This might be a flashback for my fellow millennial teachers, but Magnadoodles are back! My toddler got one for Christmas from my aunt and it really got my wheels turning. A Magnadoodle is a magnetic drawing toy that allows children to create pictures and messages using a magnetic stylus. It’s a fun and engaging way for kids to express their creativity and practice their fine motor skills. I’m now really into thinking how these can be effectively used in our classrooms. Here are three ways teachers can use a Magnadoodle in the classroom.
Warm-up activity
A Magnadoodle can be a great way to start the day off with a fun activity that gets kids’ brains and hands warmed up. Have students spend a few minutes drawing a picture or writing a message on the Magnadoodle before diving into more academic tasks. Fine motor skills can often be such a challenge for our students. The low stakes nature of this magnet toy can get fingers, wrists, and brains active and ready for more activities throughout the day.
Visual aids
Use the Magnadoodle to create visual aids for your lessons. Hear me out! For example, you could draw a simple map or diagram to help students understand a concept. The magnetic aspect of the toy makes it easy to move and manipulate the visual aid as you teach. If you ever have kids that thrive off of novelty, this is a great way to grab attention. Instead of using your interactive board, whiteboard, or chart paper, try this!
Quiet time activity
It’s no secret that I love quiet time in the classroom! It functions as such a great reset time during the hectic school day, and a time to prioritize mindfulness. A Magnadoodle can also be a great quiet time activity for kids who need a break from more structured tasks. Set out a Magnadoodle and some magnetic letters or numbers for students to play with while they engage in quiet time. This can be especially helpful for kids who need to expend some energy or who struggle to sit still for long periods of time.
Overall, a Magnadoodle is a versatile and fun tool that teachers can use in a variety of ways to support learning and engagement in the classroom.
Looking for other related blog posts?
Targeting Fine Motor Skills in the Classroom