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Sticky Yarn Numbers

Jul 31, 201352,880 views
Math Play
Fine Motor Activities : Sticky Yarn Learning Save
fine motor activity with yarn Save
pre writing with yarn Save
find the longest yarn Save
open ended art with yarn Save
activities with yarn Save

by TurkeyMom in Math Play

Ages2–6 yrs
Prep15 min
Activity30 min
Leveleasy
MessLow
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

Tape clear contact paper sticky side up over handwritten numbers, then have kids press pre-cut yarn along each number. It builds fine motor skills, number formation and length comparison, and can turn into open-ended shape and yarn art.

⚠️ Safety first

  • Supervise toddlers closely. Loose yarn pieces can be a choking or strangling hazard, so gather up leftover strands after play.
  • An adult does the cutting with scissors.
  • If you color the yarn or add fingerprint art, use non-toxic, washable kids' paint.
  • Wax-dipped yarn variation: only an adult melts the wax, and kids wait until the yarn has fully cooled.

Before the kids arrive

  • Write the numbers 1-8 large on sheets of paper.
  • Cut yarn pieces about the same length as each written number. Cut the yarn for 4 and 5 into 2 parts.
  • If you only have plain yarn, color it with paint and let it dry.

Steps

  1. Lay the number sheets on the table and tape them down.

  2. Tape clear contact paper over the sheets, sticky side up. Now you have your own sticky table!

  3. Set out the colored yarn pieces on plates.

  4. Lay a piece of yarn along a number and press it down hard so it sticks. No glue needed!

  5. For 4 and 5, stick the first part of the number, then the next part.

  6. For 5-8, guess which yarn matches which number before sticking it. The longest yarn goes with 8.

  7. Trace the curves of 8 slowly with the yarn.

  8. Make shapes, figures or pictures with yarn strings of different lengths.

  9. Add fingerprint paint art inside your yarn shapes if you like.

Tips

  • Since there is no glue involved, all they have to do is press the yarn down hard and the contact paper does the job.from the author
  • The yarn has to be lined up with the number, or it will be too long or too short. That's the fine motor challenge!from the author
  • It helps with writing numbers the proper way. For 4 and 5, cut the yarn in 2 parts and show which part comes first and which follows.from the author
  • Great for practicing writing 8 (and S).from the author
  • Matching the yarns to the numbers before sticking them is an interesting challenge because kids can't visually make the connection.from the author
  • For open-ended play, cut strings of various lengths and group them by size. Kids can help with the grouping. Just setting out the materials was more than enough, and the children created their own play.from the author
  • Use colored yarn to make it more fun.from the author
  • A reader has done sticky paper play with shapes underneath and suggests numbers with dots to match.from readers
  • Kids who love cutting up string can turn it into a learning experience with this.from readers

Make it your own

  • Put shapes or letters under the contact paper instead of numbers.
  • Draw dots next to each number and match the yarn to the dot count.
  • Make shapes like a triangle or trapezoid, then turn one into a picture frame with fingerprint art inside.
  • Build a yarn person or other figures.
  • Dip colored yarn in melted white wax for moldable sticky yarn (adult melts the wax).

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · July 2013
setup
I wrote numbers on sheets of paper, laid the sheets down and taped clear contact paper over them, sticky side up. Now you have your own sticky table!
1 / 10

Sticky Yarn Numbers: the original post

We do many fine motor activities around here which are basically embedded in the other fun activities we do. Every now and then we however like to do intentional fine motor activities - like the one we are sharing today. Another material we love is contact paper. In the past we have shared a kids craft using contact paper and made glitter tubes, a toddler learning activity and another kids scavenger hunt with the same material. Contact paper is super versatile and can be used in numerous open ended art activities, kids crafts and number of learning activities.

