We are having so much fun with our panda unit. Pandas are just so cute! Today, I’m sharing another resource for a panda unit … a free panda do-a-dot printable that’s an instant download. It’s super easy to download and prepare. It’s perfect for a panda theme, bear theme, Asia theme, Chinese New Year theme, or study of China.
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 panda in the do-a-dot printable is a 6-month-old giant panda. The Latin name for giant panda is Ailuropoda melanoleuca.
- 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 panda 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 Panda Do-a-Dot Printable
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Panda Do-a-Dot Letter P Tray with Button Transfer Using Quick Sticks
Panda Do-a-Dot Letter P Tray with Button Transfer Using Quick Sticks
I used a Multicraft tray and black buttons (5/8″ or 3/4″ work well) with quick sticks. along with a “p” font card from our Montessori-inspired panda pack (subscriber freebie). The font card has cursive letter p and an 18-month-old giant panda. I like to introduce children to both print and cursive letters.
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. See ideas below. Just 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.
Panda Do-a-Dot Letter P Tray with Button Transfer Using Quick Sticks
Checking the Alignment of the Buttons on her Panda Do-a-Dot Page
I always enjoy watching my 4-year-old granddaughter, Zoey, do her do-a-dot work. She carefully checked the alignment of the buttons after she finished placing them on the page.
Singing “Let It Go” While Tracing the Letters on the Panda Do-a-Dot Page
Zoey had just come from Disney on Ice, so she was in her full Elsa dress! She sang “Let It Go” as she traced the letters in the word “panda”! Too cute!
If you want to know how to introduce the letter sound for p, check out my post on how to teach letter sounds using Montessori principles.
More Bear Posts
Free Panda Printables and Montessori-Inspired Panda Activities
FREE Panda Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Bear Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bear Activities
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.
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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