Straws - Page 3 of 5

The Tilted Straw Maze

Steps:

Use markers to draw a start and finish line on a paper plate.
Cut colorful straws into several small pieces using your scissors.
Glue the straw pieces onto the plate to build maze walls.
Leave enough space between the straws for a marble to roll.
Place a marble at the start line once the glue is dry.
Hold the plate with both hands and tilt it to move the marble.
Try to reach the finish line without the marble falling off!

Safety Tip:
Marbles are a significant choking hazard. Always supervise children during play and keep all small materials away from younger siblings.

The Sticky Straw Chimney

Steps:

Tape the bottom of a paper roll to a stable table.
Wrap masking tape around the roll with the sticky side out.
Give your child a bunch of colorful straws to hold.
Have them press each straw vertically onto the sticky tape.
Ask them to build a full circle of straws around the roll.
Drop fluffy cotton balls through the top of your straw chimney.
See if you can catch the balls as they pop out!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play to ensure they do not put straws or cotton balls in their mouth.

The Bead Bridge Slide

Steps:

Cut two short pieces of a straw, each about two inches long.
Tape these pieces vertically onto a piece of cardboard, leaving a six-inch gap between them.
Thread four colorful beads onto a full-length straw.
Slide the ends of the long straw into the two short taped pieces to create a bridge.
Ask your child to use their pinching fingers to slide the beads from one end to the other.
Challenge them to move the beads back and forth without letting the straw bridge collapse!

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required because beads and straw pieces are small and can be a choking hazard.

Sticky Straw Scoop

Steps:

Prepare the ‘scoop’ by taking a straw and securing a small loop of masking tape (sticky side facing out) onto one end.
Place a pile of pom-poms on the table and the empty Container next to the Construction Paper target.
Show the child how to hold the straw using their thumb and index finger (a strong pincer grasp), just like holding a miniature pencil.
Challenge the child to carefully touch the sticky straw tip to a pom-pom, lifting it when it sticks firmly.
The child then transfers the sticky pom-pom over the container and uses their non-dominant hand or fingertips to peel it off the straw and drop it in.
Continue this process until all the pom-poms are successfully moved from the starting pile into the container.

Safety Tip:
Always provide close adult supervision during this activity. Ensure the child understands that the small pom-poms and tape are not to be put in the mouth.