Pool noodles aren’t just for the pool anymore! Did you know you can get a pool noodle at the dollar store? I grabbed a bunch to load up for some fun crafts and activities in the coming months. The first one I decided to make was this simple ordering and stacking activity. I love activities that work on both intellectual skills as well as motor skills. Kids can practice recognizing their numbers and sequencing all while building their fine motor skills as they stack the pool noodles. Helping kids learn how to order and stack and pool noodles is a super fun activity they will ask to do over and over!
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How to Make Your Numbered Pool Noodles
This activity is super simple to create and only takes a few materials. Since I like to make everything multi-purpose, I chose to laminate my numbers and use velcro to stick them on. This way I can change them out for letters and such later on. You could also simply use a black marker to write the numbers on your pool noodle. They are only $1 after all!
Take one pool noodle and cut it into twenty 2-inch pieces. You will have a little left over which you can use for a future project. If you are using a black marker, write one number on each 2-inch piece, from 1-20. If you want to make them multi-use, download the free printable below and print on paper or cardstock. I chose cardstock to make it more durable. Cut out each square and laminate. Place one piece of velcro on the back of each number and the corresponding piece of velcro on each pool noodle piece. Make sure to place all hooks on one and loops on the other (i.e.: all the numbers have the loops and the pool noodles have the hooks). You can place the numbers on each pool noodle or let your kid do the work. I let our daughter do it since it also helps with her fine motor skills and she was able to tell me each number as she put it on the pool noodle.
How to Play and Learn with the Pool Noodles
Now it is time to start learning! You can start by having your kid line up the numbers in the correct sequential order on the floor. If they are ready to start stacking, have them stack the noodles on top of each other in the right sequential order. We started with one on the bottom and worked up to ten, then 11 on the bottom up to 20. We also went backwards and she placed ten on the bottom and counted backwards up to one, which she placed on the top. Learning how to balance the pool noodles was an added challenge and she got a good laugh when they came tumbling down.
I love that this activity can be used multiple ways. You could even ask your child to separate even and odds if that is something you are working on. The combination of building their math and fine motor skills will help you be efficient with your time. Your kid will enjoy learning how to order and stack with pool noodles, just as much as they will enjoy knocking over the pool noodle tower at the end!
Happy Learning!
This is a very clever use of pool noodles.
Thank you! They are much more versatile than one would think. We have some fun stuff planned for the ones we stocked up on from the dollar store.