A Pokey Pin Invention by a 5 yr Old (and a FREEBIE to celebrate!)

I don't know who likes pokey pinning more, me or my students.  (Please click here if you are unsure what Pokey Pinning is to get more details).  My students enjoy it because it is so relaxing and produces magical results.  I love it because it is silent MOST of the time the class is working on pinning.  I say most because my students who have weak hand muscles will let out an occasional groan or a quick, "My hand hurts!"
Last time we were Pokey Pinning, one of my young ones (with weak hand muscles) said he couldn't finish it because his hand hurt so badly.  I told him to keep going and, before I knew it, he was bringing me his completed project (and I hadn't heard anymore complaining).  I asked him, "How did you do that so quickly?"  He showed me a clothes pin which only confused me more.

My little guy had been laying next to our Clipchart (behavior management system) which utilizes clothespins.  He apparently took one and put his pin in the grooved circular part (it fits perfectly, who would have known??) and poked away, allowing him to complete his work AND give his sore muscles a little break.  Of course, this doesn't work and strengthen the hand muscles as much, BUT it does allow the students to complete their work and feel good about that, at the least!

Here is the invention in use!

 Have you Pokey Pinned with your students?  If not, here is a freebie for you to test it out (PreK and 1st grade options available).  We do letters at the beginning of the year, then move into working on high frequency words, like above.  It is a double whammy activity-- good for the muscles AND good for solidifying sight words!  Click on the picture below to grab it for your students.

Also, check out Simply Primary's awesome idea of how to get and use beach balls for an easy, fun end of the year activity that follows up very nicely to this Pokey Pin Project!

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