Texture Trailblazers Lesson Grid Week Focus Ages 12-24 Months
Texture Trailblazers
Weekly Sensory & Texture Exploration Curriculum
Teacher:
Room/Class:
Week of:
Monday Soft & Fluffy
Tuesday Rough & Scratchy
Wednesday Wet & Slippery
Thursday Bumpy & Ridged
Friday Texture Mix
Domain / Area
MON: Soft
TUE: Rough
WED: Wet
THU: Bumpy
FRI: Combo
Process Art Creative / Sensory
Feather Collage
Stick colorful soft feathers onto contact paper on the wall.
Sponge Stamp
Dab texturized, rough sponges in paint on sturdy paper.
Squish Bags
Mess-free paint squishing in ziplock bags taped to table.
Bubble Prints
Press paper onto paint-brushed bubble wrap sheets.
Mixed Texture
Glue corrugated cardboard, felt, and silk onto plates.
Small Motor Fine Finger Skills
Feather Pluck
Pull soft feathers out of standard wire kitchen whisks.
Cleaner Pull
Pull scratchy pipe cleaners through colander holes.
Water Scooping
Use cups and sponges to scoop and squeeze warm water.
Ball Push-In
Push bumpy knobby sensory balls through cardboard box slots.
Sticky Peeling
Peel sticky foam shapes off an upright classroom mirror.
Large Motor Gross Core Skills
Pillow Mountain
Climb over a safe, soft hill of stacked vinyl pillows.
Sponge Steppers
Walk on large textured kitchen sponges taped to floor.
Ice Block Slide
Slide massive ice cubes down low boards, chasing them.
Bubble Walk
Walk or crawl barefoot along taped bubble wrap lanes.
Texture Crawl
Crawl a runway of soft carpet, rough burlap, bumpy plastic.
STEM Activity Early Science
Cloud Dough
Mold and crumble safe baby oil and white flour dough.
Touch & Sort
Touch smooth river rocks vs rough rustic tree bark.
Sink or Float
Drop heavy rubber toys vs light corks into water pool.
Bumpy Bottles
Shake sealed bottles filled with ridges, beads, and seeds.
Ice Excavation
Melt safe frozen rings with warm wet baby cloths.
Circle Time & Story Connections
Theme Song: "We are touching different textures, yes we are!" (tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb)Featured Book 1: "Pat the Bunny" by Dorothy Kunhardt (soft, rough, smooth)Featured Book 2: "That's Not My Puppy..." series by Fiona Watt (bumpy, scratchy patches)
Caregiver Tips & Developmental Focus
Language Modeling: Exaggerate tactile adjectives during play: "Soft! Soft feather!" "Ooh, rough cardboard!"Emotional Regulation: Keep wet or rough items optional. Respect toddlers who are sensory-sensitive and offer dry alternatives.Safety Check: Mouth exploration is standard for 1yo. Ensure materials (like feathers, corks) are clean and strictly non-choking hazards. Sensory Explorers Activity Guide Setup & Facilitation Part 1: Mon & Tue
Sensory Explorers Activity Guide
Step-by-step setups, safety checks, and spoken dialogue scripts for 1-year-olds
Page 1 of 3
Dialogue Coaching Core
Exaggerate and repeat simple vocabulary words. Use high-pitch facial and vocal animation during transition and realization moments. Below are specific **"What to Say"** dialogue prompts to guide each development step.
Monday Focus
Soft & Fluffy Exploration
Activity 1.1
Feather Whisk Pluck
Small Motor
Materials
• Wire kitchen whisks
• 3" colorful craft feathers
Setup: Stuff feathers inside wire loops until only fluffy tips poke out.
What to Say (Step-by-Step)
• Introduce: "Wow, look inside! What is hiding in the metal wires?"
• Guide: "Pinch it with your fingers! Pinch and pull... POP! It came out!"
• Praise: "You did it! Feel the feather. Soft! Soft feather on your cheek!"
