Let’s explore colorful glue in preschool!

Our preschool age students (ages three and four) have spent their first two weeks in preschool exploring the different tools they can and will continue to use in preschool. A tool they used this week was the ever popular squeeze bottle filled with colorful glue…

Exploring colorful glue in preschool

You can’t go into this process with the mindset that the children are going to lightly squeeze a few lines and dots of glue and then go off on their happy little way to do something else. No, this is a process that the children are seriously invested in…

Exploring colorful glue in preschool

They will start off with a few squiggles of lines here and there and then realize that they can make puddles too…

Exploring colorful glue in preschool

The children will stick with this process for a long time. They work their fine motor muscles, they focus, they trade colors, they make lines, dots, puddles, and just keep at it…

Exploring colorful glue in preschool

We could turn this process into a lesson on regulating glue but for today, the focus was on exploring. You see, before we can begin the process of building self-regulation skills, we first need to give the children opportunity to explore so that they can fulfill their intrinsic need for making puddles. As the children explore, we can use the words “dots, lines, blob, less, more, puddles, circles,” and the list goes on…

Exploring colorful glue in preschool

The children are using a cardboard canvas for their colorful glue designs and it will take a few days for their puddles designs to dry…

Exploring colorful glue in preschool

Each new school year comes a new group of students who sit down to explore the process of squeezing out colorful glue. Yet within just a few weeks, the children quickly begin to understand that they need to regulate their use of glue for the various kinds of gluing processes we offer. Young children are so capable and quick to figure it all out.

Exploring colorful glue in preschool

Links to Grow On

Squeezable and Colorful Waterplay

Designing with DIY Colorful Glue in Preschool

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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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