Activity Branch: A Fine Motor, Gross Motor, and Heavy Work Activity

Learn how to make your own activity branch while working on specific fine motor skills. Incorporate gross motor, fine motor, and heavy work activities throughout the day to help keep kids engaged and active either periodically throughout the day or use as during a set time period.

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We all know the holidays can be crazy busy between a hectic kitchen, running errands, and a long list of to-do’s. I created this activity branch project as a way to keep kids active and engaged in a fun way with family and friends. Set up your activity branch based on your needs, incorporating fine motor and gross motor skills as well as heavy work activities or other sensory-based activities.

I added my own spin to the more traditional gratitude tree as seen online. Gratitude branches are a fun way to express thankfulness especially during the holiday season. I was personally looking for a fun and easy way to implement gross and fine motor activities as well as heavy work activities periodically during the day. Furthermore, this activity branch can be used throughout the year. Just change the leaves to fit a different holiday or season as you see fit. Practice identifying letters, numbers, shapes or colors using the activity branch as well- just replace the leaves with those of your choosing.

What Is An Activity Branch?

An activity branch is my spin on a gratitude branch traditionally done around Thanksgiving. The activity branch is made by hanging paper leaves from a branch. One gross motor, heavy work, or fine motor activity is written on each leaf. When the child or caregiver is looking for an activity, read the tag of your choosing, and perform the task.

The activity branch helps add planned movement and exercise at various periods throughout the day. Adding gross motor and heavy work activities periodically, can help regulate the sensory system, improve gross motor skills, and build strength and endurance.

However, as with the gratitude branch, the activity branch can be done any time of the year by just changing out the leaves for another holiday or even letters or numbers, if you choose.

To make this project, we’ll be focusing on the fine motor skills needed and ways to adapt this project when making the activity branch. We’ll discuss this a little further in the occupational therapy fine motor skill focus.

*Check in with your occupational therapist regarding questions or concerns around sensory processing difficulties and a sensory diet. They may recommend specific activities for your particular case.

Occupational Therapy Fine Motor Focus

Here are some ideas and strategies to encourage the use of specific fine motor skills when making the activity branch with children. These tips and tricks are easy to implement so make sure to read over all of the tips to get the most out of this activity from start to finish based on your child’s needs.

Be Picky When Choosing Leaves

Based on the child’s scissoring skills, choose leaves that are appropriate for their skill level. Check out this leaf identification guide by Arbor Day for help with identifying specific leaves in your area.

If looking for an easier scissoring task, choose a smoother oval shaped leaf such as a birch, elm, or beech leaf rather than a more complex leaf such as maple, hickory, or oak. The simpler, oval leaf rubbings will require less turning of the paper making it easier to stay along the line when scissoring. Therefore, a smoother oval or circular shaped leaf will require less paper manipulation.
If you are looking for a more challenging scissoring activity make sure to choose leaves that require more turning of the paper when cutting such as maple, ash, oak, or even hickory leaves.

Outline The Leaves For Better Line Adherence

Learning to cut along a line can be a difficult task. Add this additional step to encourage better line adherence when cutting along a line:

After completing the leaf rubbings, outline the leaves with a marker (as seen above). Outlining the leaves will bring attention to the path for scissoring. I recommend making a thicker line using a brightly colored marker such as red or bright green for children who may have more difficulty cutting along a line.

Work On Fine Motor Strengthening

A single hole puncher is a great fine motor strengthening activity along with peeling crayons and doing the leaf rubbings. Encourage the child to add extra pressure to the crayon when doing the leaf rubbing so that the leaf has a darker outline. Work on fine motor strengthening using a single hole punch to punch holes in the leaves after coloring is completed. Add additional holes to the leaves for an added fine motor strengthening task. Peeling off the paper around crayons is not only a good fine motor strengthening activity, but it also encourages the use of the pincer grasp.

The pincer grasp uses the pads of the index finger and thumb to grasp objects. Furthermore, this type of grasp is important for handwriting skills, picking up small objects, and dressing skills such as manipulating buttons and zippers.

