Twist and Sort

Twist 'N Sort

Twist 'N Sort is a wooden pegboard activity. There are 12 colorful pieces, three for each dowel, and the base measures about 7" square. Made by Guidecraft, a company that produces quality toys.

The rectangles, triangles, and squares must be placed on the dowels in a specific position because of the pegs on the sides. Once on, they will take another twist to line then up again so they can move down further. The circles twist on and take 40+ twists to get to the bottom or to take off. That's pretty monotonous. After the game is played awhile and the threads are worn and smoother, it will probably go faster.

Here is one of each shape and color, and a perspective for size.

Taking the pieces off is harder than putting them on. As you put a piece on, it can rest on the pegs as you twist, and then fall when the pegs are lined up on the last twist. Taking off you must hold the piece up as you twist and lift, possibly trying different directions as you go.

Try this:

• Put all of one shape on it's dowel, then move to another shape, etc.
• Put all of one color on the dowels, then add all of another color, etc.
• Mix all the pieces in a pile and call them out one at a time - Add the red rectangle, add the yellow circle, etc.
• Try using both hands to hold and spin the pieces while taking off before trying it one-handed.
• Put one of each shape on the board, figuring out which piece matches which pegs. Then add all the rest.
• Name the pieces and/or colors as you go. Ask the individual to do the same. Say it more than once.
• Once all the pieces are on the board, hold it upside-down and spin the pieces off. 
• Mix all the pieces in a pile, then separate and stack them by shape or color.
• Put the pieces in a bag you cannot see through. Ask the person to pull them out just by feeling the shape. Pull out a circle, pull out all the squares, pull out a triangle, then a circle, pull out two rectangles at the same time.
• Stack the pieces and drop them onto the dowel. Twist them one at a time, starting at the bottom, and let them drop down.
• Email me and I will add your idea here.
  

 In the box: One wooden base with dowels attached, 12 wooden shape pieces

My Body i-Poster

 

My Body Interactive Posters

My Body i-Poster is a collection of interactive posters which lets kids explore human anatomy. There are four posters in the box: 1) My Body, 2) My organs, 3) My Bones, and 4) My Muscles. The posters measure 16" x 22".

The blue poster, My Body, is the main piece, since the electronic device is attached to it. There is an "on" button and a speaker on the yellow electronic device at the top. The unit takes 3 AAA batteries.

On the top left of each poster there are four choices you can make. These choices are the same on all four posters. They are:

• Learn - Press one of the circles to learn about that body part.
  
• Quiz - Quiz yourself after you are done learning.
  
• Volume - Turn sound up and down.
  
• Repeat - Repeat what was just said.

Looking at the image below, you can see circles that go down the left and right sides. Each circle has a line drawn from it to a particular body part. Choose and press a circle to learn about that body part. The number of circles per poster vary from 14 - 22. The voice is female and very clear and easy to understand. Here are a few examples of what you will hear when you press the buttons:

• Chin - The chin, also called the mental region, is the area of the face below the lower lip and including the mandibular prominence.
• Chest - The chest is between the neck and the abdomen. It contains organs including the heart, lungs and other various muscles and internal structures inside.
• Tibialis muscle - The tibialis anterior muscle is the most medial muscle of the anterior compartment of the leg. This muscle is mostly located near the shin. It is thick and fleshy above, tendonous below.
  
• Bladder - The bladder is a round organ that stores urine. The bladder is connected to the kidneys by two long tubes called ureters. When urine is produced by the kidneys, it travels down the ureters to the bladder where it is stored.
  

The quiz portion says things like "Find the ear", and "Find the knee". If the individual can read, they wouldn't even have to look at the diagram to pass the quiz. If you are correct, you will hear "good job". If you are not correct she will say "uh-oh" or "oops" and you can try again.

Each of the other three posters has one round magnet embedded into the top right and left corners. Place the poster you want to use on top of the blue poster, and it will stick due to the magnets. When you are done with that one, take it off and place another poster on top of the blue poster. You can use it either on a flat surface, or hanging on the wall. The poster come folded in the box and you will have to place something heavy on them for a while to flatten them before using.

If you quit playing but don't turn the unit off, the voice will prompt you several times to press a button. It you don't, it shuts itself off.

The box says 5+ for age, but the four posters get progressively harder as you go. It seems more suited to a range of ages to me. Here are examples from each poster:

1. My Body - Head, ear, face, neck, shoulder, belly
2. My Organs - Stomach, lung, pancreas, cerebrum
3. My Bones - Sternum, patella, metatarsals, femur
4. My Muscles - Biceps brachii, vastus lateralis, serratus anterior, sartorius

Try this:

• Tape something of a solid color, for instance pieces of duct tape, over the words during the quiz if you don't want the individual just reading the words and not looking at the diagram.
• Ask the individual to point to each area on his own body, when possible, when you are in learn mode.
• Cover the whole diagram during the quiz and ask the individual to point to each area on his own body during the quiz.
• See how many you can remember. During the learn cycle, point to yourself and repeat the name of the area. Area 2, name area 1 and then 2. Area 3, name and point to area 1, 2, and 3. And so on. How long can you go before you forget the order or the areas? Repeating can also help people remember.
• Take the opportunity work on left/right as you talk about different body parts that you have two of.
• Work on body awareness, body part names, how the body works, spatial relations, fine motor, executive functioning skills, process skills
  

In the box: 4 posters