I adore the classic picture book Make Way for Ducklings. And I adore literature-based activities. So our free do-a-dot printable for this month’s duckling theme is a free Make Way for Ducklings do-a-dot printable! This is an instant download and super easy to download and prepare. It’s perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.
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Montessori-Inspired Printables at Living Montessori Now
My daughter, Chrissy Chitwood (a former Montessori child), and I are partnering to bring you a series of Montessori-inspired printables. The printables are typically themed and use a number of Montessori principles (although you don’t need to be a Montessori teacher or homeschooler to use them):
- They use isolation of quality.
- They use photographs or realistic images to emphasize reality. Whenever I can, I’ll tell you the specific name of the object or animal featured on the credits page. On the credits page, you’ll see that the ducklings are mallard ducklings. Notice that there are 8 mallard ducklings … as in the book Make Way for Ducklings!
- They typically use traditional Montessori colors such as red for consonants and blue for vowels.
- They use lowercase letters, which are what we introduce letter sounds with in Montessori education. (Children tend to pick up the uppercase letters without being introduced if they’re introduced to the lowercase letter sounds.)
- They often feature themed printable versions of Montessori materials.
Free Make Way for Ducklings Do-a-Dot Printable for the Letter D
To download the Make Way for Ducklings do-a-dot printable, click here and then click on the file image in the upper right corner of the PDF to save to your computer (just choose where you want it saved).
Montessori-Inspired Activities Using the Make Way for Ducklings Do-a-Dot Printable
This printable can be used for any duckling theme, whether you’re studying birds, ponds, farms, spring, ducks, or baby animals. But it’s especially perfect with the Caldecott Medal book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey.
My now-adult kids loved this book, and I’ve saved our original copy to use with grandkids!
Make Way for Ducklings Do-a-Dot Letter D Tray for Tracing D’s within Sticker Dots on D
Note: This is just one example of how you can use the do-a-dot printables. Stickers can be used for both toddlers and children who are old enough to be tracing letters with a pencil. There are many ways to use our do-a-dot printables. Scroll down to see examples from previous posts. Just choose an activity that’s appropriate for your child’s age and skill level.
Ducklings Do-a-Dot Letter D Tray with Stickers and Make Way for Ducklings Book
I used a Multicraft tray and ¾” color coding dots. I also added a “d” font printable from our subscriber freebie turtle pack.
You could have a variety of transfer activities with do-a-dot printable, using tools such as sugar tongs, toast tong, or even chopsticks for a very advanced transfer activity. Yellow pom poms would be great as a transfer material for a duckling theme. Or you could have a totally different type of do-a-dot activity. Again, see ideas below and choose what is best for your child’s skill level and interests.
You could add a tracing activity to the printable. If you laminate your printable, you can use an erasable crayon like the Melissa & Doug Learning Mat Crayons or Crayola Erasable Crayons. If your page isn’t laminated, you could add a pencil or colored pencil. I often do that. For a 2-year-old or other young preschooler who’s not ready to write letters, you can just leave off the crayon or pencil. I’ve added red and blue colored pencils so my granddaughter can use red for the consonants and blue for the vowels.
Using the Make Way for Ducklings Do-a-Dot Letter D Tray for Writing D’s within Sticker Dots on D
Finishing Dot Stickers before Tracing Letters on Make Way for Ducklings Do-a-Dot Page
Stickers work very well with do-a-dots even for toddlers. They’re also fun for preschoolers. And for preschoolers who can write, they can write a letter in each dot. My 4-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, placed yellow dots in each circle before tracing the dotted letters in “ducklings.” Then she wrote a letter “d” inside each yellow dot.
If you want to know how to introduce the letter sound for d, check out my post on how to teach letter sounds using Montessori principles.
More Bird Activities and Resources
Free Duckling Printables and Montessori-Inspired Duckling Activities
Free Bird Sounds, Songs, and Rhymes for Circle Time
Free Nest Printables and Montessori-Inspired Nest Activities
Montessori-Inspired Life Cycle Activities
Free Owl Printables and Montessori-Inspired Owl Activities
Montessori-Inspired Owl Unit with Free Printables and Activities
Great Horned Owl Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
Montessori Nature Tray with Owl-Themed Craft and Art Appreciation
Free Owl Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
Bird Unit Study Pinterest Board
Helpful Animal Classification Posts
- Living and Non-Living
- Plant and Animal Sorting
- Montessori Animal Classification
- Free Zoo Printables and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Animal Units
Montessori-Inspired Packs – Subscriber Freebies
Don’t miss our themed monthly packs! You’ll get the link and password for the Living Montessori Now subscriber library with the current pack and all the past monthly packs if you subscribe to the Living Montessori Now weekly newsletter!
Free Do-a-Dot Printables and Ideas for Using Them
I love the versatility of do-a-dot printables! If you’re doing a month-long theme, you could easily change out the type of do-a-dot activity weekly to add interest. Here are four ideas of hands-on activities for any of our do-a-dot printables from my frog do-a-dot printable post (see post for details and materials used).
Just click on an image to go to the post with the related free printable!
Note: I’ve arranged the following gallery in alphabetical order, although some posts have two do-a-dot printables (and two different letters). Also, I don’t introduce letters in alphabetical order. You can find out the order in which I introduce letter sounds here. I deviate from that order for our unit studies, though, and focus on a letter that’s simply related to our unit. That’s in addition to our other letter work.
You can see all our free do-a-dot printables with the latest at the top here.
For complete themed alphabet do-a-dot packs, see our Animal Alphabet Do-a-Dot Pack, Spanish Animal Alphabet Do-a-Dot Pack, and Healthy Food Alphabet Do-a-Dot Pack available for purchase in the Living Montessori Now shop.
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
The Montessori at Home! eBook and Montessori at Home! eBook and Materials Bundle are AMAZING resources! You can learn more about them here. Buy them in the Living Montessori Now shop.
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