Do you often wonder how you can afford it all? Whether you use Montessori education or a more traditional form of teaching or homeschooling, free printables are invaluable. Along with saving you money, they can save time and help you easily create attractive, professional-looking activities.
Creating Montessori-Inspired Activity Trays
I already have a post with free Montessori materials online with links to many fantastic Montessori printables. Montessori printables are generally created for hand-on learning. Montessori activities are arranged attractively in baskets or trays on low shelves where preschoolers can easily choose their own activities.
Other printables can generally be made into Montessori-inspired activity trays with hands-on learning, too. Often small objects can be added to the activity or you can think of how the activity can be made reusable. Many times, the pieces can be cut apart and laminated. Remember, the younger your child is, the more important hands-on learning is.
Thank you to the bloggers who so generously share their free printables. There are so many great sites offering free printables. Here are some sites with lovely printables that can often be made into hands-on activity trays (listed in alphabetical order according to my computer). Note: Even though this post is for free preschool printables, often they’re appropriate for toddlers or preschoolers through first or second grade.
Note: I’m hoping to have a thorough list of sites that publish free printables. If you publish them, I plan to add your site to this list or my free Montessori materials list. Please contact me if I missed your site.
Sites with Free Preschool Printables That Work Well for Activity Trays
Typically, these sites have printables for sale along with free printables. I’m just focusing on the free printables here, though. Most of the sites have some subscriber freebies as well, even the ones that have a large number of instant downloads. I’ll try to specify if the sites have mainly instant downloads or subscriber freebies, though. Sometimes that changes, so I can’t guarantee these will remain accurate.
Activity Tray from Free Pioneer Printables and Montessori-Inspired Pioneer Activities Using Covered Wagon Lacing from Wild West Mega Pack at 123 Homeschool 4 Me
123 Homeschool 4 Me – instant downloads
3 Boys and a Dog – instant downloads
Activity Tray from Free Zoo Printables and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Activities Using Subtract the Animals at the Zoo Printable from Zoo Pack Update (part 5) from 3 Dinosaurs
3 Dinosaurs – instant downloads
A Little Pinch of Perfect – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
All About Learning Press – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
All Our Days – instant downloads
All Things with Purpose – mainly subscriber freebies
And Next Comes L – instant downloads
Artsy Momma – instant downloads
A Teaching Mommy – instant downloads
Autism Little Learners – instant downloads
Bren Did – instant downloads (kids’ activities are near the bottom of the page)
Busy Bee Kids Printables – instant downloads
Can Do Kinders – instant downloads
Childcareland.com – instant downloads
Activity Tray from Free Spider Printables and Montessori-Inspired Spider Math Activities Using Printable Roll and Draw Spiders Game from Childhood 101
Childhood 101 – instant downloads
Christian Preschool Printables – instant downloads
CHSH-Teach.com (Christian Home School Hub) – instant downloads
Classroom Freebies – free printables from a variety of sites
Confessions of a Homeschooler – instant downloads
Cottage Chronicles – subscriber freebies
Crystal & Co. – instant downloads
Activity Tray/Basket from Montessori-Inspired Alligator Unit with Free Printables and Activities Using Alligator Clothespin Puppet/Fine-Motor Activity from Delia Creates and A is for Alligator by The Educators Spin On It at Teacher’s Notebook (plus a font card from my monthly subscriber freebie pack)
Delia Creates – instant downloads
DLTK’s Crafts for Kids – instant downloads
Early Learning Ideas – subscriber freebies and instant downloads
Easy Peasy Learners – instant downloads
Education.com – register for instant downloads
Edventures with Kids – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Enchanted Learning (has a membership section but also has free printables)
Activity Tray from Free Recycling Printables and Montessori-Inspired Recycling Activities Using Covered Wagon Lacing from Earth Day Pack at Encouraging Moms at Home
Encouraging Moms at Home – some instant downloads and some subscriber freebies
File Folder Fun – instant downloads
Free Homeschool Deals – instant downloads and links to free printables from a variety of sites
Activity Tray from Free Bee Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bee Activities Using Bee is for Bumblebee Missing Number Activity – From ABCs to ACTs
