Winter Holidays Fine Motor Skills Task Boxes – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa

Description

This fine motor task boxes set includes 5 engaging activities themed around Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, designed to help your students build fine motor skills while practicing academic concepts. Perfect for morning tubs, early finishers, centers, or busy boxes, this set of activities targets the development of fine motor skills in preschool and kindergarten students while also fostering independence and excitement about school. Designed to be completed independently, these fine motor activities build finger strength, dexterity, and coordination while giving you time to take care of some of the many other tasks that demand your attention each day!

These Fine Motor Task Boxes Include:

This set includes ideas and printable materials for 5 fine motor activities. Each task is designed to fit into a standard plastic pencil box and includes a printable label, picture directions, and other materials (such as work mats or task cards). The tasks in this set target preschool and kindergarten literacy and math concepts.

The included fine motor activities are:

▶ Winter Holidays Lacing Cards
Students string a shoelace around designs representing Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve.

▶ Winter Holidays Pattern Blocks Puzzles
Students complete eight holiday-themed pattern block puzzles.

▶ Linking Holiday Lights
Using plastic chain links, students link numbered lights in sequence (0-10) while working on patterning.

▶ Holiday Decorations
Students practice scissor skills and use a hole punch to make decorations for the classroom. Alternative directions with a sight words element are also included.

▶ Holiday Cookie Decorating
Students practice number combinations while decorating cookies using tweezers and pompoms.

How to Use These Fine Motor Activities:

Once you get your students started with these task boxes with some initial instructions, they will be up and running and ready for independence! These winter holidays fine motor task boxes are perfect to grab during any of the times that you need students to be independent, engaged, and productive. Use these simple fine motor activities as morning tubs when students arrive in the classroom (a soft start is a great way to let students gently adjust to the school day) or as early finishers for children who finish their work quickly. These holiday activities are also useful during center time, indoor recess, or any time students need a quiet break to re-focus.

To prepare these Winter Holidays Fine Motor Task Boxes, print and laminate the activity label and instructions as well as the printable activity materials. Attach the activity label to the outside of the box and the illustrated instruction card inside the lid. (You can use Velcro to attach the labels if you want to have the flexibility to easily switch activities throughout the year!) Place all listed materials inside the box. Each activity requires the inclusion of other classroom items such as manipulatives or basic classroom supplies (listed below).

Once assembled, these fine motor activities stack easily on a shelf. Teach your students what procedures you would like them to follow for use and clean up. Some teachers allow students to come into the classroom and quietly select any of the morning tubs, while others prefer a check-in/out system that encourages children to cycle through the activities. Another option is to make a selection of task boxes available at each table and rotate them as the week goes on. This option can cut down on transition time and allow students to quickly choose an early finisher or center activity.

What Teachers Are Saying:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “These activities were so fun and easy to prep for, and also allowed us to practice some OT skills while keeping them engaged and having fun before winter break!” –Jennifer S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “My students were thrilled when they got to do this activity! I love how the lessons are fun and educational! I also love the convenience of storage!” –Jodi B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I absolutely love your Fine Motor Task Boxes. They are perfect for early finishers in my classroom. I love that they can get a box and independently perform the tasks without having to ask me for help when I’m trying to teach or help a struggling student. Plus, they are getting very necessary fine motor practice that many of them lack. My students love them too! I can’t wait to break these out next week. I know they will be so excited to see new task boxes!” –Erica B.

Recommended Materials List (not included in purchase):

copy paper, card stock, laminator/film

shoelace (or yarn with taped ends)

math links (learning links)

hole punch

child’s scissors

colored paper

craft pompoms

child’s tweezers

pattern blocks

Why are fine motor skills important?

Research shows that well-developed fine motor skills in young children are a predictor of academic success. It makes sense that children with dexterity and hand strength would be more successful in a classroom that requires writing and drawing, but researchers have found that the connection goes beyond that. Through a series of studies using longitudinal data that tracked students from kindergarten through eighth grade, researchers determined that strong fine motor skills in the early years of life help form connections in the brain that lead to greater academic achievement throughout the school years. Unfortunately, advances in technology have led many families away from traditional activities that promote fine motor development. The time that many children spend using computers, tablets, and smartphones is time that they are not spending building, drawing, and manipulating objects in the world around them. Many children are beginning school with a deficit of motor skills, both gross and fine. It is important for schools to give children many opportunities to build those skills.

If you have any questions, email susan@myhappyplaceteaching.com or use the contact form on this site.

Thank you for shopping!

Susan Jennings (My Happy Place)

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Permission to copy for single classroom use only.

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