Keep those tiny preschool hands stretching and growing with these sun cutting strips. Add them to your next weather unit or anytime you need a little sunshine in your classroom. We have an abundance of themed cutting strips for you to choose from once you’re done here.
These sun tracing strips can be used in many different ways to build your preschoolers confidence in their fine motor skills. You probably already have all that you need in your supply closet. Easy to prep and teach, plus they’re super versatile to meet the individual needs of your students.
Sun cutting strips are a great follow up to your circle time weather discussion. The simplicity of this activity would work for early finishers, morning work or for any student who needs extra cutting practice. Sprinkle some sunshine into your centers for independent practice.
Related: Free Preschool Printables
You can request your own set of sun-themed cutting pages at the bottom of this post. Read below for prepping tips, as well as ideas for using the line tracing sheets with kids.
Sun Cutting Strips
Please keep in mind that you don’t have to do everything exactly the same way I do! As I mentioned above, these printables are super versatile. So it’s very likely you and your students will come up with even more ways to use them!
How to Prepare the Sun Fine Motor Printables
Prepping the sun cutting strips is quick and easy. First, grab the items you need to prep them. Below is a list of the few items you will need to get started (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
- Sun Cutting Strips printable
- Printer
- Scissors
- Paper cutter
- Dry erase pockets
- Laminator
While you’re at it, be sure to pick up the supplies you’d like your students to use alongside the sun-themed pages, like:
Now that you have the supplies you need, it’s time to prep the sunny tracing sheets:
- First, print them and make as many copies as you’d like.
- Then cut each of the pages apart into individual sun cutting strips.
- Finally, set the printables and materials out for your students.
If you’re not using the strips for cutting, I highly recommend you laminate them or place in dry erase pockets before starting. That will make them reusable pretty easily.
How to Use the Sun Cutting Strips with Kids
There are so many ways to use these sunny strips with your preschoolers. First, of course, is to practice cutting. Model how to hold the scissors – thumb on top – and demonstrate cutting the strips moving from left to right following the path.
If storm clouds of frustration are rolling in, don’t lose heart. Try auto-open scissors to build confidence. As your students gain confidence, you can reintroduce traditional kid-safe scissors
The next idea is to use the sun strips for tracing practice. You can model correct pencil grip with thin dry erase markers tracing from left to right on laminated sun cutting strips. Provide a rainbow of marker colors and let preschoolers tell you their favorite colors.
More Ways to Use the Sun Line Tracing Printables
Here are even more ways to use the sun cutting strips with your students:
- Test out the strips with playdough. Kids can roll the dough like spaghetti and place it along the paths on each of the fine motor strips.
- Place the strips in the bottom of a shallow tray. Add a thin layer of yellow sand on top. Then let the kids use their finger to trace the patterns into the sand.
- Pair the fine motor activity with small candies, like M&Ms or Skittles. Children will place them along the lines on each strip. What a fun option for snack time!
- Use weather-themed manipulatives to trace the lines on each sun fine motor strip. If you have more than one type of manipulative, challenge the kids to make patterns along the way!
I told you there was more! The possibilities are only limited by your imagination and the supplies you provide. You can see one of our tracing printables in use in the video below:
How will you use the sun cutting strips with your preschoolers? Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post and share your ideas!
What Skills are Being Practiced with the Sun Line Tracing Pages?
I have shown you the creativity and fun included with the sun cutting strips; now let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Tiny minds are open and soaking up all the new information and skills we are teaching. Everything we introduce should be building their confidence and skills in preparation for kindergarten.
Here are some of the concepts kids are exploring while using the sun fine motor printable.
- Left to right progression
- Fine motor skills
- Hand strengthening
- Scissor skills
- Pencil grip
- Counting
- Patterns
Simple things are often best. This is especially true with the sun fine motor strips. They are small but mighty for shaping preschool skills. Don’t forget to grab your free sun cutting strips at the bottom of this post!
More Weather Activities for Kids
If the sun cutting strips were a hit with your students, why not try a few more weather-themed ideas? Here are a few to get you started:
Weather Tracing Strips Set
If you’re a busy teacher (and I suppose having the word “busy” there is a bit redundant . . . aren’t all teachers busy?), I’d love for you to check out the many done-for-you teacher resources we have on my sister site, Preschool Teacher 101. There are lesson plans, math resources, journal printables, and many more teacher resources available. Be sure to read more about membership options while you’re there.
Click on the image below for our weather-themed tracing strips set:
Here are a few more weather resources you may be interested in. Please click on each of the images below to get more information:
Get the Sun Cutting Strips Printable
This free printable is available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re a member, fill out the form below and the download links will be sent to your inbox. If you’re not a member, you can join us by entering your information in the form. Then you’ll receive the sun line tracing printable as a welcome gift!
Be sure to check out my printing FAQ page if you run into any issues.
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