Worm Hunt Activity

In celebration of OT month, OT Outdoors will send out activities throughout April that you may do with kiddos with explanations on the skills that are worked on.

Ingredients:
Worm layer
- 1 pack jello/gelatine
- Cooked spaghetti or gummy worms
- Optional: food coloring (pink for worm, brown for jello)
Dirt layer
- 2 cup flour
- 1 cup cocoa powder
- Vegetable oil

Other materials:
- 2 Containers
- Mixing utensil

Instruction:
1. In a container, make the jello/gelatine according to the package instructions. Optional: add brown food dye.
2. Put in gummy worms or pre-cooked spaghetti that is dyed pink.
3. Put in fridge to harden.
4. Optional: heat treat flour at 300-350 degrees for about 10 minutes until flour reaches 160 degrees to make the flour edible!
5. In a bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, and vegetable oil (little by little to preferred consistency).  
6. Put the dirt layer mixture on top of the solidified worm layer then start the worm hunt!

Whether you choose to have kiddos participate in making the dirt & worm layer or only the worm hunt, they each have benefits from OT perspective. 

Let me explain how:
1. Measuring, scooping, and pouring ingredients work on fine motor coordination, visual motor integration, bilateral hand use, hand-eye coordination, and heavy work.
2. Mixing ingredients works on gross motor coordination, arm strength and endurance, arm range of motion, and using appropriate amount of pressure for the task (grading of movement). 
3. Pulling ‘worms’ out could work on fine motor coordination (picking up and placing small objects), bilateral assist (stabilization of the pan with non-dominant hand), stereognosis (identifying objects through touch), using appropriate amount of strength for the task (grading of strength), play theme expansion, and assisting to ameliorate tactile sensitivity through exploration and play.

If the activity is too easy or too hard - you may assist as needed, brainstorm with the kiddo what could help make it easier/harder, or even divide up tasks to make the activity the ‘just right challenge’ for them. After all, this should be a fun activity!

Hope this explanation gives you a better understanding of the OT thought process behind the fun activities we do in session. 

Send us a picture or video if you work on this activity with your kiddo!