Seasons Matching Cards

I am in a seasons mood.  Since school begins in August here, and the first change of seasons is to autumn, we begin conversations and explorations of the seasons with the change.

When I made these matching cards I tried to make them interesting enough that they could spark conversations among children, and with a small group.  They certainly have done the trick.  Lots of fun stories and personal experiences are shared as children use these cards.

Spring Matching Cards
Print Two Sets

Summer Matching Cards
Print Two Sets

Fall Matching Cards
Print Two Sets

Winter Matching Cards
Print Two Sets

  

Seasons Match & Sort

Since I am showing all about seasons, I thought that this was appropriate.  I love this set of items from Lakeshore Learning.  Years ago, I used to get my miniature phonetic objects from them when they were still a very small company.  I have, and love to use, many of their items.

These little mats show an item that goes with a particular season, and the tub contains the same item.  A great little exercise for matching and sorting.

Seasons Match and Sort by Lakeshore Learning Store
clicking picture will take you to Lakeshore website

Seasons Puzzle to Background Matching Activity

I really like the images for these seasons puzzles.  They are simple enough for younger children to do with a little help at first, and then on their own.  I take time to carefully point out the differences between puzzle pieces and how they match with the control chart.

First the child will complete the puzzle on top of the control, and as they become proficient I will let them know that they are advanced enough now to complete the puzzle with the control on the left side.  Sometimes more than one child will work together on a puzzle until they feel like they can do it alone, and then they take turns completing it.  The last step in advancement of these puzzles is for the child to build the puzzle with the control turned upside down until the puzzle is complete; checking their work at the end.

One of the wonderful things that happens with puzzles in a classroom is that children learn to ENJOY watching someone else complete work.  It can help to build a sense of community.  If a child has a particularly difficult time watching someone else work without touching - I will ask them to watch with their eyes only.  If that is still difficult, I will challenge them to see if the can watch the whole time with their hands behind their back, 'Just like I am showing'.  Children enjoy being challenged.  It gives them a chance to show to that they are the master of themselves.  Some children will need to be redirected to another activity until they are more capable of keeping hands to selves.

Click on the pictures to go to the files.

Spring Puzzle with Control
click on picture to link to the file

Summer Puzzle with Control
click on picture to link to the file

Fall Puzzle with Control
click on picture to link to the file

Winter Puzzle with Control
click on picture to link to the file

 

The Four Seasons Charts with Control Chart

This Seasons Chart features the same tree through the different seasons of the year.  I looked a long time to find something like that.  I wanted my children to see the same thing changing as the seasons changed.  The file includes instructions.

Four Seasons Matching Exercise and Control Chart
click on picture to link to the file