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Bee themed products for the classroom
I’ve shared some amazing ideas for learning about bees, but this is definitely one subject where the item being investigated can’t be easily brought into the classroom. Here are some bee themed materials that can be used to safely support learning. All links are affiliates. National Geographic Kids Bees Book Bee Habitat Honeycomb Ice Cube Tray Bee Science and Sensory Materials Beekeeping Dramatic Play set
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Safe ways to explore bees in the classroom
Bees are an excellent topic to explore in the classroom because so many children have a fear of them – and the best way to combat fear is with knowledge! That said, there is a reason to have a healthy fear of bees, being stung HURTS and for some children being stung can come with dangerous allergic reactions. Many preschoolers have never been stung by a bee, so they don’t know if they’re allergic or not – which adds to the uneasiness surrounding bees. All of this means that bees are a topic that requires additional safety considerations when being studied in the classroom. Here are some ways to safely…
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Bee Themed Activities for Preschool
Children have very strong opinions about bees – usually related to the fear of being stung. That’s understandable, most adults spend a fair amount of time warning children to stay away from bees so that they don’t get stung. There is so much more to bees than their defense mechanism though. They’re a super important part of our ecosystem, which makes them a great topic to explore in the classroom. Here are some easy printable activities to support children’s learning in this area. Click on the picture for more information.
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Flower Garden Theme Ideas for Preschool
Planting flowers and watching them grow is a natural activity for any gardening theme, but there are so many other amazing activities that can support learning about all things related to gardening. Some of these lend themselves better to the classroom environment than others. Here are my favorite ideas for exploring flower gardens with preschoolers. Look for flowers in children’s environments – walk around school, bring photos from home and other places that children go often Visit a garden center or nursery Identify different types of flowers Invite someone in to talk about gardening (a local homeowner with a beautiful garden, landscaper, staff from a botanical garden, florist, etc.) Ask…
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Flower Garden Activities for Preschool
Gardening is not one of my natural talents – but I’ve always wished that it was! Growing flowers offers so many amazing learning experiences, from patience and discipline to life cycles and plant science. It’s a staple in the preschool classroom, for good reason! Since actually growing beautiful flowers isn’t a strength of mine, I’ve created a number of printable activities to support children’s learning and understanding when it comes to this particular theme. All of these are available in the Preschool Ponderings TPT store. Click on the image to learn more.
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Classroom Materials for Easter
I just love introducing seasonal materials into the classroom. Children see these things in their homes, but they aren’t always allowed to play with or explore them in the way that they’d really like to. This means that in the classroom they WANT to use them and the materials keep them engaged in learning without even knowing it. Here are my favorite picks for the Easter season (all links are affiliates). Bunny animal figures – Add these to your block area or sensory table and the children are sure to come up with amazing stories. They can explore habitats and create little worlds for their rabbits together. Pompom Chicks –…
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Preschool Easter Activities
Are you looking for some super easy Easter resources?! I’ve got you covered. Check out my TPT store to download and print some preschool Easter activities that have been designed just for the youngest learners. These will keep children busy and engaged, while making sure that your lesson plans hit all of those important learning milestones. Click on the image below for more information. All of these resources are also available as part of my Easter Activity Bundle, and in the April Month of Preschool Set!
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Jellybean Relay Races for Preschool
Relay races are a perfect activity for the preschool classroom – they help children practice teamwork, waiting their turn, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills. It’s definitely possible to do the same races over and over throughout the year, switching up the materials to be seasonally appropriate, and children will love it every single time. This can be a wonderful way to assess how these social and motor skills are improving as the children grow. Here are some ideas for using jellybeans in relay races: I’d love to hear about some of your favorite relay races in the classroom!
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Jellybean Taste Test Freebie
Jellybeans are one of those seasonal foods that are usually pretty easy to get kids to taste (as opposed to green beans and sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving!). That said, we all have our opinions about which color of jellybeans is the best . This little mat is an easy way to help children identify how they feel about each specific color. You can also extend the activity by graphing everyone’s preferences. Click on the image above, or download HERE.
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Preschool Art with Jellybeans
There are so many fun ways to use jellybeans in the classroom. They’re such a versatile manipulative, and they make an amazing art medium. Here are some ideas for jellybeans – and definitely feel free to buy them on clearance after the holiday and do these projects then! The last option – just telling the children to create art with them – is an amazing opportunity. I’m always amazed by what little ones come up with when they’re given free reign!
