We love summer vacation in our home! We have fun going on adventures, attending fairs, swimming at the pool, and hanging out with friends. Even with all of that excitement, we still have “boring” and “lazy” days. Those days are wonderful in many ways, but sometimes we just need to shake things up a bit to get the kids playing and engaged in activities again AND outdoors! 

Why try hanging basket activities? 

Here are a few reasons why I love this idea:

1. The containers are durable and easy to clean! You can easily clean any bubble or chalk reside. They are made of strong plastic and can take a beating. It’s ok if kids throw the toys back in, the baskets can take it!
2. You can keep them in the same predictable spot or you can move them around your yard to keep kids guessing and searching for them. Kids will enjoy the challenge of finding the “basket activity of the day!” If you have dinosaur figures, you could place the basket in an area of the yard with a lot of plants to mimic their natural surrounding. If you place books inside the hanging basket, put it in the garden or somewhere you would like to read books with your kids. The options are endless!
3. Try rotating toys in and out of the baskets to keep them fun and exciting for your kids. Your kids might be getting bored of their car collection, but try bringing them outdoors and they can create race lanes with sticks or rocks! If you change their typical play environment, the toys feel new to kids. 
4. They are easy to take off the hook to put in the garage or in the house if rain is predicted. You could keep plastic toys outside, but I would bring the other play options indoors during inclement weather. 

Here’s Our Outdoor Activities Set Up:

The idea here is to breathe new life into those old everyday activities or try a new activity in an outdoor setting! Try filling your hanging planters with these fun activities:

1. Books

There’s nothing better than reading a book outside on a nice day. Fill a hanging planter with a few old favorites or surprise your little one with new books!

2. Bubbles

I love these hanging planters as storage for bubbles because you can spray a hose inside the basket when it gets sticky from bubble residue. There are also drainage holes and a removable base so you don’t need to get messy when dumping out the water, it will simply drain out the bottom. It’s the perfect size for multiple bubble bottles for a party!

3. Chalk

For the same reason I like this for bubbles, I also love it for chalk! We all know that chalk can get messy, so it’s super simple to spray a hose in the hanging planter and let the water drain out the bottom. This doesn’t need to be placed near concrete, kids can color on large rocks, mulch or sticks!

4. Learning Material

I added some nature identification books to the hanging planter to inspire outdoor exploration, but you could put worksheets or even craft supplies in a planter!

5. Games

Add a few small games to inspire outdoor time on a beautiful summer day. Put a blanket and a couple of outdoor pillows near the hanging planter to create an inviting space to play!

6. Toys

I have always loved bringing toys outside for my kids! Brining toys outdoors into a new environment, invites kids to play with their toys in new and different ways. Here you can see the DIY Magnetic Tiles that I made, but you can try any toy! I particularly love the magnetic tiles because they stick right on the metal stand!

Ready to give it a try!? Here’s what you’ll need..

Supplies for the Chicken Boredom Buster:

• Shepherd Hooks– There are tall and short hooks, so make sure you get the size that will work best for the height of your child. When purchasing, make sure to consider that the planters will hang down from the top height of the hook . This 48 inch set of hooks would work well for young children. We have 35 inch hooks and much taller hooks. The planters hang a couple inches from the ground with the 35 in hooks. 
• Hanging Planters– We used these hanging baskets. Again, there are different sizes so make sure you get the size that works for your needs!
• Books– Check out this list of picture books that are great for spring and summer. Consider the size of the books and hanging planters to make sure they will fit. 
• Toys– We added these DIY magnetic tiles! They are perfect because the magnets stick right on the hooks! Different toy figures would be fun too. This dinosaur set or a simple car set would be perfect in an outdoor setting.
• Chalk 
• Bubbles
• Small games- We like placing card games in the planters. 

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What would you add to the planters? Let me know on Instagram. 

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I hope you enjoy these outdoor activities in hanging planters as much as I do!

-Tara

Need more simple nature ideas?! Check out:

Wasp Nest Decoy

More than 30 Press Flower Crafts

The post Outdoor Activities in Hanging Planters appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

These boredom-buster outdoor scavenger hunt ideas are sure to become favorite activities in your home or classroom! These scavenger hunt activities range from simple checklists to fun scavenger nature crafts. There is something here for all interests, age and ability levels.

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RELATED: Check out 10+ Simple and Beautiful Stone Activities for Kids

Check out the Outdoor Scavenger Hunts!

1.  Nature Hunt Printables (With a Real Magnifying Glass)

These nature scavenger hunt printables are unique and so fun to use! Children love the peek through magnifying glass that is conveniently placed right on the printable. No more fumbling around with a magnifying glass, clipboard, scavenger hunt sheet and pencil, this scavenger hunt has everything you need right on the printable! You can keep the magnifying glass empty and use the center as a focal point. OR…

You can add a real credit card sized magnifying glass and tape it to the cut out area on the scavenger hunt printable. As you can see in the links below,  I included outdoor scavanger hunt printables for all seasons and interests!

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

Find the outdoor printables HERE.

Find the credit card sized magnifying glasses HERE.

Get the scavenger hunt printables at a discounted price HERE.

2. My Wild Finds- Collect and Craft with Nature

Love the idea of crafting with the pieces of nature that you find? These nature printables offer fun ways to search for nature, collect it, and create art with the most lovely crafting supplies around! Crafting with nature is the perfect way to connect kids with nature and helps you ditch plastic crafting supplies for natural and biodegradable material. Here’s how this outdoor scavenger hunt works: First collect nature using an egg carton and fun printable prompt. 

Next, use the pieces of nature to make a flower crown or cool nature mask! I even included pictures that are perfect for decorating with nature. 

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

Find the outdoor printables HERE.

Get the printables at a discounted price HERE.

3. How to Make Nature Mandalas with Kids and the Muffin Tin Scavenger Hunt

As seen on Good Housekeeping, this fun nature hunt and activity will keep kids busy for a long time! Kids will love collecting nature with the muffin tin scavenger prompts, then turning their treasures into nature mandalas. 

