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Sunflower Playdough Making Ten Math Center

May 24, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Summer is here! And that means sunshine, sunscreen, and sunflowers!

When you’re thinking about back to school, a common theme is apples, which I love to use as well.

But many of us go back to school long before apple season. (Our district goes back during the last week of July.)

So if you’re looking for a simple early math center to get kids engaged during those early weeks, this sunflower making ten playdough math center is a great fit for first grade!

Making Ten Playdough Math Center

Any time I can make a resource hands-on, I jump at the chance.

And because you can use this with several kinds of manipulatives, it’s versatile. Which is great if you’re still trying to get your classroom supplies sorted at the start of the year.

Playdough Adding to Ten Math Center

Read on to see how to get your copy of this resource – free!

And, for more fun in the sun, take a look at our simple Coffee Filter Crab Craft!

Use playdough to add up to ten with this sunflower themed playdough math center!

Sunflower Making Ten Playdough Math Center

To use this early math center, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Laminator (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Playdough
Making Ten Playdough Math Center for Early Elementary

This resource includes ten sunflower addition circle cards – each displays a pair of numbers that equal a sum of 10.

There are also ten yellow ten frames inside.

Sunflower Make Ten Math Center

You can print the resource with regular printer paper if you’re only planning to use it once.

But if you intend to reuse it (like most of us teachers do), laminate the cards and ten frames before you cut them out.

How to Use The Making Ten Playdough Math Center

When you’re ready to begin this activity, ask your class about how we add numbers to make ten. If they’ve never done it before, have them hold up all ten fingers.

Walk them through adding a couple of different numbers to make ten.

For example, you could say: “Hold up all ten fingers. We’re going to count out three together. As we count each one, put that finger down. 1-2-3.”

Adding to Make Ten Math Center

They should have seven fingers still extended. Use this to show that 3+7 = 10. Repeat with a few other combinations.

Now you can demonstrate the activity.

At the center, put down an addition circle card and a ten frame. Use two different colors of playdough.

Make enough playdough balls to represent the first numeral. Then use the second color to make playdough balls that represent the second numeral.

Making Ten Math Center for Early Elementary

Show students how to count each group and then add them all up to make ten.

If you don’t have playdough, you can use just about any math manipulative you can think of.

Coins, buttons, stickers, math counters – even LEGO blocks or drawing circles with dry erase markers would work well.

Scroll down to get your copy of this Sunflower Making Ten Math Center!

Take a look at these other early math activities for centers!

Help early learners recognize plane shapes with this fun ice cream kindergarten shape sorting activity!
This printable cupcake themed Spanish number word matching activity is a perfect fit for math centers!
This apple counting to ten math center for kindergarten is an excellent way to welcome students back to school with fun counting practice!
Sunflower Playdough Making Ten Math Center

To get your copy of this sunflower adding to make ten center, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming this Sunday!

Click here to subscribe

>>> Sunflower Make Ten Playdough Center <<<

Filed Under: Math, Teaching Printables Tagged With: math, math centers

Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft for Kids

April 12, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you been studying butterfly life cycles with your students?

I always love this topic, because it’s so cool for kids to see how animals grow to become adults – just like they’re doing.

If you’re looking for a hands-on way to reinforce this concept, this paper plate butterfly life cycle craft is perfect!

Easy Butterfly Life Cycle Craft for Kids

With this easy science craft for kids, you can practice fine motor skills, get some artistic practice, and learn a science lesson. Win!

Simple Paper Plate Butterfly Craft

Read on to get the full project instructions and to pick up the printable template you’ll need to make this craft.

Need more ways to teach this to your class? Don’t miss our printable Butterfly Life Cycle Sequencing Activity!

Learn about how butterflies grow with this fun and easy butterfly life cycle craft for kids!

Easy Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft

To make this easy butterfly life cycle craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Construction paper
  • Washable markers
  • Pencil
  • Craft glue
  • Paper plate
  • Printable Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Template
Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft

To get started, print out the Butterfly Craft Template, which includes the pieces you’ll need to make this project.

Use scissors to cut out the pieces. Then lay them on construction paper and use a pencil to trace each outline.

