Activity Plans

Small Group Activity Plan # 1                               Your Name    Dianne Watts

Ages of Children Participating 4

Activity Name

How does a handyman use tools?

Goal

Social Studies:  Children will role-play in various jobs that people do in order to imagine themselves in the different areas of occupation that they might choose as adults.  The children will learn how to use tools and how to measure length and width.

Objectives (Learner Outcomes)

Given a variety of screws, children will be able to choose from a Phillips-head screwdriver or a flathead one.  Given a tape measure, children will count inches to measure items.  Given a hammer and nails children will hammer them into a Styrofoam box.  Given pliers, the children will remove nails from the Styrofoam.  Given a wrench, the children will tighten and loosen nuts.

Domains

Cognitive  :  social  :  emotional  :  physical  :  creative

Content Areas (highlight all addressed)

dramatic play  :  science  :  math  :  language/literacy  :  art  :  music  :  physical  :

social studies/anti-bias  :  social-emotional  :  other

Materials Needed

The book Manny’s Toolbox (by Disney); Styrofoam boxes; toy phillips and flat-head screws; toy nails; screwdrivers; hammers; pliers, wrenches and nuts on a pipe, and tape measures.  

The activity will start with the book in the circle-time area.  In a separate area, there will be enough work benches and tools for each child to use. 

Procedure

1.      Show cover of Manny’s Toolbox.  Ask, “What do you think Manny does?

2.      Read Manny’s Toolbox.  

3.      Demonstrate how each of the tools is used.  As you demonstrate tell them that you are turning the screws clockwise or to the right to screw them in and that you turn counterclockwise or left to unscrew them.  They may not get the concept right now, but it will be in their heads for a future time when those words will start to mean something to them.  Some children already have a feeling for which way to tighten and which way to loosen.

4.      Give the kids Styrofoam boxes or toy tool bench and tools and let them experiment.

5.      Use the tape measure to measure one of the boxes.  Point to the numbers and count the inches out loud.  Encourage the children to count inches for width, length, and height. 

6.      Write down the number of inches they measure.

7.      Stand back and watch the children play with the tools.

8.      Read Manny’s Toolbox again the next day.

Differentiation

Simplification:  They may enjoy removing the removable (puzzle) tools from the book and “reading” what the tools say inside. 

Extension:  Some children may enjoy screwing or nailing Styrofoam pieces together (with very long, blunt nails and screws).

           

Evaluation

Observe the children in the dramatic play area for the next few days to see if they hammer, measure and screw with toy tools in the toy workbench.