Clothespin clip cards: a 15-minute preschool fine motor activity
What it is: a fine motor activity that gets small hands ready for writing. Students pinch clothespins and clip them onto the edge of a card where the color, shape or number matches.
Time: about 15 minutes. Grade: Pre-K (ages 4 to 5).
Materials: 6 to 10 cardboard cards with a picture in the middle and three choices along the edge, and 2 or 3 spring clothespins per student. Large plastic clothespins are easier for small hands.
- Show how to hold a clothespin with the thumb and pointer finger, like a bird's beak. Students practice opening and closing in the air.
- Model one card: "This card shows a red circle. Where is the red circle on the edge?" Clip it.
- Students work with a partner. One clips, the other checks, then they switch.
- Walk around and watch the grip. Gently move fingers to the beak shape when needed.
- When the cards are done, students unclip and drop the clothespins in a bucket one by one, counting as they go.
- Finish with 1 minute of finger stretches: open wide, close tight, wiggle.
Safety: use clothespins that are in good shape, and remind students that clips go on cards, never on fingers, hair or ears.
Differentiation: students who need support use one large clothespin and cards with two choices. Students who are ready clip with their other hand too. Students with motor needs can use a clothespin with a soft foam grip or push the clip open with the palm.
Quick check: watch three students clip a card. Note who uses the thumb and pointer finger.
For more ideas at this grade, browse the other free activities on the Hub.
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About this resource
- Shared by
- @UpOnlyLearning · Curriculum team
- Posted
- Oct 30, 2026
- Type
- Lesson plan
- Grade
- Grades K–2
- Subject
- Writing
- Language
- English
- License
- Free for classroom, co-op and tutoring use. Please don't resell.