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

Find the outdoor printables HERE.

Get the printables at a discounted price HERE.

4. Nature Collection Scavenger Hunt and Journal

This is a great low-prep outdoor activity that will keep kids of all ages busy for hours. Kids will have fun while they craft, color, and learn with collected pieces of nature! Perfect for fall, winter, spring, and summer, this nature journal for kids will keep your children away from the screen and enjoying all that nature has to offer. The cover is a paper bag so it doubles as a collection bag for nature treasures! 

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

Find the outdoor printables HERE.

Get the printables at a discounted price HERE.

5. Nature Hunt Printables for Indoor or Outdoor Use

If your children love getting outdoors and exploring nature, then these nature activities are for you! Just pick one out of the 16 scavenger hunt options, print on card stock, cut out and head outdoors! It’s ok if you don’t find all objects, just have fun and explore. Children will also love using the fun true to scale ruler conveniently placed on the magnifying glass handle! This opens up so many opportunities for learning and exploring. 

With the addition of the circular nature hunt pieces, this scavenger hunt printable pack can be used both indoors or outdoors.

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

Find the outdoor printables HERE.

Get the printables at a discounted price HERE.

6. No Prep Outdoor Scavenger Hunts- Just Print and Go!

Here are over 20 outdoor printable activities you can try in your own backyard or during your next nature walk around the neighborhood. These no-prep nature scavenger hunt pages and checklists are perfect last minute activities and require no extra work or effort on your end. Just print and head outdoors with your kids! 

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

Find the outdoor printables HERE.

Get the printables at a discounted price HERE.

7. Sticky Flower Scavenger Hunt for Spring and Summer

Here is a fun and easy flower scavenger hunt to try with kids! This activity will help children learn nature identification right in their own backyard. The cardboard piece is reusable for endless scavenger hunts.

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

8. Sticky Leaf Scavenger Hunt for Fall

Try this sticky leaf scavenger hunt in fall! This leaf activity is awesome for teaching children leaf identification at a young age and will help them learn the shapes of different types of leaves. 

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

9. Nature Vocabulary Word Scavenger Hunt

This fun outdoor educational scavenger hunt is fun for kids of all ages! The winter word search activity offers a fun and hands-on way for children to learn basic seasonal vocabulary words and expand their knowledge of the seasonal differences in the natural world. Weather isn’t cooperating? That’s okay, you can easily bring this activity indoors!

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

Find the winter scavenger hunt printables HERE.

Get all four seasons at a discounted price HERE.

10. Butterfly Scavenger Hunt and Identification Activities

Hide these butterflies and search for them with your handy printable scavenger hunt! This is a fun reason to get outside and helps children learn all about butterflies. 

Learn more about this activity HERE. 

Find the winter printables HERE.

11. Rainbow Flower Threading Boards

 This is more of a scavenger hunt craft! Search for flowers that are all colors of the rainbow and display them on a cardboard rainbow! This reusable cardboard rainbow takes just minutes to set up and will be loved throughout the spring and summer seasons! Kids will love decorating the rainbow while working on color recognition, hand-eye coordination, and strengthening fine motor skills. 

Learn more about this activity HERE.

12. Easy Egg Nature Walk for Spring

This fun outdoor activity for spring will have children looking for different colors in nature. This activity is so easy to prep and will lead to hours of outdoor play and exploration for kids! You can make any cardboard frame to fit any learning theme or area of interest for your child. I added colors on the side our board to encourage a nature color scavenger hunt. 

Learn more about this activity HERE.

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I hope you give these outdoor scavenger hunt ideas a try! I promise, your little nature lovers will love them as much as my boys.

∼Tara

Looking for more nature activities for kids?! Check out:

A Simple and Beautiful Nature Craft to Try Today!

The post Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Ideas for Kids appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

If your children love getting outdoors and exploring nature, then these nature activities are for you! Just pick one out of the 16 scavenger hunt options, print, cut out and head outdoors! It’s ok if you don’t find all objects, just have fun and explore. 

What’s included in this Nature Hunt Printable Packet?!

There are 16 nature hunts to choose from and they are great for all seasons and interests. The nature hunts included are: Insects, Spooky Things (great Halloween scavenger hunt), Forest, Get Outside! (general nature items), Snowy Day, Garden, Spring Flowers, Summer Flowers, Tide Pool, Lake, Pond, Leaves, Seeds, Mushrooms (all edible varieties), Clouds and Animal Tracks.

All 16 nature hunt printables come in color and black & white. The circular nature hunt pieces only come in color, for a total of 60+ pages!

Here is an up close look at a few of the nature hunt printables. This Spooky Scavenger Hunt is great for Halloween and fall!

I love this Snowy Day Scavenger Hunt for the Winter Solstice or any beautiful snowy day!

We loved using the ruler handle for the Spring Flower hunt! It was fun to measure the flowers!

Pictured below is one of the circular nature hunt pieces. These are great to use indoors on a rainy day or hide them in your backyard or schoolyard for a different scavenger hunt experience!

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How to Make Your Nature Hunt Printables:

These nature activities are very easy to prepare and use! These should be printed on cardstock to make a sturdier magnifying glass. I also suggest laminating to use them over and over again. You can also cross off items you find with a dry erase marker on laminated scavenger sheets!

I use my laminator at home with thick lamination pouches, which makes them mostly waterproof. The lamination at school will probably be too thin to make them waterproof, but will help with durability!

If laminating, I suggest to print on cardstock, cut out the magnifying glass, run the cut out magnifying glass through the laminator, and cut out one more time. This method will help with water resistance. I highly recommend laminating printables for the Snowy Day hunt or any other hunt that is near water. 

Please Note!

Many of the images are the same in this packet as my Nature Scavenger Hunt Printables Packet. A handful of them are completely new, some of them are the same but have a few different objects to search for, and a couple (animal tracks & clouds) are exactly the same. I believe there is enough variability for students to love both sets and they also compliment each other nicely! Also, the ruler and shape of scavenger hunts add fun new elements. Check out my scavenger hunt bundle by clicking here!

