Materials
materials with a variety of textures: sandpaper, corrugated cardboard, bubble wrap, aluminum foil, imitation fur fabric, imitation suede fabric, and fleece
scissors (adult only)
glue
brightly colored tag board or construction paper
Instructions
* Cut a large number from each type of textured material.
* Glue each number to a colorful sheet of paper or tag board and let dry.
* Hang the large number cards in random order, at the children's level, along
the length of a wall in the classroom.
What to Do
1. Invite the children to line up at one end of the "Number Wall."
2. Encourage the children to travel slowly down the length of the wall, using their
sense of touch to feel each number.
3. Have the children identify each number and describe how it feels.
4. Once the children have touched every number, invite them to go to the end of
the line to repeat the activity.
5. Afterward, encourage the children to talk about the experience as they identify
the various materials from which the numbers were cut.
Teacher - to - Teacher Tip S
* Use this sensory activity as a means of organizing children to transition from
one activity in the classroom to another.
* Make a small version of this activity and place this set of touchable number
cards in a basket. Invite small groups of children to work with the materials as
you observe them identifying numbers.
Assessment
To assess the children's learning, consider the following:
* Take turns covering the eyes of each child. As he touches a number, can he
identify the number?
* Can each child recognize, describe, and name each number on the "Number
Wall?"