Caterpillar Craft Template Pieces

Cut out those pieces and you’re ready to get to work!

If you’re doing this with several children, you can prepare the body pieces beforehand. Then students can simply assemble the craft on their own.

How to Make the Paper Plate Life Cycle Craft

This butterfly life cycle craft project features four stages: egg, chrysalis, caterpillar, butterfly.

Start by assembling the egg stage.

Egg Stage Life Cycle Craft

Glue the leaves onto the branch piece. Then glue the three “eggs” on top.

Chrysalis Life Stage Craft

Now, move on to the chrysalis. Glue the chrysalis pod onto the lower branch, then attach the rounded corner on the left side.

If you like, you can use a marker to add ribbed lines along the right side.

Making a Paper Caterpillar

Now it’s time to assemble the caterpillar!

Start by gluing the antennae and legs onto the body pieces.

How to Make a Paper Caterpillar

Then use glue to attach the body pieces together and form the caterpillar.

Simple Caterpillar Craft for Kids

Add a happy face with a marker.

Butterfly Craft Paper Template Pieces

We can finally make the butterfly!

Glue the wing sections onto the wing template. Then glue the body section in the center of the wing template.

Add a happy face to the butterfly.

Butterfly Life Cycle Stages Craft

Once you’ve assembled all four life cycle stages, it’s time to place them in the right order.

Assembling the Butterfly Life Cycle Craft

Start by cutting out a piece of construction paper to fit inside the paper plate.

This is a good point to talk with students and ask:

  • Which stage is the first in the butterfly life cycle?
  • After that, which stage comes next?
Simple Butterfly Life Cycle Craft for Kids

Proceed through the entire cycle and, once students have identified the correct order, have them glue the stages onto the plate.

Butterfly Life Cycle Paper Plate Craft

And we’re done!

Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft for Kids

It’s a craft, a science project, and a fine motor skill strengthener – all in one!

Get the printable project instructions below.

Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft for Kids

Paper Plate Butterfly Life Cycle Craft

Learn about how butterflies grow from egg to adult with this fun paper plate butterfly life cycle craft!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • Printer paper
  • Construction paper
  • Washable markers
  • Pencil
  • Craft glue
  • Paper plate

Tools

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Child-safe scissors

Instructions

  1. Start by printing out the Printable Butterfly Life Cycle Craft Template.
  2. Cut out the template pieces.
  3. Trace the pieces onto construction paper.
  4. Cut out the construction paper pieces.
  5. Assemble the egg stage: Glue the leaves onto the first branch piece. Add the eggs on the leaf.
  6. Assemble the chrysalis stage: Glue the chrysalis pod onto the second branch piece. Add the rounded section to the left side.
  7. Assemble the caterpillar stage: Glue the antennae and legs onto the body circles. Glue the body circles together to form the caterpillar. Use a marker to draw a happy face.
  8. Assemble the butterfly stage: Glue the wing sections onto the wing template. Glue the body section in the center of the wing template. Use a marker to draw a happy face.
  9. Cut out a piece of construction paper to fit the center of the paper plate. Glue it down.
  10. Add the life cycle stages to the paper plate in the following order: butterfly at the top, then egg stage on the right side, caterpillar on the bottom, and chrysalis on the left side.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
    Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
  • SunWorks Construction Paper, 100 Sheets
    SunWorks Construction Paper, 100 Sheets
  • Fiskars Kids Scissors Softgrip Blunt-tip
    Fiskars Kids Scissors Softgrip Blunt-tip
© Selena Robinson
Project Type: Paper Crafts / Category: Crafts

Try some of these other spring craft projects for kids!

Gather up a few basic craft supplies and make this easy coffee filter frog craft for kids!
Make a fun spring animal craft with this easy toilet paper roll ladybug craft with wings that move!
This simple paper bee craft is a fun way to make an easy spring or summer craft with kids!

Filed Under: Crafts, Science Tagged With: crafts for kids, life cycle

Flower Life Cycle Sequencing Activity for Kids

March 29, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Are the flowers blooming where you are?

We always have an early blooming period before winter actually ends and then another frost before spring begins.

Now, though, we’re seeing flowers begin to bloom for the season.

