Zipper Frame

Material
 A wooden frame 11.5 x 11.5 inches with panels of fabric fastened in the middle by
the zipper

Presentation
1. Child shows interest in the material.
2. Go to the shelf corner and say, “This activity is called how to use a zipper
in a frame”.
3. Say, “Watch”.
4. Show the child how to carry the frame using one hand on each side,
thumbs on the top, and other fingers below the frame.
5. Starting at the top of the zipper frame, grasp the upper right corner of the
left panel of the fabric with the left hand having the thumb on top and
index and middle finger beneath the panel.
6. Grasp the zipper tab with the right hand having the thumb on top and
index and middle finger underneath the zipper tab.
7. Pull the zipper tab down with the right hand saying, “Pull”.
8. Release the left hand.
9. Place the zipper tab flat at the bottom of the zipper and release the right
hand.
10. Grasp the lower right corner of the left panel of the fabric with the left
hand having the thumb on the top and index and middle finger underneath.
11. Grasp the lower left corner of the right panel of the fabric with the right
hand having the thumb on the top over the zipper tab and index and
middle finger underneath.
12. Move the left hand upward removing the zipper bar from the zipper
socket. Say, “Pull”.
13. Release the left hand. Release the right hand.
14. Show the child how to open the panels by grasping the upper right corner
of the left panel with the right hand.
15. Grasp the lower right corner of the left panel with the left hand.
16. Open the panel by moving the panel to left.
17. Release the hands one at a time.
18. Grasp the upper left corner of the left right panel with the right hand.
19. Grasp the lower left corner of the left right panel with the left hand.
20. Open the panel by moving the panel to the right.
21. Say, “The zipper is unzipped”.
22. Close the panel in the manner described.
23. Grasp the zipper tab and socket with the right hand having the thumb on
the top and index and middle finger underneath.
24. Move the zipper bar into the zipper socket with the left hand. Say, “Push”.
25. Release the left hand. Release the right hand.
26. Upon completion, say, “The zipper is zipped”.
 27. Allow the child to continue with the phrase, such as, “Would you like to
work on the zipper frame?
28. Allow the child to return the material to the shelf after use.

Control of Error
Zipper does not pull up because the bar is not properly placed in the socket.

Points of Interest
1. Slipping the zipper bar into the zipper socket
2. Pulling the zipper up and down

Objectives
Direct Aim
Development of the ability to zip and unzip
Indirect Aim
1. Development of Concentration, Coordination, Order,
Independence
2. Development of self-esteem and confidence
3. Development of eye-hand coordination
4. Preparation for holding a pencil

Verbalization
1. Pull
2. Push

Variations
1. Zipping clothes of others
2. Zipping ones’ own clothes