I previously shared how I made my own textured pizza box puzzles and during that same DIY game making spree, I also created these super fun craft stick magnets for our large magnetic board…
I purchased colored craft sticks for this process but you could certainly paint your own set of craft sticks. On both ends of each craft stick, I hot glued a magnet…
I also hot glued some of the craft sticks together to make shapes and added the magnets on the shapes…
Today was the first day I set out the craft stick magnets and the children explored the craft stick magnets on our large magnetic board…
Immediately, I could hear the children naming the shapes of the different magnets and deciding how they could make their own shapes…
This is easily an open ended DIY activity as we will be able to use the magnetic craft sticks to explore patterns, shapes, counting, colors, and more…
Super fun and super easy to make…
Available on Amazon
Links to Grow On..
Magnetic marble tubes from Teach Preschool
Magnetic play set for preschool from Teach Preschool
More pizza box games from Teach Preschool
Rainbow craft stick puzzles from Teach Preschool
More fun ideas for Craft Sticks on Pinterest!
Oh I like – please link this up on my linky! 🙂
Sure will Leeanne:)
I love this idea. Can’t wait to do it with my daughter. It’s so fun. 🙂
Very neat idea. I think my daughter would enjoy building pictures on the fridge with the sticks, houses and such. Thanks!
Brilliant idea, Deborah! So playful and creative…
You know how much I love magnet stuff – and your ideas are always so fun. I love the shapes in addition to just sticks – so kids can create all kinds of designs. We’re doing this!
Such a fun idea! Can’t wait to make these! I’m sure the kiddos will LOVE them!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing your brilliant ideas with us Deborah!
I love the effect the dye has on the pipecleaners. Really cool idea!
Brilliant! Matthew would love this as he is into all things magnetic lately and loves making pictures with “stuff”. I will be writing a post soon about all the magnet fun we’ve been having lately, and I’m pretty sure it will amount to just one big link back to your many wonderful ideas! 🙂
Beautiful idea…i’ll try to find material to make this game for my two years old daughter!!!
What are you using for your large magnetic board? I’ve been searching for an inexpensive alternative to a pricy dry-erase magnetic board.
Hi Rachel,
This is a metal “drip pan” or “grease pan” like they use to put under cars for repairs. They are available at most Walmart stores in the auto section or at an auto supply store. I painted my magnet board (pan) with white and red metal spray paint to give it a prettier finish:)
these look like fun! and i’ve got a ton of craft sticks. i lose them, buy more, and then find the original ones 😛 i bet Bear would love something like this! thanks for all of the hard work that you do!
Such a fantastic idea!!! I need to get a great big magnetic board. I so appreciate all your inspirational ideas!!
What an easy, magnificent idea. I thought it looked familiar when I got here from Pinterest (someone else pinned it)…and it was you! Of course 🙂
I absolutely Love your blog! I wonder if you allow pinning? I would love to pin this idea to my pinterest board for Active Learning Stations. Thanks!
Of course – pinning is welcomed!
Where did you get the sticks, b/c I bought some from Walmart and they bled all over our hands! Luckily b/f I went through the trouble of putting the magnets on them. I bought colorless ones, but I still want to try the colored if I can be sure they won’t bleed, esp when my 16 mos old puts them in his mouth. Help!
You may need to paint your own craft sticks for kids who are still in the stage of putting them in their mouths. I got mine from Walmart too but the children who play with them are older:)
Yeah, I kinda figured I would have to find my own solution. Thanks for the info! 🙂
Love, love, love the idea. But are you afraid the little magnets might somehow come off in a little hand or mouth? Does the hot glue bond them really well so this could not happen? Thank you. Love your ideas.
Hi Karen,
The little magnets could very well come off. My students are at the age where they come to me right away when something gets torn, falls off, or broken and we talk about this often with the kids. So you definitely have to know your students and what they are ready for. I do find that using E6000 glue over hot glue seems to hold the magnets better but you have to let dry overnight.