So I wanted to share a printable science resource that’s perfect for spring – this flower life cycle sequencing activity!

Fun Flower Life Cycle Sequencing Activity for Kids

This is a great way to teach early learners how flowers grow from seed to plant!

And because it’s interactive, it makes a fantastic science center activity.

Teaching students how flowers grow

Read on to see how to get your copy.

And, for more fun with flowers, try our simple Coffee Filter Flower Craft for kids!

Learn how flowers grow from seed to plant with this hands-on flower life cycle sequencing activity!

Flower Life Cycle Sequencing Activity for Kids

To use this flower life cycle sequencing activity with students, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Laminator (optional)
  • Hook and loop adhesive coins (optional)
  • Dry erase markers (optional)
Easy Flower Life Cycle Sequencing Activity for Early Grades

This resource includes a flower life cycle mat, along with life stage circles.

There is a completed version inside that you can use to teach this sequence to your students.

Afterwards, they can practice completing the cycle in the correct order for themselves.

Labeling Stages of the Flower Life Cycle

Students who are already writing can use the labeling version to write the name of each step in the cycle.

Coloring the Life Cycle of a Flower

A full blackline version is included too!

How to Teach Early Learners about the Flower Life Cycle

This resource features a teaching script to help you introduce this topic to your class.

After you’ve opened with an initial discussion, you can use this activity in a few ways.

Flower Life Cycle Stage Labels

Use the labeled circles for students who are already reading words on their own.

Flower Life Cycle Sequencing Activity Labels

The unlabeled circles are best for young or pre-reading students. They’d be good for ELL learners also!

Flower Life Cycle Labeling Activity

If you’re using the labeling version of this flower life cycle sequencing activity, you can laminate the pages and let students write the names with dry erase markers.

Then you can just wipe them down and reuse them with the next group.

Using the Flower Life Cycle Activity at Centers

This is also a fantastic activity for science centers! Print the completed life cycle and then let students recreate the correct sequence on their own mat.

See this resource in action in the video below!

Scroll down to get your copy of this Flower Life Cycle Sequencing Activity!

Don’t miss these other spring teaching ideas for early grades!

Use this printable preschool spring activity calendar to plan 12 weeks of spring-themed activities for early learners!
This mini frog life cycle coloring book is so cute for spring animal science lessons!
Share this list of 50 spring books for kids with early readers!
Learning about the Flower Life Cycle

To get your copy of this flower life cycle activity for early grades, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers store or pick it up below!

Filed Under: Science, Teaching Printables Tagged With: life cycle, science printables

20 Fun Ladybug Books for Kids to Read

March 15, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

When it comes to insects, I’m a bit of a fraidy cat.

I don’t mind teaching my students about them and I realize the valuable role they play in our ecosystems.

I just don’t want them anywhere near me.

Except for butterflies and ladybugs. In fact, I can actually pick a ladybug up without being scared.

So I quite enjoyed putting together this list of fun ladybug books for kids!

20 Fun Ladybug Books for Kids to Read

If you are planning a spring or insect unit with your class anytime soon, these children’s books about ladybugs will be a perfect fit!

Read on to see the full list.

And, for more ways to learn about insects, don’t miss our printable Butterfly Life Cycle Activity!

Teach early learners about ladybugs this spring with this list of 20 fun ladybug books for kids to read! Great for a spring or insect unit in early grades!

20 Fun Ladybug Books for Kids to Read

This list of kids’ books features both fiction and nonfiction selections for early ages.

There are stories about ladybugs and books that teach students about how ladybugs live and grow.

Fun Ladybug Picture Books for Kids

All of the books feature beautiful pictures that will make them engaging for young readers.

How to Use These Books with Early Learners

When you’re ready to read a few of these with your class, start by finding out how much your students already know about ladybugs.

Ask:

  • Has anyone seen a ladybug?
  • What do ladybugs look like?
  • What do you think ladybugs eat?
  • Can ladybugs fly?
Fun Books about Ladybugs for Kids to Read

After you discuss ladybugs together, pick out a few answers your students have given and call back to them as you read.

If your students are unfamiliar with ladybugs, you may want to read a non-fiction book that gives basic ladybug facts. Once they have learned a bit about them, try a storybook or two featuring a ladybug character.