Ensure children do not put whole feathers directly in their mouths.
Activity 1.2
Cloud Dough Discovery
STEM Exploration
Ingredients
• 4 cups white flour
• 1/2 cup baby oil
Setup: Mix flour and baby oil in a low wide tub until moldable but crumbly.
What to Say (Step-by-Step)
• Introduce: "Look at our white flour! It looks like a soft fluffy cloud!"
• Guide: "Squeeze it in your hand! Squeeze... look, it makes a round ball!"
• Praise: "Splat! It crumbled! It feels so soft and squishy between fingers!"
Tuesday Focus
Rough & Scratchy Exploration
Activity 2.1
Sponge Stamp Painting
Process Art
Materials
• Rough kitchen sponges
• Washable paint
Setup: Cut scrub sponges in half. Spread paint on shallow paper plates.
What to Say (Step-by-Step)
• Introduce: "Touch this sponge. Ooh, scratchy! It feels rough, doesn't it?"
• Guide: "Dip it in paint... now stamp paper! Pat, pat, pat!"
Toddler Touchpoints Routine Cards PRINTABLE CLASSROOM DECOR RECOMMENDED: PRINT ON HEAVY CARDSTOCK & LAMINATE AGES 1-2 YEARS
Visual Routine Cards
Cut along the dotted lines to display on your daily schedule board at toddler eye level.
Step 1
Circle Time
Hello song, puppets, and cozy morning greeting.
"WE SING & SAY HELLO"
Step 2
Sensory Play
Touching, scooping, and squishing exciting textures.
"WE TOUCH & EXPLORE"
Step 3
Outside Play
Climbing, running, and feeling refreshing breezes.
"WE MOVE & PLAY OUTSIDE"
Step 4
Snack & Lunch
Eating delicious food and practicing using spoons.
"WE EAT YUMMY FOOD"
Step 5
Nap Time
Recharging bodies on cozy mats with soft music.
"WE REST OUR BODIES"
Step 6
Story Time
Reading fun touch-and-feel books and singing rhymes.
"WE READ TOGETHER"
Toddler Schedule System © Early Childhood Sensory Builders Series
Texture Times Parent Newsletter Take-Home Connection Sensory Explorers Series
Texture Times
Connecting classroom discovery to cozy home learning
Current Theme
Sensory & Textures
Classroom News for Families
What We Learned This Week
This week, your curious toddler stepped into the shoes of a Texture Trailblazer! We touched, squished, and walked on various textures to build early brain connections. From digging fingers into soft cloud dough and plucking feathers to stomping barefoot across bubbly plastic runways, we've had a sensational, hands-on learning adventure!
Fun Classroom Highlights
The Fluffy Feathers (Monday)
We pinched and pulled colorful feathers out of metal whisks to build fine finger dexterity.
Mess-Free Paint Squish (Wednesday)
Squishing red and yellow paint through taped plastic bags let us explore primary color mixing safely.
The Giant Texture Crawl (Friday)
We crawled and walked on a long runway of fuzzy fleece, ridged cardboard, and bumpy plastic wraps.
Tactile Vocabulary
We're encouraging descriptive touch words. Ask your toddler:
SOFT / FLUFFY ROUGH / SCRATCHY WET / COLD BUMPY / RIDGED
Weekly Theme Song
Tune: Mary Had a Little Lamb
"We are touching different things,
Substitute with: ROUGH, WET, BUMPY!
Cozy Home Connections: 3 Simple Tactile Activities
1
High-Low Basket
Put a soft baby washcloth and a clean plastic kitchen scrub brush in a basket. Let them pull them out and touch.
2
Splashy Warm Bath
Float lightweight plastic lids and heavy rubber ducks in the tub. Use bath sponges to squeeze and trickle water.
3
Cardboard Rubs
Save corrugated delivery boxes. Peel off the top paper layer to expose the bumpy ridges for tiny fingers to stroke.