Work On Manual Dexterity

Manual dexterity is the ability to use your hands in a skillful way to grasp and manipulate objects such as when playing a string instrument and knitting. Manual dexterity is an important fine motor skill as it is needed to manipulate buttons, move the individual fingers to write letters legibly, and participate in skilled tasks such as sewing and braiding.

Work on manual dexterity while placing the string through the hole in the leaf followed by forming a loop and securing with a knot.

Work On Handwriting

Incorporate handwriting while making the activity branch leaves. Ask your child to write the activity names on each leaf. Remember to take breaks as needed.

Occupational Therapy Resources:

Activity Branch Outdoor And Indoor Activity Ideas

Here is a list of outdoor and indoor activities. Choose the activities that are a good fit for you and your child. Add in your own ideas for indoor and outdoor fun. Make sure to choose ideas that are easy for you to set up. Prep ahead of time if needed.

Outdoor Activity Ideas

Play catch
Scavenger hunt (set up ahead of time)
Wheelbarrow walk
Slither like a snake relays or races
Crab walk relays or races
Set up pool noodles, cones, jumping pads, tunnels, etc. as an obstacle course
Gently play noodle battle using pool noodles. Remind kids of the importance of listening to others, and stopping the game when asked.
Hang from a pull up bar or strong branch (who can hold on the longest?)
Play tag
Jump rope
Push ups and sit ups (who can do the most in 30 seconds?)
Leapfrog
Freeze tag
Hopscotch
Brainstorm a new game idea
Gather leaves and make a pile to jump into (always a childhood favorite)
Go for a nature walk (and collect little treasures)

Indoor Activity Ideas

Play a favorite board game
Play cards
Wheelbarrow walk
Slither like a snake
Crab walk
Play caterpillar crawls: Roll up in a blanket excluding the head and move around like a caterpillar
Play bicycle (with a partner lying on the back, place feet together and pedal as if riding a bike)
Play tug of war from a sitting position with legs in front in a v-shape
Collect nature treasures and create a picture using what you found

Special Considerations

Only adults should use pruning shears when trimming and cutting branches.
Supervise children when using scissors.
As an alternative to leaves, you can also draw and cut out flowers, shapes, or letters, etc. If a child is working on identifying letters, numbers, colors, or shapes, this is a great way to add additional identification during the day. Have the child pick an activity by identifying a number, letter, shape, or color. Make themed branches based on the season or holiday.
If you plan to use the activity branch for an extended amount of time, you might want to consider getting the leaves laminated or back them with card stock as I did to protect the leaves long term.
The 100 Directions blog suggests using Press And Seal Wrap to help hold leaves steady while doing the leaf rubbings.

How To Make An Activity Branch

Materials

Pruning shears
Yarn or thin twine cut into 6-8” strips
Scissors
Collected freshly fallen or picked leaves
Thin twigs or branches, trimmed
White printer paper
Crayons with paper removed
Marker
Container for holding branches
Cardstock (optional)
Glue stick (optional)

Instructions

Collect and trim branches/twigs using pruning shears.
Collect the number freshly fallen or picked leaves you want for your activity branch. See note under Occupational Therapy Fine Motor Focus above regarding shape of the leaves.
For the crayon leaf rubbings, remove the paper around your preferred crayon color. Place a leaf under a white piece of printer paper- vein side up. Using the crayon with the paper removed, rub the leaf back and forth with the crayon lying on its side making sure to hold the paper and leaf steady.
If needed, trace the outside of the leaf using a marker as a guide for better line adherence while scissoring. See note above in Occupational Therapy Fine Motor Focus.
Cut out the leaves.
(optional) Cut out a second larger leaf using cardstock as seen in the photo. Use your original paper leaf as a guide. Glue in place.
Punch a hole at the top of the leaf using the single hole puncher.
Loop the yarn or twine through the hole and tie to secure.
Write a different activity from the list above (or come up with your own) on the front of each leaf.
Hang the finished leaves on the branch. Place all branches and twigs in a jar or container for holding.
Make sure all activities are prepped or at least easily accessible for set up.
When ready for an activity, select a leaf, and have fun!

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Resources

Occupational Therapy Resources

OT Toolbox gives a great list of pencil grasp activities that can be done easily at home.
OT Mom Learning Activities discusses ways to help your child learn to cut along a line when scissoring.