See the full list of books about ladybugs below!

20 Fun Ladybug Books for Kids to Read

Get to know ladybugs, along with your early learners, with this list of 20 fun ladybug books for kids to read!

There are both fiction and non-fiction selections included, but all of the books feature gorgeous pictures that are engaging for young readers!

1

It's a Good Thing There Are Ladybugs by Joanne Mattern

Photo Credit: Amazon
2

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

Photo Credit: Amazon
3

The Life Cycle of a Ladybug by Colleen Sexton

Photo Credit: Amazon
4

Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

Photo Credit: Amazon
5

Lily The Ladybug by Brickmade Books

Photo Credit: Amazon
6

Ladybugs by Gail Gibbons

Photo Credit: Amazon
7

Ladybugs: Animals That Make a Difference! by Ashley Lee

Photo Credit: Amazon
8

Will Ladybug Hug? by Hilary Leung

Photo Credit: Amazon
9

You're My Little Cuddle Bug by Nicola Edwards

Photo Credit: Amazon
10

Lu, the Little Ladybug That Was Afraid to Fly by Yuliya Barannikova

Photo Credit: Amazon
11

A Ladybug's Life by John Himmelman

Photo Credit: Amazon
12

Lots of Ladybugs!: Counting by Fives by Michael Dahl

Photo Credit: Amazon
13

Colors with Ladybug by DK Books

Photo Credit: Amazon
14

The Brave Ladybug by Adenir Almeida

Photo Credit: Amazon
15

Are You A Ladybug? by Judy Allen

Photo Credit: Amazon
16

The Ladybug Who Lost Her Spots by Marybeth Stevens

Photo Credit: Amazon
17

Yoo-Hoo, Ladybug! by Mem Fox

Photo Credit: Amazon
18

Little Ladybug: Finger Puppet Book by Chronicle Books

Photo Credit: Amazon
19

The Very Lazy Ladybug by Isobel Finn

Photo Credit: Amazon
20

Counting with a Ladybug by DK Books

Photo Credit: Amazon

Try some of these other insect learning ideas and activities!

Make a fun spring animal craft with this easy toilet paper roll ladybug craft with wings that move!
This butterfly life cycle activity is such a fun way to help kids learn how butterflies grow! Great for science during spring and summer!
These bug identification printables are so fun for teaching kids about common insect species in the neighborhood!

Filed Under: Book Lists, Reading Tagged With: books, books for kids

Easy Coffee Filter Frog Craft for Kids

March 8, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Springtime is here and before long we’ll be seeing lots of frogs hopping around!

Frogs are a fun early learning theme for preschool and kindergarten. So if you’re looking for a simple frog art project, this coffee filter frog craft is a perfect fit!

Easy Coffee Filter Frog Craft for Kids

You’ll only need a few crafting supplies to make this.

And there’s a free printable template you can grab too!

Easy Frog Craft for Kids to Make

Read on to get the full project details.

Want to learn more about frogs? Take a look at our simple frog unit for more ways to teach early learners about these amphibians!

Gather up a few basic craft supplies and make this easy coffee filter frog craft for kids!

Easy Coffee Filter Frog Craft for Kids

To make this easy frog craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • White basket coffee filter
  • Construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Washable markers
  • Printable Coffee Filter Frog Craft Template (available in blackline and color)
Making a Simple Coffee Filter Frog

After you print the craft template, choose either the blackline or color version to use.

Coffee Filter Frog Craft Printable Template

If you want your students to color the frog pieces for themselves, use the blackline version and hand out crayons or colored pencils.

If you’re short on time or working with very young children, the color version saves you a step.

How to Make a Simple Frog Craft for Kids

Once you’ve cut out your template pieces, it’s time to get started!

Easy Paper Frog Kids Craft

Color the white basket coffee filter green.

Lay the filter in the center of the piece of construction paper, but don’t glue it down yet.

Simple Frog Craft to Make with Kids

Place the frog feet on either side underneath the bottom edge of the coffee filter. Glue them down.

Then place the frog legs on either side underneath the side of the coffee filter. Glue them down.

