HALF TUMBLER POUR
 
     
Materials Purpose Process
 
 
 
 
 
MATERIALS
 
  • Two clear plastic tumblers
  • Sink or bathtub
  • Water
  • Elastic bands
  
 
     
Warning: If this activity is done in the bathtub, supervision is necessary. The containers should be of a material that will not break and cut the child.
     
     
     
PURPOSE
 
  The pouring of a liquid into a container is a learned skill. It takes good eye/hand coordination to pour a liquid from one to another at a given level, e.g., to fill the container half or three-quarters full.
 
How many times has a child attempted to pour their own glass of milk with disasterous results. Even taking into consideration the weight of the milk container or jug, the child has great difficulty. It is recommended that this activity be done in the bathtub (at bath time) or in the sink.
     
     
     
PROCESS
 
Note: The containers used for this activity should be able to fit comfortably into the hand of the child. To show amounts of liquid to be poured into the container an elastic band can be put around the clear container. If the container is not clear a line can be drawn inside the container with a marker.

1. Give the child a container and ask them to fill the container with water.

2. Give them an empty container in their other hand and ask them to pour the water from the full container into the empty one.

3. Take the now full container from the child and ask them to put the empty container in their other hand. Give them back the full container and repeat the process.

4. Take the empty glass and put an elastic band around the outside about half-way up.
 
 
5. Give the empty container to the child and ask them to fill the container to the elastic band line. Move the band several times to keep the child's interest.
 
 
6. As the child progresses in developing this skill, add interesting situations like:
  • Two tumblers of different sizes.
  • A jug and a tumbler.
  • A tumbler with three elastic bands on it.(Have the child tell you what level she/he has filled the tumbler.)

7. Have the child try pouring a small bottle of juice into a tumbler.