Pick-Up Sticks

A good fine motor project, especially for children who need work with pincer grasp activities.

Objectives

Children ages 4-5 years can name and match the three primary colors Lang. IB
Ages 3-4 can group consistently by one attribute and be able to tell why Cog. IIIA
ages 2-3 can match identical objects Cog. IIIA
and ages 10 months to 1 year can pick up objects with neat pincher grasps FM I

 
 
 

Materials

Pick-up sticks (commercial); colored cards

Procedures

1. Have children sit on the floor in a circle. Explain that they are going to play a game with sticks. “You are to pick up only the sticks that are the same color as your card. If you drop the stick, it’s the next person’s turn.” Give each child a colored card and ask them what color it is. If they don’t know, name the color, and have the child repeat it.

2. Drop the sticks, making sure they are scattered enough for easy pick up. For younger children, help them squeeze their index fingers together. Try using Popsicle sticks for children who have difficulty with thin sticks.

Variation
 
Older children might enjoy trying not to move other sticks when picking one up.  If the group decides a stick was moved, then it's the next child's turn.