Velcro Fishing From the Shore

Sitting around a blue sheet that serves as the sea, children catch felt fish of different sizes and textures using rods with Velcro on the end. It builds hand-eye coordination, precision and reaching from a seated position.

How to play

1. Sit on the shore, on the floor or in a chair, around the blue sheet; the teacher tosses the fish into the sea (1 min).
2. Learn to fish: lower the rod slowly, the Velcro touches the fish, and up it comes (2 min).
3. Free fishing: everyone catches fish and drops them in their group's basket (4 min).
4. Fishing orders: the teacher shows a card (big fish, red fish, bumpy fish) and we look for it (3 min).
5. Fishing for a friend: I bring my fish to a friend's basket and tell them which one it is (2 min).
6. Put all the fish back in the sea and collect the rods (2 min).

Rules

• I fish from the shore without stepping into the sea.
• My rod goes down slowly, no hitting.
• If two of us hook the same fish, I let my friend have it and find another.
• All the fish go back to the sea at the end.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: put the sea on a table at wheelchair height and use a shorter, thicker rod.
• Blind or low vision: fish have different textures (sandpaper, fur, bubble wrap) and orders are given by texture; one hand can rest on the sea to stay oriented.
• Deaf or hard of hearing: always give orders with a picture card, no spoken explanation needed.

Learning goals

• Coordinate hand movement with vision to catch an object.
• Keep trunk control while reaching from sitting.
• Identify colors, sizes and textures.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cardboard fishing rods with velcro: 12
• felt fish with velcro: 40
• blue sheet: 1
• baskets: 6
• fish picture cards: 6

Teacher tip

Make rods from a paper towel tube, a 16-inch cord and a large cotton ball wrapped in hook Velcro; cut fish from thick felt. No magnets or paper clips: no small parts.

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