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Disclosure: The post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in the Amazon Associate program comes at no additional cost to you, and commissions earned help support this blog. You can learn more here.
Making the choice to pull my child from preschool this fall was difficult. I feel fortunate to have the resources to be able to stay home with my little one during this challenging time; I know it isn't an option for many families. I also feel quite lucky to have a background in teaching (including teaching preschool!). For critical social skills we are doing playdates with a small circle of cautious friends, at least until it is no longer a safe option in our area, or until the pandemic passes and we can go back to school. But what about all that time when we aren't occupied by playdates?
That is where my background in teaching has really been an asset! But I know not every parent has a degree in education and formal teaching experience. That is why I've decided to share our homeschooling journey with you!! Here is what we did during our first week learning from home:
Starting the Day: Calendar and Weather, Themed Story (Daily)
Circle time is a vital part of the preschool day. It helps children center and prepare for a day of learning, connect with their classmates and teacher(s), and, of course, learn. Sure, we are learning from home with no siblings, which means there are no other students to connect with. But that is no reason not to start the day by focusing on the learning ahead!
Each morning we start with our calendar; we discuss what month and year it is, count up to the current day, sing our days of the week song (see lyrics below) and review any special events or holidays happening that day. We then sing our weather song (see lyrics below) and then look outside to figure out what the weather is that day. Once we have finished the calendar and weather, we read a story (or stories) related to our theme.
Our theme for the month of September is 'The Alphabet'
Each day we cover a new theme related to a letter of the alphabet. Sometimes we cover the same letter a couple of days in a row, other times we only spend one day on a letter (the only reason for repetition is if I have a lot of content related to one particular theme and can't fit everything into one day). I cover each of this week's themes in detail below.
Week 1 - Themes and Books
Why no curriculum for Thursday and Friday? Part of our homeschool journey is accepting sometimes things come up that make it difficult to follow through. My goal is always to do the best I can, as a parent, and in all my affairs. While older children doing virtual learning may not have the luxury of taking time away from formal learning, preschool is different. We can be more flexible. If there is one parenting lesson I hope to impart on readers it is that parenting requires flexibility and being mindful that sometimes things don't go as planned.... And that is OKAY. I love routine, but trying to rigidly stick with plans stresses me out. After years of running on a hamster wheel with trying to be perfect, I've decided instead to work hard to go with the flow. Thursday I wasn't feeling well and Friday we had a playdate in the morning and got sidetracked in the afternoon. And that is absolutely okay! I originally planned to cover the letter C, but instead moved those activities to the following week.
Looking for a great lesson planning template for little ones? Here is the one that I've been using (please feel free to download it for your own use (conditions apply*!)
MONDAY
Circle Time Book (literacy): The Book of Shadow Boxes
This alphabet book takes the form of a poem, and is quite creative. It moves away from alphabet book stereotypes, and focuses heavily on promotion of phonemic awareness (focusing on the individual sounds each letter makes), as well as some phonics strategies. You can find it here (it is out of print, but you can find used editions), or check out some of our other favorite alphabet books!
Activities: Letter coloring/Tracing (Fine motor, writing), singing the alphabet with a visual aid (see below).
Stay tuned to my subscriber's library for access to these great (and free) printables!
TUESDAY
Circle Time Book (literacy): The Book of Shadow Boxes - Letter A poem only; How Do Apples Grow
Activities: Apple stamp painting (fine motor, sensory, STEM); Letter 'A' & apple matching (literacy).
Stay tuned to my subscriber's library for access to these great (and free) printables!
Apple stamp painting is a great activity for toddlers and preschoolers. I paired it with "How Do Apples Grow", and we used the opportunity to cut open the apple, look at the different parts of the apple as shown in the book's diagram (including the seeds). We then removed the seeds for planting (we placed the seeds in a wet paper towel for safe keeping until they could be safely planted; I was out of potting soil!). By extending the painting activity to include talking about the apple as a plant, we in turn covered apples a science topic as well as art, literacy, and fine motor skills!
Learning about seeds!
Apple stamp painting in action!
Letter activities (printables coming to resource library soon!)
Favorite products for making the most of these printables:
WEDNESDAY
Circle Time Book (literacy): The Book of Shadow Boxes - Letter B poem only; my child's book of choice (we read All Are Welcome repeatedly!).
