Thanksgiving is the perfect time of year to combine studies of trees, families, and service or giving. 

Whether you're here for tree activities, ideas on how to teach about your family tree, or to inspire the love of service into your children, you're in the right place!

The Giving Tree Family ThanksGIVING Unit with Free Printables is inspired by the book, The Giving Tree.

The Giving Tree Family ThanksGIVING Unit with Free Printables

Family Name Spelling

The kiddos will practice spelling the names of everyone in our immediate family.  They will also practice spelling father, mother, sister, brother, and family.

Family Word Noun & Verb Sort

Kiddos will sort family related words into the categories of nouns and verbs.  I just love my new Montessori Grammar Symbols!

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Family Unit Printable Pack. This is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Family Member Vocabulary

In this activity the kiddos will match up family member titles to definitions.  Once they've done this they can sort family members and place them under the proper titles and definitions.  

This activity seemed a little challenging for the kiddos at first, so I'm guessing we'll be doing it together at least one more day, before they venture to do it on their own.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Family Unit Printable Pack.  This is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Sequencing Family Pictures

We've done this activity in the past. The kiddos LOVED it.  If it's possible, the kiddos enjoyed it even more today, a second time around.  

In this activity, I've included a picture of each kiddo for every year of their little lives.  Their job is to put the pictures in order from youngest to oldest and then place the correct labels below each picture.  

If they're feeling up to a real challenge they can sort all of the pictures, not just their own.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Family Unit Printable Pack.  This is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Who Is In My Family? Graphing Activity

The kiddos will put together a graph of all of the individuals in our family, putting them into groups of babies, toddlers, children, teenagers, adults, and grandparents.  

One can graph their real family, or use dice to create imaginary families.

Source:  I created the printable for this activity as part of my Family Unit Printable Pack.  This is a Subscriber's Only Freebie. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Sorting People By Family Activity

The kiddos will sort individual extended family members by family, so they learn which cousins belong to which aunts and uncles etc.  We've done this in the past and it was a favorite activity.

Our Family Tree

We've done this activity in the past also, but it's always great to review.  

The kiddos will build their family tree using the pictures provided.  

I created this tree using family members who are living. Sadly, Jason lost his Grammy over the last year, hence the missing photo.  

The kiddos are so blessed to have so many great grandparents still living, and so many sets of grandparents that love them.

Parts of a Tree

The kiddos will color and then label the parts of a tree in their own little books.  All of them have thoroughly enjoyed this activity. Even Bulldozer has done it!

Source:  The printable for this activity can be found at Trillium Montessori.

Parts of a Leaf

The kiddos will create their own books, coloring and labeling parts of a leaf.  Just like the tree book, this has been a big hit on our shelves this week.

Source:  The printable for this activity can be found at Trillium Montessori.

Tree Match Up

Last year, the kiddos did each of these match ups, but at different times. This year we're doing them as a combined activity.  The kiddos sort and match the different types of trees in the pictures.

Source:  I created the printables for this activity. The Deciduous Tree Match Up and Conifer Tree Match Up are Subscriber's Only Freebies. For your copy follow the directions at the bottom of this post.

Q-Tip Tree Painting Activity

Before doing this activity, we reviewed what a tree looks like during the different seasons.  The kiddos will use Q-Tips to create a tree for each season.  

They've really enjoyed this activity and are choosing different kinds of trees, which has been really fun.

Source:  I found this activity at Mess For Less.  The free tree printable I used for the activity can be found at DLTK Growing Together.

A Family Portrait Drawing Activity

One of the kiddos' favorite things to do lately has been to draw pictures of their family.  

I thought it might be fun to include a photo of us for them to use as a visual, and see just how detailed their drawings can get.

Button Leaf Tree

I just love this activity. The kiddos do too. The glass bowl is filled with leaf buttons that the kiddos string on to the pipe cleaner tree branches.  The tree looks beautiful once all the leaves are on.

Tweezing Leaves

The kiddos will practice their fine motor skills by tweezing these tiny foam leaves, transferring them from one bowl to the other.

Hanging Family Photos

What's not to like about a clothes line filled with family photos from the present and past?  

I've laminated the photos, so they're thicker and stiffer, making them hang more easily.  The results are beautiful and such a fun decoration!

The Giving Tree Invitation to Play

I couldn't resist including an invitation to play on our shelves this week.  

Besides enjoying it during learning time, it will be a great activity to occupy the kiddos, while I'm trying to fix Thanksgiving Dinner on the big day.

