Do you need ideas for Summer School that don’t take a lot of time, materials, and preparation?
As an Occupational Therapy Assistant, I understand the importance of keeping our little learners engaged, especially during the summer months. July is a fantastic time to incorporate themed activities that not only keep children entertained but also help them develop essential skills. Here, I’ll share some of my favorite July-themed occupational therapy crafts and activities that you can use to make learning fun and effective.
Why Use These July-Themed Resources?
July is packed with exciting themes like Independence Day, summer fun, and more. Incorporating these themes into your occupational therapy sessions can:
- Boost Engagement: Themed activities capture children’s interest and make learning more enjoyable.
- Enhance Learning: Activities designed around fun themes help reinforce important skills in a memorable way.
- Support Skill Development: Each resource focuses on specific skills such as fine motor development, visual perception, handwriting, and following directions.
Occupational Therapy July Morning Work Fine Motor & Perception Activities
- Description: These morning work activities are perfect for developing fine motor skills and visual perception. Each activity is designed to be engaging and developmentally appropriate.
- Skills Developed: Fine motor skills, visual perception, and cognitive skills.
- Why You’ll Love It: These activities are great for morning routines, ensuring students start their day with productive and educational tasks.
4 Fun Low-Prep Activities for July
4th of July Star Garland
- Materials: Red, white, and blue paper, star template, scissors, glue, string.
- Prep: Print and cut out star templates.
- Skills Addressed: Scissor skills, fine motor skills, visual perception.
- Activity: Children trace and cut out stars, then glue them to a string to create a garland.
Ice Cream Cone Counting
- Materials: Construction paper, markers, scissors.
- Prep: Cut out cone and scoop shapes from construction paper.
- Skills Addressed: Number recognition, counting, fine motor skills.
- Activity: Have children glue the correct number of scoops onto each cone based on the number written on the cone.
Paper Plate Watermelon
- Materials: Red and green paper, paper plate, scissors, glue, brown or black marker.
- Prep: Gather materials.
- Skills Addressed: Fine motor skills, creativity, hand-eye coordination.
- Activity: Children cut the paper plate and half and rip the paper to design a slice of watermelon.
Seashell Sorting
- Materials: Assorted seashells, trays, labels.
- Prep: Gather seashells and trays.
- Skills Addressed: Sorting, categorization, visual perception.
- Activity: Children sort seashells by size, shape, or color. Add a sensory component with Kinetic Sand.
Need Print and Go Crafts for this Summer?
Print, color, cut and glue. All you need is paper, crayons, scissors and glue! Check out more in this blog post.
Conclusion
These low-prep crafts and activities are perfect for July, offering fun and educational opportunities for children to develop essential skills. Each activity is designed to be engaging and easy to set up, making them ideal for both classroom and therapy sessions. Enjoy crafting and learning this summer!
Free Visual Perception 4th of July Patriotic Activity
- Description: This freebie is perfect for celebrating Independence Day while working on visual perception skills. It’s a simple yet effective activity that’s great for a quick, engaging task.
- Skills Developed: Visual perception, attention to detail, and fine motor skills.
- Why You’ll Love It: It’s free and festive, making it a perfect addition to your July activities without any extra cost.
Summary
These July-themed occupational therapy activities and crafts are excellent tools to keep children engaged and learning throughout the summer. Each resource focuses on developing crucial skills in a fun and thematic way, ensuring that your students or children are both entertained and educated. Don’t forget to check out the full previews to find the perfect fit for your needs. Happy July, and happy learning!
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About the Author
I am a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) and have been working in a public school system for more than 25 years. My resources can be found on TPT, BOOM Learning, Made by Teachers, Classful, and Your Therapy Source. I appreciate your interest wherever you wish to shop.
My mission is to help you find creative ideas to incorporate fine motor, visual perception, gross motor, and social-emotional learning into your lessons.
I hope you consider signing up for my Free Resource Library with your Email. I send out emails about once a week and share resources, tips, and planning ideas for your classroom or occupational therapy needs. Hopefully, these help your students work on building their skills in a fun and engaging way.
