Item of the Week: CARPET SAMPLE!

This week’s Item of the Week: Carpet Sample!

Have you had carpet replaced or been in the market for new carpet soon? Do you have several swatches of carpet sample patches laying around? Are they lots of fun to look at, hold, stroke fingertips through…just because they’re sitting there, in the way, needing to be tossed in the trash? Well, before you toss it, try adding this square fuzz into your home school for a change!

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There are a few things you can do with your carpet sample just before throwing it away for good. IT can become the subject of focus for writing assignments, art activities, even mathematic equations (if math is YOUR thing). Here's how we’ve used carpet samples in our schooling.

1. Descriptive Writing Guessing Games (Writing)
   From pre-school through high school, the “guessing game” never gets old! Even for our writing assignments (WriteShop - one of the BEST writing curricula thus far!) encourages creating concise, visual, descriptive writing via hands-on skill building activities using objects such as these.
   • place several objects in individual non-see-through bags (pictured)
   • ask your student to describe the object using only what he FEELS (not what it does)
   • this forces the student to use visual words and rely solely on sense of touch to describe ANY object
   • carpet samples make GREAT sensory, descriptive-challenging (and fun) subjects
2. Texture Rubbings (Art)
   When you’re engaging in textured art projects, especially “rubbings” of various textures, carpet samples make GREAT subjects for texture studies! No matter what condition your current or sample-square carpet is it, it’s sure to make a great rubbing assignment, both the top and bottom
3. Color Matching (Art)
   Another artsy way to use a swatch of carpet is to try matching the color of the carpet using paint! My son loves mixing paints more than actually painting. One way we’ve enjoyed samples of carpet is to whip out the paint and guess which colors are needed to match the carpet swatch. Fun days!
4. Textured Painting (Art)
   One final artistic way to use carpet samples is the use the square like a sponge, dab or dip it into different color paints, and press the carpet onto paper, and repeat. You’ll see a variety of textures, shapes, and colors appear before your eyes. The sample becomes a textured stencil. Children really loves these sensory, touchy feeling (sometimes messy) painting activities.

So, if you’re looking for something to do with that swatch of carpet (one last time), I hope these ideas helped spark other ideas!

Be sure to tell us how you've used carpet samples in your household or homeschool. Friend and follow us on  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram and YouTube for more engaging activities & ideas. Enjoy! :)

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