Using Supplies in Kindergarten

Everything is new to students in kindergarten! It can be exhausting, but it’s crucial to teach your students how to do everything. This includes using supplies in kindergarten. How do you teach kindergarten students how to use supplies properly? Read my top tips below!

Break into Steps

There is no such thing as too simple in kindergarten. Breaking up how to use supplies into steps can feel tedious, but it really helps! For some supplies, like bottled glue, your students may not have any experience with them. Breaking down the steps students must follow to use a supply will help them be successful. For example, for glue you might say:

  1. Twist the cap open.
  2. Tilt the bottle down and squeeze the glue out.
  3. Squeeze only a couple drops at a time.
  4. Turn the bottle up and twist the cap closed.

Model, Model, Model

As you are teaching the steps for using each supply, be sure to model it! Act it out for your students so they not only hear what they should do, but they can see it at the same time. This will help them remember what to do even more than if they simply listened to the steps.

Part of modeling is also creating visual cues. Hang posters or cards with the steps so your students can refer back to them even when you aren’t guiding them. This promotes student independence!

Practice

After modeling, it’s your students’ turn! Repeat the steps for each supply, and let your students move through each step with you. Provide support around the room to help each child be successful. For some supplies (e.g. dabbers, glue, scissors), you may need to plan on more than one practice session.

Start Small

During the first days of school, start small. Start with supplies your students already have some experience with, like pencils and crayons. The first time you do a craft, plan to practice only one new supply at a time. If you haven’t reviewed scissor skills yet, maybe pre-cut the pieces for your students and only focus on glue. Build in extra time for the first few weeks of school to account for reviewing supplies and how to use them.

Do you want more support on how to teach your kindergarten students to use supplies? Check out this bundle for back to school season! You will find visual posters to support your learners, as well as digital slides to host discussions around each supply! Grab the bundle here!