“Wait… they’re raising the opposite hand, but when I put the front and back together, they match perfectly! Why?”

This scissor-cutting and gluing activity lets children discover the fascinating relationship between the front and back of an object by cutting, matching, and gluing the pieces together.

Children cut out the front and back views of each person and place them back-to-back. When aligned correctly, the outlines match perfectly.

“It looks like the right side from here, but what happens when I look from the other side…?”

Concepts such as “front and back,” “left and right,” and “direction” can be difficult to understand through explanation alone. This hands-on activity allows children to explore these relationships for themselves.

The cutting lines have been designed with gentle curves so that children around age 4 can take on the challenge.

After cutting, children glue the front and back pieces together. Carefully aligning the outlines before gluing also requires concentration and precise hand movements.

This activity goes beyond simply practicing cutting skills. Children can:

・Practice cutting along curved lines
・Compare front and back views
・Notice changes in direction and left/right orientation
・Carefully align matching outlines
・Practice controlled and precise gluing

Several different skills and discoveries are brought together in one activity.

As a bonus, front-and-back illustrations of a dog and a cat are also included.

This product is a downloadable PDF. No physical item will be shipped. Scissors, glue, and other tools are not included.

For best results, print on A4-size, slightly thicker paper or cardstock.