Zoo Center Ideas

This week we are expanding our Zoo Theme printables. 

To get you started, I’ve have some fabulous resources that can be use in independent centers. 

Magnet Pages

Another set of magnet pages for you.  Includes several zoo animals that are included in our unit this week.

Click to Download 6 magnet pages.

You can use several different things with your magnet pages. Do-a-Dot Paints work great, but then you’ll only get one use out of them.  I recommend laminating the pages and using Bingo Chips, Power Magnets or homemade pom-pom magnets with them.

Pretend Play

We are loving our miniatures that we found at Hobby Lobby.  Make sure and use the 40% one item coupon that they usually send twice a month to their email subscribers.  You can also purchase them through Amazon.

Safari Ltd Zoo Babies Toob.

Safari Ltd Wild Toob.

You can use them in a variety of ways, such as in a sensory bin or even as a counting manipulative.  My son just loves to play with them and if I only pull them out at a specific time it keeps him well entertained.

Stamping

Work on letter recognition with our Stamping Strips.  To do this activity you will need uppercase or lowercase stamps and an ink pad.

Stamping Strips: Zoo

Hope you have fun with these wild animals.

Bee Center Ideas

So, this week is all about BEES. I’ve found some fabulous resources that can be used in independent centers and hopefully keep your little bees busy.

Art

I found a fun bee craft at Teach Preschool.  Just cut all the shapes needed and provide your kiddo with an example.  Then let them create their very own bubble bee. 

 

Bubble Bee Craft

Games

Check out this File Folder Game from File Folder Fun. In this activity your kiddo will work on color recognition as they match the bees to the correct flower.

Beautiful Bees

Pretend Play

Sensory bins are a great way to keep kiddos entertain for long periods of time.  Here’s a great example I found while searching the world wide web.  Just follow the link below to get a closer look at what’s inside.

Bee Sensory bin

Pond & River Center Ideas

This week, as you know, we are expanding our Pond & River Theme printables.  I’ve found some fabulous ideas that can be used for independent centers.

Pattern Blocks

PreKinders has quite the assortment of FREE pattern block designs.  She offers them in color and black and white.  There are several that fit perfectly with our pond unit.  Look for the duck, turtle, dragonfly and fish.

Please note that not all pattern blocks are the same size, therefore not all might fit perfectly with the template provided above.

Use these templates to create your own pattern blocks.  You can also purchase them through Amazon or other various educational websites.

Pretend Play

We are loving our miniatures that we found at Hobby Lobby.  Make sure and use the 40% off of one item coupon that they usually send twice a month to their email subscribers.  You can also purchase them through Amazon.

Safari LTD River Toob.

You can use them in a variety of ways, such as in a sensory bin or even as a counting manipulative.  My son just loves to play with them and if I only pull them out at a specific time it keeps him well entertained.

Stamping

Work on letter recognition with our Stamping Strips.  To do this activity you will need uppercase or lowercase stamps and an ink pad.

Stamping Strips: Ponds & Rivers

Hope you have fun exploring ponds & rivers.

Frog Center Ideas

This week we are expanding our Frog unit!!  Unfortunately, I didn’t find you a lot of ideas because I was heading out of town to attend the 2:1 Conference. Hopefully, the ideas I did find will inspire you.  Remember to go over how to do each activity with your kiddo before allowing them to do it independently.

Pretend Play

Sensory bins are a great way to keep kiddos entertain for long periods of time.  Here’s a great example I found while searching the world wide web.  Just follow the link below to get a closer look at what’s inside.

Pond & Life Cycle of a Frog Sensory bin

Games

There are several frog games available for purchase, if you are looking for something quick and easy.

Have fun hoppin’ through these activities.

Baseball Center Ideas

This week we are expanding our “Baseball” Theme printables. 

To get you started, I’ve found some fabulous resources that can be used in independent centers and I even created more magnet pages for you. 

Games

Here’s another File Folder Game. In this activity your kiddo will work on color recognition as they match the baseball hats to the correct jersey.

Baseball Color Match

Pretend Play

I found this fun sport set on Amazon that scored rave reviews.  Not only would this keep your baseball fan entertained, but Daddy too! This set comes with 2 Teams, 26 players, 1 umpire, 1 adjustable scoreboard and a washable felt field measures 28" X 28".

Baseball Guys by Kaskey Kids

Magnet Pages

Since we haven’t done magnet pages in awhile, I decided to go ahead and make some more for you.

Click to Download 4 magnet pages.

