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Home / Early Learning / Using Tiny Erasers to Promote Fine Motor and Math Skills

Using Tiny Erasers to Promote Fine Motor and Math Skills

Shared by Mary Catherine 23 Comments

I’m always looking for Fine motor activities for kids to practice their fine motor and math skills in preschool. Ant this activity is so simple, but probably one of my favorites! Set out child-friendly tweezers, mini erasers, and an empty ice tray.

You might be pleasantly surprised with how the students choose to engage with the materials. Some will sort the erasers into sections of the ice tray using tweezers. Others will count the erasers one by one. Others still will create patterns and shapes, using tweezers to place the mini erasers.

How do you think your students will engage with the materials? Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

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Related: Everything You Need to Know About Mini Erasers

Here’s a spring activity I used to promote fine motor and math skills  at preschool.  This was a simple, easy to set-up math center that kept the kiddos busy for most of center time.  They had a blast, all the whole improving their fine motor skills and practicing age-appropriate math skills.

I set out ice cube trays, large kid-friendly tweezers, and a variety of spring-themed erasers.  Before the children began, I suggested they sort the erasers or make patterns with them.  Each of the children grabbed an ice cube tray and a pair of tweezers and set to “work”.

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They picked up the erasers one at a time with the tweezers, which really gave their fingers a workout.  At the time, most of my students’ fine motor skills were on-track.  However, there were a few who tended to shy away from most fine motor activities.  This wasn’t a problem with this activity, though!  They were so focused on moving the erasers to the ice cube trays that it didn’t occur to them.  🙂  I love when kids are having so much fun that they don’t realize they’re learning.

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In addition to the great fine motor work, the erasers were used for different math skills.  Some of the children chose to sort all of the erasers before doing anything else.  I loved how into this task they were!  They sorted by colors (yellow flowers, green flowers etc.).  They sorted by type, as well (ladybugs, butterflies, etc.).

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Once the erasers had been sorted, the patterning fun began.  Many of the kiddos used one row of the ice cube tray for one pattern, while using the other row for a completely different pattern.  A few of them chose to make just one pattern inside all rows of the ice cube trays.  They were so excited to show Mary Poppins and I their patterns!  A few of them even asked to show the patterns to our preschool director . . . they were THAT into this math play.

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I will definitely be using the tiny erasers in the future.  Of course, I think they’re too small to actually use as erasers!  But they’re great for tons of other games and activities.  Here are some other ideas for using the tiny erasers for math activities:

  • Have the students place the correct amount of erasers by written numerals.  For example, 5 erasers by the number 5.
  • Use the erasers to illustrate beginning addition and subtraction skills.
  • Match colors using the erasers.  This can be done with color cards and/or written color words.

Those are just a few extension activities in regards to math!  How would YOU use the tiny erasers with your students/children?  I’d love to hear your ideas.  🙂

Table of Contents

  • Counting Materials
  • Done-for-You Preschool Resources

Counting Materials

In preschool, we do a LOT of counting, sorting, and ordering. And if you’re a regular reader of Fun-A-Day, you may already know that I’m not the biggest fan of worksheets. So, I prefer to use manipulatives or sets of objects, that I have on hand. Or sometimes I will purchase a new set. Below, I’ve listed my favorite manipulatives for the preschool classroom.

I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

  • Counting bears
  • Blocks
  • Unifix cubes
  • Small circle counters
  • Learning links
  • Pattern blocks
  • Magnetic numbers & letters
  • Mini erasers

This list just skims the surface of possibilities when it comes to manipulatives you can use with your preschoolers to count, sort, and order among other things! You can always use small figures or acrylic shapes based on your theme as well.

Done-for-You Preschool Resources

Planning meaningful lessons for students week after week while balancing other teaching responsibilities and a personal life can be a daunting task. That’s where Preschool Teacher 101 comes in to save you time!

If your students enjoyed the tiny eraser fun, they will love all of Preschool Teacher 101’s math lesson plans! Click on the images below to learn more about each resource.

Digital & printable patterns 4-in-1 activity pack resource cover.
Patterns 4-in-1 Activity Pack
Flower math differentiated number sense activities preschool resource cover.
Flower Math Activities
ladybug preschool lesson plans
Ladybug Lesson Plans

Join The Pack from Preschool Teacher 101 today for exclusive access to our content. We have a variety of membership options to suit your needs.

