Opening and Closing
Materials:
For Boxes:
A small selection of different boxes that differ in type in a variety sizes and shapes. Appropriate boxes are small, beautiful/inviting, and without labels or writing.
For Bottles:
A small selection of different bottles that differ in type in a variety sizes. Appropriate bottles are small, clean and free of odor, beautiful/inviting, and without labels or writing.
**Medicine bottles are not appropriate to include or present
For Locks:
A lock board that features a variety of locks such as sliding bolt, hook, etc. A variety of padlocks differing in sizes, with their keys, can be used.
Purposes:
Independence
Visual Motor Coordination
Fine Motor Coordination
Age: 2 ½ -3 ½
Preparation: None
Presentation: Bottles
Opening the Bottles
Invite one child for the lesson on opening and closing.
Show the child the materials, how to pick up and carry the basket, return it to the shelf and allow the child to bring it to a table.
Sit to the child’s right.
Move the tray of bottles to the top of the table.
Explain what you will do.
Select a bottle and place it in front of the child.
Grasp the bottle with the fingers of the non-dominant hand.
Pause.
Grasp the lid with the dominant fingertips and pause.
Twist with the whole hand, pause, twist with the whole hand, pause.
Remove the top and turn it over and pause with the bottle open.
Place the lid on the right-hand side of the table, upside-down, and then the bottle on the left side of the table.
Continue in this way until all the bottles are opened, placing the lids and bottles in random order at their respective sides of the table.
Closing the Bottles
Explain what you will do.
Select a bottle from the left and place it in front of the child.
Exaggerate looking at the lids for the correct one.
Select the bottle top.
Pause with the lid upside-down next to the bottle.
Grasp the bottle and place the lid on, twisting in a slightly exaggerated motion and pause.
Replace the bottle on the tray.
Continue in this way until all are closed and on the tray.
Invite the child and encourage repetition.
After the child finishes the first couple with some success, fade and observe.
Presentation: Boxes
Use the same sequence and layout technique as used in the bottles presentation
Points of Interest:
Opening different types of lids/tops.
Locating the correct lid/top.
Hand movements.
Following Exercises:
Lunchboxes
Lunch food containers
Lockbox or lock board
Padlocks with keys on a ring
Opening and closing doors
Pedagogical Notes:
Rotate your supply of bottles and boxes to keep the interest of the children. Start with easier bottles and boxes working in more challenging ones over time.
Make sure you include similar boxes and bottles that the child will encounter in the classroom.