Monday, 11 August 2014

School Bus Sorting Game with Post-it Notes

School Bus Sorting Game - Free Printable

My daughter has been begging me for several weeks to make a Wheels on the Bus game, so I figured it would be perfect for Back to School for kids to practice and brush up on different concepts before they start school again.

I wanted to make this a customizable game that kids of different ages and skill levels can use as a fun learning activity, so I decided to use Post-it Notes! This makes it extra fun for kids because they will love to peel and stick these colorful pieces of paper.

You can use this game to practice color recognition, letters, numbers, sight words, shapes, word families or pretty much anything else that can be sorted. All you need is this Free printable school bus and 5 pads of 3"x3" Post-it Notes!

School Bus Sorting Game - Free Printable

STEP 1: Click here to Print out the Free Printable school bus. It comes in 2 pages, so you will have to tape the two sheets together to create the school bus.

STEP 2: Cover the windows of the bus with one Post-it Note on each window.  Use a marker or sharpie to write the numbers, letters, words, etc. that you want your child to sort.

STEP 3: Take your 5 pads of Post-it Notes and write all the numbers, letters, words, etc on each page of the pads.

STEP 4: Your child will peel and stick the Post-it Notes on the correct window!


School Bus Sorting Game - Free Printable
 
As you can see there are so many ways you can play this game!
 
School Bus Sorting Game - Free Printable
 
Here are some more Free Printable Sorting Games:
 
 

Wednesday, 6 August 2014

Eric Carle & Pirates (Love to Learn Linky #4)

Eric Carle & Pirates: Love to Learn Linky
 
Welcome to Love to Learn Linky #4! My favorite posts linked up last week have to do with Eric Carle books... and pirates!
 
Eric Carle & Pirates: Love to Learn Linky
Looking for activities based on Eric Carle books? Teacher Types compiled a great list of resources, ideas and free printables for some of Eric Carle's most popular stories.
 
 
Eric Carle & Pirates: Love to Learn Linky
Check out this adorable sensory bin from rubber boots and elf shoes for another great Eric Carle activity, plus more free printable resources for The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
 

Eric Carle & Pirates: Love to Learn Linky
Where Imagination Grows shows us how to make this amazing Pirate Slime for tons of sensory fun!
 

Eric Carle & Pirates: Love to Learn Linky
 Find out how to make this beautiful pirate treasure from Kitchen Floor Crafts and all the different learning activities you can do with it!
 
Visit my co-hosts to see all the other features!

Learning Sensory Activities from One Time Through
Love to Learn Book Activities from Left Brain Craft Brain
Water Play, Pirates, and the Love to Learn Linky from A Little Pinch of Perfect

If you were featured, grab a button!

Love to Learn Linky

LOVE TO LEARN LINKY
Love to Learn Linky

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!
 
Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.
 
Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)
 

The Love to Learn Linky is Hosted by:

Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.
 
 
Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.
 
 
http://www.alittlepinchofperfect.blogspot.com/ A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.
 
One Time Through: Sue is an Elementary School Teacher currently on leave to be at home with her preschooler son.  She shares ideas for connecting and learning with kids through meaningful, play-based activities that nurture curiosity and creativity.
 
Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:
 
  • Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

  • Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.



  • Post our button on your site.

  • By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!
Love to Learn Linky


 

Monday, 4 August 2014

M is for Monster: Craft & Activity + $50 Giveaway!

Monster Alphabet Craft & Activity
This post is sponsored by Dollar Tree. All opinions are my own.
 
Teaching my daughter letters has been a bit of a challenge. It's just not something that interests her. So I have to get really creative these days to come up with projects that are so fun, she forgets she is learning! Luckily, I got the opportunity to make this awesome project from the Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club! After we made this adorable Monster box craft, I came up with a fun little game to practice letter recognition and letter sounds!
 
Monster Alphabet Craft & Activity
 
To create this Monster box craft, you will need the following supplies:
 
  • tissue box (Dollar Tree)
  • paint (optional)
  • circle labeling stickers (Dollar Tree)
  • construction paper (Dollar Tree)
  • googly eyes (Dollar Tree)
  • tape or glue (Dollar Tree)
 
The instructions for making this Monster box can be found at the Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club. Membership is completely FREE! You'll find tons of crafts, recipes, décor, tips, contests, insider information, and frugal ideas. The content changes every month, so you'll have lots of fresh ideas for each season, holiday or just every day fun! All the materials can be purchased from Dollar Tree, and you can even print out the project sheets to take with you to the store as a convenient shopping list!
 
