Unrolling and Rolling a Rug

Materials:

2 rolled rugs with the edge facing away from the spot where the rug is going to lay
Enough space on the floor to unroll the rugs

Purposes:

Age: 2 ½ and up

Preparation: None

Presentation:

Unroll the Rug

Gather a small group for the lesson.
Introduce what you will do.
Take the group to the rug basket- you and one other child will take a rug.
Show how to carry the rug vertically with the flap closed.
Find an open spot on the floor for all to sit.
Place the rug in front of yourself.
State what you will do next.
Sit on your knees and place hands on either end of the rug, with the fingers on the front and the thumbs on the back.
Look over each shoulder to make sure the area is clear.
Begin to unroll the rug toward you, placing emphasis on the rolling action of the wrist.
Grasp, unroll, return the grasp, unroll.
Take a few steps back and look over the shoulders. Repeating movements to unroll the rug and smooth the edge.
Invite the child next to you to unroll their rug.

Roll the Rug

Explain what you will do next.
Walk on the knees on the rug ½ way up and with two hands, take the far end of the rug and barely fold it over toward yourself.
Hold the rug as you did in unrolling and repeat the movements only rolling away from yourself until you reach your knees.
Pat each end, look over both shoulders, and move your body back.
Pull the rolled portion near you and begin again repeating until the rug is rolled.
When you are complete, invite the child to roll their rug.
After all the children get a chance, close the lesson.
Invite two children to put the rugs away and dismiss them to work.

Points of Interest:

Following Exercises:

Pedagogical Notes

A rug defines the child’s workspace.
We reinforce to the children that we do not touch the materials that are on a peer’s rug.
“How to walk around a rug” is an important early Grace and Courtesy lesson

How to Carry a Pitcher