Use this resource to boost the fine motor opportunities in your classroom while supporting early number recognition and counting skills. Threading activities are a fantastic way to combine motor development with foundational maths in a playful, engaging format.

The Threading Sun encourages students to count and thread beads onto yellow pipe cleaners, which act as rays extending from a central sun. Each ray is marked with a number, and students are invited to add the matching quantity of beads. This activity blends number sense with physical development, supporting multiple learning goals in one hands-on task.

Threading offers a wide range of developmental benefits. It builds small muscle strength essential for writing, particularly encouraging the pincer grip through the manipulation of small beads. It also improves hand-eye coordination, visual planning, and concentration as students create, organise, and complete their bead patterns. With the added challenge of colour patterning, this resource is as purposeful as it is cheerful!

Key Learning Outcomes

• ✅ Build fine motor skills through threading and manipulating small objects
• ✅ Recognise numbers and demonstrate one-to-one correspondence
• ✅ Develop hand-eye coordination and planning skills
• ✅ Strengthen counting fluency using tactile, repetitive practice

What’s Included

• Sun template with numbered rays
• Instructions for set-up and use
• Ideas for patterning extensions and differentiation

Materials Needed

• Printed and laminated sun templates
• Short yellow pipe cleaners (one for each sun ray)
• Small beads in a variety of colours
• Optional: containers for bead storage and sorting

How to Use

1. Print and laminate the sun template
2. Attach a short yellow pipe cleaner to each numbered ray
3. Students choose a ray, identify the number, and thread the matching number of beads
4. Encourage students to count aloud as they work for added reinforcement
5. Extend the challenge by having students create a repeating pattern with the beads

Ideas for Classroom Use

• 💡 Use in a numeracy rotation to support counting and number representation
• 💡 Add to fine motor tubs during developmental play or morning tasks
• 💡 Include in a weather or summer-themed learning unit
• 💡 Display completed suns in the classroom for visual reinforcement of numbers

Top Teacher Tips

• 💛 Use smaller beads to encourage pincer grip and pencil readiness
• 💛 Laminate the sun templates for durability and reuse
• 💛 Store materials in grab-and-go tubs for independent student access

Threading Sun is a bright and cheerful way to combine fine motor development with number practise in your classroom, helping students build essential early maths skills while having fun.