Christmas is the perfect time of year to study bells and to enjoy them in as many ways as possible. 

Our Carol of the Bells Unit with Free Printables is sure to be a hit with kids. There are so many hands on activities to enjoy!

Your classroom at home or school will be filled with the beautiful sounds of bells that definitely help to enhance the spirit and excitement of the holiday season. 

These Christmas activities also invite so many ways to incorporate music into the classroom!

 

Carol of the Bells Unit with Free Printables

Carol of the Bells Rhyming Words

This activity was tricky to create.  Bulldozer is not reading at the level of Princess and Dinomite, and quite honestly, unless he's reading a BOB book, he's not been able to generalize his knowledge of words.  

The object of this activity is to find the rhyming pairs.  

Princess and Dinomite are able to complete this activity by just reading the words and matching them up. However, Bulldozer is still in need of a control, even after doing the activity together a few times.  

I've provided cards with rhyming phrases to help him know which words go together. If he looks at the control, he can find his matches.  He may not be able to read the words, but he can definitely tell that they're similar.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity. The Carol of the Bells Printable Pack is a Subscriber's Only Freebie.  For your copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Phonogram Bell Memory

We've been working on phonograms for quite some time, in a variety of ways. I thought it time to see just how much has sunk in.  

Each one of the "bells" (Hershey Kisses), have a phonogram written on the bottom of them.  The kiddos play memory until they can find all the matches.  

As we're playing we review the sounds made by each phonogram.  When they find match, they must also tell me the sound, in order to keep it.  

At the end of the game, each kiddo gets a Hershey Kiss to eat.

Source: Inspiration for this activity came from I Can Teach My Child.

Cursive Sandpaper Letters

We've been working on our cursive letter recognition for a while now.  I thought it time we start the process of learning how to write our letters.  

Dinomite has already been working on this, but for Bulldozer and Princess the process is much slower.  

I just love sandpaper letters. One wouldn't think they'd make much of a difference, but they really do!

Skip Counting by 3s

The kiddos have been working on skip counting for a while now too, but it hasn't seemed to sink in.  This week I'm trying a different route.  

I am so glad I did.  I don't think the kiddos have ever been more excited about skip counting. They're doing so well with it.

For this activity the kiddos count by 3s using The Hundred Chart.  As they count to each third number, they stamp it using the bell stamp provided.  

When they're finished, they notice the pattern and compare it to the control provided (under the blank chart).  I worried this would be too difficult, but even Bulldozer thought it was super easy!

Source: The free printables for this activity can be found at The Pinay Homeschooler.  I just LOVE them!

Multiplication with Bells

To help the kiddos understand why learning how to skip count is so important, we started introducing our multiplication tables this week.  We did some last year, but not to a huge extent.  

The kiddos already know how to count by 2s, so I included those, but half of the cards are for the 3s time tables.

So far it's going very well.  Dinomite was able to generalize the skill from the previous activity, and even asked to use his Hundred Chart to help himself count the strands of bells.  Bulldozer did well with it too.  I'm anxious to see how Princess does with it tomorrow.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity. The Carol of the Bells Printable Pack is a Subscriber's Only Freebie.  For your copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Telling Time

It's only proper to have a time telling activity in a unit about bells.  Princess and Bulldozer have been working on their time telling skills a lot lately in their workbooks. I wanted to see how it transferred over. So far so good!  

I love it when the kiddos become excited as they complete an activity, because it's easier than they thought it would be.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity. The Carol of the Bells Printable Pack is a Subscriber's Only Freebie.  For your copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Parts of a Bell

There's so much to learn about bells!  It's amazing.  In this activity the kiddos will learn the different parts of a bell and label them.  

There is a copy of this same printable, with all the answers written in underneath if the kiddos need help.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity. The Parts of a Bell Printable is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Bells Around the World

There are some amazing bells around the world!  In this activity, the kiddos will match up the picture and description cards, and then identify the continent and country where the bell is located, using the map provided.  

Dinomite couldn't get enough of this activity. He found every single country and even some cities on our world map.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity. The Carol of the Bells Printable Pack is a Subscriber's Only Freebie.  For your copy, follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Jingle Bells Bottle

The kiddos can't get enough of this activity!  Bulldozer is especially obsessed with it.  I can understand why too.  There's water, bells, a magnet...  Who could want more!