This Monster box was such a cute craft, and super easy for a toddler or preschooler to make. (I helped with the eyes and teeth, but that's about it)
 
As we were making the Monster, I told my daughter that this Monster likes to eat only letter M's and things that begin with M. It won't eat anything else that begins with a different letter or sound! Those "rules" set us up for some fun activities!
 
For the first activity, I took out some letter stickers that I had in my craft supplies. But you can also use letter tiles, letter magnets, or any other moveable alphabet pieces that you have on hand.  Fortunately, we had a lot of letter M's, so I gave my daughter a bunch of letters to feed to the Monster (about half of them were M's and half were other letters). She took one letter at a time, called out what the letter was, and determined whether the Monster would eat it or not. This is a great game for letter recognition and can be modified depending on what materials you have!
 
Monster Alphabet Craft & Activity
 
For the next game, I collected a bunch of small objects and toys from around the house. I tried to find as many things as I could that start with the M sound. I found a mirror, a mitten, a monkey toy, play money, a marker, Minnie mouse, a small map, a mouth and a moon. I also added a bunch of other small objects that don't begin with an M sound. One by one, she identified each object and if that object started with an M sound or not, and fed the correct ones to the Monster.
 
Monster Alphabet Craft & Activity
 
This game can be modified for a lot of different learning activities, whether you want your child to practice letters, numbers, sight words, colors, etc.
 
For more fun crafts and ideas like this one, sign up for Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club. It's FREE! As if that wasn't enough, I'm giving away a $50 Dollar Tree gift card to one of my lucky readers! Think of all the fun projects you can make with that!
 
To enter the giveaway, all you have to do is sign up for Dollar Tree Value Seekers Club and tell me which email address you used to sign up, using the Rafflecopter below. I will notify the winner by email. Good luck!
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway
  
 

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

Fine Motor Fun (Love to Learn Linky #3)

Fine Motor Fun: Love to Learn Linky
 
Welcome to Love to Learn Linky #3! I am happy to announce that we have a 4th co-host joining us: One Time Through! Readers - that means you have another awesome blog to follow. Bloggers - that means even more exposure for you and more chances of being featured!

Today's features from last week are all about unique and fun ways to practice fine motor skills!

Fine Motor Fun: Love to Learn Linky

I love this Flower Cutting activity from Dabbling Momma. What a creative way to practice scissor skills!

Fine Motor Fun: Love to Learn Linky

Have you ever used kinetic sand? We haven't, but this post from Mom Inspired Life convinced me to try it! 10 Ways to Play with Kinetic Sand

Fine Motor Fun: Love to Learn Linky

Simple. Home. Blessings shows us how cooking with kids can be great for fine motor skills, plus you get a yummy reward at the end!

Fine Motor Fun: Love to Learn Linky

For all the dinosaur lovers out there (and what kid isn't), check out how to create a Backyard Dinosaur Dig, plus download an adorable Free Printable Dinosaur Tot Pack from The Kennedy Adventures!

Visit my co-hosts to see all the other features!

ABCs & 123s from One Time Through
5 Garden Play Ideas from Left Brain Craft Brain
Fun Painting Ideas for Kids from A Little Pinch of Perfect

If you were featured, grab a button!

Love to Learn Linky

LOVE TO LEARN LINKY
Love to Learn Linky

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!
 
Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.
 
Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)
 

The Love to Learn Linky is Hosted by:

Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.
 
 
Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.
 
 
http://www.alittlepinchofperfect.blogspot.com/ A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.
 
One Time Through: Sue is an Elementary School Teacher currently on leave to be at home with her preschooler son.  She shares ideas for connecting and learning with kids through meaningful, play-based activities that nurture curiosity and creativity.
 
Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:
 
  • Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

  • Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.



  • Post our button on your site.

  • By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!
Love to Learn Linky


 

Monday, 28 July 2014

Rhyming Sorting Game with Free Printable

Free Printable Rhyming Sorting Game

Why is Rhyming important for preschoolers to learn and practice?

  • It increases their phonological awareness (ability to listen and discriminate between the different sounds that make up words) which is one of the biggest indicators of reading success.

  • It helps them recognize rhythm and patterns in language, which improves their oral language skills.

  • It teaches them to make predictions and anticipate a rhyming word, which is an important reading skill.


