Play activity 4 - shake it up!

This activity develops listening, tracking, intentional movement, body awareness.

What’s in the box?

• Tiny containers
• Rice
• Dried peas
• Pasta
• Small bells

Activities

• Fill containers with different amounts of the fillers
• Hang each one onto a piece of ribbon
• Hold it within the child’s reach
• Alternate between different amounts of the same ingredients, and also include new ingredients to make different sounds
• Listening – place the containers at different angles to the child and see if they can locate the sound
• Tracking – use the containers at the child’s eye level; move the containers slowly from left to right to see if the child is able to follow

Moving on

Using coat hangers to make a mobile:

• Fill the containers with various quantities of the ingredients
• Hang the containers from the mobile using the ribbon
• Place the mobile within the child’s reach
• Encourage the child to touch or hit the containers
• Frequently change the quantity of ingredients so they are heavier to move

Observation and assessment

• Encourage the child to explore the materials before they are placed in the tins
• Observe responses to different sounds and materials
• Note which hand or foot the child uses most frequently – try and alternate to develop the weaker side
• Can the child work out what materials are in each tin?
• Place items out of the child’s reach, checking they can locate and reach for them

Inclusion guide

• Do activities as a whole group – see if the children can estimate how full each tin is, and then compare the weights
• Use the tins as musical instruments to make sounds
• Using scales, see if the children can find objects that make up the same weight as the tins

How this activity fits into the Early Years Foundation Stage