Pipe Cleaner Numbers

Love discovering a multiple uses for one teaching technique!

So, we are going to identify numbers today. Instead of just looking at written numbers, we’ll use pipe cleaners and make our own!

Using a pipe cleaner make the numbers ahead. It’s okay if they are not all the same size. This can be a great fine motor activity for the teacher/parent/caregiver.

Children will have fun identifying these pipe cleaner numbers. After identifying the numbers you made and even putting them in order, children could make some numbers themselves.

• For some children, this will be a great time to talk about numbers with straight lines, curves, and numbers with both.
• Since the pipe cleaners are different colors, we can review colors.
• Compare sizes since they won’t all be the same.
• Not only put the numbers in order, but the numbers can be put in order according to their size.
• Expand this activity so the child thinks about what else in their world feels like a pipe cleaner?
• Ask open ended questions: “What else can be done with a pipe cleaner?” Ask questions with more than one word for an answer.
• Be clear and concise with directions
• Talk while making numbers: “This is round.”   “The pipe cleaner goes around its self.”
• Map the child’s actions with “You moved that end up.”
• Elaborate with “How do you know that will be an eight?”
• The fuzzy pipe cleaner will allow for great sensory – touch and talk about how it feels.

Enjoy!

Cathie J