Our reptile unit has been lots of fun. Reptiles make a perfect theme for my 5-year-old grandson, who’s obsessed with crocodiles. But it’s been fun for my granddaughters, too.
Even though we don’t design a free do-a-dot for each unit any more (since we have so many already), I have a new do-a-dot printable that’s part of a series for both younger and older kids. The free do-a-dot printable is a reptiles do-a-dot phonics printable … as usual, an instant download and very easy to prepare.
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Often older children have fun with do-a-dot printables, so we plan to prepare a free do-a-dot for each class of vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, fish, mammals, and birds) as we study them along with seven other units during the upcoming year. Younger children can focus on the beginning letter sound of each vertebrate class while older children will focus on phonograms and spelling as well as cursive if desired.
This is also a great time for older children to review reptiles and the traits of reptiles. Younger children could simply identify the animals on the printable. You could say something like, “These animals are all reptiles.”
Note: Be sure to read to the bottom of the post where you’ll find lots of ideas for using do-a-dot printables along with at least one free do-a-dot printable for each letter of the alphabet!
Montessori-Inspired Printables at Living Montessori Now
My daughter, Chrissy (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. This printable has a collection of reptiles.
- 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 Reptiles Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable
To download the reptiles do-a-dot phonics 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).
Reptiles Do-a-Dot Tray with Magic Letter Work
Tray with R for Reptiles Do-a-Dot Printable and Magic Letter Work
This do-a-dot printable can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the age and ability of the child. A younger child could just use do-a-dot markers, stickers, or some sort of transfer on the do-a-dot page and focus on the /r/ sound, while an older preschooler could trace the letters and build the word “reptiles” with the Montessori movable alphabet. You can also use it to introduce the cursive letter “r,” to focus on the spelling of reptiles, or even to focus on the spelling of “reptiles” in cursive.
For our reptiles do-a-dot tray, I used a Multicraft tray with a white crayon and do-a-dot markers. I also added /i_e/ in reptiles phonogram card from our subscriber freebie reptile pack. (Note: There’s also an /r/for reptiles card in print, D’Nealian, or cursive.) If you prefer, you can use a variety of tools for transfer activities, such as quick sticks (training chopsticks), sugar tongs, or toast tongs.
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 pencils. 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 pencils.
Scroll down to see lots of ideas for using our do-a-dot printables for a variety of ages and themes.
Reptiles Phonics and Do-a-Dot Activities
Working with Silent E Words and Reptile Do-a-Dot
This type of activity is wonderful for fine-motor development, increasing attention span, and reinforcing letter sounds for younger children. For older children or children who are ready, it’s a great printable for working on “i_e” (silent e) in reptiless as well as spelling and/or cursive work. It’s also perfect for reviewing reptiles and their traits.
I used the reptiles do-a-dot with my 5-year-old granddaughter, Sophia, to focus on silent e and spelling the word “reptiles.”
Sophia used a triangular grip pencil to trace the letters, although she doesn’t really need help writing letters. She likes tracing them anyway.
This is a great time to review the /i_e/ phonogram with children who are working on the green series (and even advanced readers). Sophia spelled “reptiles” with our print movable alphabet.
Then we reviewed silent e with a free, fun silent e printable by Mrs Pollard at TPT. Sophia enjoyed using it!
Using a White Crayon to Make Magic Letter Rs
Sophia used a white crayon to make a letter “r” in each dot. She didn’t really need practice making “r’s,” but the magic letter activity was a fun twist on do-a-dot work. (Note: I tried a washable white crayon beforehand, and that didn’t really work.” A plain white crayon worked perfectly.)
For children under age 3, I typically use the do-a-dot printables for vocabulary, hearing the beginning sound of a word, and fine-motor skills. Generally, with toddlers, I’ll just focus on the /ă/ sound at the beginning of “amphibians.”
For a phonics lesson with young toddlers, I might casually say that “reptiles” starts with /r/ (the sound, not the letter name). This is just to introduce hearing the phonetic sound. I don’t focus on the letter “r,” although I use the printable that we already have available. We often focus on the child hearing the beginning sound by saying something like, “Reptile, /r/, reptiles.”
With preschoolers who are working on their letter sounds, we follow the order shown in this post along with adding the featured letter. I don’t worry about going out of order for the monthly theme.
If you want to know more about how to introduce the /r/ sound, check out my post on how to teach letter sounds using Montessori principles.
I only use printables with children under age 3 that can be used for hands-on work, such as do-a-dot work, scissor cutting (cutting strips), or another type of printable that can be made into a manipulative. Printables when used with manipulatives are great for fine-motor development, work on important skills, and fit with the hands-on activities that are developmentally appropriate for toddlers.
For older children who already know their letter sounds but still enjoy do-a-dot work, I often add the print movable alphabet word building, phonogram work, another hands-on activity to go with the do-a-dot work, and/or cursive movable alphabet and word analysis work. (Note: These examples have more than one type of additional activity, which I like for older children.)
Having Fun Watching the Magic Letters Appear
Sophia had fun seeing each letter “r” magically appear when she added the do-a-dot markers!
More Reptile Resources
Montessori-Inspired Reptile Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Note: In our subscriber library, you’ll also find a Montessori-Inspired Turtle Pack, Montessori-Inspired Alligator Pack, Montessori-Inspired Crocodilian Pack, and Montessori-Inspired Snake Pack!
Montessori-Inspired Snake Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Crocodilian Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Alligator Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Greater Than/Less Than Work, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox for the current password if you’re already a subscriber)
Montessori-Inspired Turtle Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, and DIY Movable Alphabet (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Reptile Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reptile Activities (Our main reptile unit’s post.)
Free snake printables and Montessori-inspired snake activities includes a number of snake posts.
Free crocodilian printables and Montessori-inspired crocodilian activities includes a number of crocodilian posts.
Montessori-inspired alligator unit with free printables and activities includes a number of alligator posts.
Check out my post and video with hands-on, greater than, less than alligator math using part of our subscriber freebie pack and another free printable!
- Greater Than, Less Than Alligator Math Printables and Activities
- Free Alligator Printables and Montessori-Inspired Alligator Activities
- Free Turtle Printables and Montessori-Inspired Turtle Activities
- Free Turtle Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Turtle Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Montessori-Inspired Alligator Unit with Free Printables and Activities
- Fabulous, Hands-on, Greater Than, Less Than Alligator Math
- Free Alligator Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Alligator Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
- The Best Alligator and Crocodile Books for Kids
- Free Endangered Animal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Endangered Animal Activities
- Free Crocodilian Printables and Montessori-Inspired Crocodilian Activities
- Free Crocodile Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download
- Free Crocodile Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Free Snake Printables and Montessori-Inspired Snake Activities
- Free Snake Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Indigo Snake Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable
- Free Snake Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- Favorite Books for a Snake Theme
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 Vertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
- Free Amphibian Printables and Montessori-Inspired Amphibian Activities
- Montessori Invertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
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). You’ll find at least one free do-a-dot printable for each letter of the alphabet!
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.
If this is your first time visiting Living Montessori Now, welcome! If you haven’t already, please join us on our Living Montessori Now Facebook page where you’ll find a Free Printable of the Day and lots of inspiration and ideas for parenting and teaching! And please follow me on Instagram, Pinterest (lots of Montessori-, holiday-, and theme-related boards), and YouTube. While you’re here, please check out the Living Montessori Now shop.
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