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Spider Writing Tray

October 17, 2016 by Emma Gadsby 2 Comments

Each week, Adam has handwriting homework from school. Although he enjoys mark making, Adam is reluctant to pick up a pencil at home. When he was completing his recent homework I could tell he was on the verge of a meltdown. Rather than perusing the task, I decided to quickly change the focus. I remembered we had a left over Paper Plate Spider from our Simple Halloween Crafts. Adam hadn’t placed googly eyes on this particular spider so it was ideal to use as a Spider Writing Tray.

Spider Writing Tray

(This post contains affiliate links)

Equipment needed to make a Spider Writing Tray

* Black Paper Plate

* Eight Black Plastic Straws

* Sellotape

* Round Wooden Lollipop Stick

* Black plastic spider (similar to this)

* Table Salt

* Googly Eyes

* A set of Flashcards – we used the ABC and 123 Flashcards from our Miles Kelly set.

Spider Writing Tray resources

1. Turn the black paper plate over. Use sellotape to attach the eight black straws. More detailed instructions can be found on our Simple Halloween Crafts post.

2. Pour table salt into the middle of the black paper plate.

3. Attach a black plastic spider to the round wooden lollipop stick. Our spider had a hole underneath which the stick could slot into. This will create a spider pencil.

Spider mark making pen

How to use the Spider Writing Tray:

Place a googly eye on the alphabet flashcard where the letter formation should start. Then place another googly eye on top of the salt in the Spider Writing Tray. Get your little one to use the spider pencil to form the letter in the salt.

Letter formation in salt

Once the letter is complete gently shake the paper plate spider and the letter will disappear. Repeat the process with a variety of different letters and numbers.

Halloween mark making

Adam couldn’t get enough of the activity. He went through his entire pack of Miles Kelly ABC flashcards and then requested to use the 123 Flashcard set too. Ironically for his homework he only had to write two letters and two numbers yet Adam chose to do all 26 letters and 20 numbers within the salt tray. He then asked if he could complete his pencil written homework.

Early Years Mark Making

Our Spider Writing Tray remained out for the rest of the week and was used frequently. I love it when Adam doesn’t realise he is learning through his play activities.

virtual-book-club

This weeks Virtual Book Club story is The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle. Check out the other spider themed activities:

Alphabet activities
Printable Spider Web Letter Match Activity – Artsy Momma
Spider Writing Tray – Adventures of Adam
Alphabet spider sticky wall- Toddler Approved
Name activities
Name Webs – Rainy Day Mum
Numbers activities
Simple Web Abacus –  Big Owl Little Owl
Spider Web Fingerprint Counting (FREE PRINTABLE) – Messy Little Monster
Hands-on Spider Counting Activity – School Time Snippets
Sensory activities
Spider Web Sensory Bin + Counting Activity – My Storytime Corner
Science activities
Spider Types Matching Cards – Kori at Home
Colors activities
Feed the Spider Color Catapulting – Preschool Powol Packets
How to Make a Rainbow Spider Web – Powerful Mothering
Pre-writing activities
Spider Web Sensory Bottle Activity – The Educators’ Spin On It
Movement activities
Spider Web Obstacle Course – Mama Smiles
Shape activities
Spider Shape Craft – JDaniel4smom
Spider Counting Puzzles – Sea of Knowledge

You May Also Like:

Sparkly Halloween Spider Webs
Sparkly Halloween Spider Web
DIY Clay Spiders
DIY Clay Spiders
Adventures of Adam Along came a spider, who sat down beside her
Little Miss Muffet Storytelling Box

Adventures of Adam fine motor skills spider
Giant Spider Threading
Adventures of Adam Incy Wincy Spider Guttering
Incy Wincy Spider Guttering Fun
Adventures of Adam Spider Straw Race
Halloween Straw Race

Filed Under: Independent Play Activity, Learning Activities, Play Activities, Super Quick Play Activities Tagged With: Book themed play, Fine Motor Activities, Letter Recognition Activities, Mark making, Salt, Sensory Play Activities, Straws, Virtual Book Club For Kids, Writing Activities

Previous Post: « KidZania Review
Next Post: Simple Bonfire Night Craft »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kristina says

    October 17, 2016 at 3:46 pm

    Love how you reused a craft to make a new activity! The writing tray is super cute!

    Reply
    • Emma Edwards says

      October 17, 2016 at 7:19 pm

      Always looking for ways to re-use crafts and play resources 🙂

      Reply

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Emma and Adam

During a difficult pregnancy suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Emma vowed to make every day an adventure once she had recovered. Adventures of Adam is the outcome of completing a 100 day play challenge with Adam as part of that promise. Emma has a section dedicated to HG friendly play activities so that Mums can still be part of their children’s play whilst they are ill.

To learn more about Emma and Adam click here.

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