I’m always searching for ways to make developing fine motor skills fun. Remember this fine motor math game? I was inspired to create a Thanksgiving fine motor Thanksgiving math game by Teach Preschool. I love the simplicity of using items like cups and pipe cleaners to create a game.
Thanksgiving Fine Motor Game Supplies
- Disposable Cups
- Pipe Cleaners
- Foam Die
- Pony Beads
- Tape
- Scissors
- Turkey Picture {free printable included below}
Preparing the Turkeys for the Thanksgiving Fine Motor Game
Poke several holes in the top of each disposable cup with a pen.
Next, fold each pipe cleaner in half and insert the pipe cleaners up through the hole.
The folded half of the pipe cleaner will now be underneath the cup and prevent the feathers from wiggling around or coming out the top.
Print and cut out the turkeys included in the free printable below. Tape one turkey to the front of each cup.
Directions for Playing the Fine Motor Turkey Game for Thanksgiving
Give each student in your small group a turkey cup. Students will take turns rolling the foam die and putting the corresponding number of pony beads on their turkey’s feathers.
The colors of the feathers and beads don’t matter in this game, but you could add a color cube if you wanted the children to put the matching colors of beads on the pipe cleaners.
Students keep rolling and playing until their turkey’s feathers are full.
Benefits of Playing the Fine Motor Turkey Game
As children pick up the beads and place them on the pipe cleaners they are developing fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination.
As they match the number of beads to the dots represented on the die they are practicing one-to-one correspondence skills.
As they begin to instantly recognize the dots on the die without touching they are beginning to develop subitizing skills.
Visit the link in the picture below to get this free printable turkey body