Supplies:

• Nature Hunt Printables available on TPT 
• Cardstock or printer paper- I recommend cardstock for a more durable work mat. 
• Laminator machine
• Scissors

Now that you have all of your supplies, it’s time to get outside and start exploring!

I hope you try these nature hunt printables! I promise, your little learners will love it as much as my boys and preschoolers.

∼Tara

Looking for more fun printables for kids?! Check out:

4 Ways to Use Story Stones in the Classroom

Color Activities for Kids with See-Through Lenses

The post Nature Hunt Printables- Indoor or Outdoor appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

These scavenger hunts are so easy to make and so fun to use! The best part about the magnifying glass, is that it extends the amount of time children spend outdoors searching for items! I guarantee this will be the most engaged your child has ever been with a scavenger hunt. The magnifying glass helps children focus their attention on the objects right in front of them and they love getting an extra close look, through the magnifying glass. 

You can also use the printable without a real magnifying glass. The cut out by itself is a great focal point for imaginative play and learning! Either way, these are fun and engaging leave no trace activities for kids.

What’s included in this Nature Scavenger Hunt Printable Packet?!

There are 18 scavenger hunt printables included in this packet. The scavenger hunts include: general nature, signs of spring, signs of summer, signs of fall, signs of winter, summer flower, spring flower, garden, leaf, seed, insect, color, gratitude, tally mark, cloud, mushroom, animal tracks, and alphabet. Seventeen of the eighteen scavenger hunt printables come in both black & white and color options and one comes in just black & white, for a total of 35 pages!

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Find the Printable for this Activity on TPT or Etsy! 

How to Make the Magnifying Glass?

The magnifying glass is easy to make! Laminate the cardstock and cut out the lens part of the printable.

Last, tape the edges of the credit card sized magnifying glass to the back of the printable! The magnifying glasses are made of plastic and durable.

Below, you can see how well the magnifying glass works! It’s even more fun to use outside in nature. 

Here’s a Couple of ways to use your Nature Scavenger Hunt Printables:

This example shows the printable with a real magnifying glass and clothespins are used to check off items found. Start with clothespins at the top and bottom of the printable and move them to the side as you find items.

This example does not have a real magnifying glass and a dry erase marker is used to cross off pictures of items found. The dry erase marks can be easily erased when finished. Try sticking one velcro circle on the scavenger hunt and other velcro circle on the dry erase marker. This is a great way to keep your supplies all in one spot. When the marker is not in use, just stick it right to the velcro on the scavenger hunt

Here’s a Peak at all of the Scavenger Hunts!

Before we look at the scavenger hunts, I want you to think about a few things. I did not add instructions because I want children to use it in a way that works best for them! To keep the scavenger hunts fresh and fun, try the clothespins one day and dry erase markers on another. Use a real magnifying glass for one scavenger hunt and go without it for a different one. Children will like to use these sheets in different ways and that’s ok!

A few of the scavenger hunts, like mushrooms and clouds, have scientific names. These can be difficult to pronounce and I wouldn’t expect a child to be able to read or remember all of them. That’s also ok! This is all about exposure and having fun.

If you aren’t having any luck finding specific items on the list, try searching for the colors of the items. For example, you can look for the colors of leaves on the leaf scavenger hunt instead of the particular leaves! Make this work for you. 

Now lets get to the scavenger hunts! These scavenger hunts are perfect for seasonal activities! Check out the spring, summer, fall and winter scavenger hunt printables. 

Here are a couple of scavenger hunts that are great for any time of year! For the tally mark scavenger hunt, use a dry erase marker to make tally marks on the laminated printable. This is great for reinforcing early math skills while being outdoors!

The animal track and mushroom printables are fun for adventurous little explorers! Try looking for animal tracks in mud or snow! And remember, don’t touch or eat mushrooms because they could be poinsonous.

These scavenger hunts are fun to try right in your own backyard! Children love spending time in the garden and really enjoy looking for insects and seeds. 

I love these three scavenger hunts! The alphabet scavenger hunt can be used in a couple of different ways: Children can either clip a clothespin on the alphabet letter after they find something in nature that starts with that letter or write the word next to the corresponding letter. For example, if a child finds an apple, they would write “apple” next to the “Aa.” I find an ultra fine dry erase marker works best in these small writing spaces. 

The gratitude scavenger hunt is fun to try around Thanksgiving or Valentine’s Day. And the color scavenger hunt is fun for children of all ages!

The alphabet and color scavenger hunt printables can be used indoors on a rainy day!

Here’s what you’ll need to make these nature scavenger hunt printables!

Supplies:

• Nature Scavenger Hunt Printables available on TPT or Etsy
• Cardstock or printer paper- I recommend cardstock for a more durable work mat. 
• Laminator machine
• Scissors
• Credit Card Sized Magnifying Glass
• Dry Erase Markers  or Clothes pins(I like mini clothes pins for this activity, but regular sized will work too!)
• Velcro Dots– These are completely optional! They are great to stick on the scavenger hunt printable and dry erase marker to keep all of your objects together. When the marker is not in use, just stick it right to the velcro on the scavenger hunt.

Now that you have all of your supplies, it’s time to get outside and start exploring!

These are great for every season, even winter! The snow looked beautiful magnified through the lenses. We could have looked at it for hours!

We preferred to go without the magnifying glass for the cloud hunt. The clouds looked really neat framed in the magnifying glass!

Pin this to save it for later!

I hope you try these nature scavenger hunt printables! I promise, your little learners will love it as much as my boys and preschoolers.

∼Tara

Looking for more fun printables for kids?! Check out:

4 Ways to Use Story Stones in the Classroom

Color Activities for Kids with See-Through Lenses

The post Nature Scavenger Hunt Printables appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

To prepare your shape lenses printable, cut out the lenses and run the sheets through the laminator. I used my laminator at home because my sheets are a bit thicker than the laminator machines at school. Cardstock is recommended to unsure a durable work mat!

