The Chaos and the Clutter

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Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin and Activities

a hand holds a small toy frog on a plastic lily pad set on blue water beads

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A frog life cycle sensory bin is a great addition to your child or students’ science studies. Kids can explore and discover using their sense of touch and sight.blue water beads with foam lily pads, rocks, and frogs. Text reads "Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin"

When you can add a hands-on component to any unit study, it increases retention of the information and interest in the topic. 

Frog Life Cycle Sensory Bin:

Supplies needed:

little hands holding a frog in a sensory binDirections:

  1. Place the water beads in a plastic container.
  2. Add water. 
  3. Allow time for the water beads to expand.
  4. Make an area in a corner of the bin by pushing away some of the water beads and set out the rocks. This will be the land where frogs can sit.
  5. Add in the frogs, lily pads, and leaves.
  6. Invite kids to explore.

collage of photos of a frog sensory bin using water beads

Life Stages of the Frog:

  1. A frog lays eggs. It takes one to three weeks for the eggs to hatch.
  2. A tadpole hatches from each egg. Tadpoles live exclusively in water. They use gills to breathe. This stage lasts 9-12 weeks.
  3. The tadpole then grows into a froglet that looks more like a frog but has a tail. It has legs and lungs, so it is able to walk and hop on land. 
  4. 12-16 weeks after the egg first hatched, the frog is fully formed and is an adult. 

small green toy frog on rocks and water beads

Ideas to Expand Your Frog Life Cycle Unit Study:

a hand holds a small toy frog on a plastic lily pad set on blue water beads

Resources for Learning about Frogs:

Insect Lore Frog Life Cycle StagesInsect Lore Frog Life Cycle StagesInsect Lore Frog Life Cycle StagesTadpole to Frog Growing Kit with 2 Live TadpolesTadpole to Frog Growing Kit with 2 Live TadpolesTadpole to Frog Growing Kit with 2 Live TadpolesFrog Emotions Printable PackFrog Emotions Printable PackBUY NOWLife Cycle of a Frog Montessori PuzzleLife Cycle of a Frog Montessori PuzzleLife Cycle of a Frog Montessori PuzzleLife Cycle of a Frog Learning ChartLife Cycle of a Frog Learning ChartLife Cycle of a Frog Learning ChartFrog Life Cycle Hand PuppetFrog Life Cycle Hand PuppetFrog Life Cycle Hand PuppetAnd the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle BeginsAnd the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle BeginsAnd the Bullfrogs Sing: A Life Cycle BeginsFrom Tadpole to FrogFrom Tadpole to FrogFrom Tadpole to FrogNational Geographic Readers: Tadpole to FrogNational Geographic Readers: Tadpole to FrogNational Geographic Readers: Tadpole to Frog

 

This sensory bin contains small parts and water beads. Adult supervision should be used at all times when kids are participating in sensory play. 

Download your free printable Frog Life Cycle Hat. You’ll also be entered in our email series 5 Days to Better Family Connection. 

Check out our other life cycle sensory bins:

Bee Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Praying Mantis Life Cycle Sensory Bin

Chicken Life Cycle Sensory Bin

My Winter Feelings Mini Book for Kids

colouring pages depicting winter scenes on a wood floor

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This mini book allows kids the opportunity to process their thoughts and feelings about different winter happenings. When children practise talking about and writing about their emotions, they are better able to manage them. 

a coloured page sits on a wood floor. Text reads "Winter My Emotions Mini Book"The pages include some common winter things such as drinking hot chocolate, going sledding, ice skating, building a snowman, and experiencing winter weather.

It also gives students the chance to express what they like about winter and what they don’t like about winter. colouring pages depicting winter scenes on a wood floorFor some students, it may be easy to think of things they like about winter and they may need some prompting. For others, it may be their favourite season and they may need help to come up with things they don’t like!