Source: This activity comes from Lalymom.  Click on the link for more details!

Jingle Bell Sticks

This craft has the kiddos super excited, however it's going to take a little time before they feel confident at doing it all by themselves.  The final product is worth it though.

Source:  I found this craft idea on the internet. The link no longer works. My sincere apology.

Jingle Bell Painting

The kiddos are super excited about this activity, though no one has done it yet.  In the past we've done it with marbles, but bells add a special jingle.

Source:  More information about this beautiful activity can be find at Happily Ever Mom.

Jingle Bells

This week the kiddos are learning to play Jingle Bells using the bells.  

They're even learning how to play it following the color dots with more than one person participating in playing the bells!

Stringing Bells

The kiddos will practice stringing the strand of bells provided.

These bell activities are so much fun. Kids absolutely LOVE them!

Don't forget your free printables!

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Bell Activities for Tots & Preschoolers

Bell activities are a favorite among tots and preschoolers. They're particularly special around the holiday season, especially with so many songs about bells being sung and heard.

Sunshine is very much about practical life and sensorial activities right now. Anything that keeps her hands busy and moving makes her happy.

I hope these activities can do the same for your little ones!

Bell Activities for Tots and Preschoolers

B is for Bell Playdough Activity

Instead of our usual B is for Bell printable, I thought we'd try something different this week.  We have "gold" play dough, a rolling pin and two cookie cutters, a B and a bell.

Threading with Jingle Bells

I LOVE this activity.  Not only does it look beautiful, but it's perfect for working on fine motor skills.

Source:  I found this fabulous activity at And Next Come L.  For details about how to put it together, go check it out!

Bell Transfer using Tongs

Sunshine will practice transferring jingle bells using the tongs provided.  She really likes these types of activities.

Transfer of Bells using a Spoon

Sunshine can always use practice with a spoon.  In this activity she'll transfer bells from one bowl to the other.

Bell Sensory Bin

I am so pleased with how this sensory bin turned out.  It's contents include silver and gold ribbons, along with different types and sizes of bells.  I'm certain Sunshine will love it!

For those looking for more Montessori activities and printables, specifically those related to holidays and music, be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter by clicking the link below.

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We're big fans of Random Acts of Christmas Kindness.  

Ever since we started this tradition a few years back, I just can't get enough of it.  

The only problem is, I'm not one that likes to do the same thing year after year.  

Last year our random acts of kindness were focused on neighbors, community helpers, etc.  

This year our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness are family focused.  

I'm hoping this will help a lot of "fun" behaviors that have developed in our household as of late.  

It's also a great way to remind ourselves how much we love our extended family members, and take the time to show them.

In the morning we pick our card from the countdown tree, then at dinner, everyone reports back how they've done for the day and enjoys a Hershey's hug or kiss.

Family Focused Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

1.  Make a card for an immediate family member telling them how much you love them.

2.  Let someone else go first, when it's your turn.

3.  Call an extended family member and tell them how much you love them.

4.  Give a compliment to someone in your immediate family.

5.  Hold the door open for an immediate family member.

6.  Invite a family member to play with you, and let them choose what you're going to play together.

7.  Make a family member laugh by telling a funny joke, or saying something silly.

8.  Let an immediate family member choose a board game to play, and then play it with them.

9.  Pray for a family member who's having a hard time.

10.  Assist an immediate family member in doing something they can not do for themselves.

11.  Put together and send a holiday care package to cousins.

12.  Say "Bless you!" when family members sneeze.

13.  Help an immediate family member with a chore.

14.  Read a book or tell a story to an immediate family member.

15.  Visit an extended family member.

16.  Surprise an extended family member with a "heart attack."

17.  Complete a chore without being asked.

18.  Hide "I LOVE YOU" hearts for immediate family members to find throughout the day.

19.  Make homemade Christmas gifts for grandparents.

20.  Give an immediate family member a high five to celebrate something they've done well.

21.  Remember to say, "Please" and "Thank you."

22.  Follow directions, with a smile, the first time they are given by immediate family members.

23.  Use kind quiet voices when speaking to other immediate family members.

24.  Be kind and wait patiently for your turn, while others are speaking.

If you would like a free copy of this list, the Family Focused Random Acts of Christmas Kindness is a free printable. For your copy, click on the link at the bottom of this post.

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Family Focused Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

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Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to combine studies of trees, families, and service or giving. 

