A nest theme is perfect for spring. It can be a nest theme alone or part of a larger bird theme. Today, I’m sharing another resource for a nest or bird unit … a free nest do-a-dot printable that’s an instant download. As usual, it’s super easy to download and prepare. 
Montessori-Inspired Printables at Living Montessori Now
My daughter, Christina (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 nest is a robin nest.
- 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 Panda Do-a-Dot Printable for the Letter P
To download the nest 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 Nest Do-a-Dot Printable
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Nest Do-a-Dot Letter N Tray for Tracing N’s within an N
Note: This is just one example of how you can use the do-a-dot printables. This is obviously for 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.
Nest Do-a-Dot Letter N Tray for Tracing N’s within an N
I used a Multicraft tray and added the free nest culture card designed by The Montessori Company and a robin from the Safari Ltd. Backyard Birds TOOB. I used a highlighter to draw lowercase n’s inside the dots of the larger “n.”
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. 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.
Using the Nest Do-a-Dot Letter N Tray for Tracing N’s within an N
Concentrating on Tracing n’s within an n for Nest
My 4-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, appreciates that I change the type of activity for the do-a-dot page each month. I love Zoey’s expression of concentration as she traces the n’s! When she finished tracing the n’s within the larger n, she traced each of the dotted letters. I have both red and blue pencils available on the tray so that she can match the colors if she wishes. She also spontaneously sounded out and read the word “nest.”
If you want to know how to introduce the letter sound for n, check out my post on how to teach letter sounds using Montessori principles.
More Bird Activities and Resources
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 subscriber freebie nest pack, subscriber freebie panda pack, subscriber freebie winter sports pack, subscriber freebie bear pack, subscriber freebie moon pack, subscriber freebie owl pack, subscriber freebie magnet pack, subscriber freebie alligator pack, subscriber freebie bee pack, subscriber freebie zoo pack, subscriber freebie turtle pack, subscriber freebie eat-a-rainbow pack, subscriber freebie lamb pack, subscriber freebie penguin pack, subscriber freebie polar bear pack, subscriber freebie bell pack, subscriber freebie dinosaur pack, subscriber freebie spider pack, subscriber freebie raccoon pack, subscriber freebie ant pack, subscriber freebie snail pack, subscriber freebie car pack, subscriber freebie frog pack, subscriber freebie butterfly pack, and subscriber freebie recycling pack! You’ll get a monthly freebie with link and password if you subscribe to the Living Montessori Now weekly newsletter. There are now 23 Montessori-inspired packs in our Living Montessori Now library for subscribers!
More 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).
(Note: the Free Frog Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download) is available in either black or red outline.)
Free Panda Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Winter Sports Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Moon Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Great Horned Owl Do-a-Dot Printable
Free Magnet Do-a-Dot Printable
Free Alligator Do-a-Dot Printable
Free Honeybee Do-a-Dot Printable
Free Zoo Animal Do-a-Dot Printable
Free Turtle Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Fruit Rainbow Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Lamb Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Penguin Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Polar Bear Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
The free bell do-a-dot printable can be used at any time of year, but it’s especially perfect before the holidays.
You’ll find a fun printable for any season with the free dinosaur do-a-dot printable.
You’ll find two free printables and ideas using glass gems in my free tarantula and spider do-a-dot printables.
If you’re looking for a printable for the start of the school year or a forest unit, you’ll find a free raccoon do-a-dot printable using stickers (great for a Kissing Hand unit).
I have a free ant do-a-dot printable and activity using Power Magnets.
In another post, you’ll find a free snail do-a-dot printable and activity using Do-a-Dot markers.
In another post, you’ll get a free car do-a-dot printable and see an idea for using pom poms and quick sticks with the printable.
In another do-a-dot printable post, you’ll get a free recycling do-a-dot printable and see an idea for using glass gems and toast tongs with the printable.
In another do-a-dot printable post, you’ll get a free butterfly do-a-dot printable and see an idea for using pom poms and toast tongs with the printable.
I hope you find the printable useful!
So many are waiting for spring right now, so we’re having a flash sale in our Living Montessori Now shop until tomorrow (Tuesday) night at 11:59pm PST. Just use the code ALMOSTMARCH2018 at checkout to get 20% off your entire order!
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy! I’m also one of the coauthors of the book Learn with Play – 150+ Activities for Year-round Fun & Learning!And don’t forget one of the best ways to follow me by signing up for my weekly newsletter. You’ll get two awesome freebies (and a monthly subscriber freebie) in the process!
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