My Winter Feelings Mini Book:

Supplies needed:

    • My Winter Feelings mini book printable pages. (download here)
    • scissors
    • pencil or pen
    • markers, crayons, or pencil crayons
    • stapler and staples

Instructions:

  1. Download the My Winter Feelings mini book.
  2. Print the pages.
  3. Cut apart the booklet pages.
  4. Let your student decide how he or she feels about each winter activity and draw a corresponding face on the child on that page. Your student can use the Emotions Word Bank for ideas (for words to use and for faces to draw).
  5. When your student has completed the book, stack the pages together with the cover on top and staple on the left side to create a little book.

collage of different printed winter mini book pagesOnce your child or student has filled out their booklet, you can also sit with them and debrief. If there are some winter scenarios that seem to have potential to cause them some distress, brainstorm ways to help them manage those feelings or better navigate those scenarios if they arise. 

Download your free printable mini book for kids and be signed up for our sensory solutions and activities emails. 

Check out these other emotions printables for kids:

Pirate Emotions Playdough MatsPumpkin Emotions Gamepaper with pumpkin pictures and orange buttons set on top

October Emotions Printables for Kids

collage of copywork with candy corn emotions

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Fall is in full swing where I live. In fact, there is a frost warning for tonight. No more denying that summer is over. But fall is full of great consolation prizes like colourful leaves, crisp fresh air, and candy corn! 

I like candy corn so I thought they would be the perfect visual to help kids talk about their emotions this October. This month’s free emotions printables include copywork pages, sheets to consider thoughts on trick or treating, and a feelings log. collage of printed pages with candy corn theme. Text reads "October Emotions printables"

Now I know that trick or treating is something that may be up in the air this year, so if it’s not happening in your area or your household, you can slip the word “not” in there and allow kids to express how they feel about not trick or treating this year. 

October Printables for Kids about Emotions:

October Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

If you want sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or simply slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.collage of copywork with candy corn emotions

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

  1. Read the sentence.
  2. Fill in the outline.
  3. Trace the dotted words.
  4. Write the sentence on the lines provided.
  5. Discuss the various emotions.

Copying sentences may not seem like it would be impactful, but these sentences do more than simply give a child practise for their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions. They help create a culture in your home or classroom where it’s normal to hear about and talk about feelings.a printed page in a plastic sleeve with four pieces of candy corn on top

You can also expand this activity by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that particular emotion and how that was for them.

October My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

  1. Choose one apple icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.
  2. At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.
  3. Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

Use the Feelings Log as a jumping off point for discussions about the different feelings your child is experiencing and what is underneath those emotions. This is also a good way to help them manage their emotions in healthy ways.

Enter your email in the box below to download your free October Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students.

You may also be interested in:

Pumpkin Emotions Game

paper with pumpkin pictures and orange buttons set on top

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This bingo style five in a row pumpkin emotions game provides a fun way for kids to learn about emotions. Because of the pumpkin theme, it is good for using in the Fall, around Hallowe’en, or even Thanksgiving. 

printed page with pumpkin faces and orange buttons. Text reads "Pumpkin Emotions Five in a Row Game"

As kids roll the different emotions, they can name what they are. They can then think of a time when they may have felt that emotion themselves. This will help children be able to better identify their feelings.

Pumpkin Emotions Game:

Two to four people can play this game at one time.

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Print the pages. Print as many game sheets as needed for the number of people playing.
  2. Colour the game die (optional).
  3. Assemble the game die with instructions (provided on the die page). 

paper with pumpkin pictures and orange buttons set on topGame Play:

  1. Colour in the “Free Space.”
  2. Roll the die.
  3. Look at the emotion the die landed on. Give an example of when you feel that emotion. For example, if you roll “excited,” you can say, “I feel excited when I am going to go swimming!”
  4. After you call out your example, colour in or cover the corresponding spot on your board. The first person to cover or colour five pictures in a row, wins.

collage of printed pumpkin game for kidsSome children may find it more challenging than others to think of scenarios when they have felt a particular emotion. It’s okay for you to step in and give them verbal prompts to help them or to share one of your own examples.

To get a free printable copy of this game to use with your child or students, enter your email in the box below. 

You may also be interested in reading:

Thankfulness Game for Kids

Spider Emotions Matching Game

Activities to Teach Kids About Emotions

September Emotions Printables for Kids

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Back to school is a time full of emotions. Even for kids who love school, there is a lot of nervous anticipation in light of all the upcoming changes. Will they like their new teacher? Will their best friend be in their homeroom? What is this year going to be like?