Activities: Letter 'B' coloring/tracing; Body tracing activity. (click for full description of activity)
We had so much fun with these homeschool activities during our first week of homeschooling preschool. We were also super grateful to be able to build on social skills as well (since social skill development is one of the most critical elements of early education). I can't wait to share our activities from week 2!
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*Access to this template (and all Mindfully Scientific Mama content) is for personal use only. Mindfully Scientific Mama content may not be shared for commercial use, or on another website, without explicit written permission of the content creator.
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Over the last few weeks I've been working diligently on tons of new content for you, and in anticipation of the launch, I'm releasing some fun (and educational) printable activities for your toddlers/preschoolers/ kindergarteners. This printables pack includes color, shape, and sight word activities with several levels of difficulty, as well as beach/ocean themed coloring pages.
Perfect for summer (or those who don't want summer fun to ever end!), or a homeschool thematic unit on the beach, seasons, or ocean life.
Plus, the bright and colorful shape activities are great for any time of year.
You can get access to these printables here.
The following is a guide for making the most out of these downloads. And be sure to send me pictures of your little ones enjoying these great activities! I'd love to share them to Instagram and Facebook with links to your social media accounts.
How to Make the Most Out of These Activities
Disclosure: This post contains links to Amazon products. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. My participation in this program comes at not added cost to you, nor are there any strings attached. Learn more here.
Shape Matching
The shape matching activity offers four levels of difficulty. The first level has shape words written in the same color as the shape itself, plus images of the shape in the same color. The next level has shapes and words on the main card, but no in color. The more difficult levels offers the shape words with coloring, which requires color matching with exposure to site words, while the most advance level offers shape words without coloring, requiring sight word recognition.
There are two great ways to use either level of this activity. The first is to cut out each shape card, and the word card (you can cut this out into a single card rather than individual word cards). Then have your child use a glue stick and glue the correct shape next to the correct word.
You can also use a laminator and velcro to create a reusable activity. First laminate the entire page. Then cut out the individual shapes and the big words card. Finally, apply velcro to the backs of the shape cards and next to each word. Your child can then use the same cards over and over, rather than you having to print multiple copies and waste paper.
Product Recommendations from Amazon for This Activity
Fish (Color) Matching
This activity has three different versions; three levels of difficult for one version, two levels of difficulty for a second, and a single level of difficulty for the third.
The first version is similar to the shape matching activity, and can be done the same way (either with glue sticks or a laminator and velcro). Also like the shape matching activity, the fish matching activity asks your child to match colors to the correct color word. The easiest level has the color words written in color with a matching fish. The intermediary level offers site words written in matching colors to the respective fish. The hardest, sight word level simply has the color word written in black ink. A second version of this activity requires no cutting, just drawing lines from the fish to the correct color word.
A third version of this activity is a coloring page, where your child must color each fish with the color word on its body. This requires sight word reading, and is more advanced than the other versions of this activity.
These activities are also great for binder games. Click here to learn more about how to make one!
This printables pack also comes with four coloring pages!
Version 3 - Advanced
My toddler is already loving these activities!
Get yours today by signing up for my mailing list here!
Not quite ready to sign up? While you would be missing valuable content, I do make select coloring pages available for download without signup on my Craft Corner page, as well as worksheets available for direct download on my Activities page.
Have you done any of these activities with your child?
Be sure to comment below to let me know how it went, or send me pictures (via Instagram, Facebook, or email) of your child enjoying the activities, and I'll post on social media with a tag to your account!
Love this? Be sure to share!
Planning a first birthday party, a general kids birthday party, or looking for new fun activities? This post has ALL of that, and MORE.
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The Big One
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It wound up being an adorable theme, and we found lots of ready-made décor options on Amazon. Since we’ve been through it all already, I’ve decided to help you cut your stress for planning a similar party, and put together an all in one guide. Everything you need to host an amazing Big One themed birthday, all in one spot. I’ve even developed a free kit containing tons of printable material to get you started!
All the things I wish I had when I was planning, and didn’t. My loss is your gain!
While we celebrated this birthday as "The Big One" (since it was, of course, my child's big first birthday!), you can use many of these ideas for any beach, nautical, or fishing themed party.
Plus, many of the activities below are great for any day fun!
