I love incorporating sensory and fine motor activities with literacy skill building. They provide your kiddo's with an added element that really cements the learning process.
I pulled out the ABC Fine Motor Mats from my Ocean Literacy Pack to use with my little guys and we tried out some new activities with them.
First, we added them to the bottom of a shallow tray filled with sand. I added some sea shells, rocks we collected from the beach, and some cute sea creatures. I showed the boys how to form the letters with the rocks and shells. After they were done, and sand was all over the mats, I had the boys trace the letters in the sand. This was great for adding in a sensory and tactile element into a letter recognition activity.
We pulled these out again on a rainy day and this time paired them with play-doh, glass beads, seashells and beach rocks. My boys tried to form the letters with the play-doh by rolling "snakes" and by ripping it into tiny pieces. Then, they decorated their play-doh creations with the provided manipulatives.
While the boys were busy forming the letters and exploring the manipulatives, I reinforced the letter names and sounds for them and tried to make a connection between the letter and the corresponding picture on each mat. I have found that my 5 year old has an easier time recalling the letters when he can relate it to an object.
I love that mats like these make it so easy to sneak in literacy and fine motor skills, all while the little ones are playing! I chose to use this set because we're still on summer break and having fun in the sun! Visit my Teachers Pay Teachers shop to find this set (included in my Ocean Literacy Pack) or to see the other theme sets I have available.
Leave me a comment and let me know how you would use these in your class or at home with your little ones!
(Letters included in this set are: Cc, Dd, Ff, Jj, Ll, Oo, Ss, Tt)
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