The magic of tape

Somewhere towards the middle of the school year, I put all of our colored tape on a paper roll holder for our preschool class to use for a project that I can’t even remember. I hadn’t intended to keep the tape on the holder but my students used the tape every day in all different kinds of ways so when you have such interest, you stick with it…

The magic of tape by Teach Preschool

On our last week of preschool, I moved the tape holder to our outdoor classroom and set it out with a bunch of sticks. There was no agenda here, just an invitation to explore the tape in a new way…

The magic of tape by Teach Preschool

Being surrounded by woods, there is an endless supply of sticks so my students used the tape to wrap the sticks. None of my students asked me what they should do or what this was for or what they could make – they just jumped in and went to work wrapping their sticks…

The magic of tape by Teach Preschool

Some of my students still prefer to use a pair of scissors to cut the tape and others have gotten quite proficient at tearing the tape from the roll. The tape used here is a paper tape that I purchased from our local school supply store at the beginning of the school year. I will have to restock for next year…

The magic of tape by Teach Preschool

Some of my students wrapped four or five (or more) sticks to take home with them by the end of the week. I was given the scoop by one little girl that her sticks were actually “magic wands.” …

The magic of tape by Teach Preschool

So what benefit is wrapping tape around a stick? Well besides all the motor skills development involved (twisting, pinching, pulling, cutting) and the eye-hand coordination involved (getting the tape stuck where you want it to stick and keeping it going in the right direction) and the decision-making (choosing colors) and critical thinking (regulating how much tape to tear off the dispenser, calculating how much tape is needed to fully wrap a stick) and the concentration it takes to completely wrap a stick – the children are also exploring the freedom of creative expression and the use of their imagination. After all, a stick is not just a stick if you use your imagination!…

The magic of tape by Teach Preschool

So I thought I would look back through my archive of photos and put together this little collage of our tape dispenser in action. As the year progressed, my students learned to master the use of our tape and enjoyed the creative outlet that our colorful tape provided…

Using tape in preschool by Teach Preschool

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Links to Grow On…

Tape activities on Pinterest

Large Motor Fun with Tape Shapes by Teach Preschool

It’s not a stick by Teach Preschool on No Time for Flashcards

Deborah J Stewart

Deborah J Stewart

Every time I think I know everything I need to know about teaching young children, God says, "Hold on a minute!" and gives me a new challenge.

Let me tell ya...

With each new challenge that you overcome, you will find yourself better equipped and more passionate about teaching young children.

God didn't call wimps to lead, teach, or care for His children. Nope, he has high expectations, so get ready. You will have to give your very best but after teaching for over 30 years, I can tell you that it is a wonderful and rewarding journey.

Whenever your calling feels hard, just remember, 'He who began a good work in you (and in the children you serve) will be faithful to complete it.'

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