Putty activities work on hand strength, coordination, and overall fine motor skills. Putty also adds an added tactile component. This FREE printable titled- Putty Visuals for School Tools – help enhance and add structure to putty activities!
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Discovery Putty is a favorite for my students I get to work with! Click HERE, to see the School Tools Putty we will be talking about in this post. Discovery putty is also found at funandfunction.com.
In this post, we will first look at the FREE Printable to help enhance putty exercises. Secondly, we will see 4 reasons WHY Putty Visuals for School Tools are beneficial. Finally, WHO benefits from this?
*This is a FREE 3 page digital download PDF. No physical items will be shipped.*
Click HERE to download your FREE PRINTABLE!
FIRST, THE PUTTY VISUALS FOR SCHOOL TOOLS:
The picture below is the FREE Putty Visuals that go along with Discovery Putty School Tools. On the printable are 13 pictures that are a visual companion for the items that come with the putty. Please follow the link for Discovery product information and instructions.
To use this free printable: print on card stock, cut, and laminate each picture. It’s that easy!
SECONDLY, WHY ARE THE PUTTY VISUALS FOR SCHOOL TOOLS BENEFICIAL?
1. Structure:
Over the years, I have noticed unstructured tasks can be difficult for some children. Many kiddos I work with need activities with a clear beginning and an end. Finding items hidden in putty or play dough is fun, but it can be hard to terminate the task if children really enjoyed it. The visuals in this free printable help structure the task. Children know exactly how many items they have to find by the pictures that are laid out on the table. You can grade the activity by having the child find a couple or all 13 items!
2. MATCHING:
As children find items in the putty, they will have to match them to the visuals. This matching activity involves scanning and visual discrimination! You could also spread the laminated visuals around on the table to work on crossing midline as well!
3. TACTILE DEFENSIVENESS
Although I have a ton of kids who absolutely love working with putty, there are a few who are hesitant to touch the putty at first! I have found that using these visuals for a matching tasks while grading how deep the items are hidden has helped! In my experience, when it’s presented as purely a matching activity with a few items sticking up out of the putty, it’s less threatening (see picture below). The child doesn’t have to touch the putty! Then, the next time I use the same visuals and items, but this time I lay the items lightly ON the putty. Each session, I press the items a little bit further in the putty (see 2nd picture). This gradual hiding of objects has worked well each time I have done it! Please keep in mind that each child is different and their progress will vary.
4. Visual Closure
If you look at the picture above, 1/2 of the items are hidden. Visual closure is being able to figure out what something is when given an incomplete or partial piece. Here is an example on how you can work on Visual Closure in the scenario above: Point to a picture (scissors) and ask the child, “Find the scissors”. See if they can point to the corresponding item hidden in the putty before they pull it out. Did you know Visual Closure is important for reading?!? To find out more information on Visual Closure and other Activities, Follow this LINK!
LASTLY, WHO BENEFITS FROM PUTTY VISUALS FOR SCHOOL TOOLS?
Certainly, occupational therapists, teachers, special education staff, speech therapists, and parents would benefit from this free printable! Did I mention these cards also fit nicely in the putty container making it convenient to take them with you?!?
*This is a FREE 3 page digital download PDF. No physical items will be shipped.*
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*Your child’s safety is important and adult supervision is recommended with all activities. These activities should not take the place of medical or therapeutic advice/intervention.