You want them to appear behind the frog’s body (the coffee filter).

How to Make a Simple Frog Craft

Once you have the feet and legs glued in place, lay the coffee filter on top of both and glue it down.

Glue the eyes onto the top edge of the filter.

Cute Coffee Filter Frog Craft for Kids

Now – just use a marker to add a big smile and you’re done!

Making a Simple Coffee Filter Frog Craft

You can also add a few cattails or lily pads, if you like.

Simple Paper Frog Craft for Kids

Watch me make this coffee filter frog craft in the video below!

Get a printable copy of the coffee filter frog craft instructions below!

Easy Coffee Filter Frog Craft for Kids

Simple Paper Frog Craft for Kids

Make this easy coffee filter frog craft with early learners as part of a spring or pond unit!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • Printer paper
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • White basket coffee filter
  • Construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Washable markers
  • Printable Coffee Filter Frog Craft Template (available in blackline and color)

Tools

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Child-safe scissors

Instructions

  1. Begin by printing the Coffee Filter Frog Craft Template (available in blackline or color).
  2. If using the blackline version, have students color in the pieces with crayons or colored pencils.
  3. Use child-safe scissors to cut out the template pieces.
  4. Color the coffee filter green and lay it onto the center of a piece of construction paper. (Do not glue it down yet.)
  5. Place the frog feet pieces underneath the bottom edge of the coffee filter. Glue them in place.
  6. Place the frog legs on either side underneath the side edges of the coffee filter. Glue them in place.
  7. Lay the coffee filter on top of the feet and legs and glue it down to form the frog's body.
  8. Place the frog's eyes on the top edge of the coffee filter. Glue them in place.
  9. Use a marker to draw a big smile on the frog's face.
  10. Add any other decorations to the background with markers or crayons.

Notes

  • Let students add their own ideas to this craft by using different colors or adding unique facial expressions.
  • If you're making this craft as a class project for parent night, add a speech bubble for kids to fill in with their own lines they might have the frog say.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
    Epson EcoTank ET-3760 Wireless Color All-in-One Supertank Printer
  • Fiskars Kids Scissors Softgrip Blunt-tip
    Fiskars Kids Scissors Softgrip Blunt-tip
  • Melitta 600 Coffee Filters, Basket, Pack of 600, White
    Melitta 600 Coffee Filters, Basket, Pack of 600, White
© Selena Robinson
Project Type: Paper Crafts / Category: Crafts

Try some of these other spring animal crafts!

Make a fun spring animal craft with this easy toilet paper roll ladybug craft with wings that move!
Make this fun and easy origami pig bookmark craft as a fall art project!
This simple coffee filter turtle craft is a fun spring or summer craft for kids to make!

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: coffee filter crafts, coffee filter crafts for kids

Printable Mini Frog Life Cycle Book for Kids

March 3, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Learning about how animals grow is always a fun unit for early learners.

Which is why I wanted to share this printable mini frog life cycle kids can color for themselves!

Frog Life Cycle Mini Coloring Book for Kids

This printable animal science resource is a perfect way to talk about the life cycle of frogs with kindergartners and first graders.

Plus, you can even use it for a spring unit or a spring animal unit you may be planning.

Frog Life Cycle Coloring Book for Kids

Read on to see how to get your copy – free!

And, be sure to take a look at how printable frog life cycle sequencing activity as well!

This mini frog life cycle coloring book is so cute for spring animal science lessons!

Printable Mini Frog Life Cycle Coloring Book for Kids

To use this coloring book, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Colored pencils or crayons
  • Stapler
Frog Life Cycle Coloring Activity

After you’ve printed all of the pages, you can hand them out to students.

Learning about the Frog Life Cycle

Walk them through each life stage on the coloring sheets – starting with the egg stage and progressing through to the adult frog stage.

Printable Frog Life Cycle Coloring Book

Ask your class to recite the stages in order with you to make sure they understand the correct order.

How to Make a Frog Life Cycle Book with Early Learners

To make this mini book together, let the students color each page.

Printable Frog Mini Coloring Book

Then, they can use child-safe scissors to cut out each one and place them in a stack.

Make sure they put the pages in the correct order!