This post contains Affiliate links for your convenience.

RELATED: Check out the Nature Collection Journal

Find the Printable for this Activity HERE!

Check out the COLOR AND SHAPE ACTIVITY BUNDLE HERE!

There are four different shape activities for kids included in this packet and it includes both black&white and color options for printing. Here are the directions for the first activity! The shape options included in the printable packet are: circle, triangle, square, rectangle, oval, star, heart, crescent, diamond/rhombus, pentagon, hexagon, octagon and trapezoid. 

Activity 1: Trace the Shapes

First, look through the lenses and say the name of the shape.

Next, say the names of the shapes and trace them with dry erase markers. 

Last, erase the marker. 

Activity 2: Sort the Shapes

First, look through the lenses and say the name of the shape.

Then, say the names of the objects on the cards and sort them on the correct side. Object names are listed in the product.

Activity 3: Trace the words

First, look through the lenses and say the name of the shape.

Next, trace the shape words and say the name.

Last, erase the marker. 

Activity 4: Write the words

First, look through them and say the name of the shape.

Next, write the shape words on the lines.

Last, erase the marker. 

The unique and convenient combination of both see-through lenses with the learning activities on the sheet, makes this the perfect blend of learning and play!

These are fun to hold up in front of different objects to view them as different shapes! I love this packet because there is truly something for every young learner. Whether you are trying to expose your students to shapes for the first time or working on shape mastery, there is an activity for here for many age levels and abilities!

Here’s what you’ll need to make these shape activities for kids!

Supplies:

• Shape Activity printable
• Cardstock or printer paper- I recommend cardstock for a more durable work mat. 
• Laminator machine
• Scissors
• Dry Erase Markers
• Dry Erase Marker Cleaner

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Check out the COLOR OPTION as well!

I hope you try these shape activities for kids! I promise, your little learners will love it as much as my boys and preschoolers.

∼Tara

Looking for more fun printables for kids?! Check out:

4 Ways to Use Story Stones in the Classroom

Muffin Tin Nature Scavenger Hunt

The post Shape Activities for Kids with See-Through Lenses appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

To prepare the printable, cut out the lenses and run the sheets through the laminator. I used my laminator at home because my sheets are a bit thicker than the laminator machines at school. Cardstock is recommended to unsure a durable work mat!

This post contains Affiliate links for your convenience.

Find the Printable for this Activity HERE!

Check out the COLOR AND SHAPE ACTIVITY BUNDLE HERE!

Once the sheets are prepped, decide if you want to use cellophane sheets to color the lenses or if you want students to color them with dry erase or chalk markers.

Here is the cellophane method:

Tape a strip of cellophane to the back of the lenses and you are all set! This gives a very smooth and colorful finish, which is great for viewing! The cellophane is also a good option if you are using thinner lamination and regular printer paper. Erasing dry erase marker over and over again on the lenses portion might cause wear and tear on thinner work mats, so the cellophane would help the mats last longer!

Here is the Marker Method:

Another option is to keep the lenses clear and let the children color the lenses with dry erase or chalk markers! My preschoolers and second grade son both really enjoyed this option. They thought it was fun to create colorful lenses all by themselves. 

This is all great fine motor work for little ones! Both the cellophane and marker options are great, and you can choose one that works best for your class… OR try them both! Keep dry erase liquid cleaner on hand for easy clean up. 

There are four different color activities for kids included in this packet and it includes both black&white and color options for printing. Here are the directions for the first activity!

Activity 1: Trace the Shapes

First, color the lenses (if there isn’t cellophane), look through them and say the name of the color.

Next, say the names of the objects and color them with dry erase or chalk markers. Objects on the coloring mats and sorting sheets (next activity) are the same.

Last, Erase the marker. 

Activity 2: Sort the pictures

First, color the lenses (if there isn’t cellophane), look through them and say the name of the color.

Next, say the names of the objects on the cards and sort them on the correct side. Object names are listed in the product.

Last, erase the marker.

Activity 3: Trace the words

First, color the lenses (if there isn’t cellophane), look through them and say the name of the color.

Next, trace the color words and say the color name.

Last, erase the marker. 

Activity 4: Write the words

First, color the lenses (if there isn’t cellophane), look through them and say the name of the color.

Next, write the color words on the lines.

Last, erase the marker. 

The colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink work best for these activiteis. It’s easiest to find the supplies for these colors and they look really inviting and fun to play with. I included brown, black, white and grey/gray for teachers that want to make complete sets and might have access to supplies that I don’t access to. Here is a list of supplies to help you get started!

Supplies:

• Color Activity printable
• Cardstock or printer paper- I recommend cardstock for a more durable work mat. 
• Laminator machine
• Scissors
• Dry Erase or Chalk Markers- If you want one marker for every color offered in the product, you might need to buy multiple sets. This set has most of the colors needed. I have only found white in chalk marker sets. Please note that chalk markers are not quite as see-through as dry erase markers and will leave lines on the lenses, but they still work and are easier to clean! Here is an entire set with all of the colors needed for the activity. 
• Colored cellophane- Just like the markers, you will need to do some searching for all the colors offered in the product. Here is a great set that offers the rainbow colors. Here is a black cellophane roll. I would use that set for both gray and black. Just use one sheet for gray and 2 sheets for black. Here is a white polka dot cellophane roll (white is tough to find) and here is a brown cellophane roll!
• Dry Erase Marker Cleaner

This post contains Affiliate links for your convenience.

Pin this activity to save it for later!

I hope you try these color activities for kids! I promise, your little learners will love it as much as my boys and preschoolers.

∼Tara

Looking for more fun printables for kids?! Check out:

4 Ways to Use Story Stones in the Classroom

Nature Collection Journal for Kids

The post Color Activities for Kids with See-Through Lenses Printable appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

These tic-tac-toe rocks are so fun to make! You can use special flowers from your yard that you dried yourself or purchase a pack of pressed flowers from Amazon. 