What you will find in this post
- Menu Ideas
- Cake Ideas
- Activity Ideas
- Decorations Ideas
- Thank You/Goodie Bag Ideas
- The First Birthday Outfit
- Taking this Theme Beyond the Party: Other resources and links to fun, educational thematic content
- Information for Accessing Downloadable Kit
Menu Ideas
We did a traditional summer barbecue at both parties, while offering some more theme appropriate fare as well. For instance, we served Goldfish as a snack food.
Check out this sample menu card with other theme related menu items!
Check out this sample menu card with other theme related menu items!
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Above: Image of a menu card with a fishing pole and three bobbers. Menu reads "Goldfish, Swedish fish candy, Pretzel "Fishing" Rod, Lifesaver/Gummy Ring Life Preservers, Sand Cups, Veggie Rods with Dip.
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You can find instructions for how to make sand cups here. While we offered gold fish as a themed snack, I've seen all a number of different creative ideas for fishing theme snacks, including pretzel rods with twine wrapped around the top to look like fishing line, lifesaver candy with twine tied around to look like life preservers, and more.
Above: 'Sand' cup dessert.
Image shows a clear container filled with crushed cookie and cake that has the texture of sand. It is topped with teal blue frosting and red fish candy.
Also be sure to download the printables kit to get your own blank menu card, or get access to the one above!
Cake Ideas
We did both an allergy safe smash cake for our child and purchased a bakery cake for our guests. We asked the bakers to decorate the cake with colored frosting, piping, and sea life; we added bobbers and a center piece to the top to finish the look.
Smash Cake | Photo Credit: Keith Putnam
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Above: Three images show two different cakes from our first birthday party. Two images show a smash cake, which is blue and has wave like texture. It is topped with a single red and white bobber and a sign that has a fish and says "The Big One". A second sheet cake also has a sign with fish that says "The Big One", has a blue top with bobbers, and white sides with fish shapes affixed to it.
Be sure to keep an eye on my blog, too; I’m currently working on a piece with tons of ideas for allergy friendly cake options, and will place a link here when it is completed.
Be sure to check out the following cake topper options on Amazon to recreate the looks above! Just click on the images to navigate to the product pages.
Be sure to check out the following cake topper options on Amazon to recreate the looks above! Just click on the images to navigate to the product pages.
 
Above: Clickable image link for cake topper; It is a brown "The Big One" sign with a green fish clipped to it.
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Above: Clickable image link for a cake topper. It has two sticks (each topped with a bobber) with colorful fish hanging from a line, and a brown sign in the middle that say "The Big One" and has fish and a bobber on it.
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Activity Ideas
One of the best things about the following activities is that they are great not only for parties, but any occasion. Most of these activities continue to be in our rotation of favorite things to do!
FISHING GAME
You can use the materials and instructions in the printables kit for a DIY option, or purchase one of the recommended products below. We purchased a kit and used our kiddie pool, which was amazing because my child’s birthday was held on a hot summer day.
ABOVE: Our fishing set (this was taken well after the party, and we colored the water for extra fun, but when we used the set at the party we had it set up in our wading pool). Image shows a clear rectangular container with green water and 6 colorful fish toys. A single blue fishing rod also sits in the water.
Using the printables kit (this is best for slightly older children, while the kit you can purchase is a bit better for younger kids): Create fishing poles by taking kabob sticks and tying twine to one end. Then attach a paperclip at the end of the twine. Print the fish, laminate, and attach a self adhesive magnet to the back. This game is not only great for parties, but for a DIY home activity on rainy or cold days.
 
The above fishing kit is different from the one we have (that one is no longer offered on Amazon), but this one has thousands of excellent reviews. Click the image or here to view product.
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Sample fish. Printable pack comes with two different sheets of fish to catch.
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We have gotten a lot of use out of our fishing kit (long after the party was over). It is still one of my toddler's favorite backyard water play activities!
DECORATE YOUR OWN FISH CRAFT
You can use the materials and instructions in my printables kit for a DIY option, or purchase one of the recommended products below. For my child’s party, we purchased wooden fish and had the children paint them (some fo the adults joined in, too), but you can use glue, glitter, pom-poms, or any fun and festive craft materials. If you are having an adults-only party (for instance, if you are the first one in your family or friends group to have a child), you can get even more creative with a hot glue gun and smaller materials, too.
This is another activity that is great for any occasion.
