Dinomite is obsessed with sharks right now.  I decided to use that to my advantage, following the child and create some shark themed learning activities and printables.

Even more exciting is that Shark Week on Discovery Channel is here!  Besides activities on the shelves Dinomite and I will be enjoying the week's line up of shark shows.  Bulldozer has decided to join us as well.

Between activities and our shelves and new episodes on the Discovery Channel, we will have a fantastic Shark Unit with so many new free printables!

Here's what's on our shelves!

Shark Unit with Free Printables

Cursive Letter Sand Tray

The kiddos continue to learn their cursive letters. This is our second set of four.  

I'm so pleased with how quickly Dinomite and Princess are picking it up.  

Bulldozer prefers print at this point, which is okay.  He just barely learned how to write all of his letters.

Source.  The free printable cards for this activity can be found at 3 Dinosaurs.

Painting Shark Themed Spelling Words

The kiddos will write their spelling words using the paint and paintbrush provided.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Shark Unit Language Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Shark Themed Noun & Verb Sorting

The kiddos will sort shark themed nouns and verbs using the Montessori Grammar Symbols.  As a control, I have added the word "to" before every verb.  

This seems to help the kiddos understand that the word is an action.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Shark Unit Language Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Shark Food Addition

 

How many different types of animals do sharks eat?  How many animals has this shark eaten today? 

The kiddos will add up the appetizing animals to find the answer to the addition problems. 

They will use blue glass beads as markers for their answers.   

The animals shown are those that many different types of sharks eat and are from our animal figure collection.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Shark Unit Math Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Skip Counting Sharks by 5, 7 & 9

I am so excited to use my Montessori Beads for this activity.  Mind you, they're homemade.  The kiddos will skip count using the beads as a control, as they put the numbers in order.  

They can choose to count by 5s, 7s, and/or 9s.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Shark Unit Math Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Water Forms

Just where do sharks swim? 

Which sharks prefer which types of water?  

Do they stay close to land? 

Do they prefer to be in deep waters? 

Fresh water? 

Salt Water? 

There are so many questions to answer this week as we read, watch, and study sharks!

We have used the water form cards and felt designs before, but this week I made cards with pictures of real life water forms, so the kiddos could see what they look like.

Source:  I created the photo printable for this activity as part of my Shark Unit Culture & Science Printable Pack 1.  This is a subscriber's only freebie.  For your free copy, follow directions at the bottom of this post.

The water form diagram printable is from Montessori Mom.

36 Shark Nomenclature Cards

I was aiming for our usual 50 card pack, however finding clear pictures of so many different sharks underwater proved more difficult than I thought.  Then there was the fact that so many sharks look almost identical to each other.

The kids LOVE these cards and learning about so many different sharks.

 Source:  I created the photo printable for this activity as part of my Shark Unit Culture & Science Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  For your free copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

3 Ocean Food Chains

As always, when we cover an animal unit, especially one dealing with a deadly predator, it's a challenge to teach Dinomite something he doesn't already know.  

I must give Jason full credit for this one. It was his idea.  He did all of the research AND made the cards.  

All of the kiddos have enjoyed learning about food chains, especially when they learn about sharks eating sharks.  

I like the activity because it focuses on sharks in their world, not the world of attacking people that is portrayed so much.

Source:  Jason created the printable for this activity as part of the Shark Unit Culture & Science Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  See directions at the bottom of this post on how to access your free copy.

Shark Anatomy Puzzle

The kiddos have moved beyond the basic shark anatomy of head, trunk, tail, fin, etc.  When I found this diagram, I loved the extra detail.  However, placing all the tiny labels seemed a little daunting.  

Instead the kiddos will put the diagram together like a puzzle, which will require them to look at the body part labels at the same time.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Shark Unit Culture & Science Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  For your free copy, follow directions at the bottom of this post.

How to Draw a Hammerhead Shark

The kiddos will practice drawing a hammerhead shark using the white board, erasable crayons, and step by step cards provided.  Dinomite and Princess did an amazing job with this today!

Dinomite's drawing.

Princess' drawing.

Bulldozer hasn't selected this activity yet.

 Source: The drawing cards for this activity came from How to Draw Animals.

Cutting Activity

The kiddos are moving up in the world of cutting.  They can test out their skills using any one of these designs.

Source:  The free printables for this activity came from Montessori Nature and Ang at Home.

Pouring Water

The kiddos will practice pouring water into four glasses.  A funnel is provided if needed.

Transferring Water Beads

The kiddos will use the spoon to transfer water beads from one bowl to the other.

Shark Invitation to Play

The kiddos will enjoy a hands on experience that includes sharks, their prey, and so much more.

For those interested in the free printables, follow the directions below:

Directions on How to Obtain Subscriber Only Freebies

1. Click on the Subscriber's link at the bottom of this post.

2. Subscribe to our free newsletter.

3. Open the thank you message you receive after subscribing. (Be sure to check your spam folder, as sometimes it ends up there.)

4. Click the confirmation link in the thank you message.

5. Once the confirmation is complete, you will receive another message with the Subscriber Only Freebies Link and Password.

6. Click on link and type in password. (The password is cap sensitive.)

7. Find the printable pack you are looking for listed in alphabetical order, click on it, and viola!

We hope you enjoy your free printable.

