Scissor Practice - Preschool & Kindergarten
Scissor Practice
Scissor Cutting Development:
Tear
Snip
Cuts along an imaginary line in any direction.
Cuts along a straight line.
Cuts simple curves and angled lines in one direction.
Cuts simple curves and angled lines in more than one direction.
Cuts circles.
Cuts straight and curved lines.
Build Basic Skills
Hand Strength
Activities the require open/close or squeeze/release.
Play with playdough.
More ideas: hole punches, tongs, eye droppers, clips, clothespins, squezzy bottles, using liquid glue bottles, rubber bands, pool noodles and rubber bands.
Visual Motor Skills
Increase hand-eye coordination.
Ideas: scissors, tearing paper, throwing and catching a ball, and puzzles.
Bilateral Skills
Using both hands together and eye tracking.
Ideas: punching holes in cards and paper, stencils (hold stencil with one hand use the other hand for tracing, and lacing.
More Ideas: clapping rhymes, jumping jacks, and windmill exercies.
Fingerplays/Songs
Open Shut Them
Open, shut them, open shut them.
(use index and middle finger to make scissors motion)
Give a little snip, snip, snip.
(three quick snips with fingers)
Open, shut them, open shut them.
(repeat scissors motion)
Make another clip.
(make another scissor motion)
Art
Sandpaper Snip
For beginning cutters have the child cut up pieces of light grade sand paper. Easier for a young child to cut then paper. Children can color the sandpaper with crayons before cutting.
Cotton Material Cutting
The day before you use this activity. Take cotton material any color or pattern. Paint glue all over it, let it dry then use it the next day for children to cut out the patterns or make their own cuttings. The glue makes the material stiff thus easier for children to cut on it.
Contributed by: Jan
Playdough
The Best Cooked Playdough Recipe
Playdough Maze
Need: playdough, box, ping pong ball
Roll out lines of playdough. In the box shape the playdough lines into a maze. Place a ping pong ball at the start of the maze and tip the box to get through the maze.
Scissors and Playdough
Place scissors with the playdough tools as playdough is a great material for cutting practice. Give children scissors and a ball of playdough. Have children roll, flatten etc. their playdough. When ready let child cut with scissors their playdough creation. The playdough is stiff enough to help with the control of the scissors and I have found the children enjoy using these materials.
Contributed By: Kathy B
Sand/Water Table
Leaves and Baskets
Place leaves in the sand table with baskets (berry baskets). The children will tear the leaves and perhaps use the baskets to make a play salad.
Paper and Scissors
Place scrap papers and scissors in the sand/water table. Children can practice tearing, snipping, and cutting.
Cutting Lines
Paint Swatches and Scissors
Children practice cutting along a line by cutting along the white lines on a paint chip card.
Cutting Busy Box printable scissor cutting skills practice worksheets.
Vehicle Cutting Activity using tape.
Tips & Tricks
Make sure the child's hand is straight when cutting or the child will have a difficult time learning to cut.
Cutting Maze with colored tape.
Scissor Skills Printable Worksheets
