Materials
Assorted pieces of felt in a variety of colors
Cookie cutters in animal or shape patterns
Pen or marker
Scissors
Flannel board
Zipper-closure storage bag or basket
Instructions
1. Collect a variety of small household objects.
2. Make sets of four objects three of the objects should belong to the same
category, and one item should not belong in the group. For example:
* Tools: hammer, screwdriver, pliers, book
* Art supplies: pencil, crayon, marker, necklace
* Cooking utensils: slotted spoon, meat fork, soup ladle, toy car
* Clothing: sock, mitten, ball cap, water bottle
* Toys: dolls, ball, truck, bowl
* Grooming items: brush, comb, fingernail clippers, battery
* Hygiene items: soap, tube of toothpaste, bottle of shampoo, soup can
* Stuffed animals: bear, bunny, dog, sunglasses
3. Put each set of objects into a zipper closure bag. Then put all of the bags into
a plastic bin.
4. Ask the children to sit on the carpet or at a table. Conceal the bin so that
each bag can be revealed separately.
5. Put the placemat in the center of the area or table, bring out the first group of
objects, and place them in a row on the placemat.
6. Say, "Three of these things belong together. One of them does not. Can you
guess which thing does not belong with the others?"
7. Discuss the use of the three matching objects and what they have in
common.
8. Repeat the procedure for each bag of objects.
More to do
Use this activity for themes such as "Careers" and "Community Helpers." Select
three "tools" used for each occupation and one that does not.
You can also play this game with colors. For example, show three red objects and
one yellow and ask, "Which color is different?"