Family Discovery Share-Back
PLEASE FILL & RETURN IN DIAPER BAG
Did your toddler favor or avoid any specific textures at home this week? Let us know so we can customize their sensory play!
Child Name:
Date:
Our Observation:
Thank you for being our partner in early developmental growth!
Tiny Athletes Lesson Grid Active Play Focus Ages 12-24 Months
Tiny Athletes
Weekly Active Movement & Motor Skills Curriculum
Teacher:
Room/Class:
Week of:
Monday Throw & Catch
Tuesday Kick & Run
Wednesday Balance & Climb
Thursday Stretch & Bend
Friday Active Relay
Domain / Area
MON: Hand-Eye
TUE: Leg Strength
WED: Core Balance
THU: Flexibility
FRI: Relay
Movement Art Kinesthetic / Paint
Ball Roll Paint
Roll sensory paint-dipped balls inside a deep box lid.
Footprint Soccer
Dip feet in green paint and stamp footprints on field print.
Texture Foil Blocks
Wrap card boxes in textures for stacking blocks.
Ribbon Streamers
Glue colorful satin ribbons onto cardboard hand-rings.
Co-op Banner
Crawl and hand-swipe colors across a wide floor scroll.
Small Motor Grip & Target
Ball Drop Box
Grasp and drop small plastic balls down a cardboard tube wall.
Noodle Tap
Tap suspended balloon balls with soft foam pool noodles.
Block Tower
Grip and stack giant foam or cardboard brick containers.
Ribbon Tube Pull
Pinch and pull colorful silk ribbons out of box slots.
Peg Ring Toss
Slide soft plastic doughnut rings onto low vertical pegs.
Active Sports Gross Core Moves
Hamper Toss
Throw soft yarn balls into a wide laundry hamper.
Cardboard Goal
Gently kick a light beach ball into a wide box arch.
Beam Balance
Walk barefoot along a flat foam log or blue tape line.
Parachute Play
Hold sheets and gently shake light foam balls upward.
Tunnel Crawl
Crawl through a pop-up fabric tunnel to fetch balls.
Early Physics Cause & Motion
Ramp Roll Speed
Roll round tennis balls vs heavy wooden block sliders.
Air Blow Wind
Wave plastic fans to move light feathers vs heavy stones.
Bottle Weight
Compare heavy water-filled bottles vs empty dry bottles.
Pendulum Drop
Swing a safe rubber ball on rope to knock down tall cups.
Sink/Float Ball
Tiny Athletes Activity Guide Active Setup Part 1: Mon & Tue
Tiny Athletes Activity Guide
Step-by-step setups, safety checks, and spoken dialogue scripts for 1-year-olds
Page 1 of 3
Active Dialogue Cues for Caregivers
Physical actions are reinforced by auditory cues. When modeling a gross motor movement, match it with short, rhythmic, and highly descriptive exclamation words. Below are step-by-step **"What to Say"** speech models.
Monday Focus
Throw & Catch (Hand-Eye)
Activity 1.1
Ball Roll Painting
Movement Art
Materials
• Deep shoebox lids
• Sensory textured balls
• Washable paint
Setup: Lay card paper in the lid. Add 3 paint squirts and drop sensory balls inside.
What to Say (Step-by-Step)
• Introduce: "Look at our box! Hold the sides. Let's make the balls dance!"
• Guide: "Tip it left... now tip it right! Roll, roll, roll inside the box!"
• Praise: "Wow! The balls left red and yellow tracks! Look at your rolling art!"
Activity 1.2
Hamper Toss Challenge
Active Sports
Materials
• Laundry hamper
• Lightweight yarn balls
Setup: Put a basket on carpet and tape a standing mark nearby.
What to Say (Step-by-Step)
• Introduce: "Look at this giant basket! And here is my soft ball. Ready?"
• Guide: "Throw it inside! Whoosh! Drop it in... let's toss!"
• Praise: "Thump! It went all the way inside! Clapped hands! Hooray!"
