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Catching Worms

Spring Lesson Plans

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Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

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Activity:  

Catching Worms

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Age Group:

Toddler

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with preschoolers.

Catching Worms

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Objectives:  

Child will:

1. practice fine motor skills  
   
2. increase cognitive development
   
3. increase language and communication skills 

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CDA Competency Standard:   

II.4.2a

• Activities and materials encourage children of varying abilities to develop their small muscles

a) Individual fine motor skills are encouraged through a variety of developmentally appropriate materials and activities

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Materials: 

• Pipe cleaners
  
• clothes pins
  
• bowl

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Procedure: 

Prep for activity by cutting pipe cleaners into one inch pieces and bend them to look like worms. Show the child how to use the clothes pin to pick up a pipe cleaner worm and transfer it to a bowl. Let the child give it a try. As they are working, talk with them about their technique. 

Ask them questions such as:

• “How are you picking up the worm?”
  
• “What kind of animals pick up worms?”
  
• “How many worms did you get? Let’s count together!

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Assessment: 

• Observe and record the child’s fine motor skills during the activity.

Online Early Childhood Courses

Click on the course icon for enrollment information.

10 Hours Toddler Care STARS Training Online $105.00

Staffing Child Care Programs $10.50

Stranger and Separation Anxiety $10.50

Stress in Young Children $21.00

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Worms Lesson Plans

Worms Poems, Songs and Action Rhymes

Worms Gallery

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Creativity and Imagination in Infants and Toddlers

Starting at about 18 months, toddlers have better hand-eye coordination than they did at a younger age.  This is a good time to introduce finger paints (or pudding), crayons and chalk.  They can develop their creativity by using paste (water and flour), tearing, cutting and manipulating play dough or shaving cream.  

Mix familiarity with novelty to keep these materials interesting.  Add toy cars or toy people to the shaving cream.  Put out small rolling pins, plastic cutlery and cookie cutters along with the play dough.  Stretching the activity by adding to the basic material stretches the imagination as children figure out what can be done with the new additions.

Creativity and Imagination in Infants and Toddlers

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Online Early Childhood Education

Click on the course icon for enrollment information.