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After making the Toilet Paper Roll Books last week, I started thinking about ways that I could reuse my paper towel rolls too. After pondering for a while, I finally came up with a fun word family interactive activity using paint stirrer sticks as well!
The game is played by letting the child pull out the inside and create words by using a different beginning sound (onset) with a similar ending sound (rime). Words that have the same ending sound (rime) rhyme! :)
And in case you have no clue what “word families” are…check out this post on how word families help children learn to read. This word family dice game is a great resource as well.
Here’s what you’ll need: paper towel rolls (flattened), paint stirrer sticks (they give them out for free at home improvement stores…but to be courteous, ask first), scrapbook paper, yarn, white cardstock, a gluestick, and a marker. Optional: laminator
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| 1. Cut the scrapbook paper to size and cover the flattened paper towel rolls using a glue stick. |
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| 2. Drill a hole through the end of each paint stirrer stick…be careful not to splinter the super-soft wood. I just used a screw driver because I couldn’t find our drill. Even if I would have found it, I don’t know how to use it. That’s what Prince Charming is for. :) |
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| Paper towel rolls covered and holes in the paint sticks…check, check! |
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| 3. Add the “rimes” (ending of the word…that part that rhymes) of your choice of word families. I used mailing labels that I had lying around. Here are the word families I chose “ack”, “an”, “op”, “at”. |
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| 4. Cut a piece of cardstock to fit inside the paper towel roll. Add the onsets (beginning of the word), with a large space between each onset. You could just skip this step and write the letters directly onto the paint stirrer stick too. |
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| Optional: If you’re having an out-of-the ordinary annil day like I was, laminate them. |
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| 5. Hole punch each one to fit on top of the paint stirrer stick. |
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| 6. Double hole-punch the top only of each paper towel roll. |
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| 7. Attach the onset to the paint stirrer stick using hot glue. Or you could have just written them directly onto the paint stick. |
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| 8. Run a piece of yarn through the double-hole punch on the paper towel roll and then on the paint stick. Tie. This will keep your children from losing the inside piece. |
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| Get ready to rhyme for a real good time! |
Enjoy!
Mrs. Patton says
June 24, 2011 at 5:10 pmWhat a great idea! Love it!
Colleen Patton
Mrs. Patton's Patch
Mireya Aguirre says
June 24, 2011 at 5:42 pmLove your idea!!!
Thanks for sharing!
Mireya
[email protected]
Mrs. Lochridge says
June 24, 2011 at 6:01 pmYou are craftastic!! Thanks for the idea.
First Grade Factory
Tracy says
June 24, 2011 at 6:25 pmgreat idea…I am going to start saving my stuff NOW
Yoga and Zumba® with Gaileee, E-RYT `n` Licensed Zumba® Instructor says
June 24, 2011 at 7:12 pmCool!
Marlana says
June 24, 2011 at 10:45 pmI can't wait to put this idea to use! This would be a great activity for our Kdg. teachers to do a make & take activity with parents. Thanks for sharing!
http://lilcountrykindergarten.blogspot.com
Heart and Haven says
June 25, 2011 at 12:30 amGreat project!
I don't use paper towels (so don't collect the empty rolls)…but I love this idea, and will be thinking of another way I can do this project with my preschoolers!
http://heartandhaven.com/
Len says
June 25, 2011 at 12:31 amI LOVE it. I have seen other word family games like yours using paint swatches but I hate having a bunch of pieces to loose, yours there is nothing to loose.
Head Ant says
June 25, 2011 at 7:41 amI love this! I just don't use that many paper towels anymore…
I made the dice game you mentioned. We now have dice everywhere.
Kristy @ Afterschool Homeschool says
June 25, 2011 at 7:59 amThis activity is fantastic. I know my older son would have lots of fun with it and my younger son would learn how to use it sooner as a result.
Anonymous says
June 25, 2011 at 9:28 amI love this! What a GREAT idea! I enjoy reading each of your posts daily, via email. You always have the most creative learning activities.
You can checkout, http://rattlesandredheads.blogspot.com
Have a great weekend!
Candice
Anonymous says
June 25, 2011 at 2:22 pmThis is great! I would love to feature this on my blog. Of course giving you all of the credit.
Faith
Home Ec @ Home
homeecathome.com
Clemencia says
June 25, 2011 at 9:15 pmI love the idea, thank you very much for sharing this, I know my daughter will benefit from it, and is fun at the same time :) thanks a million
Elle says
August 3, 2011 at 2:20 pmThis is such a great idea. I have to start saving our cardboard rolls. Recycling was picked up today :-(. My girls will love trying this.
Amanda @ City Sights for Kids says
August 3, 2011 at 2:47 pmI have created word wheels using two paper plates attached by a brass fastener, but what I like about this version is that it can be laminated and is much more attractive!
The Slacker Mom says
August 23, 2011 at 12:44 amHow simple! I seriously go through nearly a roll of paper towels a day. (Sad, but totally true.) And my hubby would probably live at Home Depot if I let him… I’ll have this project done in a few days!! SO simple, yet that’s what our early readers need!
Maria H. Fernandez says
April 21, 2012 at 6:17 pmso creative! Our first grade group is planning on getting together over the summer and work on things we have found on Pintrest. Need I say that yours will be on the list. Great idea! Thanks so much for sharing and posting the how-to.
Jenifer Harrod says
June 6, 2012 at 4:38 pmI made this today usung the smaller version with tp rolls and it worked just great. Thanks for the great ideas.
Angela says
September 4, 2012 at 9:34 pmI though it was chopsticks when I first looked at the picture. :)
Angela says
September 4, 2012 at 9:34 pmI thought…not though
Karin says
February 19, 2013 at 5:23 amFantastic ideas – I teach English as a Foreign language, and just love you page. Thank you for sharing.
Tiffany says
January 30, 2014 at 9:53 amI love finding creative learning ideas like this. Love it!
Jenae says
January 30, 2014 at 3:46 pmThanks Tiffany! :)