Tuesday Focus
Kick & Run (Leg Strength)
Activity 2.1
Cardboard Box Goal
Active Sports
Materials
• Box cut with wide arch
• Lightweight beach ball
Setup: Place the cardboard box arch against a wall to act as a target goal.
What to Say (Step-by-Step)
• Introduce: "Look at our big box goal! And here is our big, light soccer ball!"
• Guide: "Hold my hands. Kick with your toes! Tap the ball... kick!"
• Praise: "GOAL! The ball went zoom inside the box! Great kicking!"
Tiny Athletes Action Cards PRINTABLE CLASSROOM DECOR RECOMMENDED: PRINT ON HEAVY CARDSTOCK & LAMINATE AGES 1-2 YEARS
Active Action Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. Hold these cards up during active music or transitions to cue movements.
Action 1
Crawl
Crawl low like a little puppy dog through tunnels.
"I CRAWL ON THE MAT"
Action 2
Throw
Toss the soft yarn ball high into the giant hamper.
"I TOSS BALLS HIGH"
Action 3
Kick
Gently tap the beach ball with your toes into goals.
"I KICK WITH MY TOES"
Action 4
Stretch
Wave the satin ribbon wand and reach for the sky.
"I STRETCH UP HIGH"
Action 5
Balance
Step carefully along the flat, soft blue tape line.
"I WALK THE LINE"
Action 6
Celebrate
Give high fives, clap hands, and cheer for active bodies!
"WE PLAYED TOGETHER"
Active Movement Cards © Early Childhood Active Play System
Tiny Athletes Parent Newsletter Take-Home Connection Active Play Series
Tiny Athletes Times
Connecting classroom active discovery to cozy home physical play
Current Theme
Fun & Fitness
Classroom News for Families
What We Played This Week
This week, your toddler transformed into a high-energy Tiny Athlete! We explored dynamic movement, target tossing, and balance. From kicking lightweight beach balls into cardboard box goals to stretching with satin ribbon wands, we've developed balance, leg and core strength, and fine finger dexterity in a joyful, cooperative environment!
Fun Classroom Highlights
The Hamper Toss (Monday)
We threw soft yarn balls into a wide laundry hamper to practice hand-eye targeting and releasing.
Cardboard Box Soccer (Tuesday)
We gently tapped beach balls into a cardboard arch goal to practice balancing on one foot and kicking.
The Tunnel Crawl Relay (Friday)
We crawled through soft fabric tunnels to grab a target ball, practicing crawl tracking and motor planning.
Movement Vocabulary
We're praising physical actions. Encourage these action words at home:
KICK BALL THROW COZY WALK LINE STRETCH UP
Weekly Active Song
Tune: If You're Happy & You Know It
"If you're active and you know it,
Substitute with: KICK OUT WIDE, CRAWL SO LOW!
Cozy Home Connections: 3 Simple Active Games
1
Pillow Mountain
Stack 3-4 vinyl floor cushions or pillows. Encourage your child to crawl or step over them under close watch.
2
Socks Toss Basket
Roll up soft socks into balls. Set out a wastebasket or storage bin. Practice throwing them in together.
3
Balloon Tap Up
Blow up a bright balloon. Keep it aloft by gently tapping with hands. Helps coordination and track-reaction times.
Family Active Share-Back
PLEASE FILL & RETURN IN DIAPER BAG
Did your toddler favor or avoid any specific motor skills or physical challenges at home this week? Tell us so we can adapt active times!
Child Name:
Date:
Our Observation:
Thank you for being our partner in early active development!
Wacky Water Camp Grid SUMMER SPREE School Age: Ages 6-10
Wacky Water Camp
Daily Schedule Grid & Weekly Lesson Plan: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Camp Director:
Cabin/Team:
Week of:
Monday Summer Kickoff
Tuesday Ocean Odyssey
Wednesday Tidal Waves
Thursday Splash Fest
Friday Aqua Olympics
TIME BLOCK
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
9:00 - 9:30 AM Morning Rally
Morning Splash Meet & Team Warm-Ups
Cabin check-ins, buddy system assignments, sunblock application check, and camp-wide physical spirit cheers.
