DIY Story Telling Magnets

Here at Play at Home Mom, we typically provide activities that play off of the interests of our children, but this is something I did with my students when I was a teacher.  It encouraged verbalization, communication, storytelling, etc. 

I created these DIY STORY TELLING MAGNETS in hopes that my son might take interest……to inspire him.  I would say he enjoys them – and I love watching his stories and imagination take shape - but he’s way more interested in playing baseball these days….hours and hours of baseball. 

THINGS YOU NEED:

• ·         MAGNET SHEETS (and a printer)
• ·         SCISSORS
• ·         PICTURES – head to toe shots of friends and family, clip art, and/or pictures of toys or other items your child loves.

I used Microsoft word, inserted a 3x3 table, and then inserted a picture into each section.  This helped insure that all of my pictures were relatively the same size.  Lastly, I printed the pictures directly onto the magnet sheets and cut them out.

Playing with the magnets....everyone is riding a scooter or bike.  So cute!

 I plan to make more magnets – more friends and family, and more creative pictures that I know my son will love.

FOR MORE PERSONALIZED FUN - INCLUDING PEOPLE PUPPETS, CHECK OUT OUR  

FUN WITH FACES  

POST.

-         AK(MESE, ECD)

DIY Magnetic Jack-O-Lantern

We made DIY MAGNETS last year.  Today I thought it would be fun to use random things around the playroom to create more magnets for some jack-o-lantern fun.  The great thing about this is that all you need are some magnets and random things around the house.  Here is what I did....

• I printed out a pumpkin on a MAGNET SHEET and cut it out
• I drew some pumpkin mouths on a magnet sheet (with a Sharpie marker) and cut them out
• I used buttons, baby food jar tops, googlie eyes, nuts, container tops, etc to create eyes and noses - adhering the magnets to the back using a glue gun

The Invitation

There was a purpose for the extra noses....I just cant remember what he told me because it was a made-up word.  LOL

We took the emotion cards out to see if we could make pumpkins that have the same feelings as the pics.....fun!!

- AK (MESE, MECD)

DIY Magnetic Sand Box

 MAGNETIC SAND BOX

Pretty cool!!

In our local Stride Rite shoe store they have a magnetic sand table similar to this one…

 

 My son loves this table and I knew we could make something similar at home.  I set up this invitation using a shadow box frame purchased from Walmart and Poly fil pellets (also from Walmart).  We have the magnetic set seen HERE, and used the objects from the set for this project.  We soon realized that the Poly Fil Pellets were too thick to manipulate the magnets, so we tried some sand (too much sand will make it harder to move the items – and the finer the sand, the better).  It was much easier to move the balls around with sand.  The magnet wand worked on the underside of the frame as well as on top.  This is a great activity for developing coordination.  I love that we can change it, add objects, take objects away, etc.  There are so many options for play as long as you have items that are magnetic.  You can utilize it for color recognition, a fun game of I-spy, or just a calming/soothing activity.  It’s still a work in progress for us as I hope to find more objects to add.  I will add to this post as we continue to explore our new DIY toy.

The invitation

Pouring in the poly fil pellets

Must.  Touch.  Pellets.

All done, but too thick to manipulate objects

We decided to try sand.

Pretty cool!!

- AK (MESE, MECD)

Sticks-n-Stuff (magnetic board fun)

My son loves his magnet board and I was thinking of a way to make it more creative - rather than the store made magnetic accessories he already has.  I used some recycled materials and other things that my son chose himself.  Its a simple idea and activity, but it lead to about an hour of play and creativity.  Enjoy!

- AK (MESE, MECD)

 Tops from containers, gems, popsicle sticks, magnet strip, scissors, super glue

I also used magnetic circles (for the gems).  I super glued these on the night before because I didnt want my son accidentally sticking his fingers together.

 

Super glue magnetic circles on gems

 Items added to board

 "I made a house"  (he asked me to help him make a house and I facilitated without taking over)

 "Its a flower and a house"

 "Now its a sunshine and a house."

 "I need to make a propeller and an airplane."

 "Look, Mommy, its an AIRPLANE with a propeller"  (this he did on his own)

You can even form letters (I did this after he was done playing to show a more "academic" alternative)

:)

Magnetic Painting

Adding a new element to my daughter's joy for painting.  We had so much fun with this one. :-)  RL 

Getting the paints ready.

Awesome!

:-)

Dipping balls in paint

Magnetic painting on paper

Finished.