Try making Tic-Tac-Toe rocks for every season by painting simple pictures on the stones. For fall you can make pumpkin and spider stones and for winter try painting snowflakes and simple evergreen tree stones. The possibilities are endless! 

Ready to make a DIY Tic-Tac-Toe game? Here’s what you’ll need….

Supplies:

• 10 Rocks- Make sure your rocks are a little larger than your pressed pieces of nature. 
• You can also find stones in craft stores, landscape shops,  or Amazon.
• White paint
• Paintbrush
• Pressed Pieces of Nature- You will need 2 sets of game pieces with 5 similar types of nature. We made 1 set with 5 pressed flowers and another set with 5 pressed leaves. This set looks nice and this set does too!
• Mod Podge– Play around with gloss and matte finish to see which you like more. 
• Tweezers– These are helpful for small and delicate petals.
• 4 Sticks- Make sure they are large enough to fit your unique pieces of nature. Our sticks are about 12 inches (30.5cm) long.

This post contains Affiliate links for your convenience.

RELATED: Check out 10+ Simple and Beautiful Stone Activities for Kids!

Here’s How We Made This Beautiful Tic-Tac-Toe Game:

Step 1:

Paint your rocks white. Paint one side of the rock and let it dry. Then flip it over and paint the other side of the rock and let it dry.

Step 2:

Put a dab of Mod Podge on the rock and place your pressed piece of nature on the Mod Podge. The Mod Podge does not need to dry before moving on to the next step.

Step 3:

Cover the rock and pressed piece of nature with a coat of Mod Podge. Let the Mod Podge dry.

Step 4:

Repeat this process for all of your rock game pieces and let them dry thoroughly.

Step 5:

Set up you Tic-Tac-Toe grid with the sticks – Lay 2 sticks vertically about 4 inches (10 cm) apart and lay the other 2 sticks horizontally on top of the other sticks about 4 inches (10 cm) apart.

How to Play with the DIY Tic-Tac-Toe Board

1. One person has the flower rocks and the other person has the leaf rocks.
2. Players take turns putting their stones in the empty squares.
3. The first player to get three of 3 of his/her stones in a row (up, down, across, or diagonally) is the winner!

You can make a special bag for your game pieces and play over and over again!

Pin this activity to save it for later!

I hope you give this nature activity a try! I promise, your little nature lovers will love this activity as my boys.

∼Tara

Looking for more nature craft ideas?! Check out:

Preserving Flowers in Resin

Magical Pressed Flower Lanterns

The post DIY Tic-Tac-Toe appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

Bookmarks make a great holiday craft because many children receive books during the holiday season! These cute bookmarks look like mini Christmas trees and the gems look like twinkling lights when reflected in the sunlight. They are so pretty!

If these look familiar that’s because we made beautiful wax paper lanterns using the same supplies. You could make them both at the same time!

Ready to give it a try!? Here’s what you’ll need..

Supplies:

• • Arborvitae Pieces
  • Wax paper
  • Towel or ironing board
  • Scissors or portable paper trimmer
  • Tape
  • Gem Stickers (optional)
  • Vintage Holiday Book Set with 8 Classic Stories

This post contains Affiliate links for your convenience.

Related: Check out this adorable Air Dry Clay Dish for the Holidays

Here’s How I Made these DIY Wax Paper Lanterns:

Step 1:

Clip some arborvitae pieces. Next, turn on your iron to a medium high setting. If your wax paper doesn’t stick together, then turn your iron up higher. 

Step 2:

Cut a piece of wax paper, fold it in half to make a crease and open it back up again. My whole piece is about 21 inches long. This might seem way too big, but the wax paper will not seal if you don’t leave enough room surrounding the arborvitae piece. 

Place your arborvitae piece on one half of the piece of wax paper. 

Step 3:

Fold your piece of wax paper over the arborvitae piece. This doesn’t need to be perfect because you can always trim it up later. 

Step 4:

As soon as your iron hits the wax paper, it will fuse together! It’s a neat process to observe. I quickly ran the iron over the wax paper several times, then I flipped it over and did the same thing on that side. 

Since there is an air pocket around the arborvitae piece, the green will fade a bit over time. They are just too thick to seal 100%.

Step 5:

Now trim your paper to make it the height and width you would like. This is also when you can trim up those rough edges. You can use scissors, but I find this paper trimmer pretty handy! 

Step 6:

This step is optional. We added some small gem stickers to mimic Christmas lights. They look so pretty!

Pair a bookmark with a book and you have the perfect gift. People love a beautiful and thoughtful handmade gift! 

We had fun playing around with different color combinations with the gem stickers! I found that was a great added touch and fun way to personalize them for yourself or someone else. 

I’ve had so many link requests for the vintage holiday books in this post, that I decided to share them! CLICK HERE to check out the 8 classic holiday books included in the beautiful set.

Click on the photos below for unique gift ideas for nature loving kids!

Pin it and save it for later!

I hope you try to make your own bookmark! I promise, your little nature lovers will love it as much as my boys.

∼Tara

Need more simple nature ideas?! Check out:

How to Make Ice Lanterns

Nature Christmas Cards to Make With Kids

The post Make Your Own Bookmark with Wax Paper appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

What are skills-based gifts? These are gifts that help children foster important skills like learning how to make handicrafts, grow food and cook.  From developing fine motor skills to supporting self-esteem, there are many benefits to giving your child a skills-based gift!

Children learn by doing, so let’s give them experiences that help them acquire important skills and give them the opportunity to create or grow something beautiful at the same time! Crafting, cooking, growing plants, fishing, and more! Let’s get started.

ADULT SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL OF THESE GIFTS!