9:30 - 10:45 AM STEM Science
Solar Distillation
Build solar stills using basins, cups, wrap to purify dirty water.
Oil Spill Clean-up
Use feathers, cotton, sponges to extract oil from feathers.
Eco-Water Filters
Layer sand, gravel, charcoal to filter muddy water basin.
Bottle Rockets
Use bicycle pumps to launch pressurized water bottles.
Water Wheel Power
Build plastic-spoon wheels to lift small weights using flow.
10:45 - 11:15 AM Huddle Break
Snack, Hydration & Counselor Buddy Check
Healthy fruit snacks, hydration refills, and camp cabin coordination meetings.
11:15 - 12:30 PM Creative Art
Ice Tie Dye
Melt dye-infused ice blocks onto white T-shirts.
Sponge Splashers
Cut and tie colored sponges to craft reusable splash bombs.
Salt Painting
Drip watercolor onto raised, salty glue canvas profiles.
Squirt Gun Art
Fill squirt guns with liquid dye and spray canvas sheets.
Bubble Blast Slime
Mix blue shaving-cream slimes and blow giant foam orbs.
12:30 - 1:15 PM Lunch / Rest
Lunch & Quiet Board Games
Resting inside air-conditioned cabin rooms to digest and reapply sunscreen.
1:15 - 2:45 PM Wacky Splash
Sponge Dodgeball
Throw soaking-wet sponges to tag cabin rivals.
Drip Drip Drench
Duck Duck Goose variant using water cups over heads.
Slip Bowling
Slide belly-first down slip-and-slide to strike pins.
Bucket Brigade
Pass leaky cups backward over heads in a line relay.
Splash Course
Wacky Water Camp Activity Guide STEM SCIENCE Part 1: Monday & Tuesday
Water Camp Activity Guide
Step-by-step counselor guides, chemical lists, and facilitation dialogue models
Page 1 of 3
School-Age Inquiry Facilitation
Campers ages 6-10 love hands-on challenge physics! Avoid lecturing; instead, guide discovery with open-ended hypotheses and dynamic dialogue. Below are step-by-step scripts.
Inquiry STEM Block
Hydrology & Ecology Science Projects
STEM 1.1: Monday
Solar Purification Still
Solar Physics
Materials
• Wide mixing bowls
• Short glass cups
• Cling plastic wrap
• Small heavy stones
• Dirty mud water
Setup: Put a cup in the center of the bowl. Pour muddy water around the cup (do not spill inside!). Cover with plastic wrap and place a stone in the wrap's center directly above the cup. Place in hot sun.
Counselor Challenge Dialogue
• Hypothesize: "Check out this dirty mud water! How can we get pure, clean water without touching it?"
• Explain: "The sun heats the muddy water, turning it into vapor. When it hits the cool plastic wrap, it condenses and drips into our clean cup!"
• Review: "Look at our cup now! It's completely clear! Where did the mud go?"
STEM 1.2: Tuesday
Oil Slick Clean-up Challenge
Conservation
Materials
• Blue colored water
• Vegetable oil (2 tbsp)
• Cotton, feathers
• Sponges & pipettes
Setup: Pour blue water in trays, then top with oil. Wet craft feathers in the slick.
Counselor Challenge Dialogue
• Hypothesize: "Oh no, an oil tanker spilled in our bay! Look at how oil coats the feathers. How can we clean this up?"
• Explain: "Try sponges, cotton, and spoons. Which tool absorbs oil but leaves the water? Let's check!"
• Review: "Feathers are heavy with oil. Why is a spill so dangerous for birds? Let's talk!"
CREATIVE CRAFTS Part 2: Wednesday & Thursday
Water Camp Activity Guide
Step-by-step counselor guides, chemical lists, and facilitation dialogue models
Page 2 of 3
Creative Art Block
Summer Splash Craft Projects
