Gather up a variety of tools including kitchen items, garden and carpentry tools. Pictures of these items will also work, although children will be more interested in this activity if they can see each tool in person. Hold up one tool at a time. If there are no sharp edges or moving parts, pass the tool around for children to touch. Ask children to guess what the tool's name is and how it's used.
Hang a piece of chart paper at the front of the room. Write "Tools" at the top, then divide the paper into columns. Label each column with a place where tools are found, such as the kitchen, the garage or the backyard. Using one column at a time, ask children to come up with some tools that are found in that place. Write down each answer. At the end, go back through the chart and ask children to think about who would use each tool. For instance, explain that an electric mixer can be used by someone at home or a baker might use it at work.
Set up several stations throughout the room. At each station, create a "problem" that needs to be fixed. For instance, one station might have a bowl filled with flour and water. Tell children that the ingredients need to be mixed together. Place three or four tools next to the bowl such as a hammer, a pair of scissors and a wooden spoon. Ask children to guess what tool will solve the problem, then have them try out each one. Other "problem" stations might include a broken toy that needs to be glued back together or a bowl of soil that needs to have any rocks removed with a rake.
Children can use their acting skills and show what they've learned about tools by playing a game of charades. Glue or draw pictures of tools onto the back of index cards. With the class assembled, choose one child to come pick a card out of the stack. Ask him to look at the tool, then--without saying anything--act out how to use the tool. Other children must guess what tool he has. When a child guesses correctly, he gets to come and choose a card to pantomime.