Little kids love coloring. If you’ve ever brought out felt pens for a piano activity then you’ll know this to be true! Mile-wide grins and happy squeals are plentiful anytime a teacher asks a piano student to mark up her music, write some rhythms, or color some notes.
…Which is why incorporating a little coloring into off-the-bench activities is a great way to give your littlest learners a break from the bench!
The St. Patrick’s Day DIY activity we’re sharing in today’s post is the perfect activity for motivating your students with felt pens while actually accomplishing some serious learning. Keep reading below to learn how a little rainbow art will lead to finger number fun.
Reinforce Finger Numbers With “Rainbow Rings”
To get the finger number fun started with our St. Patrick’s Day activity first, download the printable here. Then, grab a die and a set of pencil crayons or markers and follow the directions below.
1. Trace your student’s hands onto your downloaded St. Patrick’s Day printable (as below).
2. Divide each of the fingers into 5 segments using horizontal lines (see below).
3. Pass your student the die and ask her to roll a number.
4. The resulting number displayed on the die represents a finger number. Instruct your student to choose any pencil crayon and then color the first segment of the corresponding finger on both hands. For example, if she rolls a 4, your student will color the first segment of the “4 finger” on both hands.
5. Repeat Steps 3-4, until each segment of every finger is colored. Have your student change the pencil crayon color when coloring a new segment next to an existing segment. This will create a “rainbow ring” pattern.
6. If a 6 is rolled, your student may choose any finger number, and then color in a segment on the corresponding finger of each hand.
7. If a number is rolled that corresponds to matching LH and RH fingers that are already completely covered, have your student roll the die again.
Simple Teaching Tools For Success
DIY activities in a piano studio are a real parent pleaser. More often than not, they result in some sort of creation that can be sent home and shared with a student’s family. This home sharing will let parents know that you are an out-of-the-box teacher who is delivering so much more than a standard piano lesson.
If you’re looking for more DIY fun, check out the piano teaching tools below by click. AND get set for more St. Patrick’s Day freebies! Join our Facebook group for access to “group only” printables!
LINDA KIRKCONNELL says
How absolutely cool is this! Love this idea and I know students will too! Thank you.
Andrea says
So glad, Linda! Fits perfectly with your theme this month… can’t wait to see your pictures 😉
Teresa Arth says
Thank you for another fresh and fun activity. Just in time for a couple of new students.
Andrea says
Perfect! Glad you can use it right away, Teresa! 🙂
Diana Amov says
I look forward to more information.
Ann Allott says
Thank you for this. I have a dice with right hand, left hand, both hands on it that I think I will use as well as the numbers dice as this will also help with the recognition of which hand as well as which finger.