And of course for some kids, school or change can cause anxiety. With this year in particular and all the changes, they may be feeling particularly concerned.a collage of printed apple themed emotion pages for kids to fill in. The text reads "September Emotions printables"Whether your child is going to school, homeschooling, or learning online, a new school year can bring with it a flood of emotions. Help your child sort through their feelings and be better able to express them with these helpful free printable packs.

September Printables for Kids about Emotions:

September Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

If you want sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or simply slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.

a paper with a sentence to copy "This red apple is worried." and a picture of a red apple.

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

  1. Read the sentence.
  2. Fill in the outline.
  3. Trace the dotted words.
  4. Write the sentence on the lines provided.
  5. Discuss the various emotions.

Copying sentences may not seem like it would be impactful, but these sentences do more than simply give a child practise for their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions. They help create a culture in your home or classroom where it’s normal to hear about and talk about feelings.

You can also expand this activity by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that particular emotion and how that was for them.a collage of copywork pages of emotion sentences for kids

September My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

  1. Choose one apple icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.
  2. At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.
  3. Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

printed page on table with glue stick, scissors, and coloured apple pictures on topThe September Feelings Log explores emotions associated with going back to school. Once your child is better able to identify what their feelings are, you can then work with them on strategies for managing their emotions. 

Plus, the apples are darn cute!
September My Feelings Log collage of printed pagesEnter your email in the box below to download your free September Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students. 

You may also be interested in:

Learning Resources

a young girl with glasses sits holding a red book

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The past year has thrown a wrench into education. Whether you are a teacher now adapting to online teaching, a teacher having to implement new protocols in your classroom, a parent who finds yourself helping your child with online learning, or a homeschooler, these resources can help.little girl with glasses sitting reading a book with a red coverThese are some amazing resources to help make teaching easier and more fun.

ProSchool Membership

The ProSchool Membership includes:

  • 1000s of notebooking pages on 100s of specific topics
  • access to the exclusive ProSchool page generator which allows you to create customized notebooking pages in less than a minute
  • exclusive members-only resources and printables
  • and more!

ProSchool MembershipNotebooking pages were one of our favourite homeschooling tools. The kids remember what they are learning in a more concrete way when they create their own notebooking pages on the topic. They were always so proud to show them to their grandparents too.  

Easy Math Games Bundle

Learning through play is the most effective way and these books are full of ideas for just that. These 3 eBooks offer over 100 card and dice games that work on teaching math skills. 

three book covers of math card and dice gamesMath in the Cards includes over 100 games and puzzles for grades K-8. These go over many math concepts and foundational skills. 

Math Card Games for Kids is geared mainly for kids in grades 3-9. The games encourage critical thinking, problem solving, and logic. They work on a variety of math topics including whole number operations, fractions, decimals and percents, integers, number theory, and place value.

Math Dice Games for Kids includes instructions for 34 games as well as variations. These are designed for math concepts for grades 1-8. The concepts covered include number recognition and counting, addition & subtraction, multiplication, fractions, decimals, percents, and strategy and critical thinking skills.

Songs and Rhymes for Transition Times

a CD case and Ipad with the words "Songs & Rhymes for Transition Times"Transitions between activities and places can be difficult for kids. Make this time easier and less stressful for them using songs and rhymes. The Songs & Rhymes for Transition Times eBook contains 150 transition ideas. It also includes ideas for brain breaks, crossing the midline, and beginning and end of the school day. 

Periodic Table of Elements Bingo Game

This is another example of an opportunity to learn through play. Students can reinforce their memory of the elements through game play with this bingo and corresponding colouring sheets. Please note this is a PDF file. two bingo sheets of the periodic table of the elements displayed

Sensory Science 

The Sensory Science Volume 1 eBook provides sensory rich science experiments and activities to help kids better retain what they learn. It includes 15 hands-on activities in the themes of Colors, The Senses, and Nature.

This ebook includes a supply list as well as step-by-step directions, activity adaptations and discussion points for each activity. 

I hope these learning resources help you as much as they’ve helped me!