From ABCs to ACTs – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Fun-a-Day – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Fun Learning for Kids – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Fun with Mama – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Gift of Curiosity – shop with search ordered by price so that free ones are listed first
Growing Book By Book – subscriber freebies
Happy and Blessed Home – subscriber freebies with some instant downloads
Have Fun Teaching – instant downloads
Homeschool Creations Early Learning Printables – mainly instant download
Homeschool Giveaways and Freebies – links to free printables from a variety of sites
Homeschool Share – instant downloads
I Can Teach My Child – instant downloads
Activity Tray from Free Apple Printables and Montessori-Inspired Apple Activities Using Apple Fractions Math Game from Itsy Bitsy Fun
Itsy Bitsy Fun – instant downloads
JDaniel4’s Mom – instant downloads
K-3 Teacher Resources – free samples along with paid subscription
Kelly’s Kindergarten – instant downloads
Kiddy Charts (not just charts) – instant downloads
Kids Activities Blog – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
KidSparkz (has a membership section but also many free, instant downloads)
KidsSoup (has a membership section but also has free, instant downloads)
Kindergarten Worksheets and Games – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Kindred Inspiration – instant downloads
Kiz Club – instant downloads
Lawteedah – instant downloads
Learn Create Love – instant downloads
Let’s Play Music – instant downloads
Librarian in the House – instant downloads
Life of a Homeschool Mom – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Life Over C’s – subscriber freebies
Life with My Littles – instant downloads
Little Bins for Little Hands – instant downloads
Little Bunny Series – instant downloads
Little Owl Resources – instant downloads
Live Laugh Rowe – instant downloads
Living Life and Learning – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Liz’s Early Learning Spot – instant downloads
Made by Joel – instant downloads
Activity Tray from Free Car Printables and Montessori-Inspired Car Activities Using Highway Shape Cards (or highway letter or number cards) from Making Learning Fun
Making Learning Fun – instant printables
Mama Jenn – instant downloads
Mama Miss – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Miniature Masterminds – instant downloads
Modern Preschool – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Moments a Day – instant downloads
Activity Tray from Free Moon Printables and Montessori-Inspired Moon Activities Using Doodle on the Moon Printable from Mr Printables (also uses a Montessori printable from Every Star Is Different)
Mr Printables – instant downloads
My Belle Michelle – instant downloads (mainly activities for families)
Notebooking Fairy – instant downloads
No Time for Flash Cards – instant downloads
Our Country Road – instant downloads
Our Jewish Homeschool Blog – instant downloads
Paper Trail Design – instant downloads
Activity Tray from Free Duckling Printables and Montessori-Inspired Duckling Activities Using Five Little Ducks Printable Puppets from Picklebums
Picklebums – instant downloads
Pink Oatmeal – subscriber freebies
Playing House – instant downloads (often has photos of the activities on trays)
Powerful Mothering – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Juanita the Spanish Lobster (Juanita la langosta española) Activities Using Animal Classification Chart and Cards from Practical Pages
Practical Pages – instant downloads
PreK + K Sharing – instant downloads
PreKinders – instant downloads
Pre-K Pages – instant downloads
Preschool Mom – instant downloads
Preschool Play and Learn – instant downloads
Preschool Post – instant downloads
Preschool Powol Packets – instant downloads
Primary Learning (has paid memberships but also has free, instant downloads with registration)
Progressive Phonics – instant downloads
Raising Up Wild Things – instant downloads
Red Ted Art – instant downloads
Activity Tray from Free Turtle Printables and Montessori-Inspired Turtle Activities Using Snappy the Syllable Turtle Board Game from Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational
Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational – instant downloads
Activity Tray from Free Dinosaur Printables and Montessori-Inspired Dinosaur Language Activities Using Dinosaur CVC Word Mats from Royal Baloo
Royal Baloo – instant downloads and some subscriber freebies
Sightwords – instant downloads
Simply Kinder – instant downloads
Simply Learning – instant downloads
Skip to My Lou – instant downloads of coloring pages/interviews, holiday printables, and valentine cards
Speak and Play English – instant downloads
Spell Outloud – instant downloads
Sun Hats & Wellie Boots – instant downloads
Teachers Pay Teachers (Teachers Pay Teachers has printables for all levels, both free and to purchase. There are over 2,000 free printables for preschoolers. You have to register to download printables, but it’s free and the weekly newsletter has links to free resources each Sunday.)