How Frogs Grow for Kids

Staple the pages together on the left edge and have them add their name to the front.

Done!

Get a look at the completed frog life cycle book in the video below!

Scroll down to get your copy of this mini frog life cycle book!

Take a look at these other spring learning ideas for early grades!

Use this printable plant growing journal to help early learners document the ways plants grow at home or in the classroom!
These spring sight words learning cards are great for building reading skills!
Teach students how to care for the planet with these books about recycling for kids to read!
Making a Frog Life Cycle Coloring Book

To get your copy of this free mini coloring book for kids, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our newsletter – coming this Sunday!

Click here to subscribe

>>> Frog Life Cycle Coloring Book <<<

Filed Under: Science, Teaching Printables Tagged With: life cycle, science

Simple Frog Unit for Early Elementary Grades

March 1, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

As the weather warms, we start to see frogs in our neighborhood.

Since we live in the South, we have fairly wet springs and humid summers. So we always have frogs sticking to the back of our patio door from April to September.

If you’ll be studying animals with your class during spring, this simple frog unit is an easy way to introduce your students to these amphibians!

Simple Frog Unit for Early Elementary Students

Below you’ll see a frog facts video, frog activities for kids, and a few frog books to read as well.

Be sure to check out our printable Frog Life Cycle Sequencing Activity too!

Get to know these fun amphibians with this simple frog unit for early elementary grades!

Simple Frog Unit for Early Elementary Students

Get to know more about frogs with this simple frog facts for kids video from the San Diego Zoo!

After watching it with your students, ask the questions that follow and see if they can recall the answers.

  1. What does the word amphibian mean? (Answer: double life)
  2. How do frogs breathe in the water? (Answer: Through their skin.)
  3. Where do most frogs live? (Answer: In the tropical rainforest.)
  4. What is camouflage? (Answer: Colors and markings that help frogs blend in to their surroundings.)
  5. How do frogs move around? (Answer: By hopping and climbing)
  6. How do frogs’ feet stick? (Answer: The mucus between the bumps on their toes helps them stick to surfaces.)
  7. Why do frogs have webbed feet? (Answer: It helps them swim.)
  8. What do frogs eat? (Answer: Insects, snails, worms, and spiders)

Fun Frog Activities for Early Elementary Students

Extend your lesson about frogs with these early elementary frog activities for kids!

Making a Frog Life Cycle Coloring Book
  • Frog Life Cycle Mini Coloring Book
  • Frog Count One More and One Less Lesson
  • Frog Life Cycle Sequencing Activity

Frog Books for Early Elementary Learners

When you’re ready to teach your class some frog facts for kids, these books can help!

Fun Frog Books for Early Elementary Students

They’re filled with colorful pictures that make learning about these animals engaging for young readers.

Note: Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

  • The Wide-Mouthed Frog by Keith Faulkner
  • National Geographic Kids: Explore My World – Frogs
  • I Am A Frog by Rebecca and James McDonald
  • Fanatical about Frogs by Owen Davey
  • DK: Everything You Need to Know about Frogs and Other Slippery Creatures

See even more frog books for early learners in our roundup of preschool books about frogs!

When you’re preparing to teach your students about amphibians, this unit about frogs can help make your lesson planning a breeze.

Did you enjoy this simple frog unit for early elementary? Take a look at these other spring learning ideas!

Use this printable plant growing journal to help early learners document the ways plants grow at home or in the classroom!
This spring counting to ten math center is excellent for kindergartners to use during spring months!
These spring sight words learning cards are great for building reading skills!

Filed Under: Unit Studies Tagged With: unit studies

Spring Fun! Preschool Spring Activity Calendar

February 24, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you noticed any signs of spring in your area?

Here the weather is already warming and we’re seeing more rain showers. Plus, the bees are starting to buzz around again.

Since spring is nearly here, I thought this printable preschool spring activity calendar would be a fun resource to share!

Fun Spring Preschool Activity Calendar for Kids

Using this activity planner can be a huge time-saver if you’re planning preschool lessons during spring.

And it’s free to download!

Read on to get your copy. And, take a look at our list of 50 spring books for kids too!

