Hi All,

Today I am excited to show you one of my favorite sensory activities and one that kids are totally drawn to.  It's constructing with foam, wooden golf tees and hammers.  I invented this set-up and I love it because the possibilities are almost endless.

The materials you need are:

- golf tees (about 2 inches or 2 3/4 inch).  These can be purchased at Modell's.

- wooden hammers (found in the dollar store)

- foam (also called "plank.")  Found in delivery boxes of appliances.  I scour the bins in and around my building and have found wonderful, funky shapes.  You can purchase "plank" over the internet, but for me the fun is scavenging.

I start by reading "Bling, Blang" by Pete Seeger.  It can be read or sung and it gets kids in construction mode.

I then have children practice wielding a hammer.  I show them how to hold the hammer, place the golf tee and then bear down on the tee, using the other hand to keep the piece of foam from sliding around.

With all different interesting shapes, kids can make boats, bridges, robots, airplanes, houses, towers, etc....Some kids just enjoy the hammering of many tees into the foam.  Others get excited about the idea of creating stuff.

           And here is my boat.

Have fun!
-Eileen