Magnetic Fishing
Safety Tips:
- Children should have adult supervision while using materials that are toxic or objects that are sharp
- Guide you child’s hands closely as needed while they use craft tools and materials
- Children should use safety scissors
- Use caution with small loose magnets around young children as they could be a swallowing hazard.
This activity makes learning numbers, letters, or colours fun by fishing them out. Children enjoy the element of surprise and when they go fishing they never know what they are going to catch.
Thinking: this activity encourages children remember numbers, letters and colours and sort them into categories.
Download the PDFRequired Materials:
- Download PDF of instruction
- Magnetic Buttons
- Fishing rod - A dowel or a wooden spoon
- String
- Felt in a variety of colours for fish
- Metal washer or closed S hook
- Pencil or chalk
- Sewing Pins
- Needle and Thread or Sewing Machine
- Scissors
- Markers
Optional Materials:
- Hot glue gun
Directions
- Measure your magnet buttons and adjust the fish template to fit your magnets. Fish should be at least 1” larger than your magnet.
- Trace fish template in pairs onto felt in a variety of colours. To create a set of three of one colour, trace six fish total, a front and back for each fish.
- Cut out fish patterns.
Optional step — Decorate your fish! Get older kids in on the fun by drawing scales and decorative patterns on your fish using markers.
- Pin felt fish together in pairs.
- Using hand or machine sewing, stitch around the edge of the fish leaving a gap large enough to fit the magnet through. Insert magnet and stitch remaining hole closed. Securely knot your stitches to prevent the magnet from falling out.
- Fasten your washer or S hook to your fishing rod by tying a knot or gluing it into place. Adjust your string length to match your game set.
Nurture
- If you play games that encourages your child’s memory
- your child will feel learning begins at home
Explore
- If you collect objects and create categories
- Your child will begin to develop organized thinking
Share
- If you craft animals and talk about the various family structures in nature
- Your child will develop an understanding of what makes us all unique
School of Fish Wall Hanging
This is a cut and paste activity that your child will be proud to hang on the wall.
Fine motor: this is a cut and paste activity that develop your child’s hand strength.
Preschool Activity
Toddler Activity
Whenever you order a craft kit online at www.lunenburgmakery.ca from The Lunenburg Makery, a percentage goes directly to funding Easter Seals' programs.
Age Groups: Preschooler, Toddler