You can use several different things with your magnet pages. Do-a-Dot Paints work great, but then you’ll only get one use out of them.  I recommend laminating the pages and using Bingo Chips, Power Magnets or homemade pom-pom magnets with them.

Hope you’re a “fan” of these ideas.

Butterfly Center Ideas

This week we are creating a brand new unit on Butterflies!!  Are you excited??? 

Butterflies are a huge hit on the web, so it wasn’t hard for me to find some fabulous resources that can be use in independent centers.  Remember to go over how to do the activity with your kiddo before allowing them to do it independently.

Pretend Play

For our butterfly week, I found some felt patterns for the The Very Hungry Caterpillar from Making Learning Fun.

Felt Board Pieces for Very Hungry Caterpillar

Felt or Flannel boards are a fun way to retell stories or even for matching activities.  If you don’t have one, they are easy to make.  I found several tutorials on the web, my favorite from Itty Bitty Love. I love that it is small for kiddos and CHEAP!!  If you’d like to make a bigger one then check out Totally Tots or Teach Preschool for inspiration.

Play-Dough

I created a few play-dough mats to go with this week’s theme. I suggest you print them front to back and laminate them, so they can be used over and over again!  To keep your kiddos engaged even longer, provide a few butterfly cookie cutters.

Play-Dough Mats: Butterflies

Art

Spell Outloud has some wonderful craft ideas, plus more on her Squidoo page.  Just scroll down a bit to find the instructions.

 

Butterfly Unit from Spell Outloud

Have fun fluttering through these activities.

Flower Center Ideas

This week, as you know, we are expanding our Flower Theme printables.  I’ve found some fabulous ideas that can be use for independent centers.

Arts & Crafts
I came across Easel Art Pages on Making Learning Fun this summer. I love how they give visual step by step instructions on how to paint different things!  I decided to give it a try and created this flower one for you.

Pattern Blocks
PreKinders has quite the assortment of FREE pattern block designs.  She offers them in color and black and white.  Just scroll down to the bottom to download the flower templates.

Please note that not all pattern blocks are the same size, therefore not all might fit perfectly with the template provided above.

Use these templates to create your own pattern blocks.  You can also purchase them through Amazon or other various educational websites.

Pretend Play
When  I came across the following post about a Flower Shop drama center, I just had to share it!! Pre-K Pages even has a free printable for you to download!! If I’m really honest with you, I just want to set one up because I would have so much fun pretending with it!!

Click each image above to be directed to the post.

Hope you have fun.

Easter Center Ideas

This week we are expanding our Easter Theme printables. 

The last two days we’ve focused on the Resurrection.  Today and tomorrow will be ideas for Easter Symbols.  To get you started, I’ve found some fabulous ideas that can be use in independent centers, plus a free printable. 

Fine Motor

My Montessori Journey has wonderful Easter based activities that will help your child work on their fine motor and practical life skills.  Swing by the website to be inspired.

Easter Theme Fine Motor Activities

Stamping

Work on letter recognition with our Stamping Strips.  To do this activity you will need uppercase or lowercase stamps and an ink pad.

Stamping Strips: Easter

Play-Dough

Putti Prapancha has a fun way for creating Easter eggs using play-dough, beads and sequins.  To keep your kiddos engaged longer, provide a few Easter cookie cutters.

Playdoh Easter Eggs with Beads and Sequins

Hope you have fun.

Rain Center Ideas

This week we are expanding our “Rain” Theme printables. 

Below you will find some activities that your kiddo should be able to do independently.  

Writing

Found more great free resources from Busy Bee Kids Printables! They have several Spring mazes with varying levels of difficulty.  Plus, they have several choices on rainy dot-to-dots. For our writing activities, my son use our Crayola Dry Erase Activity Center, which allows these pages to be used over and over again without having to laminate them. If you don’t have a Crayola Dry Erase Activity Center, then I would suggest laminating them.

Spring Mazes

Spring Dot-to-Dots

Pretend Play

Give your kiddo a white sheet or towel and let them pretend to be a cloud. Provide some music and get the little cloud to dance.

Art

Create a rainbow collage.  Provide your kiddos with scraps of tissue or construction paper in all the colors of the rainbow. Let them glue the pieces to the rainbow template from Making Learning Fun. To make it more exciting, provide you kiddo with Fruit Loops, Skittles or M&Ms.  Of course, Do-a-Dot Paints would also work.  Do whatever you think your kiddos would enjoy best.   I know my son will be all about the food items!  Don’t forget to add some cotton balls or marshmallows for clouds.

To download the template you want, just click it and it will take you to Making Learning Fun.

Hope these activities bring a ray of sunshine to your day.