Are a ‘touch screen’ generation missing out on the chance to feel?
There’s something about the sense of anticipation of putting your hand inside a bag, not knowing what is inside, that’s very exciting and engaging. Feeling around with your fingers and using your sense of touch to identify what the hidden object is. At that moment, a memorable and tactile experience is created and one which lasts for a long time.
An ideal group activity…
And what better way to grab the attention of a class of children than by holding up a Feely Bag with something ‘secret’ inside. What could it be? What does it feel like? Can you describe it? Can you guess what it is? How does it make you feel?
A Feely Bag activity with a group of children is also an ideal way to encourage taking turns, listening to others and talking to a group. Using a list of possible objects to choose from, when trying to guess what is inside, can be helpful and limit the options to a few items.
An ideal group activity…
And what better way to grab the attention of a class of children than by holding up a Feely Bag with something ‘secret’ inside. What could it be? What does it feel like? Can you describe it? Can you guess what it is? How does it make you feel?
A Feely Bag activity with a group of children is also an ideal way to encourage taking turns, listening to others and talking to a group. Using a list of possible objects to choose from, when trying to guess what is inside, can be helpful and limit the options to a few items.
Encourage communication skills…
Delving into a Feely Bag encourages children to engage in a tactile and sensory experience, using only their sense of touch to explore and identify something unknown. It’s a great way to develop communication skills, encourage descriptive language and questioning skills in a cross-curricular way. It’s also an ideal resource for SEN, as it gives children a stimulating and very sensory learning experience.
Cross curricular value…
So in our high tech world of electronic learning, there’s nothing more low tech and simple than a Feely Bag, yet its the simplicity and tactile experience that makes this such an invaluable and exciting resource. Not only that, but it can used right across the curriculum, from Science to Literacy, or Maths to PSHE. If you haven’t got one in your classroom you really need to get one. Children will just want to have a go time and again. And again. And again!
What to put inside a Feely Bag?
Here’s our top ten suggestions of objects and activities for using with a Feely Bag. We’re sure you’ll come up with a lot more than this…there are truly endless options!
- Fruit (one at a time to identify individually)
- Maths Shapes 2D or 3D (find a specific one or with one in the bag to identify)
- Numicon (find biggest/smallest or with just one in the bag to identify by counting holes)
- Textures (use descriptive language, develop vocabulary)
- Musical instruments (guess the instrument, use descriptive language)
- Plastic animals (find 2 the same, count number of legs, guess noise it makes)
- Household objects (what is it? what is it used for?)
- Balls – different sizes (find the biggest/smallest)
- Stationery items (what is it? find a specific item)
- Counting (how many are there in the bag?)
Share your ideas for how to use a Feely Bag…we would love to hear your ideas or suggestions! Leave a comment or send a photo of what ‘feely’ activities you do.
