The Big Green Monster Visits Preschool

The Big Green Monster strikes again!  This time, he visited preschool.  We listened to the story and created our own Big Green Monsters as the pieces were discussed.

We started by coloring the center of the small paper plate green

Then adding two yellow eyes, a bluish-greenish nose, and a scary red mouth with sharp white teeth!

Go Away Big Green Monster!

Spiders!

In individual OT sessions, some students have been working on weaving spider webs and creating spiders to live inside!  First, we used pipe cleaners, yarn, and pony beads to make our spiders.

Then the students cut out the center of a paper plate and used a hole punch to make one hole for each number written on the plate.  After they had 16 holes, they needed to lace the black yarn through each hole, creating their spiderweb.

It took a lot of yarn!

Then the students attached their spiders by threading the spider's yarn through a hole and tying a knot (or using tape, for the younger students).

Some wanted their spiders arranged in their new homes, while others wanted them to hang down and scare someone!

A scary entrance to the OT room at NDS!

Boo!

The preschoolers made some very scary ghosts this week!

First, they looked for two eyes
in the pile of pieces
 scattered on the rug.

Then they looked for a mouth!

I have my eyes and mouth glued on!

How about some arms?

Now we need the spooky strips! 

Gluing down the arms

How does it look?

Very scary!

Pumpkin Lacing

In OT group this week, we used yarn, paper plates, and paper to make pumpkins.  Two mini paper plates were taped together with 6 to 8 holes pre-punched (depending on the age of the child).  They worked so hard to lace the orange yarn through BOTH paper plates!  We used a blanket stitch, meaning the yarn was always going down, instead of a typical "up and down" lacing pattern.  

Then we needed to make our pumpkins orange!  The 3-year-olds used colored printer paper to practice ripping, while the 4-year-olds used orange construction paper.  We practiced "one to you and one to me!" as a reminder to move their hands in opposite directions to rip front to back, rather than trying to rip side to side.  After ripping the paper, they then glued the pieces on both sides of the pumpkin.  Some children decided they weren't orange enough and elected to work on them again next week :)

Spider Webs!

Today, we made spider webs from paper plates and yarn!  Each student received a paper plate with numbers 1-6 on it.  They used a single hole punch to add the holes next to the numbers.  The kids were so excited when they were able to make the hole on their own!  In this activity, we only laced down into the paper plate, following each number in order.  When they got to number 6, they were given a small spider to add into the web.

Creepy!