With the start of the school year, many preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first graders (and their parents) experience separation anxiety . The Kissing Hand book and activities can be very helpful. So I’ve prepared some printables and Montessori-inspired activities that can be used for a Kissing Hand unit. These activities could also be used for a forest unit or raccoon unit.
I’m excited to share my latest subscriber freebie … a Montessori-inspired raccoon pack! Here, I’m also sharing the links to free raccoon printables for preschoolers through 1st graders (and sometimes older). To keep my list manageable, I don’t share coloring pages unless a page has a specific educational purpose related to raccoons.
Free Printables Featured in the Raccoon Activities at PreK + K Sharing
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Raccoon Dice Roll (Quantity Game)
Free Printable: Dice Roll (Quantity Game) from Kissing Hand Math and Literacy Stations by Kinderbabies at Teachers Pay Teachers
For this activity, I used a large plastic tray from Montessori Services, a dice, and two glass gems for game pieces.
This is a fun way for young children to get used to playing by game rules and counting dots on dice. If you wish, you could have children get an extra turn if they land on a spot with Chester and go back 2 spaces if they land on a spot with a tree stump.
You could also make this a cooperative game by having one game piece that the children take turns moving until they reach the finish.
DIY Raccoon Cards and Counters
Free Printable: Raccoon Numbers (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
For this activity, I used a a Multicraft tray, 55 popcorn kernels, and a Bambu large condiment cup to hold the pieces.
For our floor layouts, I always use a Montessori Services hemmed work rug. I like to lay out my numbers and counters in the traditional Montessori way of rows of two counters with a left-over counter centered below the bottom row. This gives a visual impression of odd and even.
For more about creating DIY numbers and counters and a link on how to present the lesson, check out my DIY Cards and Counters post.
Raccoon Addition Roll and Cover Game (or Number Recognition Game)
Free Printable: Raccoon Number Recognition or Addition Roll and Cover Games by Herding Kats in Kindergarten at Teachers Pay Teachers
For this activity, I used a large plastic tray from Montessori Services, two dice, and enough glass gems to cover the numbers. I used ones that could be seen through so the numbers would still be visible.
In this printable, you’ll find options for number recognition, addition with 2 dice, and addition with 3 dice.
Raccoon Name Recognition Puzzle
Free Printable: Blank Card from Raccoon Numbers (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber)
For this activity, I used a Montessori Services basket, printable with name printed twice and bottom name cut into puzzle pieces (strips), and a small Bambu condiment cup to hold the puzzle pieces.
This just took a few minutes to prepare! It’s a simple activity to help young children learn to recognize their name. This particular printable would only work best with a name of 5 letters or less.
Raccoon Rhyming Match-Up
Free Printable: Back to School Raccoon Rhyming Match-up by Herding Kats in Kindergarten at Teachers Pay Teachers
I used small tabletop easels for this activity to make it very easy to prepare and display. I simply placed the easels with the cards on a Montessori Services medium-size tray. I use 1/4″ color coding label dots to place one color dot on the back of each of the first set of cards and another color dot on the back of each of the second set of cards. That way the child will always have the correct rhyming cards to choose from.
Raccoon Phonogram Sorting Activity
Free Printable: Raccoon Digraph Sorting Activity by Nicole O’Connor – Firstie Favorites at Teachers Pay Teachers
For this activity, I just used a Montessori Services basket to hold the cards. I used 3 cards for each to use only the simplest word cards. I wanted to isolate the concept, so I tried to have simple words that started with a specific phonogram.
Free Raccoon Printables for Preschoolers-First Graders (some printables for up to grade 3)
Montessori-Inspired Raccoon Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, and DIY Movable Alphabet (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)
Free Raccoon Do-a-Dot Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Free Raccoon Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
Raccoon Walks Exercise for Kids {Free Printable} from Christina Chitwood
- Raccoon Puppet from National Wildlife Federation Kids
- Printable Raccoon Silhouette from Printable Paradise
- Printable Raccoon Craft from Learn Create Love
- Raccoon Crafts and Activities from DLTK’s Crafts for Kids
- Raccoon Crafts and Printables from First-School
- DIY Raccoon Costume with Printable Mask from 100 Directions
- Raccoon Face Mask from AHC Arts and Crafts
- Raccoon Mask from The Classroom Creative
- Woodland Creature Masks from Alpha Mom
- R is for Raccoon Printables from 1+1+1=1
- Raccoon Printables from Twinkl
- Don’t Feed the Raccoon Number Identification Game from Stay at Home Educator
- Raccoon Science Printable (elementary level) from Easy Science for Kids
- Raccoon Printables from Cybersleuth Kids
- Day and Night Sort from Teaching Heart
- Raccoon Printables from Teachers Pay Teachers
Kissing Hand Raccoon Printables
- “Chester Goes to School” Book at A to Z Teacher Stuff
- First Day of School Feelings from Mrs. Byrd’s Learning Tree
- Raccoon Printables based on The Kissing Hand from Play 2 Learn Printables
- The Kissing Hand Activities Packet from Teach with Me
- Kisses Bag Topper (First Day of School Treats) from Happy Teacher Happy Kids
- Kissing Hand Craft (Template for making raccoon to hold Kissing Hand activity pages) from Wild about Firsties
- Kissing Hand Art Project from Peace, Love, & Learning
- Chester Raccoon Printables from Teachers Pay Teachers
Helpful Post with Animal Classification
Montessori Animal Classification
More Kissing Hand Posts
Free Kissing Hand Songs, Poems, & Videos to Ease Separation Anxiety
Free Kissing Hand Craft with Handprint and Poem
Back to School Pinterest Board
Back to School Pinterest Board
In addition to kindergarten readiness ideas, my Back to School Pinterest Board has back-to-school- and back-to-homeschool ideas for many levels. Try to make any kindergarten readiness activities as much fun as you can, and enjoy this important milestone in your child’s life! 🙂
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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These were very helpful resources. Thank you so much!