Teacher’s Pet (a UK site, so look for Foundation Stage activities for ages 3-5) – instant downloads
TeachEzy – instant downloads
Teaching Mama – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Teaching Without Chairs – instant downloads
The Art Kit – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
The Curriculum Corner – instant downloads
The Daycare Resource Connection – instant downloads
The Inspired Treehouse – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Free Snail Printables and Montessori-Inspired Snail Activities Using Game for Beginning Blends from The Measured Mom
The Measured Mom – instant downloads
The Preschool Toolbox – instant downloads (including free “Ways to Play Every Day” printable monthly calendars)
The Usual Mayhem – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
This Reading Mama – mainly instant downloads with some subscriber freebies
Three Busy Boys – instant downloads
Tired, Need Sleep – instant downloads
Totschooling – instant downloads
What Do We Do All Day? – instant downloads
Wild Earth Lab – instant downloads
Wildflower Ramblings – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
Wunder-Mom – instant downloads and subscriber freebies
You’ll find a variety of posts with free printables in my free printables category.
Do you have a favorite site or sites for printables that you use for activity trays? If you have free printables that would work for activity trays, please let me know.
Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to. Teach Grace and Courtesy!
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Thank you for all the links!
Thanks for your comment, Carine! I had fun checking out all the sites! 🙂
Thank you for including us on the list!! And thank you for the list, there are some on here that I havent heard of!
My pleasure … and thanks for all the printables and activities you share! 🙂
Thanks Deb,
As always you are most helpful. Love it 🙂
Thanks for your kind comment, Jessica! I’m so glad it helps! 🙂
What a fab list of places to get printables. Thanks!
Thanks so much, Lulu! I hope you find some printables that work perfectly for you! 🙂
wow thank you so much deb . honestly i don’t know how one could possibly manage over 100 emails a day , with three kids all needing their mama all waking hours . i started subscribing to posts looking for ideas , printable s ,… for a while now i am considering unsubscribe to almost all and just follow you . you are keeping us updated of all what is happening in blog word and montessori . i think following your blog is more than enough .
What a sweet thing to say, Viv! I’m lucky that my kids are grown as far as online time is concerned, but it’s definitely difficult to balance the needs of young children with computer time. Actually, I can’t balance it all as an empty nester! I’m so glad my posts are helpful for you! 🙂
What a great resource. I’ll have to come back and visit this post often 🙂
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Jackie! I love that so many sites share such wonderful printables … makes it so much easier to create activity trays. I had to make everything by hand when I taught, so I really appreciate that there’s so much that can just be downloaded and printed out now! 🙂
I love the pom pom activities!
Thanks for your comment, JDaniel4’s Mom! I think those are great, too – simple to prepare but fun and educational! 🙂
Thanks for adding 3 Dinosaurs!
I am overwhelmed! There are so many resources listed and I don’t even know where to begin (I guess this is a good problem to have). I have a kiddo who’s five years old and has a diagnosis of Asperger’s. I also have a 3 yr. old and 1 yr. old. To make matters worse I’m disorganized and a perfectionist–help! I’ve created 3 solid one to one correspondence activities and my little one (5 yr. old) is responding well. Also, she’s a visual-spatial learner and she learned to read 45 sight words with the aid of “Meet the Sight Words” (yes, it’s a video, but I was panicking about her not knowing how to read and was clueless about how to teach her). We are now going to get into phonics; she knows letter sounds, but doesn’t quite understand how they make words. Part of her issue is that abstract concepts present challenges for her. She gets big pictures (like putting together jigsaw puzzles–it’s amazing to watch her put together a 100 piece puzzle starting in the middle and all over the place, but somehow, she finishes in record time…), but smaller concepts go over her head. Teaching her to count objects seemed an insurmountable task and she eventually got the hang of it with lots of practice and clapping. I’m not sure how to progress and simply feel lost. Thanks for reading this novel if you did. Please feel free to email me any suggestions you may have. I appreciate it sincerely.
Wow this is a great list of links!
Thank you for including us in the list! And thank you for such a comprehensive list of resources!