Scissors Skills and Science Activities Bundle - Books 1 to 5: ALL ABOUT PLANTS

SCISSORS SKILLS AND SCIENCE books 1 to 5 are included in this bundle. Created by an occupational therapist and perfect for preschool through kindergarten, this series teaches scissors skills in a developmental sequence. These cutting skills are paired with a science theme entitled, ALL ABOUT PLANTS.

Each book in this bundle presents 8 activities which address a new scissors skill (cutting task) for a total of 40 scissors skills activities. This series with has been developed for children ages 3 to 5, but is suitable for all children working on initial scissors skills

Each book has been designed to use over the course of one to two weeks. It is recommended children complete activities in the order they are presented.

The first 5 books of the Scissors Skills & Science series is are as follows:

Book 1: ALL ABOUT SEEDS - Cutting Playdoh

Book 2: ALL ABOUT LEAVES - Make Fringe

Book 3: ALL ABOUT TREES - Snipping

Book 4: ALL ABOUT FRUIT - Cut Straight Lines

Book 5: ALL ABOUT VEGETABLES - Cut Zig Zag Lines

Look at each of these 5 steps to understand how they are key to developing Scissors Skills:

1- Cutting Playdoh: (All About Seeds)

•Cutting Playdoh has a child use simple snipping motions, opening and closing their hands. This works on the movement used for cutting and improves hand strength.

2- Making Fringe: (All About Leaves)

•Making fringe is the next developmental step presented. This is a repetitive and simple task for children inexperienced with using scissors. This addresses and improves bilateral coordination (ability to use two hands together) as the child holds the paper with one hand and cuts with the other hand.

3- Snipping: (All About Trees)

•Snipping is the next step in this program. Children snip strips of construction paper. Again, this addresses the movements a child uses to cut as well as hand strength. Also, it reinforces bilateral skills as both hands work together to complete the task.

4- Cut Straight Lines: (All About Fruit)

•Cutting straight lines requires continuous opening and closing of scissors in a rhythm, with one hand cutting and the other hand holding. A child must learn to coordinate moving the paper while cutting.

5- Cut Zig Zags: (All About Vegetables)

•This is the first step in which a child changes direction while cutting. This builds more advanced scissors control and precision. This calls for good visual monitoring as well.

Why pair scissors skills with Science?

1- MOTIVATION: Many young children are eager to learn about science. Including science concepts in this resource raises a child’s motivation for cutting activities.

2- COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT: Science topics stimulate a child’s looking, listening, thinking, and reasoning skills. Teachers and parents can incorporate these science lessons into everyday life.

3- REINFORCE ACADEMICS: Incorporating an appropriate science curriculum introduces science into childrens’ worlds, as well as language and math concepts.

Also included in this resource is a poster called The 3 T's: Rules for Using Scissors:

Using pictures, this poster reminds a child to tuck his elbow to his side, keep his thumb up, and cut toward the table.

* TUCK! . . . TUCK your elbow by your side

* TOP! . . . Keep your thumb on TOP

* TABLE! . . . Cut TOWARD the table and away from you

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