Styrofoam - OTPlan

Styrofoam Bolt Builder

Steps:

Lay a flat Styrofoam block on your table.
Use markers to draw a simple robot or house shape on the top.
Poke several small holes along the lines of your drawing using a pencil.
Pick up a long bolt and push it through one of the holes.
Reach under the foam with your other hand.
Use your fingertips to find the end of the bolt without looking.
Twist a nut onto the bolt until it is tight against the foam.
Repeat this for every hole until your structure is full of metal parts!
Stack a few wooden blocks on the bolts to see what you can build.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small nuts and bolts are a choking hazard. Ensure the pencil used for poking holes is handled safely.

The Golf Tee Nail Salon

Steps:

Place the Styrofoam block flat on a table.
Use colorful markers to color the flat, round top of each golf ball tee.
Explain to your child that these tees are fingers getting a manicure.
Ask your child to hold a tee tightly with their pinching fingers.
Use the other hand to hold the Styrofoam block steady.
Push the pointed end of the tee straight down into the Styrofoam.
Line up five tees in a row to create a hand.
Carefully place a small sticker on top of each colored tee to finish the style!

Safety Tip:
Golf tees have pointed ends. Always supervise your child during play to prevent accidental pokes or swallowing of small stickers.

The Golf Tee Yarn Trail

Steps:

Place a block of Styrofoam on a flat table.
Use markers to draw several small circles on the foam.
Pick up a golf ball tee using your pinching fingers.
Push the tee straight down into one of the circles.
Repeat this until every circle has its own mountain.
Tie the end of a long piece of yarn to the first tee.
Guide the yarn around the other tees to make a trail.
Pull the yarn tight to see your colorful design!

Safety Tip:
Golf ball tees have sharp points. Please watch your child closely to keep them safe. Small items like tees and yarn can be a choking hazard.

The Styrofoam Star Map

Steps:

Grab a flat block of Styrofoam and set it on the table.
Use a marker to draw 8 small dots across the foam.
Ask your child to pick up a golf ball tee using their pinching fingers.
Have them push the pointy end of the tee straight into a dot.
Repeat this until all the stars have a pillar standing up.
Now, place a single bead on top of each golf ball tee.
Ask them to move slowly so the beads stay on the pillars.

Safety Tip:
Adult supervision is required. Golf ball tees have pointed ends and beads are a choking hazard. Keep these materials away from small children and pets.

Pom-Pom Skyscraper

Steps:

Set up the building zone by placing the Styrofoam block on the table and putting the bowl of toothpicks and pom-poms beside it.
Encourage your child to use their dominant hand to push the sharp end of the toothpicks straight down into the Styrofoam, creating tall ‘towers’ in a pattern or design. Remind them to use their helper hand to stabilize and hold the foam block steady.
Once the ‘skyscrapers’ are built, challenge the child to use a neat pincer grasp (thumb and index finger) to carefully place one pom-pom onto the top of each exposed toothpick tip, trying to balance it gently.

Safety Tip:
Due to the sharp nature of toothpicks, this activity requires direct adult supervision. Ensure the child understands the toothpicks are only for building and must never be put near the face or mouth.