Use this printable preschool spring activity calendar to plan 12 weeks of spring-themed activities for early learners!

Printable Preschool Spring Activity Calendar for Kids

To use this spring preschool activity planner, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are used below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Colored pencils (optional)
  • Digital device (optional)
Planning 12 Weeks of Spring Preschool Activities

This preschool lesson plan features 12 spring-related themes, so you can use it for up to twelve weeks of lessons.

For each week, you’ll see five different activities to complete.

12 Week Spring Preschool Activity Plan

In the digital download, you’ll get two versions (color and blackline) with linked text.

If the text is blue, that means you can click it to be taken directly to the resource or activity.

Printable Spring Activity Calendar for Preschoolers

There are also two versions (color and blackline) with plain text, which are great if you intend to print the calendar out.

How to Use a Spring Preschool Activity Calendar with Early Learners

Here are a couple of ways to make use of this spring activity planner:

Spring Themed Preschool Activity Calendar

Print the unlinked version out and hang it up on the wall of your classroom or learning space.

As you complete each activity, let students color in the block. See how many you can try this spring!

You can also send this home with students for parents to try as well.

Using a Spring Activity Calendar for Preschool

If you’re using the linked version on a digital device, just save the file to your hard drive. Each day, click the blue link and take a look at the idea or activity.

You can give the students copies of the unlinked version for them to check off too!

Scroll down to get your copy of this printable preschool spring activity calendar – free!

Take a look at these other spring teaching ideas for early grades!

Use this printable plant growing journal to help early learners document the ways plants grow at home or in the classroom!
Share this list of 50 spring books for kids with early readers!
Make this easy toilet paper roll chick craft with kids this spring!
Printable Preschool Spring Activity Calendar

To get your copy of Spring Fun! a spring activity planner for preschoolers, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter this Sunday.

NOTE: If you have a pop-up blocker installed in your web browser, disable it in order to see the widget where you can enter your email address.

Click here to subscribe

>>> Spring Pre-K Activity Calendar <<<

Filed Under: Preschool, Teaching Printables Tagged With: activity calendar, preschool, spring

Over 25 Fun Shape Books for Kids to Read

February 22, 2022 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Introducing shapes is one of my favorite early learning concepts.

They’re so fun to teach because they’re all around us! And that makes it a great lesson for getting kids involved and applying what they learn in real life.

You can also talk about shapes during read-aloud time. These fun shape books for kids to read are a great place to start!

Over 25 Fun Shape Books for Kids to Read

This list is filled with beautiful picture books that talk about shapes in real life and in stories.

Read on to see all of the selections.

And, if you’re looking for a way to practice recognizing shapes with students, take a look at our Shape Sorting Activity Mats too!

Teach kids about shapes with these fun shape books for kids to read!

Over 25 Fun Shape Books for Kids to Read

This list of shape-themed children’s books is such a fun way to combine math and reading in early grades.

Each of the selections features either a fictional story involving shapes or a colorful non-fiction lesson about identifying each one.

Over 25 Books about Shapes for Kids

As you look through the list, try to find three or four that might resonate with your students in particular.

For example, if your school is close to a metropolis, the book “City Shapes” might be an especially good fit. Or, if you’ll be studying spiders soon, try the book “Walter’s Wonderful Web”.

How to Share These Books with Early Learners

A simple way to use these is to talk about the shapes your students already know.

Ask:

  • What shapes can you see around the classroom?
  • This shape has three sides. What is its name?
  • Can you think of a shape that has no sides?
Over 25 Shape Books for Kids

As you discuss this topic with your class, look for answers you can call back to as you read the books together.

See the list of shape books for kids below!

Over 25 Fun Shape Books for Kids to Read

Introduce early learners to all kinds of shapes with these lovely children's picture books about shapes!

Note: This list contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.

1

Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Photo Credit: Amazon
2

Big Box of Shapes (Basic Concepts)

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3

Walter's Wonderful Web: A First Book About Shapes

Photo Credit: Amazon
4

City Shapes by Diana Murray

Photo Credit: Amazon
5

I spy with my little eye... SHAPES by Maria Yiangou

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6

The Book of Cute Shapes

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7

National Geographic Kids Look and Learn: Shapes!

