ook tke “pointissm.” Tis wil help childien lean control and increase thelr aye-hand coordination, Ideas to Teach PASTING Skills Glue and Poste Practice Projects The finger squeezing movements that are utlized when using glue ahd paste help to stiengthen the muscles needed for developing fine motor skis Other wonderful items fo be used for Increasing finger stiengih are spray bottles, tweezers glue boties, hole punches emply plastic bottles (Le ketchup and mustard bottles) and clothespins The folowing are some etlectve activities fo Increase strength and control 'Tweezind Seed Pictures: The chfiren wil need constuction paper, black markers, gue, and a vatiety of laige seeds The best seeds fr this ‘ocivly are pumpkin and laige squash seeds Wash and diy the seeds before using therm in clas, [Ask the childten fo draw a setibble design with a black marker on a piece of constuction paper Fil each section with glue (squeeze) and have the children use a tweezer fo place the seeds on the glue The seed designs are attractive ‘nd iis @ great exercike for developing fine motor sk f a n Son ake ong paper h a n s b y in oạohet he end of PPS Get me paper cha b y hg l o g e t h e e n d consnston papers Guest won voy we coy (P) Ghee sviex B Paint with Safe Smelling Glue ‘Actealve way 10022 Up plain old white glue and make anew way to paint sto add Kool Ald® packets of various flavors (Colors) ino approximately Y4 cup of glue Mix thoroughly with paintbrushes and amazing colors wil come trough The glue wil ako sme great and it wil be glosy when it dies A wonderful sensory actly Tissue Cutavariely of colo of tssue paper info small squares Take a plece of tissue paper and wrap it around the eraser lend of a pen Dip the tisue paper Into @ smal container of glue and then press It onto a piece of paper The tssue wil be standing on the paper and look Ike @ flower Create abstiact designs by fllng in coloing book pages with the 3D tisue paper or make your own 3D picture designs Great Glue for Kids Moke Your Own Glue and Pasting Projects You will need: tablespoons comstarch, tablespoons cold water, cups boling water, and a squeeze-type containet, ‘What you do: Mix the cotnstarch and cold water in @ smal! bow! and then pour the mixture into the boling water, sting constantly, When the iquid is clear and thick femove fiom the heat and let cool Pour the liquid into a plastic squeeze container and label properly Children willove the experience of mating thei own glue ‘Make Your Own Colored (or Glittered) Glue You will need: old markers, water, mixing bowl, and smal bots of white lue ‘What you de: Do not throw away those old makes! Place them in a bow! of water and let them soak until you see the water starting 10 turn color Place the soaked markers in Separate bottles of glue and let them soak overnight By the next day you willhave bottles of colored gle The childten can use the glue just lke pul pain, The children can squeeze the bolle and create designs on a piece of paper The children wil have fun tracing lover the smooth glue ines with thelr ingers when the arts cry Exweldeos: Add gile to the colored glue for an extra fun effect and added texture You can ako use the colored, ‘lue fo wile names, letters, and numbers hace with fingertips, Squeezing Putty Point wilfheed:and Your iquc tempera paint card stockor cardboard, emply squeeze botties (with narow nezaes) ming‘Yeubowl papersil.towels ‘What you do: Mix equal paris of four sa and water together na bowl Add tempera paint for color Mi well and p ourinto & squeeze bottle that has @ natow nowzo, Squeeze the pully pani onto cardboard or heavy card stock The Fratue wil become hard when It dies Paffy Glue Mix equal pats of shaving cream with glue You can add food coloring for colori you want, Use a erat sick fo strand fe put on the paper The mixture wil putt up when It cies (Coloring, Level 1) Name Beach Ball Directions: i's beach time! Color the ball Use your favorite colors (racing Level 1) Name oe Down Come the Spiders Help the spiders spin Use your pencil, Trace down the dashed lines toon 4gszeszazsse ee gh ip tp Up Go the Rockets Directions: Blast off! Use your pencil Trace up the dashed lines aS — , DOR ... pencil Trace up the dashed lines aS — , DOR Pasting Level 1) Name Cut- and -Paste Hairstyle Directions: Cut along the dashed lines Paste the hair on top of the head Color the picture Name (Cutting... Running Fun (cutting) Fiying Kites (cutting) Slow & Steady Turtle (coloring) Off to 02! (racing) Make a kite! (posting) Up- and Downhill Bike Race (cutting) Shoot for the Stars (coloring) Have... Level Climb the Beanstalks (cutting) Bugs & Bugs & Bugs (coloring) Leaping Lizards (tracing) Pet Goldsh (pasting) Snip the Snail (cutting) Candy House (coloring) Trace a Face (tracing), Make