Create an easy texture activity for children by placing several items with different textures on a table. Label each item as “smooth,” “rough,” “hard” or “soft.” Have the children touch each item to get an idea of how they feel. Some items to use on the table include sandpaper, cotton balls, seashells, smooth stones, rocks, pine cones and faux fur. The children can pick up and hold the items to get a hands-on experience. Allow the children to do this activity for 10 to 15 minutes and make sure each child has a chance to touch each item.
Scatter several items with different textures on a table. Select one child to stand at the table and sort all the items by texture. He must sort the items into groups of rough, smooth, hard and soft. If he sorts all the items correctly, reward him with a small prize. Turn this activity into a game by creating two tables with identical items. Have two children stand at the tables and compete to see who can sort the items in the fastest amount of time. Award a small prize to the winner. You can also have the children sort the items from softest to hardest or smoothest to roughest.
Place a sheet of paper on the bottom of a shoe and rub a crayon over the paper. This will leave a texture rubbing on the paper. Give each child a sheet of paper and tell them to create different texture rubbings in the classroom. Some examples include a table for a smooth surface, the floor for a hard surface, a plush toy for a soft surface and blocks for a rough surface. After each player finds all four surfaces and has their rubbings, allow them to share what they found with the class. Alternatively, take the children outside to find the textured items.
Create a matching game with textures, either indoors or outdoors. Have each child feel an item with a certain texture, such as smooth, and then match it. If they feel a plush animal, for example, they must all find something else in the classroom with the same texture. For example, they could find a soft jacket or a cotton ball. If you take the children outdoors, allow them to feel a twig with a rough texture. They must then find something else with a rough texture, such as tree bark or a rough-textured rock. Each time a child brings you an item with a matching texture, reward her with a small prize.