In fine motor skills, children develop their fine motor skills when they use their smaller muscles in the hands, fingers, and wrists. Children, who cannot express what they feel and think and how they view their world in words, may be able to do so more readily through art. STEM learning is important for children as it caters to critical thinking and problem-solving attitude. The following provides a list of fine motor, art and science activities for children that can be incorporated into the learning environment.
Collages
- Paint samples
- Cutting paper strips
- Cut magazine pictures
- Cut newspapers
- Store ads
- Tissue paper
- Paper shapes
- Foam shapes
Explore Various Media
- Watercolours
- Dot markers
- Paper punches
- Tape
- Paint with various brunches
- Rubbings
- Oil pastels
- Paint sticks
- Stickers
Invitations To Draw/Paint (Put Objects On The Table For Students To Draw/Paint)
- Flowers
- Vehicles
- Pumpkins
- Apple
- Leaves
- Item from nature
- Living things (ex plant, pet fish)
Play Dough
- Themed trays
- Cookie cutters and rolling pins
- Sticks and beads
- Counters or items you can hide in the playdough
- Mashing tools
Play Themed Fine Motor Games
- Tracing mats
- Play dough mats
Just Explore, Create And Manipulate Fine Motor Materials And Toys
- Brick blocks
- Tweezers and small objects (ex: seeds, beads, pom poms)
- Lacing cards
- Cutting trays
- Beads (ex: wood beads, foam beads, shape beads, letter beads)
- Lace on strings
- Lace on pipe cleaners
- Tinker trays
Put Out STEM I Can Build Cards
- With various building materials (ex: cups, blocks, tubes, sticks)
- With various art supplies (ex: pipe, cleaners, tubes, tape)
Explore Themed Materials With Magnifying Glasses
- Leaves
- Apples
- Vegetables
- Flowers or plants
- Sticks
- Rocks
- Shells
- Any items from nature
Experiments Or Investigations
- Ramps
- Backing soda and vinegar
- Colour mixing
Further Reading
STEM: Teaching Guide For Educators - The following article provides information on Understanding STEM, How To Teach STEM, the Benefits Of STEM, Stem Activities and more.
Benefits Of Art and Craft - The following article provides suggested learning objectives that support a child's overall art and craft development.
Developing Fine Motor Skills In Children - The following article lists how to develop fine motor skills in children.
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