Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Simple Fine Motor and Sorting Taskbox Ideas

When introducing work times with students, whether during one-on-one time with staff or using the structured work system for independent work, we often recommend starting with very basic "put in" tasks. But what is the next step after these tasks are mastered? Today's Taskbox Time features ideas for Simple Fine Motor and Sorting Tasks to continue developing basic work skills with students.




Simple Fine Motor Taskboxes

Once students master the basic put-in tasks where they have a field of one item to put in one location, you can introduce more complex concepts. You can easily adjust complexity based on student needs by removing container lids (easy), cutting a hole or slot into the lid (medium), or cutting slits to provide resistance for the student to push the item through the lid (hard).

Take Off and Put In Tasks

These taskboxes require students to use fine motor skills to take an item "off" the taskbox and place it in a designated location. 
Take velcro'd bears off lid and place in container
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Take clothespins off box and put in to container
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Take pegs out of box lid and place in container
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Pull beads off pipe cleaner and put into container
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

pull small beads off pipe cleaner and place into box
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Pull velcro'd blocks off container side and place in top opening
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Pull velcro'd legos off container side and place in top opening
Lauren Dickey
Indian Riffle Elementary, Kettering


 

Put On Tasks

These tasks require more coordination to place an object on the designated peg. Trial a variety of object, hole, and peg sizes. Larger holes will make it easier for students to place the objects on the peg. 

Wooden Ring Stacker
Jackie Vollmer
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Mason jar rings on paper towel tube
Jackie Vollmer
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville


Basic One-to-One Correspondence

It is important at this stage of 1:1 correspondence that any object being used fills the entire space in the container so multiple items aren’t placed in the same space.

Wiffle balls in muffin tin
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Wiffle golf balls on tubes
Kristen Johnson
Greene County INC, Greene County


Introductory Sorting

When first introducing sorting, it can be helpful to use items that have many very obvious differences such as different sizes, shapes, textures, and/or colors. Simply sorting by shape, color, or size is too complex at this initial stage. The greater the number of differences, the easier the sorting task will be. 

Sort wooden blocks vs. rubber bouncy balls

Sort wooden blocks vs. plastic bristle blocks
Jackie Vollmer
Driscoll Elementary, Centerville

Sort pom-poms vs. buttons

Sort pom-poms vs. wooden blocks
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River


Sort Bowls and/or Cups
Allison Officer
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

For easier taskbox ideas, check out our previous posts:

For more complex taskbox ideas, check out these previous posts:




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