The light table is such a fantastic center for the preschool classroom. It simultaneously calms students while being attractive and inspiring. Because of the small size, it builds confidence and skill as it naturally limits the number of children to small groups or independent work. This light table peg activity is no exception – it’s great for independent work, creativity, and patterning skills, all in one small corner of the classroom!
Benefits of Using the Light Table
The light table is a perfect way to entice young children to play. It engages their sense of sight, makes regular activities more fun, and can be used in many different ways.
Often, we think of the sand and water table as the only way to use a sensory table. The sense of sight is just as important as the sense of touch, though! The light table is another sensory option for young children. This can be especially beneficial for students who are hesitant to touch materials in the sensory bin.
For this activity, the following resources are recommended:
- Translucent Pegs Activity Set (Includes the pattern cards)
- Clear storage trays to hold the pegs – found at dollar stores and party stores.
That’s it – just two simple items! For additional practice with sorting, add some colored labels for the bottom of the different compartments of the storage tray.
Skills Learned with the Light Table Peg Activity
This light table peg activity is a preschool favorite for so many reasons. Students practice fine motor control grasping while placing the pegs. They work on emergent math skills by identifying and copying the patterns, sorting the pegs back into their storage trays, and counting the number of pegs they need for the different pages. Preschoolers also finesse their conversational skills at the table with questions such as “Can you hand me the blue pegs?” and “May I have that page when you are done?”
Going off the Grid with the Light Table Peg Activity
Sometimes, students want to create their own patterns and designs. This is a great way to practice fine motor skills mixed with some creativity! Ask questions such as:
- Can you tell me about your design?
- What made you choose those colors?
- Do you want to draw a picture of your design on paper?
- How is your picture different from the one on the paper?
Expand the activity by adding graph paper and crayons at a nearby table and encourage students to use them to create their own light table peg designs.
Are you looking for more “enlightening” Light Table fun?
Be sure to download this free Light Table Handbook is full of information on light tables and how to use them effectively in the classroom.
Vikash Kumar
What a brilliant idea for a preschool activity! The light table peg activity mentioned in this blog post is both engaging and educational. I can’t wait to try it with my little ones. Thank you for sharing this creative learning opportunity!
Tera Lewandowski
Hi! I clicked on the link for the pegs, but it doesn’t have all the colors that you have. Is there another set?
Megan Jarrett
Hi there! I noticed that on the main image on the DSS website, the purple pegs are not shown, but if you look at the third image, they are there.