Touch and Feel Numbers Book

Description

Young children enjoy board books with textures like Pat the Bunny. Using simple craft materials, you can make one with your child and reinforce colors, numbers and expand their vocabulary with descriptive words. You could also make each number into small posters for your classroom as a visual that will reinforce number sense. This also can be used a tactile flash cards for your child. In a center based classroom, this could be an activity in a Math Center. Here are some suggestions for making your own book with your child or to make in the classroom. You can bind your book by punching a hole in the corner and using a binder ring.

Materials for Your Touch and Feel Number Book

• Cardstock or construction paper cut to size of choice. 5 x 7 is a good size giving enough room to add your textures and the number.

• Print Teaching Tiny Tots's # 1-25 Sheet

• Pencil, Scissors

• Non Toxic Craft Glue like Aleenes or Fabri-tac with adult supervision works best for a stronger bond but Elmer's School glue will also work for some textures. Glue sticks will probably not hold these items.

• Ideas for textures:

Fabric like velour, denim, cotton, buttons, fabric filled shapes, foam shapes, stickers, craft sticks, ribbon, rhinestones (with supervision). Feathers, felt, sandpaper squares. Q-tips and cotton balls, pom poms, pipe cleaners, beads and beans.

Steps

• Print our free printable from the link above or simply write numbers clearly at the top of the page with a black Sharpie or pen.
• Decide what textures to use for each page.
• Have your child line up the selected pieces in a row and count together.
• Glue using Elmer's or a non toxic craft glue for a stronger bond.
• Arrange in a number train across the classroom for everyone to enjoy or use in a Math Center.

Tips and Suggestions for Making Your Touch and Feel Book

• If the book is for a very young toddler, make sure pieces are glued well. A craft glue will have a stronger hold, but these books will still require supervision.
• Read this book together with your child and discuss textures, count how many, trace the number with their fingers. That way you can also monitor any pieces that get loose.
• Make a page a day rather than trying to complete the entire book. For preschool focus on the number of the day or week.

Other Ideas

Bind it into a book using flatter items like stickers and pieces of various material in different shapes for variety. Foam Stickers are also easy and fast for younger children. This would be the easiest when having each child make a book in the classroom.