🎨 Moving & making · Ages 4–5 · about 3 weeks

Snip, Fold and Build

Goal: Use both hands together to shape paper and combine pieces in a low model.

For parents: If you already have child-sized, round-ended safety scissors, supervise closely at a table and show how to point them away from bodies. Put scissors away after use. Tearing is a full alternative. An adult checks cardboard for staples and sharp edges.

Do together

  1. Short snips or tears

    You need: Scrap paper; safety scissors only if available

    Show how one hand holds the paper while the other makes a short snip at its edge. Stay beside your child and keep fingers away from the blades. Tear with two hands instead if preferred. Collect scraps as you work.

  2. Fold a roof

    You need: A paper sheet and a small empty cardboard box

    Help your child fold the paper in half and press the crease. Rest it on the box as a roof. Try a wider or narrower fold and see how it sits. Keep the model on the floor or table; it is not for standing on.

  3. Make a place

    You need: The box, folded paper, large paper pieces and crayons

    Let your child make a pretend library, home or invented place. Arrange pieces for a door or window and add broad drawn lines. Ask them to show how two shapes help make the model. They can rearrange loose pieces without glue.

Talk about it

  • Which hand is keeping the paper steady?
  • How could this fold help your roof stand?
  • What will this part of your model be?

Words to use

  • snip
  • tear
  • fold
  • crease
  • shape
  • model

Play

  • Shape Builder
    Building
  • Trace It
    Pre-writing
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