The following activities are extensions of spooning dry beans. These allow additional practice along with increased levels of skills as each activity uses slightly different materials and skills. Using different materials both as part of your display and actual work (such as different types of utensils used to transfer) creates additional interest in the activities and encourages repetition in practice. In a center, these extensions allow even more sets of materials on your shelves for greater access to these activities by all of the children.

 

Extension 1

 

Materials Needed

• 9 Bean Soup / or Other Dry Beans
• Display Bowl
• Condiment Cups
• Child Size Stainless Steel Scoop

Presentation and Activity:

Scoop up several beans at one time with the mini scoop and transfer them into the different cups. Repeat until all of the beans have been transferred. Once the activity is complete, pour the beans from the condiment cups, back into the larger bowl. Then the activity can be repeated if desired.

 

Extension 2

This extension uses the addition of a mustard spoon. This tiny spoon is designed to focus on picking up one bean at a time. This allows the child to work toward greater skill and concentration. Using only one type of bean or pea, it creates a more simplistic activity. In this activity, the child can focus fully on the process rather than the different colors and textures.

 

Extension 3

This extension uses the mustard spoon and 9 Bean Soup mix. The activity can be utilized to extend the skills by sorting different types of beans into individual condiment cups. Additional extensions can include sorting by size and color.

 

You can find many more activities in the book which is available at Amazon.com. Direct links to all of the books are on the page labeled “Dr. Andrea’s Books.”