Shower Curtain Target Activity for Preschoolers

6/18/2024

Shower Curtain Target Activity for Preschoolers

If you're looking for a cost-effective and creative way to engage your preschoolers, try this Sponge Water Ball and Shower Curtain Activity. Engaging preschoolers in fun and educational activities is a wonderful way to enhance their motor skills, coordination, and social interaction. Combining the thrill of throwing with the joy of water play, this activity is sure to keep young learners entertained and stimulated.

Creating meaningful and fun activities doesn't have to be expensive! This activity requires a plastic shower curtain or liner with some sponges, items that can be found at a plethora of different stores. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the setup and execution of this preschool-friendly activity that guarantees plenty of splashes and laughter.

Materials:

Shower Curtain Target Activity for Preschoolers

You will need:

Shower curtain or liner
Permanent marker of any color
Sponges cut into circles

*A sharp pair of scissors or a utility knife will work best for cutting the sponges

Let's Get Started:

To get started you will use the permanent marker to draw the different targets onto the shower curtain. It can be a little tricky to write on, either tape the edges or have someone hold the curtain tight while you are drawing.

We drew different targets but you can also write in "points" such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or even 1, 5, 10 if you're wanting to add in some bonus math practice! This approach would be great for your students who are ready for addition.

After you have prepared the curtain, cut the sponges into circles, they are really easy to cut with scissors. Having the sponges cut into circles/balls works a little easier than throwing the flat sponge.

Once the targets and sponge balls have been prepped, soak them inside a bucket of water. This is a great opportunity to take a minute to talk to your preschoolers about sponges.

Explanation
A sponge is a special object that can absorb water. It's like a super thirsty friend! When you put a sponge in water, it soaks up the water. It becomes wet and squishy, and you can use it to wipe and clean things.

Questions to ask about sponges:
Have you ever seen or touched a sponge before? How does it feel?
What do you think will happen if we put a dry sponge in a bowl of water?
How do you think a sponge can help us clean things? Can you think of things that might need cleaning?
Why do you think a sponge gets wet when it touches water? Where does the water go?
Can you think of any other things that can absorb water like a sponge? What are they?
What do you think will happen if we squeeze a wet sponge really hard? Will it still have water in it?

Now, the fun begins! Gather your preschoolers and introduce them to the exciting throwing game. Show them the sponge water ball and explain that the objective is to throw the ball at the shower curtain to create a splash. Emphasize the importance of taking turns and following instructions to ensure everyone's safety and enjoyment.

Demonstrate the throwing technique by taking a turn yourself. Show the preschoolers how to grip the sponge water ball and toss it towards the curtain, aiming for a specific area. Encourage them to aim high or low to create different splashes.

This game works well if you lay the shower curtain on the ground or you can also hang it. This would definitely work hanging from a fence on your playground! Small clamps would be great for hanging this up.

Explain how the closer you get to the middle target the better.

. Encourage them to experiment with different throwing styles and observe how the ball's trajectory and splash patterns change. Ask questions like, "Can you make a bigger splash?" or "How high can you throw the ball?"

The Sponge Water Ball and Shower Curtain Throwing Activity offers preschoolers an exciting and interactive way to develop their motor skills and coordination. Through this engaging play, they can refine their throwing technique, learn about cause and effect, and practice taking turns. So, grab some sponges, a shower curtain, and let the splashing adventure begin!