Directions on How to Obtain Subscriber Only Freebies

1. Click on the Subscriber's link at the bottom of this post.

2. Subscribe to our free newsletter.

3. Open the thank you message you receive in your e-mail, after subscribing. (Be sure to check your spam folder, as sometimes it ends up there.)

4. Click the confirmation link in the thank you message.

5. Once the confirmation is complete, you will receive another e-mail message with the Subscriber Only Freebies.

6. Click on the link.

7. Select the Minimalism, Montessori, or Mental Health Printables Library.

8. Find the printable pack you are looking for listed in alphabetical order, click on it, and voila!

We hope you enjoy your free printable.

Note: If you are already a newsletter subscriber, open your most recent newsletter. At the bottom you will find a link to the Subscriber Only Freebies page.

Subscribe to our FREE Newsletter

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy the resources below.

Read More »

Music theory activities and printables can be such an amazing addition to Montessori classrooms at home or at school.

Teaching children music theory provides a base for further music studies in voice and instruments.

Once children understand music theory, they're unstoppable.

This post includes a collection of our favorite music theory resources for children.

We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

I graduated from college with a degree in music.  

My instrument is my voice.  

Teaching music to my kiddos should come easily to me.  

Yet, it seems the opposite happens.  

I'm not sure if it's because it means so much to me.  

I've noticed the things I love the most are hardest to teach my children.  

Or perhaps it's just because I understand so much about music, that I subconsciously expect my kiddos to know the same?  

Who knows? 

I decided to look for some inspiration that would help me help my kids.

I can't resist sharing them with you, as they are really FABULOUS!

In the process of my search I discovered two blogs that have several music activities that are great for kiddos. I want to make sure to give them a shout out, as it's very appropriate here!

And Next Comes L

Let's Play Music

And now for some fabulous activities!

Music Theory Activities and Printables for Kids

Music Theory with Mirrors from And Next Comes L

I love that this activity incorporates such a fun sensory experience. Sometimes kids need sensory regulation before and while they're learning. This activity provides that.

The mirrors can be used in so many different ways while learning notes on the staff.

Music Note Matching Game from And Next Comes L at B-InspiredMama.com

This is such a fun sorting activity for little ones learning music note values. I love how the activity is Montessori-inspired.

The glass beads are such a great manipulative when learning!

Montessori Music Tray:  Building Rhythms from And Next Comes L

This activity is such a fantastic way to help kids learn and understand rhythm and how measures work in music.

I love that this activity has a control that kids can use to guide them in their work.

Once again the glass beads are the perfect manipulative.

Music Dice from Occasionally Crafty

These music dice are such a fun way to practice rhythm!

I love that the activity involves movement and that each and every time the dice are rolled there's a chance to practice a completely different rhythm with different note and rest values.

This activity is also easy to adjust in levels of difficulty, adding dice as you go.

5 Days of Piano Teaching Fun using Play Dough!  from Teach Piano Today

I love that these activities have such a tactile sensory component to them away from the piano. 

There's so much to be said for adding as many sensory experiences as possible into learning.

Another aspect of these activities that I love is that colors are used to represent different ideas. For kids who struggle with language and math, this is so helpful!

Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation:  My Name is Handel from Living Montessori Now

I love how these music activities not only teach music theory, but also music history and appreciation. 

A composer is introduced along with note values, rhythm concepts, and more.

Christmas Rhythm Game from Let's Play Music

These printables and game are such an adorable way to practice rhythm during the holiday season. 

I love how there are options for different ages to meet the needs of all kids in the classroom.

We also have several music theory resources available at Every Star Is Different!

Montessori-inspired Music Activities with Free Printables

These activities provide a variety of opportunities to learn different aspects of music theory.

They are designed for children in preschool and elementary classrooms.

Sometimes the best way to teach music theory concepts is to utilize other objects and manipulatives besides instruments.

Montessori-inspired Music Notes Printable Pack

This printable pack provides multiple ways for children to learn the notes on the staff. 

It includes all notes, even those above and below the staff.

It's easy to go at a child's pace, skills, and abilities with so many choices.

Montessori-inspired Music Theory Bundle

Our music theory bundle includes an introduction to multiple aspects of music theory, excluding note names on the staff.

All activities are designed for children in preschool and elementary classrooms.

There are so many different ways to teach music theory concepts!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like the resources below.

Read More »