I have a large jar of craft pom poms in the craft room. Lately, the boys have decided that this jar of poms is their new toy. But I actually don’t mind. This one jar has kept them occupied for as long as 30 minutes (that’s a big WIN in my book)! They love to spill them, sort them, put them back in the jar, line them up, arrange them in circles or flower shapes. It is a great distraction when I am trying to do simple daily tasks like take a shower. But it got me thinking… maybe I should create an activity with these pom poms. Little brother is mastering his colors and big brother is working on learning how to read. So I came with an activity that I think helped both boys.
I created a printable gumball machine that can be used four ways. There are blank gumballs (good for fine motor skills), gumballs with just words (good for beginning readers), gumballs with just colors (good for color matching and recognition) and lastly, gumballs with words and colors (another good activity for early readers).
I have made all four worksheets as printable PDF’s (all can be printed on standard 8.5x11printer paper):
Printable with just words HERE
Printable with just colors HERE
Printable with colors and words HERE
All you need for this project are assorted color craft pom-poms (sold in crafts stores or on CraftProjectIdeas.com), Elmer’s glue, and the gumball machine printable. It helps to pour some of the glue on a paper plate for easy dipping.
I hope you enjoy this craft in the classroom or at home anytime of year! It’s a fun piece to display as well 🙂
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I'd like to be such women like you. You are my role model 🙂
take care
Love this! And that it can be used for different ages, thanks for sharing!
This is genius! Sharing on my FB, lady. Love it!
Your "printable with just colors" link goes to the "printable with just words" link, fyi. I just printed out three different sheets for my three oldest – 6,5,3. Thanks!
This printable is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing it. I love that you included all of the different options (with words, without words, in color, in black and white). Now I can use different one with both my 2 year old and my 5 year old! 🙂
What a cute idea! I love it and have pinned it so I remember when we do our sweet treats unit! Thank you so much for sharing. Feel free to check out our activities and story at http://everystarisdifferent.blogspot.com.
Love your printable! I've shared it on my blog today. Thanks for linking up with the weekly kids co-op!
I'm the Editorial Assistant for Fun Family Crafts and I wanted to let you know that we have featured your gumball machine printables! You can see them here:
http://funfamilycrafts.com/pom-pom-gumball-machine/
Thanks for a wonderful project idea!
Thank you! This is such a fun idea! I will be using the blank one to fill in with Spanish colors and using it with my Spanish students. 🙂
this looks so fun. is there a way to print it without having to pay? i don't want to sign up for anything like it keeps asking me to do.
Znx for sharing!!!!
Thought I would download it …. Until they asked me to pay…… No thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such a cute idea but the only links that work is the blank one and words only. would love if the links on the others could be updated.
Any chance you can update the links? 🙂 I know it’s been six years. Ha!! Maybe you aren’t even on here anymore, but I have an inclusive preschool group in my home for my dd with DS and this is what I have been looking for! I can’t get to the color one. THanks!