Note: If you are already a newsletter subscriber, open your most recent newsletter. At the bottom you will find a link to the Subscriber Only Freebies page, along with the password in case you forgot it.

Subscribe to our Free Newsletter

For those who are looking for more shark activities, printables and resources, be sure to check out the posts below.

 

Read More »

I am so excited with how these shark activities for tots with free printables turned out.  They are absolutely adorable and Sunshine loves them.

Dinomite, Bulldozer, and Princess are enjoying shark activities on their shelves right now.  Sunshine decided that she must have her own as well.  

Knowing Sunshine becomes confused with the difference between sharks and whales, both are included in this set of activities.

Here's what's on our shelves!

Shark Activities for Tots with Free Printables

S is for Shark

 

Sunshine will use the paint and paint brush provided to paint the large S.  For those who prefer whales over sharks, I have provided a "W is for Whale" printable in the tot pack.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of the Shark Activities for Tots Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  See directions at the bottom of this post on how to access your free copy.

Counting Sharks

 

Sunshine will count the sharks, trying to match the number of sharks on each card.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of the Shark Activities for Tots Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  See directions at the bottom of this post on how to access your free copy.

Shark vs. Whale Sorting Activity

Sunshine will sort the cards properly.  Pictures of each of the animals are on the label cards as a control for little ones.

 

For those who are a little older, there is also an option to sort fish vs. mammals.

 

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of the Shark Activities for Tots Printable Pack 1. This is a subscriber's only freebie.  See directions at the bottom of this post on how to access your free copy.

Triangle Shark Teeth Gluing

Sunshine will glue the triangle teeth into the shark's mouth.

Source:  I found this idea at Crazy Speech World.

Pouring Water

Sunshine will practice pouring water, using two baby food jars.  She loved scooping last week, so I thought I'd try this. She's never done it before.

Shark & Whale Sensory Bin Tweezing Activity

Sunshine will use the tweezers provided to tweeze out the sharks and whales, placing them in the cup provided.

Source: The idea for the tweezing component of this activity came from Little Bins for Little Hands.

For those interested in the printable pack, follow the directions below.

Directions on How to Obtain Subscriber Only Freebies

1. Click on the Subscriber's link at the bottom of this post.

2. Subscribe to our free newsletter.

3. Open the thank you message you receive after subscribing. (Be sure to check your spam folder, as sometimes it ends up there.)

4. Click the confirmation link in the thank you message.

5. Once the confirmation is complete, you will receive another message with the Subscriber Only Freebies Link and Password.

6. Click on link and type in password. (The password is cap sensitive.)

7. Find the printable pack you are looking for listed in alphabetical order, click on it, and viola!

We hope you enjoy your free printable.

Note: If you are already a newsletter subscriber, open your most recent newsletter. At the bottom you will find a link to the Subscriber Only Freebies page, along with the password in case you forgot it.

Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter

For those who are looking for more shark activities, printables and resources, be sure to check out the posts below.

 

Read More »

I've had requests for more posts about our home, and how we incorporate the Montessori Method in our daily living.  

Today, I'll show you our main bathroom in the house.  

Please remember we live in a old Victorian house from the late 1800s.  

It has it's charm, but definitely has some issues.  

One of it's charms is a very large bathroom.  

Our Montessori Inspired Bathroom

Here is the view from the door.

The toilet is not super small.  

The chair is just very large.

Behind the shower curtain you'll find shampoo with conditioner and a bar of soap at a level where the kiddos can reach them.  

The chair next to the toilet is for help balancing when getting dressed, a dry place to put clothes, and a place for Mommy or Daddy to sit when the kiddos are taking baths.

You'll notice the toilet area is very simple.  

The toilet paper is on top of the toilet.  

We've tried all types of stands and holders, but Bulldozer has way too much fun with them.  

Less is more in this area.  

For those who are potty training, there is a seat to use, if needed.  

A stool is also available, but is stored next to the sink.  

You'll see this later.

Not visible from our door is our bathroom storage area.  

Each person has a cubby, where they store their toothpaste, toothbrush, cup, brush, and misc. items. 

Towels for everyone are below and very accessible.  

The boat bins on top store the girls' hair accessories.  

The two bins in the middle of the storage cubby store extra supplies and feminine products.  

I thought about trays for each of the cubbies, however there is not much room for trays at the sink, and it only creates another thing that needs to be washed regularly, which I'm not a fan of.  

As the kiddos get older, I'm sure their cubbies will become more full. 

Right now, the cubbies only house items the kiddos can use independently.  

They do not spray detangler in their own hair, use nail polish on their own, etc.  

Those items are stored in Mommy and Daddy's room for safe keeping.

Behind the door kiddos can hang their towels on hooks at their level.

At the sink, you'll notice a container of soap.  

On the left side of the sink you can see a stool available for use if needed, and a small towel to wipe hands.  

A larger towel hangs on the right side of the sink for use when bathing etc.

The kiddos know when they're finished in the bathroom, that they take their dirty laundry to the appropriate place in the hallway.  

Extra toilet paper and the garbage can are stored underneath the sink for easy access when needed.

Our bathroom is one of my favorite rooms in the house.  

It's so simple and relaxing! 

The kiddos can do almost everything on their own.  

All we have left to conquer is bathing independently.  

Dinomite is almost there!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the resources below.

Read More »