Here are some great products to help you with this activity. Or, access the printables kit using the form at the bottom of this article.
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Above: Decorate Your Own Fish template. Image shows an outline of a fish.
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BUBBLES
What toddler doesn’t love bubbles? We purchased an amazing bubble blower from Amazon and still get great use out of it. Or, use a storage bin with warm water and make bubbles using Dawn blue dish soap for an easy and more cost-efficient sensory play option. If you use the Dawn dish soap option, you can also use the bubble sensory bucket as a fishing spot.
 
Above: Whale shaped bubble blower.
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Above: Bubble solution
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Above:Dawn Blue Dish Soap
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PIN THE TAIL ON THE FISH
Just use the materials in the downloadable kit for an easy and fun variation of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, perfectly modified for this adorable first birthday theme. You can access the printables kit using the form at the bottom of this article. Laminating the fish tails is a great way to make them more durable, too!
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Above (Left): Image shows blue fish for "Pin the Tail on the Fish" activity. This printable has been formatted for poster size, so you can print a large version, perfect for the game! Above (Right): Image shows blue tails for pin the tail on the fish.
Memory Keepsake
This activity is best for the adults and older children at the party. Use the memory cards in the printables kit and have guests fill out favorite memories from your child's first year or wishes for their future. Children who don't want to (or can't yet) write can also draw pictures. You can insert these cards into a photo album or a similar storage system to enjoy for years to come. Or, have guests use the bobber tags to write memories and well wishes, and then paste them on the Memories Poster or arrange in a picture frame as a collage.
Above: Memory Cards. These cards have a blue border and a white center with the shape of a wave. The top of the card has a fishing pole with a yellow and red fish, and three bobbers. It also has a section to write the birthday child's name. The bottom of the card has a section for guests to write their names.
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Above: Memory Poster. The poster has a blue border and a white center with the shape of a wave. The top of the card has a fishing pole with a yellow and red fish, and three bobbers. It also says "The Big One" in red and a space to write the birthday child's name.
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MAKE YOUR OWN "SAND CUP" DESSERT
What kid doesn’t love a dirt cup? Simply use yellow/vanilla cake (instead of chocolate), chocolate chip or sugar cookies (instead of Oreos), blue cool whip/frosting/vanilla pudding, Swedish fish, and O shaped gummy candy or life-savers. You can even top them with little cocktail umbrellas! More detailed instructions for this activity can be found here.
Why go to the store when you can shop online? Here are some products perfect for this activity.
Click on images below to view product pages, or click here to view product descriptions and links included in the activity.
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DECORATIONS
You can’t have a decent party without decorations, right? Check out the following photos of my little one’s party, as well as product recommendations to help recreate the look.
CLICK ON THE NAME OF THE DECORATION (IN BLUE) OR THE PRODUCT IMAGE TO ACCESS THE PRODUCT PAGE.
This photo banner received tons of compliments from our guests. It is still available on Amazon, or you can use my printables to create your own photo wall or banner.
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Before my husband confiscated them for his fishing kit (kidding, kidding... I gladly turned them over for a second life serving their designated purpose!) we used these bobbers for cake toppers and decorations on food platters. You can see them in a number of the pictures throughout this post. Or, use my printable bobber tags and toothpicks for a DIY approach (laminating them can make them more durable, too).
 
Above: Clickable image showing red and white bobbers available for purchase from Amazon (accessible text link available in the above section)
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Above: Printable bobber tags.
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The Big One Banner
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Smash Cake Photo | Photo Credit: Keith Putnam
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We used this banner as interior decor, and then for a backdrop for the smash cake photo shoot. You can find the same banner by clicking the image below for the Amazon product page, or check out the Big One poster printable in my download kit!
Above: Clickable image that brings you to the Amazon Product page for a banner that says "The Big One". The banner has four fish (red, yellow, green, and blue) and three bobbers, each with a single word (the, big, and one). Click here to view product page
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Above: Printable poster available in the Big One Printables Kit. Poster says "The Big One" in red in the center of the image. The top right includes a fishing pole and a single bobber. Blue fish are shown in the center. Three bobbers are located in the bottom left corner.
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This party supply kit includes decorations, goodie bags, napkins, plates, cups, and a table cloth, while the dangling decor matches the set perfectly. We ordered two, and supplemented with red, blue, and white paper goods.