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Ceramics

1. Pottery Studio

Help children learn the skill of pottery with this awesome handicraft gift! This complete pottery wheel and painting kit includes three pounds of natural clay, pottery wheel, white glaze (for a base coat), opaque acrylic paint, paint brushes, sculpting tools, apron and more! Recommended for ages 8 and up. 

Faber-Castell Pottery Studio- Complete Pottery Wheel and Painting Kit for Beginners, with 3 lbs of Sculpting Clay and Tools

$55.19

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06/22/2026 01:04 pm GMT

2. Clay Jewelry Dish

This kit makes it easy to make little clay dishes! Just roll the clay, form into a circular shape, paint and adorn with the all-inclusive kit and create 3 designer clay jewelry or trinket dishes. Recommended for ages 8 and up. 

Craft 'n Clay - Jewelry Dish Making Kit for Kids

$14.99

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06/22/2026 04:01 pm GMT

Woodworking 

3. Woodworking Bench

This woodworking bench is the perfect gift for young children interested in learning the skill of woodworking. This set is make of sturdy wood, many tools and offers a space for imaginative play or a spot for real woodworking crafts! Recommended for ages 3 and up. Adult supervision is required. 

Large Wooden Play Tool Workbench Set for Kids

$68.56

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06/22/2026 10:03 am GMT

4. Wood Toy Making Kit

This kit includes everything you need to make six different wooden projects! Recommended for ages 8 and up. Adult supervision is required. 

Kraftic Woodworking Building Kit for Kids and Adults, with 6 Educational Arts and Crafts

$49.95

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06/22/2026 01:04 pm GMT

5. Whittling Knife

This whittling knife is a good beginner whittling tool for children. These are still a little sharp and can cut skin, so I recommend using these gloves for beginners! This whittling book is also a great gift! The age recommendation says, kid. I would suggest 8 and up, but please test this out yourself before giving it as a gift. Adult supervision is required. 

Opinel My First No.7 Stainless Steel Children s Folding Pocket Knife with Safety Rounded Tip

$20.00

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06/22/2026 09:02 pm GMT

6. Carpenter Tool

This tool is AWESOME! We got this gift for our boys a couple years ago and they still use it. You can get replacement wood pieces here. If the tool is sold out in the photo below, then CLICK HERE and purchase from that link. This is a HOT toy and constantly sells out. Adult supervision is required. 

Most Popular!

PLAYmake Kids 4-in-1 Woodshop Carpentry Cool Tool with Jigsaw, Lathe, Drill Press, Sander, Power Supply, Safety Goggles, Extra Supplies, and Deluxe Project Book

$129.99

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06/22/2026 10:03 am GMT

7. Wood Burning Kit

Try your hand at wood burning and make beautiful designs and pictures in wood! This beginners kit includes everything you need to make your own beautiful creations. The age recommendation is “kid” on the package, but I would say this is for ages 10 and up. The wood burning tool gets very hot and can burn skin easily. We have this kit and it’s still a bit tricky for my 9 year old to use. Adult supervision is required. 

Beginners Wood Burning Kit

$34.99

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06/22/2026 01:05 pm GMT

8. Bear Soapstone Carving Kit 

This material isn’t wood but soapstone! I thought it fit best under this cartegory because of the carving aspect of the kit. All necessary supplies are included to make awesome animal soapstone figures! This is recommended for ages 8 and up. 

STUDIOSTONE Bear Sculpture Soapstone Carving Kit for Kids and Adults

$29.99

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06/22/2026 09:02 pm GMT

9. V8 Combustion Engine Model Building Kit for Kids

This kit comes with everything you need to build a V8 engine replica! This awesome hands on STEM activity gives children the chance to develop useful skill! This gift is recommended for children 12 and up, but younger children would enjoy this with the help of an adult! The reveiws speek for themselves. 

Playz V8 Combustion Engine Model Building Kit for Kids and Adults, Educational Engineering Kit for Aspiring Engineers Ages 12+ with Guide & Realistic Mini Parts That R...

$79.95

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06/22/2026 04:02 pm GMT

Candle Making

10. Beeswax Candle Making Kit

These kits are so fun for kids of all ages! Younger children can help roll the beeswax and older children can design and create an entire candle. Candle making has become a favorite annual winter tradition for our family. There is no age requirement listed, but I think children ages 4 and up can help with various steps of this candle making kit. 

Beeswax Candle Making Kit for Kids - 100% Pure Bees Wax (16 Multicolor Sheets) DIY Candle Rolling Supplies and Tools

$29.99

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06/22/2026 01:05 pm GMT

11. Holiday Candle Making Kit

Here is a holiday themed candle making kit. Both of the listed kits are from a company that I have made several purchases from and love their products! 

Christmas Candle Rolling Kit - Beeswax Candle Making Kit for Kids & Adults

$19.99

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12. Candle Making Kit with Molds

This kit is a little different than the two listed above. For this kit, melt the wax and pour it into a mold to form a candle shape! These are great for any holiday or occasion! Since you are working with hot wax, I suggest older children only for this activity. 

Complete Candle Making Kit for Beginners- Includes 5 Colors Candle Wax, 7 Candle Molds, 10 Wicks, 1 Melting Cup, and Guide book

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Textile Handicrafts

13. Potholder Loom

These kits are so fun! Weave a useful potholder and keep them or give them away as gifts! You can make 7″ potholders or 10″ potholders depending upon the kit you choose. The colors are so pretty and they are so fun and relaxing to make! Recommended for children ages 8 and up. 

Friendly Loom Potholder 7" Kit- Traditional Size with Rainbow Color Cotton Loops, Makes 6 Potholders

$31.95

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06/22/2026 01:05 pm GMT

14. Loom

This is a basic loom to help children learn the art of weaving. This Melissa and Doug wooden multi-craft weaving loom includes everything kids need, including an adjustable wooden loom, oversize wooden needle, craft materials, illustrated design booklet, and 91 yards of rainbow yarn! Recommended for children ages 6 and up. 

