Offering a variety of bottles and lots of lids proves to be a challenging invitation for children to solve this puzzle…
Building the Puzzle
Deborah created a unique set-up for this activity by taping several bottles together to form two sets of “bottle and lid puzzles.” She taped together one long line of bottles and one round set of bottles.
By taping the bottles together, we avoided having the bottles being tipped over or falling to the floor so the children could enjoy a more stable work environment.
The children worked patiently at trying to match up the lids to the appropriate bottles. A few children really examined the lids to determine which one might fit. Not every lid on the table fit a bottle. This was purposely designed so the children would have to think about which lid might fit a bottle and which lids didn’t fit any bottle at all.
It was a test of trial and error. Some children figured out the small lids would fall right through the openings of larger bottles. They were easily retrieved by tipping the bottles upside down. It didn’t take long before the children were using their skills of discrimination to determine which lid would fit which bottle and then testing their choice to see if they were right.
This puzzling activity provides children with the opportunity to increase their fine motor skills, while also challenging their their hand-eye coordination.
If you are looking for a way to reuse all of those plastic bottles and lids you’ve been saving, then I would encourage you to give this activity a try!
Available on Amazon
Links to grow on:
M is for milk lid by Preschool Daze
Plastic lid ladybugs by Crafts by Amanda
This is such a wonderful idea! It combines fine motor, visual perceptual, early math concepts and problem solving. And all free!!!!!!!!!
What a great use for all that plastic!
This is such a great idea! So simple to us, but so challenging for little hands and minds! And aren’t you smart taping the bottles together!
Oh, we just couldn’t fathom the ideas of all those bottles falling all over the place and making loud clanking and crunching noises all morning. Now the kids might have liked it but…. We will save that for an outdoor play activity:)
What a wonderfully simple idea – thanks 🙂
Love this! I just save a ton of lids from other ideas you’ve posted. Now I’m going to have to start saving bottles! Thanks for the great idea!
Haha – I wish I had saved some of the bottles now too!
This is such a fabulous idea. I am always blown away by the creative and hands-on approach to learning in our classroom. This idea is a winner on so many levels! Love it!! Renee
You help me in doing that Renee! It’s like a partnership in teaching to have your ideas and others at my fingertips!
Oops – sorry for the typo. I meant to say “your” classroom, not “our” classroom. Although your ideas are so great anyone would want to incorporate them into their classroom, too! 🙂
Fun! Perfect for fine motor practice!
As a follow up to the activity, a lesson on the importance of recycling could be introduced.