Sticky yarn fine motor activity and a math activity

I first cut out the yarn approximately the same length as the numbers I had written down in a sheet of paper. Then I laid the sheets down and taped down clear contact paper sticky side up. Now you have your own sticky table!

setup

I set out colored yarn ( colored with regular paint since I did not have colored yarn!)

materials

Then it was time to build some serious fine motor skills by sticking the yarn over the numbers. Since there is no glue involved, all she had to do was press down the yarn hard and the contact paper does the job! The yarn has to be aligned with the number else the yarn will either be too long or too short!.. Fun fine motor activity, right?

fine motor activity with yarn

Another thing I observed in this fine motor activity is that it helps with writing the numbers in a proper way..For numbers 4 and 5 I cut the yarn into 2 parts and showed her which part comes first and which one follows..Here you can see her “sticking” the curved part first and then going for the horizontal line next.

writing 5

All our colorful sticky yarn numbers.

pre writing with yarn

For 5-8 I set out another small challenge as well. I had my 4 year old to try and match the yarns with the numbers BEFORE sticking them. She correctly guessed that the longest yarn matches with the number 8. This was an interesting challenge because the kids cannot visually make the connection

find the longest yarn

This fine motor activity was GREAT for practicing writing 8 and ( S)

improving fine motor skills with yarn

We did not stop with writing numbers. Open ended creative play I cut strings of various lengths and grouped them according to size ( you can even have the kids to do it) I had hoped for the kid to create shapes by picking out the appropriate length. My patterns loving 4 year old started creating figures with those. She made a triangle and then spontaneously declared “I want to make a trapezoid” and made one.Then she turned the trapezoid into a picture frame and made finger print art inside the frame. Yeah, math and art together. Just setting out the materials was more than enough and the children created their own play time.

open ended art with yarn She would have continued further but some lil’ stinker woke up and wanted in.. That’s my toddler’s exploration right there.. The circle was my 4 year old’s. She was going for a yarn person.

yarn art

That’s the result of our creative fine motor activity - our sticky yarn table.

activities with yarn

There are SO MANY things you can do with sticky table and yarn! Use colored yarn to make it more fun..Learn shapes, letters, numbers, create art work..

Thanks for reading

Jump

What readers say

💬 8 comments ✍️ 1 answered by the author

✨ Readers' twist

Wax-dipped yarn becomes moldable and reusable

A reader dips colored yarn in melted white candle wax. Once cool, it's moldable and sticky, and it pulls right up from any surface. TurkeyMom plans to try it.

“You can dip colored yarn in white wax. I use white candles melted over low temp on the oven.”
Kimberly, Aug 2013

✨ Readers' twist

Try shapes or dots underneath

A reader has done sticky paper play with shapes under the contact paper and suggests numbers with matching dots as another version.

“I've done this with shapes underneath but should try it again with numbers/dots to match.”
Nichole {youclevermonkey}, Aug 2013

🎉 Worked for us

Matching yarn to numbers adds challenge

A reader especially liked the extra step of guessing which yarn length goes with which number before sticking it down.

“Love the extra challenge of matching the yarn with the number.”
Vicky @ Mess For Less, Jan 2014

🎉 Worked for us

Turns string-cutting into learning

A parent whose kids constantly cut up string now has a way to make that habit a learning activity.

“My kids are always cutting up string now I know how to make it a learning experience”
Kriss, Aug 2013

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 8 comments

  1. Vicky @ Mess For Less · Jan 2014

    Love the extra challenge of matching the yarn with the number. Your daughter is a smart cookie!

  2. Kimberly · Aug 2013

    You can dip colored yarn in white wax. I use white candles melted over low temp on the oven. Then when it cools you have moldable sticky yarn and it pulls right up from any surface. We have a ton of fun with this project.

  3. TurkeyMomAuthor · Aug 2013 · replying to Kimberly

    Ooo what a great idea! I'll keep it mind for next time :) Thanks

  4. Nichole {youclevermonkey} · Aug 2013

    Visiting from Tuesday Tots. I love sticky paper play. I've done this with shapes underneath but should try it again with numbers/dots to match.

  5. Kriss · Aug 2013

    My kids are always cutting up string now I know how to make it a learning experience

  6. Trisha @ Inspiration Laboratories · Aug 2013

    I think this is a great idea. I'm going to try it with my son!

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