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8

Round Is a Tortilla: A Book of Shapes by Roseanne Thong

Photo Credit: Amazon
9

When a Line Bends . . . A Shape Begins by Rhonda Gowler Greene

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10

Books That Drive Kids CRAZY!: This Is a Ball by Beck & Matt Stanton

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11

My First Shapes with Frank Lloyd Wright

Photo Credit: Amazon
12

My Shape is Sam by Amanda Jackson

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13

Snippets: A Story about Paper Shapes by Diane Alber

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14

Circus Shapes by Stuart J. Murphy

Photo Credit: Amazon
15

My Turn To Learn Shapes by Natalie Marshall

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16

Tangled: A Story About Shapes by Anne Miranda

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17

This Is a Book of Shapes by Kenneth Kraegel

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18

My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle

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19

Shapes by John J. Reiss

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20

Shape by Shape by Use McDonald

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21

Wild About Shapes by Jeremie Fischer

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22

Paris: A Book of Shapes by Ashley Evanson

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23

Shapes in the Sky: A Book About Clouds by Josepha Sherman

Photo Credit: Amazon
24

Captain Invincible and the Space Shapes by Stuart J. Murphy

Photo Credit: Amazon
25

Brown Rabbit's Shapes by Alan Baker

Photo Credit: Amazon
26

Zac the Robot: A Book About Shapes by Stephanie Lanier

Photo Credit: Amazon

Take a look at these other ideas for teaching about shapes!

Get some early math practice with little ones and make this simple shape train craft!
Use these fun and simple farm themed shape mats to help early learners practice forming eight different shapes!
These apple seek shape sorting worksheets are such a fun way to help early learners practice shape recognition!

Filed Under: Book Lists, Reading Tagged With: books for kids, kids books

Printable Plant Growing Journal for Kids

February 15, 2022 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Do you remember growing your first plant?

I do. We did a plant growing experiment when I was in elementary school and all of us grew sprouts from beans.

Then we planted the sprouts in dirt-filled styrofoam cups and watched them grow next to the windowsill.

I had that experiment in mind when I decided to make this printable mini plant growing journal!

Fun Mini Plant Growing Journal for Kids

If you’re working on a spring or plant unit, this is a great (and simple) resource to add.

And it complements a plant growing experiment perfectly!

Plant Growing Journal for Early Learners

Keep reading to see how to get your copy – free!

And, for more about how plants grow, take a look at our list of children’s books about flowers!

Use this printable plant growing journal to help early learners document the ways plants grow at home or in the classroom!

Mini Plant Growing Journal for Kids

To use this mini picture journal, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are listed below. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Pencils
  • Colored pencils or crayons
Printable Mini Plant Journal

This printable is a foldable four-page journal for early elementary students to document how their plants grow.

On each page, they can draw what the plant looks like after two, three, and four weeks.

Printable Plant Coloring Journal for Kids

Both color and blackline versions are included.

How to Use the Plant Growing Journal with Early Learners

A simple way to use this is ask the class some of these questions:

  • Does anyone know how a plant grows?
  • Do any of you have plants at home?
  • What do you think a plant needs to grow?
Printable Plant Growing Journal for Kids

As you discuss the questions with your class, talk about how plants begin as seeds and then gradually grow over time – thanks to water, sunlight, and good soil.

How to Grow Plants with Early Learners

If you decide to do a plant-growing experiment in the classroom, you can hand the journals out on the first day.

Then have the students report on their plant’s progress each week afterwards.

Scroll down to get your copy of this mini growing journal – free!

Try some of these other spring teaching ideas!

Share this list of 50 spring books for kids with early readers!
Make this easy toilet paper roll chick craft with kids this spring!
These spring sight words learning cards are great for building reading skills!
Printable Mini Plant Journal for Kids

To get your copy of this printable Plant Growing Journal, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter this Sunday!

Click here to subscribe

>>> Mini Grow A Plant Journal for Kids <<<

Filed Under: Homeschooling Printables, Teaching Printables Tagged With: life cycle, science

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Hi! I'm Selena, a teacher and a veteran homeschool mom to four. I'm so glad you're here!
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