I’m so excited to share a free Montessori-inspired frog do-a-dot printable with you today! It’s an instant download … super simple! And the activities you can make with it are super simple to prepare, too!
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 name of the animal or object featured. In the cover page of this printable, you’ll see that this is an emerald glass frog, which you can teach to your child. Preschoolers love to learn proper terminology, so you don’t need to just say this is a frog.
- 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 Frog Do-a-Dot Printable
Today’s free printable is a frog do-a-dot printable in honor of Leap Year, spring, and the fact that frogs are just fun.
To download, 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 Frog Do-a-Dot Printable
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links (at no cost to you).
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 you can create with our frog do-a-dot printable:
Frog Do-a-Dot Activity with Power Magnets
Frog Do-a-Dot Activity with Power Magnets
This is a very fun activity … one that my 2-year-old granddaughter loves! Of course, only use Power Magnets with a toddler if he or she is past the mouthing stage or is very closely supervised while using the magnets. (Note: The Power Magnets or other objects used on the dots don’t have to be red. I kept a consistent theme here so that I could change the do-a-dot tray easily.)
We added 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. I haven’t found a good erasable marker yet. If you find one, let me know!
For a 2-year-old or other young preschooler who’s not ready to write letters, you can just leave off the crayons. This activity can be used on a magnetic board like the Melissa & Doug Magnetic Chalk/Dry Erase Board I used or even on a cookie sheet.
Counting Power Magnets on Her Frog Do-a-Dot Activity
Frog Do-a-Dot Tray with Do-a-Dot Markers
Frog Do-a-Dot Tray with Do-a-Dot Marker
Another activity my granddaughter loves is using do-a-dot markers. They’re a fun way for toddlers and preschoolers to develop the coordination needed for writing. For this activity, I used a Montessori Services large plastic tray.
Frog Do-a-Dot Tray with Pom Poms
Frog Do-a-Dot Tray with Pom Poms
Pom poms are another fun item to use with do-a-dot printables. I love Montessori Services quick sticks for transferring activities. I also like sugar tongs, and toast tongs for transferring pom poms. This photo shows a Montessori Services tray, although I often use the wooden Multicraft trays as well.
Frog Do-a-Dot Tray with Glass Gems
Frog Do-a-Dot Tray with Glass Gems
Glass gems are another of my favorite items to use with do-a-dot printables … and for transferring activities in general.
If you want to know how to introduce the letter sound for f, check out my post on how to teach letter sounds using Montessori principles.
I hope you enjoy our free frog do-a-dot printable whether it’s for Leap Year, a study of frogs, or a pond theme!
And don’t miss our subscriber freebie frog pack! You’ll get a monthly freebie with link and password if you subscribe to the Living Montessori Now weekly newsletter!
Learn more about Montessori at Home or School: How to Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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This is so cute and I love the ideas to use it that you included. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Debbie! I appreciate it. 🙂
Where can I find do-a-dot printables like this for the entire alphabet?
Thanks, Suzanne! In the Living Montessori Now shop, you’ll find do-a-dot printables for the entire alphabet: http://livingmontessorinowshop.com/. Each alphabet pack also has a cover to make a book, such as “My Animal Alphabet Book” or “My Healthy Food Alphabet Book.” You can see how I’ve used those here: https://livingmontessorinow.com/montessori-inspired-animal-alphabet-packs-animal-alphabet-book/. 🙂