You Say Potato, I Say Hooray!
Originating
Idea:
Sensory tables can be utilized in so many ways by changing the content of the
container. This activity is open-ended, and hands on.
It allows children to explore by using their sense of touch. It is great
because it children at different developmental levels can equally participate.
Materials Needed: Toddler height sensory table (or a large under the bed sized plastic storage container.) Fill the sensory table about half full with dried boxed potatoes. Graduated sized plastic measuring cups, measuring spoons, cups, bowls, and funnel with large openings. Child sized brooms and dustpans. Curriculum Content: KDI 22: Exploring Objects, KDI 25: Explore More KDI 29: Filling and Emptying. |
Beginning:
Introduce
the measuring cups and how they can fit into each other. Show children the measuring spoons and note the differences in size. Talk about how they are the same. Show them the funnel and introduce
the word, “funnel.” Ask if anybody knows
if anybody has seen one. Take the
toddlers to the sensory table. Ask if anybody can guess what the white flakes
are. Allow time for responses.
Middle: Encourage the toddlers to feel the potatoes by putting their whole hands into the flakes. Allow time for exploration and for practicing pouring and filling the cups and bowls with the potatoes.
End: To set up the transition, give a five minute warning or whatever is used in your classroom to notify children that this activity is ending and we will be moving on to another activity.
Middle: Encourage the toddlers to feel the potatoes by putting their whole hands into the flakes. Allow time for exploration and for practicing pouring and filling the cups and bowls with the potatoes.
End: To set up the transition, give a five minute warning or whatever is used in your classroom to notify children that this activity is ending and we will be moving on to another activity.
Extensions and Modifications: To modify this activity, limit the
amount of items in the sensory table. To extend the activity, introduce higher
level words that describe the amount of potatoes a child may have in their
container. One idea is to say, “You have
more potatoes in your bowl than I do.” Or “”The amount of potatoes you have in
your cup is greater than or less than I what I have in my cup.