Handmade Manipulatives
Fall is here and the big kids are back at school. I’ve still got a few little kids that don’t go to school yet. My little kids who aren’t in school yet want to do some “schoolwork” just like their siblings do. I don’t want to disappoint them, so I do some preschool learning activities with them. Over the years of doing preschool with my kids I have ran into one major problem….finding manipulatives that readily available or don’t come in huge quantities. Eventually I stumbled upon the idea of creating my own maniuplatives using my digi supplies! Yet another way to stretch my digi stash! Today I’m going to show you how creating your own manipulatives is as simple as 1 -2 – 3!
1. Select a digi element to be made into a manipulative. I chose to use leaves from Fantabulous Fall Elements by Kim Jensen. I am introducing the season fall to my kids. South Texas doesn’t have fall leaves at this time of the year. Digging into my digi stash and creating my own leaf manipulatives was the only choice I had!
2. Arrange your element so that it is filling an 8.5 x 11 document in either Photoshop or your cutting machine software. Below are examples of the leaves I chose arranged in my cutting machine software.
3. Print and cut! Be sure and use a heavyweight cardstock, brochure paper, or presentation paper to print on. This will add durability to your manipulatives.
Wasn’t that simple?! You now have beautiful manipulatives to use when teaching your kiddos. These manipulatives could be used for counting, pattern making, adding, subtracting, etc! Get creative with what you use your manipulateives for! TIP: If you would like your manipulatives to last even longer, be sure and laminate them!
Making school enrichment activities is one of my favorite ways to stretch the use of my LilyPad digi supplies. Have you made any enrichment activities for your kids? I hope this has encouraged you to get out there and give it a try. Be sure and share any enrichment activities you create in TLP gallery!
