Learning objectives
- To develop threading and weaving skills.
EYFS outcomes
Physical development
- Develop their small motor skills so that they can use a range of tools competently, safely and confidently.
- ELG: Fine Motor Skills: Use a range of small tools, including scissors, paint brushes and cutlery.
Expressive arts and design
- ELG: Creating with materials: Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.
Characteristics of effective learning
> Playing and exploring
> Active learning
Before the lesson
Have ready
- Threading beads.
- Wool or string.
- Numicon.
- Large plastic needles.
- Cardboard threading shapes or wooden threading boards.
- Ribbons.
- Wire cooling rack or similar.
Activity
- Before the lesson, set up your threading weaving station with different types of threading activities:
- Threading beads onto wool or string.
- Threading wool or string through ten-frames such as Numicon.
- Using a large plastic needle to thread wool through a cardboard threading shape or wooden threading board.
- Weaving ribbons through a wire cooling rack or DIY weaving board (see our ‘How to’ guide to make your own.
- Weaving ribbons through the bars of a gate or fence outdoors.
- In small groups, or as part of free flow time, invite the pupils to access the threading station to practise their fine motor skills. Support them by using some of the key vocabulary and prompts but remember that this is about process not product, so there is no need to focus on making anything in particular. However, if pupils feel inspired, then follow their lead. You may need to guide pupils to certain activities depending on their existing skills or areas they need to develop, trying to make sure each pupil has the opportunity to explore at least one threading and one weaving activity.
- Observe and support pupils as they thread and weave, offering guidance when you feel it is necessary. You will be able to assess any next steps and address these immediately as pupils listen and respond to your suggestions, altering and improving their technique and fine motor skills.
- You can extend the activity further by:
- encouraging the children to create a repeating colour pattern while bead threading.
- encouraging the children to make a colour pattern or design with the ribbons while weaving.
Teacher notes
Before the lesson, set up the tuff tray or activity area with the different threading invitations. Depending on class numbers and how many pupils will be investigating at any one time, you may wish to spread the threading and weaving activities across different stations in the classroom.
The threading and weaving activities in this lesson plan are just suggestions. You may like to adapt them to suit your classroom environment or the pupils in your class.
Key vocabulary
-
thread
-
weave
-
pinch
-
push
-
pull
-
through
-
under
-
over
-
up
-
down
-
pattern
Prompts for learning
- “We have to hold our beads steady while we thread them don’t we!”
- “Push the needle through and pull it out the other side.”
- “I’ve made a pattern! Blue, red, blue, red, blue, red!”
- “The ribbon goes over, under, over, under…what’s next?”
Observations
- Do the children demonstrate good fine motor skills when threading? Are they accurate? Can they hold their hand steady?
- Are the pupils able to weave the ribbon independently or do they require help?
- Do the pupils use the beads or ribbons to make a pattern?
Next steps
To practise and apply weaving skills to a specific material e.g. paper.
Note any specific next steps for individual pupils.
