
Investigation: Feely Box – Identifying Properties
Description
Allow all children in the group to feel and explore the items you have available. Name each object so that children are familiar with what objects are called before the investigation begins. Then hide one of the objects and have children use their senses to describe what they experience. Can the other children guess the item?
Adaptations specific to this investigation are included in the resource.
Materials
- Try this activity using a sheet or towel to hide the object under if fitting a hand in a or bag is a challenging fine motor task for children.
- Provide larger, more easily graspable materials.
Instruction
- Provide two sets of materials so that children guessing can see, touch and make connections with item as the item in the box is being described
- If child feeling the object guesses the item immediately without describing the item, encourage them to tell you how they know what the hidden item is.
- If children do not open-endedly describe the attributes, provide options for children to choose from (e.g., “Is it heavy or light? Does it have sharp corners or rounded edges?”)
- Provide visuals of different attributes for children to refer to/use to communicate.