Obstacle Course and MORE

A simple obstacle course is a commonly used gross motor activity, which reinforces gross motor skills such as jumping and hopping and challenges kids to sustain focus on the main task.  These are my kindergarten students who try to spell sight words.

First, students pick one word that they will spell out.

Then one student will find the first letter of the chosen word and jump over the hurdles to the other side. He puts the letter down.

Another student will pick up the next letter of the same word and jump over the hurdles to the other side.  He puts the second letter down.

They take turns until they complete the word.

In order to complete spelling the word, each student has to remember the letter that his partner brings to the other side.

At the end, they complete a word together.

They practice spelling more than one word and have fun.

This entire activity may look so simple but it requires so many skills. I will list a few of the skills.
 
(1) Letter Recognition - kids need to know how each letter looks like.
(2) Visual discrimination and Visual spacial skills - I put so many letters on the table and challenge them to look for the letter that they need. Although they know their alphabet letters, if all the letters are upside down, downside up, and facing up all different directions, obviously they need more time to look for the letter.  If child struggles finding letters, you may want to limit the numbers of the letters on the table.
(3) Visual sequential skills - Each student has to look at the word and figure out what comes next. Since we play in a small group, they need to give their full attention to follow through and not to misspell the word.
(4) Short term memory - As mentioned above, the main activity is spelling words.  However, they are side-tracked by performing the exercise, which they enjoy doing it during the session.  Despite of this distraction, they need to complete the words.  How fun it is~!
 
What is your (parent's) job? Let's wait and see. Be patient! Let's encourage our children to problem solve independently. If your child asks for your help too soon, what are you going to do? Are you going to help your child immediately?  If your child does not ask for help and gets frustrated, what are you going to do? It's all matter of when and how to help your child when he/she faces problem.  

Blow it! Spell it!

"Blow it! Spell it!" This activity is similar to the activity that I shared on the previous blog, Enjoy Learning: Spelling Words on 02/27/15.

Prep Materials: Letter paper, straw, and a small piece of crumpled tissue paper

How to prepare the materials:

• You randomly write down alphabet letters on a piece of paper, preferably bigger than 8x10 notebook size. You can also have your child write down letters.
• Have your child crumple up the piece of tissue paper. (I colored the tissue paper with a marker just to make it noticeable on the white background paper.)

After the materials are prepared, kids will blow the crumpled tissue paper with the straw from one letter to the next.  You can practice spelling sight words or everyday words with your child.  

 

What are the benefits of this activity?

As mentioned in the previous blog, this activity helps with kids' visual skills such as visual attention and visual motor skills by tracking and scanning the letters.  

It helps with short term and long term memory performance by reviewing and spelling words.  Let's help them to be a better speller.  Start asking kids to spell easy words to boost their confidence. Don't forget to challenge them as well.   

Blowing through a straw is an oral-motor activity that can help kids with speech development.  

One more thing~!! Importance of breathing...
Deep and slow breathing helps kids to be calm down when they are highly active or feel anxious.  Kids are encouraged to learn deep and slow breathing while performing this activity. 

This activity can be slightly far from being sanitary.  You will see what I mean when you play with your child.  Get ready to make the paper wet! haha~~ :)  

Enjoy Learning, Enjoy Teaching~!