Beans - Page 2 of 7

The Paper Plate Pulley

Steps:

Use the hole puncher to make one hole in the middle of your paper plate.
Tape the paper plate to the top of a stable door frame using masking tape.
Thread your string through the hole you made in the plate.
Use the hole puncher to make two small holes near the rim of your paper cup.
Tie one end of the string through the holes in the cup to make a handle.
Fill the cup with a handful of beans to act as cargo.
Stand below the plate and pull the loose end of the string to lift the cup.
Try to lower the cup slowly to the floor without letting it drop or crash!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required when using long pieces of string to prevent a strangulation hazard.

Air-Power Cup Delivery

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it closed.
Cut a piece of string about two feet long.
Tape one end of the string to the balloon.
Tape the other end of the string to the bottom of a paper cup.
Place five beans inside the cup for weight.
Set the cup on a smooth floor.
Give your child a paper plate to use as a fan.
Challenge your child to fan the balloon with the plate.
They must move the balloon and cup to a target.
Reach the finish line without the cup tipping over!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Beans and broken balloons are choking hazards. Keep uninflated balloons away from children.

Banded Bottle Bean Slider

Steps:

Take the plastic bottle and wrap four pipe cleaners tightly around the middle section.
Use small pieces of masking tape to secure the ends of the pipe cleaners so they do not slide around.
Place one dry bean at the very bottom of the bottle.
Hold the bottle firmly with your helper hand to keep it from moving on the table.
Use your thumb and pointer finger to slide the bean up the bottle, pushing it underneath the first tight pipe cleaner band.
Continue sliding and pushing the bean past every band until it reaches the top of the bottle.
Try to see how fast you can do it without the bean popping out from under your finger!

Safety Tip:
Constant adult supervision is required. Dry beans are small objects and pose a significant choking hazard. Ensure all materials are collected and stored safely after play.

Sticky Line Wall Art

Steps:

Secure the construction paper onto the sturdy cardboard base with masking tape.
Use masking tape to secure the cardboard vertically onto a wall or door at your child’s chest height.
Use the markers to draw a simple line, shape, or path onto the paper for your child to follow.
Challenge your child to hold the glue bottle. Squeeze firmly to trace a thick, continuous line of glue over the marker path.
Encourage your child to pick up the dry beans using only their thumb and pointer finger (pincer grasp).
Press the beans firmly into the wet glue line, following the shape until the entire path is covered. Press hard for heavy work!

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry beans are small, hard objects. They pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths.

Heavy Foil Rock Decorate

Steps:

Tear off a sheet of aluminum foil. Encourage your child to use both hands to tear the resistant foil into a large, manageable piece.
Use maximum hand force to crumple and squeeze the foil tightly. Form a dense, hard 3D rock shape (the ‘foundation’). Squeeze hard for heavy work input.
Place the finished foil rock securely onto the piece of cardboard base. This acts as a stable work surface.
Use the glue bottle to squeeze several small, controlled dots of liquid glue onto the foil rock surface.
Pick up one dry bean using a precise pincer grasp (thumb and pointer finger).
Carefully aim the bean at a wet glue dot. Press the bean firmly onto the resistant foil surface. Repeat until the foil rock is covered in textured dots.

Safety Tip:
Constant and direct adult supervision is required. Dry beans and small, dense foil pieces pose a significant choking hazard for children who still place items in their mouths. Ensure materials are used only as intended.