Sandpaper Castle & Starfish Activities
05.31.2015
Summer is almost here and we have a fun Sandpaper Starfish Activity and Sandpaper Castle Craftivity that your students and children will LOVE!!
Sandpaper is a great material that provides tactile input to help with tactile discrimination (learning smooth versus rough), tactile hyper-sensitivity (for children that avoid certain textures), and tactile hypo-sensitivity (for children that respond well to extra tactile feedback). The thicker sandpaper is great for adding extra control when using scissors!
Sandpaper Starfish Activity
This sandpaper starfish activity is a great activity for the younger children in your life!
Addresses:
- Pre-Writing/Tracing
- Hand-Eye Coordination
- Scissor Skills
- Tactile Functioning
- Coloring Skills
- Hand Strengthening
- Fine Motor Skills
- Following a Sequence of Directions
- Motor Planning
Materials Required:
- Sandpaper Starfish Activity PDF- This printable includes:
- Instructions,
- Starfish Stencil/Pattern, and
- Ocean Waves/Boat Page.
- Sandpaper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Googly Eyes
- Marker/Crayons
- White Glue
- Glitter
- Ocean stickers (optional)
Instructions:
1. Print out Starfish Pattern/Stencil on cardstock or glue to heavy paper.
2. Print out Ocean Waves/Boat page.
3. Cut out Starfish Pattern/Stencil.
4. The child uses the Starfish Pattern to trace on sand paper (note: can also use brown construction paper.) It is much easier to trace on the back of the sandpaper.
5. Cut out Sandpaper Starfish (adult may need to assist depending on skill level of child).
6. Repeat steps 3 - 5 for one or two more times (depending on the total number of Starfish desired on page.)
7. Color boat and border of Ocean Waves/Boat page.
8. Child traces the ocean waves using marker, crayon, or squeeze white glue and use blue glitter for water!
9. Glue cut out sandpaper starfish on top of ocean waves/water.
10. Decorate finished page with ocean/fish stickers.
Sandpaper Castle Craftivity
Kids will love building this sandpaper castle! This craftivity is a great activity that allows for development of a variety of skills.
Addresses:
- Tracing
- Hand-Eye Coordination
- Scissor Skills
- Tactile Functioning
- Coloring Skills
- Fine Motor Skills
- Hand Strengthening
- Following a Sequence of Directions
- Motor Planning
- Visual Perception (Spatial Relations)
Materials Required:
- Sandpaper Castle Craftivity PDF- This printable includes
- Instructions,
- Castle Patterns/Templates (2 different versions included!),
- Sea Shell and Starfish decorations,
- Sun and Sky Scene Page, and
- Visuals/Examples
- Sandpaper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Marker/Crayons
- White Glue
- Tooth Picks
- Colored Construction Paper
Instructions:
1. Print out Castle Pattern/Template on cardstock or heavy paper. Note: 2 Different Patterns/Templates Included in PDF!
2. Cut out each individual part - the child will use these to trace.
3. Print out Sun and Sky scene page on cardstock or glue to heavy paper. This is where the castle will attach!
4. The child uses the stencils (pattern) to trace each part of the sand castle as indicated on sand paper (note: can also use brown construction paper.) It is much easier to trace on the back of the sandpaper.
5. Trace Door on black paper, and flags on colored construction paper.
6. Cut out all pieces (adult may need to assist depending on skill level of child).
7. Assemble the sand paper pieces together and glue to the Sun and Sky page.
8. To assemble flags: Once cut out, fold flag in half. Open fold and squeeze a dab of white glue inside. Place a tooth pick on the glue. Fold the flag in half again, making a flag pole with the tooth pick! Push the tooth pick under the sandpaper on top of the castle.
9. Cut out and color the sea shell and starfish to decorate your castle!
10. A sample page for each template is included as an example. Adult can also assemble a sample for child to copy and visualize how to orient pieces.
11. Or - have your child/student create their own layout of a sand castle using the stencils or make their own version! The creativity and possibilities are endless!
Also try coloring the sandpaper with crayons! This will provide a great tactile and sensory experience.
We hope these Sandpaper activities are a summer hit! You can find these Sandpaper crafts and activities and all our other Summer Resources here.
Related Topics: Activities/Crafts , Early Intervention , Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination, Summer, Visual Motor Integration, Visual Perceptual Skills