Melissa & Doug Wooden Multi-Craft Weaving Loom -A

$30.99

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06/22/2026 09:03 pm GMT

15. Knitting Machine

I have not tried this machine yet, but have seen it a few times on Instagram and plan on trying it this winter! This machine looks so easy to use! Just thread yarn into the spindles and turn the crank to knit your very own masterpieces, such as hats, scarves and socks! Children of all ages can help with various steps of the knitting process with this machine! 

DIY Knit Loom Machine Kit for Hat, Scarves, Gloves, Socks

$44.99

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06/22/2026 10:04 am GMT

16. Woodland Animal Sewing Kit

This absolutely adorable sewing kit is perfect for kids! Children can sew together these woodland animals and then give them away as gifts or use them in imaginative play. Recommended for children ages 7 and up. 

CraftLab Woodland Animals Kids Sewing Kit, Educational Arts & Craft Gift for Kids and Teens

$27.97

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06/22/2026 09:02 pm GMT

17. Starter Felting Kit

This felted wool kit includes everything you need to make simple wool crafts. The six felted animal designs are so cute and very soft when completed! Recommended for beginners. 

Woolbuddy Needle Beginner Felting Kit

$29.99

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06/22/2026 01:04 pm GMT

18. Screen Printing on Fabric

Learn the art of fabric screen printing with this unique gift! This silk screen printing kit includes a reusable wooden mold, fabric and puffy paint, stencils, paintbrush, silk screen squeegee and tape, as well as a canvas backpack kids can add their designs to! Recommended for children ages 10 and up. 

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Kids Screen Printing Kit- with Fabric Paint, Frame, Stencils & Squeegee Plus Drawstring Bag & More, Screen Print, Silkscreening Ki...

$20.48

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06/22/2026 09:01 pm GMT

19. Paper Quilling

Children can learn the ancient art of quilling with this fun modernized quilling machine! Transform a few simple strips of paper into adorable objects that are absolutely irresistible with this crafts for ages 6 and up!

Paper Quilling Kit with Electric Quilling Tool

$29.99

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06/23/2026 09:02 am GMT

Growing Plants

20. Growing Microgreens with Kids

Micogreens are packed with 40 times the vitamins and minerals of their mature plants. Learn how to grow 6 types of microgreens with this kit! Children of all ages can help with various steps of growing microgreens! 

Back to the Roots DIY Microgreen Grow Kit, 6-Grow Variety Pack

$34.99

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06/22/2026 04:02 pm GMT

21. Growing Fungi with Kids

Try growing different types of fungi! These are so fun to watch grow and in 10 days, you can harvest and eat your mushrooms! Children of all ages can help with various steps of growing fungi!

Back to the Roots Organic Mushroom Grow Kit - Oyster and Pink Mushroom 2-Pack Variety - Indoor Non-GMO Growing Kit - Produces 3-4 Servings and Grows in 10 Days

$38.99

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06/23/2026 08:03 am GMT

22. Root Viewer Garden

This tomato garden kit has everything you need to grow mini tomato plants on your window sill any time of the year. There are even cute plant markers that you can paint and stick in the planter! Children of all ages can help with various steps of growing tomatoes! 

Vegetable Root Viewer - Indoor Planter with Window to Watch Roots as They Grow. Engaging Science Project for Kids and Students

$9.99

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06/23/2026 08:02 am GMT

23. Growing Flowers with Kids

Paint and plant your own small flower garden with this sweet flower kit! Grow marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos with the step by step instructions included with this kit. Children of all ages can help with various steps of growing flowers!

Complete Paint & Plant Flower Growing Kit for Kids

$19.99

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06/22/2026 01:04 pm GMT

24. Indoor Hydroponic System with Lights

Grow plants any time of year with this kit! This system includes eight planting pods and comes with planting baskets, sponges, and nutrients in order to get more plants at one time and allow plants to grow up to three times faster and healthier than traditional way. Children of all ages can help with various steps of growing plants with this system!

Indoor Garden Hydroponics Growing System

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25. Growing Sprouts with Kids

We have grown sprouts many times and it’s always so much fun! This complete kit is easy to use and includes instructions. Children of all ages can help with various steps of growing sprouts!

Complete Sprouts Growing Kit - 2 Large Wide Mouth Mason Jars with Sprouting Screen Lids/Tray/Sprouter Stand/Blackout Sleeves - for Growing Microgreens/Broccoli/Alfalfa/Mung Bean Sprouts

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26. Gardening Tools for Kids

Gets outside and grow something beautiful with this gardening tool set for kids! This kit includes a child sized wheelbarrow, watering can, gloves, hand rake, shovel, double hoe, cultivator, hedge clippers and washable apron. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

Cute Kids Gardening Tool Set, Garden Toys with Wheelbarrow, Watering Can, Gardening Gloves, Hand Rake, Shovel, Trowel, Double Hoe, Apron with Pockets

$39.94

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06/22/2026 01:05 pm GMT

27. Raised Garden Planter for Kids

Give kids easy access to their very own garden with this planter! This planter kit includes multiple ways to grow plants, a garden guide and tools. 

Seed to Sprout Raised Garden Planter, Kids Outdoor Garden Kit with Garden Tools for Growing Flowers or Vegetables, Green

$59.99

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06/22/2026 10:04 am GMT

28. Farm to Table Farmers Market Stand

This fun dramatic play set will encourage imagination and offers many ways for little ones to play! Grow fruits and veggies and then sell them at your very own pretend farmers market stand!  Recommended for kids ages 24 months and up. 

Little Tikes® 3-in-1 Garden to Table Market, Pretend Garden Food Growing and Selling

$74.99

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06/22/2026 09:02 pm GMT

Cooking

29. Cooking and Baking Kit with Functional Tools

This 31 piece cooking and baking kit comes with kid-friendly cooking and baking tools and recipe cards specifically designed for kids! Recommended for kids ages 6 and up. 

