I’m super excited that each one of these Pom Pom projects will be available for you to try out with your preschooler at the Pi Day party March 14, 2018 from 1:30-2:30 PM at the La Plata library. I would like to give a huge shout out to Darice for sponsoring the event by sending the supplies needed for the activities. You can order crafting supplies online or in the store at A.C.MOORE. Darice is also a great resource, check out their awesome Craft Archive with tons of ideas for kids projects.
POM POM PATTERN
Everywhere you look you will find patterns; from the design in textiles to the organic patterns found in nature and everyday routine they are all around us. Patterning may seem very basic; however, identifying and creating patterns is just the beginning of mastering skills in mathematics. Math concepts such as counting, addition, subtraction and times tables all require a knowledge and grasp of patterning.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
- Large Popsicle Sticks
- Colored Dot Stickers
- Pom Poms
INSTRUCTIONS:
- First, you will need to setup the activity before presenting it to the little ones. Place colored dot stickers on the popsicle sticks to create simple patterns. I made about a dozen different pattern sticks altering the colors in different placements.
- Next, time to play. Encourage your little one to place pom poms on top of the dot stickers to match the colors and create the pattern.
TIPS:
- For an added challenge, when making the pattern sticks leave off a few stickers to see if they can finish the pattern that was started. Lets say you can fit six stickers on a stick and your pattern is red, blue, red, blue, red, blue. Only put three stickers on the stick so you have red, blue, red… and see if they can complete it.
- To work on fine motor skills you can have your little one pick up and move the pom poms with a clothes pin or tongs.
POM POM COLOR COUNTER
I love this color counter activity because it is super simple and cheap to make. It is a great tool for color recognition and counting.
- Repurposed Baby Stacking Cups
- Pom Poms
- Setup- The Stacking cups that I have are awesome and perfect for this activity because they are numbered, colored and have a small hole on the top. I placed the bowls upside down in order from 1 to 10. I placed an assortment of different colored pom poms in a bowl.
- I challenged my preschooler to look at the number labeled on the bowl and the color of the bowl than drop that number of colored pom poms into the bowl. When he was done we lifted the bowl to check the answers.
- To work on fine motor skills you can have your little one pick up and move the pom poms with a clothes pin or tongs.
POM POM CATAPULT
I saw this STEAM activity in a crafting magazine created by Darice. My boys love science projects like this that involve engineering and mathematics. Testing out the physics of trajectory, force, momentum and inertia.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
- Popsicle sticks
- Small Rubber bands
- Pom Poms
- Stack two popsicle sticks on top of each other and rubber-band them together at one end and set to the side.
- Bundle 6-8 sticks (8 worked best for us) together and rubber band them at each end.
- Gently slide the group of eight sticks in between the two sticks from step 1.
- Use two small rubber bands or one large one to secure all of the craft sticks together making an x shape.
- Now for the fun part, place your pom pom on the catapult and watch it sore.
TIPS:
- I have seen suggestions of gluing a stand for the pom pom but I recommend against this. I find it more educational for the kids to place the pom pom in different places to see what happens.
POM POM PIE
This last project I came up with for Pi Day. I wanted a cute idea that involved pie and counting.
- Light Brown Felt
- Scissors
- 3 Dispossible Pie Pans
- Pom Poms (Red, Blue, Orange)
- Clothes Pin
- Cut a circle out of the felt to create your pie crust.
- Next, cut either lattice work or a circle for the top of the pie.
- Write a number you think your child can count to on each pie pan (Example: 10, 15 & 20.)
- Separate each color of pom pom into three separate bowls.
- Now it’s time to invite your little one to play. Instruct them to make a cherry pie, blue berry pie and pumpkin pie. Make sure you let them know that each pies recipe calls for a certain number of berries aka pom poms.