There are many ways to practice rhyming with your child:

  • Read lots of rhyming books

  • Read and memorize nursery rhymes

  • Sing and memorize rhyming children's songs

  • Play rhyming games like this one!

This is a Free Printable Rhyming Sorting Game that you can use with children of different levels. For kids who are starting out learning about rhyming, you can have them sort only 2 or 3 groups of cards, while more advanced kids can sort all 6 groups. This is great for both readers and non-readers!

Here is how I played it with my almost 3 year old:

Free Printable Rhyming Sorting Game
I set up 3 groups of cards, then gave her one card at a time to sort in the correct group.

Free Printable Rhyming Sorting Game
I started out by asking her "Does bat rhyme with cat, does bat rhyme with dog, or does bat rhyme with pie?" She was confused at first, so I said "Bat rhymes with cat because it sounds like cat. Bat, cat, bat, cat." I did that for a few cards until she got the hang of it and started doing it on her own.

Free Printable Rhyming Sorting Game

Free Printable Rhyming Sorting Game

Free Printable Rhyming Sorting Game

Click here to download your FREE Printable Rhyming Sorting Cards!

Also check out this fun Alphabet Sorting Game:

Free Printable Alphabet Sorting Game


Wednesday, 23 July 2014

Learning with Nature (Love to Learn Linky #2)

Learning with Nature
 
 I would like to thank all the wonderful and talented bloggers who linked up last week to the debut of Love to Learn Linky! I can't wait to see all your new posts this week!
 
In today's modern world, it is easy to forget the importance of connecting with nature on a regular basis. Research shows that children who have daily contact with nature benefit in many ways: physically, emotionally, socially and intellectually.
 
Even kids who are indoors most of the day can still benefit from incorporating natural materials into their learning activities. Here are some great ideas to inspire you! 
 
Learning with Nature
Stimulating Learning with Rachel has many Garden Maths Ideas using stones, sticks, leaves, pine cones and other found objects to practice math concepts.

 
Learning with Nature
My Nearest and Dearest shows us how to make Natural Paint for Kids from crushing rocks and creating ochre - a natural pigment used for centuries in art, body paint, fabric dye and soap.
 
 
Learning with Nature
 Tired of the same old x-rays and xylophones? eager ed has a unique activity for the letter X!  X is for Xylotheque
 
 
Learning with Nature
Who knew you could learn so much from a strawberry! Check out Dot-to-Dot Connections' Review of Strawberry Craze eBook to see some great ideas!
 
Visit my co-hosts to see all the other features!

4 Ways to Simple Sensory Play from Left Brain Craft Brain
Outdoor Activities for Kids from A Little Pinch of Perfect

If you were featured, grab a button!

Love to Learn Linky

 
LOVE TO LEARN LINKY
Love to Learn Linky

Now it's time for some more links! I hope you'll join me and a couple of friends for a brand new linky party!
 
Bloggers, link up your posts every Thursday and watch as we round them up and share them all over the place.
 
Almost anything goes, we're just hoping your activities teach kids (or us!) something. (science, art, cooking, behavior, crafting, parenting, etc...)
 
The Love to Learn Linky is Hosted by:

Totschooling: Viviana is a blogging mom to a toddler and a preschooler, sharing ideas and resources for early education. She specializes in unique, hands-on printable activities that are educational, fun and inspire creativity in young minds.
 
 
Left Brain Craft Brain: Anne is an ex-engineer, current stay-at-home mama writing about crafty ways to encourage creativity (and brain power!) in our kids. Each of her projects gives kids the chance to learn about a new subject and do something crafty at the same time.
 
 
http://www.alittlepinchofperfect.blogspot.com/ A Little Pinch of Perfect: Katie combines creativity, play, and learning for the perfect mishmash of fun activities that keep kiddos entertained throughout the day. She wholeheartedly believes in the power of play and feels that all activities naturally provide a fun way to learn.
 
Love to Learn Linky Etiquette:
 
  • Posts should be about educating our kids in any way - science, art, cooking, crafts, behavior, parenting, etc. Please keep them family friendly and please no Etsy shops or giveaways unless they are relevant to the topic.

  • Upload your direct post link to the InLinkz widget. Link up to 3 posts.



  • Post our button on your site.

  • By linking up, you agree to have your images shared with credit.

Link up and grab a button!
Love to Learn Linky