Filed Under: Early Learning Tagged With: Fine Motor

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  1. Sam @ Thrive 360 Living says

    May 17, 2013 at 7:52 pm

    Love the variety of activities you can do with the small erasers and they are just so darn cute. Pinning! And can’t wait to do it with my son.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 18, 2013 at 10:22 am

      Thanks so much, Sam! Is it sad that I’m excited that I have a really good reason to buy more of those cute erasers?! 🙂 Let me know how your son likes them!

      Reply
  2. Stephanie@Twodaloo says

    May 17, 2013 at 9:10 pm

    Adorable! Lots of playful learning happening and the erasers are just so darn CUTE!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 18, 2013 at 10:22 am

      Thanks Stephanie! I know . . . they are SO cute. Glad I have an excuse to purchase more now! 🙂

      Reply
  3. jackie says

    May 17, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    This is such a great idea! I just looooved those tiny erasers when I was a kid. I can totally see the hooligans getting right into this activity! Thanks so much for linking up, and for the inspiration! I’ve just pinned to my Fine Motor board. 🙂

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 18, 2013 at 10:25 am

      Thanks Jackie! Apparently, I still love tiny erasers! 🙂 Let me know what the hooligans think of this activity — love hearing how things go with other kiddos. And thanks for pinning!

      Reply
  4. Melinda@LookWhatMomFound...andDadtoo says

    May 18, 2013 at 8:55 am

    i have a whole mess of these. I should give them to my niece to help practice before she starts school in the fall

    Reply
  5. Debbie says

    May 18, 2013 at 6:30 pm

    This is a great idea! Pinned it!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 19, 2013 at 1:43 pm

      Thanks so much, Debbie! Let me know how it goes if you use it with your kiddos. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Amy says

    May 19, 2013 at 9:35 am

    What a cute idea! I love the kid-friendly tweezers!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 19, 2013 at 1:43 pm

      Thank you, Amy! 🙂 I’m pretty partial to the large kid tweezers, too. Using kids’ chopsticks also works well and provides some variety too.

      Reply
  7. JDaniel4's Mom says

    May 19, 2013 at 12:09 pm

    What great ideas! I see sets of these all the time at the dollar store.

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 19, 2013 at 1:46 pm

      Thanks so much for stopping by! Let me know how it goes if you use it with your kiddo. 🙂 Now I have an excuse to get more little erasers!

      Reply
  8. Crystal says

    May 21, 2013 at 12:25 pm

    Fine motor skills are very important to practice. I love those wee erasers, they are good for so many things…I wish I could get them in the UK. Keep having fun!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 27, 2013 at 8:25 pm

      Thanks, Crystal! I didn’t realize they aren’t available in the UK! Thanks so much for popping by!

      Reply
  9. Kirstylee says

    May 21, 2013 at 3:17 pm

    Those erasers are so darling. I usually buy the bigger erasers for my toddler, but I think he is getting to the age now that he can use these smaller ones. Thanks for the idea!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 27, 2013 at 8:26 pm

      I love them too, Kirstylee! If you’re right there watching him, I bet he will do a great job. Let me know how it goes if you do try it out. 🙂

      Reply
  10. Ann says

    May 23, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    I can totally see my son getting really engrossed in this activity. Great idea!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 27, 2013 at 8:30 pm

      Awww, thanks Ann! Some of my preschoolers did this every day for a week, for over 30 minutes each day. Those same kiddos asked for it the next week too. I loved how into the kids were. If you and your son try it out, let me know. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Alice (@mumsmakelists) says

    May 28, 2013 at 8:04 am

    Love this!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 28, 2013 at 2:07 pm

      Thanks Alice! 🙂

      Reply
  12. Andrea says

    May 14, 2017 at 10:54 pm

    I would love to do these activities! Where do you find these cute erasers? I have been told Target but I have been going there and can never find any!!

    Reply
    • Mary Catherine says

      May 20, 2017 at 2:11 pm

      My local Target rarely has those awesome mini erasers either. The erasers in these pictures were all purchased on Amazon. 🙂

      Reply
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My name is Mary Catherine, and I love to share meaningful {and fun} learning activities for kiddos! Feel free to browse and stay awhile!

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