Cut and Tear Experiment

What child doesn’t enjoy cutting and tearing things? This was a favorite classroom activity with my preschoolers back in my teaching days.

I decided to surprise the boys with this fun experiment! 

**This activity involves scissors so PLEASE SUPERVISE your little ones the entire time and assist them if needed.

I prepared these little brown bags in the morning while the boys were still sleeping.

*This is also a great educational activity that fosters critical thinking, sensory and fine motor skills.

 

I also made this simple category lab scale sheet for my oldest to fill out once the experiment was finished.

After breakfast, I announced we were doing a fun experiment!

 

 

I absolutely loved watching their expressions of surprise and wonderment as they pulled out the items.

 

 

Once they had placed everything on their mats, I called out one item at a time and instructed them to cut it.

I sat on the floor and engaged them with the following questions.

• Do you think it was easy or hard to cut?
• Why do you think it was easy/hard?

 

 

I enjoyed watching them work as a team to cut some of the items. The pipe cleaner and sponge were difficult for my youngest to cut, so my oldest announced excitedly, “Let’s be lab partners!”.

 

 

After the boys finished cutting, I called out each item again, but this time I instructed them to tear.

This method was their favorite and I loved their reactions!

 

Some items were not possible to tear, but that did not stop them from trying over and over again. They had so much fun!

I asked the following questions as they tore away.

• Why is this item hard/easy to tear?
• Why do you think this item was not possible to tear?

 

Afterward, I gave the category lab scale sheet to my oldest and asked him to record the findings of their experiment.

 

 

Here are the results!

 

My youngest is only 2 so he decided to “draw” the findings.