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Home / Early Learning / Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

Shared by Mary Catherine 12 Comments

This open-ended art activity is a great addition to your list of process art ideas for preschoolers. Grab a styrofoam ball and some odds and ends from around the classroom or kitchen. Use them to set up an invitation to create for your students!

Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

For morning choices today, I put out a few random materials for the students.  I had recently cleaned out part of our closet at work and discovered extra golf tees (leftover from Holey Pumpkins) and fancy toothpicks (leftover from potato turkeys).  I remembered how much fun the kiddos had with both of those activities, so I checked the school workroom for something that might work well with those supplies.  Then I found them . . . Styrofoam balls. These materials led to an amazing open-ended art activity!

Table of Contents

  • Materials for the Styrofoam Creations
  • Styrofoam Ball Invitation to Create
  • Done-for-You Preschool Resources

Materials for the Styrofoam Creations

Like I said, I just kind of stumbled across some materials in the supply closet that inspired this activity. But if you’re looking for the specific items we used, or even for some inspiration to come up with a similar project of your own, check out the list below.

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

  • Styrofoam balls
  • Toothpicks
  • Golf tees
  • Push pins
  • Craft sticks
  • Yarn
  • Rubber bands
Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

Styrofoam Ball Invitation to Create

As the children started arriving, I set out the Styrofoam balls, the golf tees, and the fancy toothpicks.  I wasn’t sure if they’d be too interested, but I had miscalculated on that!  I couldn’t even take a quick picture of the materials before a couple of the kids were diving into things.  Of course, I think that was because they wanted to grab the two biggest Styrofoam pieces!

Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

As more children trickled into the classroom, the crowd at my table grew.  Not all of the children were interested in this activity, but most of them were.  I had fun watching as their creations came to life, and even more fun listen to them describe what they were doing. One of my girls was intent on covering as much of the Styrofoam ball as possible.  She was really focused on the process, rather than a specific outcome.  I can respect that!  🙂

Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

Another gal tried to figure out how to connect a few of the balls together.  She was pretty proud of herself when she discovered one way to do it.  After she was able to connect some of the balls, she informed me we needed more so she could make a super tall snowman out of Styrofoam.

Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

Some of the children noted that the golf tees and the toothpicks left holes in the Styrofoam, and there were observations about which would leave larger holes.  One of the boys also discovered he could use the tees and toothpicks to write/draw in the Styrofoam.  Then he decided he’d rather make “a bad guy named Metal”.

Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

One of the boys was there for the entire time, creating “Spike”.  He had tons of fun making Spike talk to the other creations, photo bomb some of the pictures I was taking, and he just couldn’t stop giggling!  Ahhh . . . the humor of preschoolers!

Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

My favorite creation was made by a few of the girls working together.  He was called “Corn Teeth”, for some reason I wasn’t privy to.  I just love how they created a face and legs for their creation!

Open-Ended Art with Styrofoam, Toothpicks, & Golf Tees

All in all, a fun time was had by the kiddos this morning.  I was asked multiple times if we could do this activity again, so I think it was a success.  I was also asked if I could get more Styrofoam pieces of different shapes and sizes next time.  I think a trip to the craft store is in my immediate future!

Shared at Tuesday Tots, Tot School Tuesdays, Mom’s Library, It’s Playtime!, Kid’s Co-Op, TGIF Linky Party, Sun Scholars’ For the Kids Friday, Sugar Aunts’ Share It Saturday, Train Up a Child’s Sunday Showcase, Red Ted’s Art Blog, Raising Memories’ Sharing Time, Delicate Construction’s Made By Little Hands Monday

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!

Preschool Teacher 101 has created some amazing preschool lesson and activity plans that will be perfect for your classroom. Click on the images below to learn more about some of our great resources!

All About Me Lesson Plans
Robots Lesson Plans
Ball theme lesson plan resource cover.
Ball Theme 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 Childhood Classroom, Early Learning, Preschool Arts and Crafts

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  1. Melinda@LookWhatMomFound...andDadtoo says

    March 5, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    we have one styrofoam ball left from a project, I should give it to my son and see what he does with it 🙂

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      March 5, 2013 at 1:28 pm

      You just might be surprised! The kiddos were still playing with their creations today and again asked for more Styrofoam. 🙂 Let me know what happens with your son if you do! Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  2. maryanne @ mama smiles says

    March 6, 2013 at 3:13 pm

    These are fantastic! Definitely a project I’ll keep in mind for my kids!

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      March 6, 2013 at 4:00 pm

      Thank you! It still cracks me up that kiddos are so entertained by such random materials. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Judy says

    March 7, 2013 at 2:37 am

    Hi Mary,

    Thank you so much for hopping at Linkin’ with my Ladies Blog Hop. I appreciate the follows.

    This is fantastic. I should try this with my little girl.

    I am already a follower of your G+ and followed you in twitter too. Have a great day and see you around Mary.

    Judy
    http://www.pursuitoffunctionalhome.com/
    http://www.kusinaniinday.blogspot.com/

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      March 7, 2013 at 1:32 pm

      Thanks for stopping by, Judy! Let me know how it goes if you try this with your daughter. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jessica @ Play Trains! says

    March 7, 2013 at 4:03 pm

    These are so fun! Pinning this to do with my son soon. Thanks for stopping by Play Trains!

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      March 7, 2013 at 4:10 pm

      Thanks for coming by and for pinning. 🙂 I am way too excited to keep up with Play Trains (and my son is too)! Hope your week is going well.

      Reply
  5. Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest says

    March 8, 2013 at 6:52 pm

    Just found your fab blog through For the Kids Fridays. I absolutely love this idea and can’t wait to explore your site more and see what other great stuff you have!

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      March 8, 2013 at 6:58 pm

      Thank you, and have fun looking around! 🙂

      Reply
  6. maggy, red ted art says

    March 10, 2013 at 4:50 pm

    They look WONDERFUL. What great creative fun. Fantastic.

    Thanks for sharing on Kids Get Crafty!

    Maggy

    Reply
    • MaryC says

      March 19, 2013 at 1:32 pm

      Maggy, so sorry for the delay in replying! Thanks for stopping by, and I enjoyed Kids Get Crafty! Love checking out your site!

      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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