8 children can use this mat at the same time. The stations develop fine motor skills and hand and forearm strength.
Station 1: Bat Wing Flap (left corner)-baton is made from foam pipe insulation that is sealed with colored electrical tape-the size of a track baton, but softer. Hold the middle of the baton and rotate the wrist back and forth as fast as you can to flap the bat wings. Count to 10 and switch hands.
Station 2: Squeeze Play (center front)-we use a high density foam ball in one hand and a grip builder foam ball in the other hand-(gives an added kinesthetic experience.) The student will hold one ball in each hand and squeeze each ball 10 times before switching hands.
Station 3: Play Ball (far right corner)- use a hackey sack. Pick up the hackey sack in one hand. Toss the hackey sack back and forth from hand to hand while tracking with the eyes. As they toss it they can spell P.E. words, say their phone number, etc............
Station 4: Moving Cargo: (far right middle)-You need 10-15 small wooden cubes (craft store/wal-mart), colorful cutout shapes shapes to move the cubes around on. Pick up a cube in each hand by pinching it between the thumb and first finger. Use the 2 cubes to push together and pick up another cube between them. Move the cubes to the other shapes. Variation-pinch the cube between the thumb and another finger.
Station 5: Alligator Scarf Scrunch (upper right corner)-You need 2 die cut cast alligators (or animal of your choice) and 1 juggling scarf. Have the child begin with their dominent hand. Scrunch the scarf until it is hidden or all the way into their hand. Switch to the other hand.
Station 6: Penny Pickup (upper center)-You need 15-35 pennies depending on the kids. Start with the right hand and pick up as many pennies as you can, one at a time until you drop one. Then, repeat on the other side.
Station 7: Turn Over a New Leaf (upper left corner)-Need at least 6 die cast leaves (laminated). Use the right hand to turn over one leaf at a time. Repeat with the left hand. Variation-use different thumb/finger combinations.
Station 8: Picking Cotton (Middle left side)-Need 2 die cast cut pick up trucks, 6 cotton balls and at least 2 clothes pins. Start with the dominant hand-pinch the clothes pin and pick up the cotton ball to move it from one truck to another. After moving all the cotton balls, change hands. Variation-squeeze the clothes pin between the thumb and different fingers.