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You can also access DIY decorations in my printables kit. See the form at the bottom of the page to sign up.
THANK YOU BAGS AND CARDS
Before your guests leave, make sure to thank them!
We gave out goodie bags (available in the nautical themed first birthday kit here) containing candy, as well as letting our guests bring home their own fish (see below for the product we purchased).
You can also use the bobber tags from the printables kit and/or the printable thank you notes. Either use a hole puncher and ribbon to affix the tags to the bags, or handwrite thank you messages on the notes for your child to mail/give to your guests.
We gave out goodie bags (available in the nautical themed first birthday kit here) containing candy, as well as letting our guests bring home their own fish (see below for the product we purchased).
You can also use the bobber tags from the printables kit and/or the printable thank you notes. Either use a hole puncher and ribbon to affix the tags to the bags, or handwrite thank you messages on the notes for your child to mail/give to your guests.
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Above: Three images showing three different thank you card options.
The top thank you card has a blue border, says thank you in red at the top, has a fishing pole and three bobbers in the top left corner, and has a square in the center that says "Insert Picture Here". The background is white with light blue fish. The bottom left thank you card has a blue border, says thank you in red at the top, has a fishing pole and three bobbers in the top left corner, and has a background that is white with light blue fish. The background is white with light blue fish. The bottom right thank you card has a blue border, says thank you in red in the center, has a fishing pole and three bobbers in the top left corner, and has a background that is white with light blue fish.
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The Outfit
What first birthday would be complete without a great birthday outfit?
We ordered an adorable Big One onesie and a crown from Amazon. And, the choices turned out adorable, if I do say so myself!
We ordered an adorable Big One onesie and a crown from Amazon. And, the choices turned out adorable, if I do say so myself!
Above: Image of a toddler sitting on a blue, yellow, green, and white floor eating a massive piece of cake. Child sits in front of a banner reading "The Big One". Photo Credit: Keith Putnam
Taking this theme beyond the party: Resources and links to fun and educational thematic content
Looking for a great gift for a 'Big One' birthday party? Or ideas for resources to help use some of the printable content for everyday purposes?
Be sure to check out the following content:
Be sure to check out the following content:
I've compiled a list of perfect gifts for the little angler or beach lover in your life. I scoured Amazon for the best rated thematic products, so you don't have to! Some of these products we have in our home, some I've had in the classroom, and others simply got rave reviews. You can check them out here.
These resources are perfect for those looking to utilize the activities above for everyday fun. Learn more about these great printables here.
ABOVE: Light blue background with white accents. 8 images of sample curriculum content, including color, shape, and sight word activities. Center has text stating "Get these pages and more!"
And coming very soon.... Literacy Kits!
I enjoyed putting this post and my summer printables pack together so much that I decided to take it a step further and create thoughtfully designed literacy packs. As we are approach autumn, I will not only be releasing a literacy kit for summer, but adding a fall themed kit to the bundle! See a sneak peek of some of the resources below:
EBooks/Printable Books to read with your little one and help your child build phonological awareness.
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Themed alphabet words
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Based on commonly utilized and research based phonics instruction strategies learned while I was a teacher, these resources will aid in teaching phonological awareness to pre-readers and early readers. A perfect supplement for preschool or PreK families preparing their little one for elementary school (or as an add on for those homeschooling this year thanks to the pandemic). The bundle includes alphabet words, instructions for phonological awareness strategies, a seasonal story, and supplemental activity cards for each season. They pair perfectly with seasonal subscriber printables (new fall content coming to the subscribers' library very soon)!
Stay tuned for an announcement on release (and an Instagram giveaway) soon!
The Big One - Printables Kit
What you get:
This kit comes with the following printable options:
- 4 different bobber tag/photo banner options.
- 1 "The Big One" Poster
- 1 Memory Template Card for Guests to Fill Out
- 1 Memory Poster for Guests to Paste Bobber Tags with Memories On
- 1 Menu Card - Blank
- 1 Menu Card - Filled with Sample Menu
- 3 Thank You Card Options
- 1 Pin the Tail on The Fish Set (1 poster, 2 pages of tails)
- 6 Pages of Photo Booth Props/Decorations
- 1 Page of Multisized Fish Tags
- 1 Decorate Your Own Fish Template
- 2 Pages of Fish for Decorations or Fishing Activity
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