Torn Paper Art

Fine Motor Development (FM)

ELA Monthly Pacing Guide: September

Domain: Physical Development and the Mechanics of Writing

Children will begin to explore materials that build fine motor control.

Teachers will create a writing center stocked with fine motor activities.

Tearing paper is a great fine motor activity. Thanks to Dawn Cunningham, SMILE preschool teacher at the Capuano School, for sharing. Tearing paper requires finger strength and coordination and can be tricky for some children.

Step 1: Children tear strips of color construction paper into smaller pieces.

Children tearing paper
Two children tearing paper

Step 2: Children glue the torn pieces of paper onto a shared vertical surface, which allows them to use bigger arm movements and build their core, upper body strength, flexibility, and coordination.

Child attaching torn paper to contact paper at the easel
Child attaching torn paper to contact paper at the easel

Year-Long Trajectory

The Year-Long Trajectory is your scope and sequence for learning experiences across the year.