Whether you're here for tree activities, ideas on how to teach about your family tree, or to inspire the love of service into your children, you're in the right place!

The Giving Tree Family ThanksGIVING Unit with Free Printables is inspired by the book, The Giving Tree.

The Giving Tree Family ThanksGIVING Unit with Free Printables

Family Name Spelling

The kiddos will practice spelling the names of everyone in our immediate family.  They will also practice spelling father, mother, sister, brother, and family.

Family Word Noun & Verb Sort

Kiddos will sort family related words into the categories of nouns and verbs.  I just love my new Montessori Grammar Symbols!

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Family Unit Printable Pack. This is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Family Member Vocabulary

In this activity the kiddos will match up family member titles to definitions.  Once they've done this they can sort family members and place them under the proper titles and definitions.  

This activity seemed a little challenging for the kiddos at first, so I'm guessing we'll be doing it together at least one more day, before they venture to do it on their own.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Family Unit Printable Pack.  This is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Sequencing Family Pictures

We've done this activity in the past. The kiddos LOVED it.  If it's possible, the kiddos enjoyed it even more today, a second time around.  

In this activity, I've included a picture of each kiddo for every year of their little lives.  Their job is to put the pictures in order from youngest to oldest and then place the correct labels below each picture.  

If they're feeling up to a real challenge they can sort all of the pictures, not just their own.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Family Unit Printable Pack.  This is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Who Is In My Family? Graphing Activity

The kiddos will put together a graph of all of the individuals in our family, putting them into groups of babies, toddlers, children, teenagers, adults, and grandparents.  

One can graph their real family, or use dice to create imaginary families.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Family Unit Printable Pack.  This is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Sorting People By Family Activity

The kiddos will sort individual extended family members by family, so they learn which cousins belong to which aunts and uncles etc.  We've done this in the past and it was a favorite activity.

Our Family Tree

We've done this activity in the past also, but it's always great to review.  

The kiddos will build their family tree using the pictures provided.  

I created this tree using family members who are living. Sadly, Jason lost his Grammy over the last year, hence the missing photo.  

The kiddos are so blessed to have so many great grandparents still living, and so many sets of grandparents that love them.

Parts of a Tree

The kiddos will color and then label the parts of a tree in their own little books.  All of them have thoroughly enjoyed this activity. Even Bulldozer has done it!

Source:  The printable for this activity can be found at Trillium Montessori.

Parts of a Leaf

The kiddos will create their own books, coloring and labeling parts of a leaf.  Just like the tree book, this has been a big hit on our shelves this week.

Source:  The printable for this activity can be found at Trillium Montessori.

Tree Match Up

Last year, the kiddos did each of these match ups, but at different times. This year we're doing them as a combined activity.  The kiddos sort and match the different types of trees in the pictures.

Source:  I created the printables for this activity. The Deciduous Tree Match Up and Conifer Tree Match Up are Subscriber's Only Freebies. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Q-Tip Tree Painting Activity

Before doing this activity, we reviewed what a tree looks like during the different seasons.  The kiddos will use Q-Tips to create a tree for each season.  

They've really enjoyed this activity and are choosing different kinds of trees, which has been really fun.

Source:  I found this activity at Mess For Less.  The free tree printable I used for the activity can be found at DLTK Growing Together.

A Family Portrait Drawing Activity

One of the kiddos' favorite things to do lately has been to draw pictures of their family.  

I thought it might be fun to include a photo of us for them to use as a visual, and see just how detailed their drawings can get.

Button Leaf Tree

I just love this activity. The kiddos do too. The glass bowl is filled with leaf buttons that the kiddos string on to the pipe cleaner tree branches.  The tree looks beautiful once all the leaves are on.

Tweezing Leaves

The kiddos will practice their fine motor skills by tweezing these tiny foam leaves, transferring them from one bowl to the other.

Hanging Family Photos

What's not to like about a clothes line filled with family photos from the present and past?  

I've laminated the photos, so they're thicker and stiffer, making them hang more easily.  The results are beautiful and such a fun decoration!

The Giving Tree Invitation to Play

I couldn't resist including an invitation to play on our shelves this week.  

Besides enjoying it during learning time, it will be a great activity to occupy the kiddos, while I'm trying to fix Thanksgiving Dinner on the big day.

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7. Select the Minimalism, Montessori, or Mental Health Printables Library.

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