31 Pcs Kids Cooking & Baking Set for Kids

$49.99

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06/23/2026 08:03 am GMT

30. Raddish Kids Subscription Box

Learn about new cultures and cuisines each month with this subscription cooking box! Each month, you will get a new box with 3 illustrated recipes cards, cooking tools and shopping lists. Raddish boxes are recommended for kids ages 4 and up. 

31. Play Kitchen Accessories

Have a little one at home?! Try this fun dramatic play set to help foster a love for cooking at a young age! There are some very fun and unique pieces in this kit. 

Pretend Play Kitchen Toy with Cookware, with Steam Pressure Pot and Electronic Induction Cooktop, Cooking Utensils, Toy Cutlery, Cut Play Food, and Shopping Basket

$38.24

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06/22/2026 09:02 pm GMT

Outdoorsmen Gifts

32. Fishing Gear

Teach the skill of fishing with this gift! This set includes a fishing pole, travel bag, fishing book, lures and more accessories! 

Kid s Fishing Pole Kit with Spinning Reel - 62 Piece Tackle Bag, 4lb Line, Including Beginner s Guide eBook, Toddler Fishing Pole Combo, Youth Telescopic Portable Rod, and Gea...

$39.99

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33. Tackle Box

Speaking from experience, children love tackle boxes with a lot of compartments! That’s why I picked this one. But, if you are looking for one that’s a little smaller, try this one or this one!

Ready-Set-Fish 3-Tray Tackle Box with Tackle, Aqua Blue/Tan

$32.47

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06/22/2026 09:01 pm GMT

34. Adventure Vest and Accessories

Get kids outside and exploring with this fun gift! It includes a vest, sun hat, backpack, compass, magnifying glass, binoculars, light, bug jar, whistle and more! Recommended for kids ages 3 and up. 

Kids Explorer Kit with Safari Vest & Hat & Kids Camping Gear, Safari Outfit, Bug Catcher Kit for Kids & More

$34.97

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06/22/2026 09:01 pm GMT

35. Kid’s Head Lamp

This is a great gift for children that like to fish or explore in the evening! This gift is hands-free, hassle-free and convenient.

Hands-Free Headlamp, Long Range, Non-Slip Grip, High Power, Impact Resistant, Adjustable Light Modes, and Battery Powered

$12.95

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06/23/2026 01:00 am GMT

36. Archery Practice

Help children learn the skill of archery with this fun toy! Recommended for children 6 and up.

Kids Archery Set with LED Flash Lights, Toy Bow and Arrow Set, Includes Archery Bow, 6 Archery Arrows, Target, Quiver - Great for Youth Practice

$26.99

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06/22/2026 09:03 pm GMT

I hope you enjoyed this skills-based list of gifts for kids!

∼Tara

The post Skills-Based Gifts for Children appeared first on Little Pine Learners.

What are sight words and why are they important?

Sight words are words, like come, does, or you, that don’t follow the rules of spelling or the six types of syllables. These words are usually difficult to sound out so students are taught to recognize them as a whole word and read them by sight. Many of these words are found frequently in early readers. Once students learn to quickly recognize these words, reading becomes much easier for kids.

Why use stones?

Stones are fun to search for in nature and people of all ages love to collect them! Each stone is unique and special. They feel different, look different, and many have special meaning for different reasons. So why not use them in a learning activity?! Children will instantly feel connected to the stones and excited to use them in a new way! Just make sure to ask for your child’s permission if you are taking from his or her personal collection:)

Here is an observation I made during the activity: Since each stone is unique, I noticed that my son was associating particular words with how the stone looked. When he was looking for and, he kept saying “where is that black stone” and when he was searching for you, he said “where is the stone with a squiggly red line”? He was visualizing the way the words looked on those particulars stones and thinking about them as he searched for them. This is a great way to get sight words to stick!

If your child is struggling with a particular word, have them carry the stone in their pocket for the rest of the day. I guarantee that tricky word will be memorized in a day or two!

Ready to practice sight words? Here’s what you’ll need….

Supplies:

• Cardboard– These cardboard sheets are a convenient option if you don’t have any to reuse. 
• Single hole paper punch (optional)
• Binder ring (optional)
• Stones- Find them in nature or purchase them at the Dollar Store, a landscape shop, or Amazon
• Pencil 
• Black marker

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RELATED: Check out 10 Simple and Beautiful Stone Activities

Here’s How to do This Sight Word Activity:

Step 1:

If you want to make multiple sight word practice boards and looking for way to keep them organized, then keep them together with a binder ring! First punch holes through the cardboard and attach a ring. 

We are working our way through the popular Fry Sight Word Lists! I plan on working on 10 new words every 3 or 4 days, or until he has all of the words on each board memorized. 

Step 2:

Organize your stones on your cardboard to make sure they fit. 

Step 3:

Outline the stones with pencil. I like to outline in pencil first so I don’t mark up my pretty stones with marker!

Step 4:

Take the stones off and trace the pencil outline with marker. Then write the sight words of your choice on the cardboard stone outlines. 

Step 5:

Match up the stones and write the sight words on the stones. 

Step 6:

Hide the stones around your yard or house. I suggest taking photos of where you hide the stones so you can remember where they are hidden! I chose a section of our yard to hide the stones so they weren’t scattered throughout the yard. 

Now invite your child to search for the sight word stones! First we read the words together to increase exposure and help set him up for success. 

He loved searching for the stones and was so excited to read the words as he found them!

Matching the words gave him another chance to see the sight words and read them again! This is important because repeated practice with sight words gives children the exposure they need to build their sight word vocabulary. 

He had so much fun that we played this game three times that day! I will flip over the cardboard and try another set of sight words in a couple of days!

Pin this activity to save it for later!

I hope you try this sight word practice game! I promise, your little nature lovers will love this activity as my boys.

∼Tara

Looking for more cardboard nature craft and activity ideas?! Check out:

A Beautiful Nature Frame

A Simple and Beautiful Nature Activity to Try Today!

The post Sight Word Practice with Stones appeared first on Little Pine Learners.