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Can you believe that it’s already July?! It feels like this summer is just flying by. Next week people all across the United States will be celebrating the 4th of July, and for different people that means different things. It might mean fireworks, a trip to the beach, or a backyard bar-b-que. For me, it means all of those things PLUS an excuse to do a new red, white and blue themed tot school unit. My family loves the 4th of July so we always go all out and this tot school unit is no exception. Keep reading for crafts, Montessori trays and lots of free printables!

Popsicle Stick President: Abraham Lincoln

Seriously, who doesn’t love Honest Abe? I designed this fun popsicle stick craft to honor our 16th president and provide a jumping off point to talk about our country’s history. This is a simple art project that could easily be modified for even younger children. Simply replace the paint with washable markers, and maybe provide a little help with the gluing.

Supplies:

• 7 Plain Popsicle Sticks
• Glue
• Acrylic Paints (black, brown and pink)
• Paint Brushes

Instructions:

1. Begin by laying out 6 popsicle sticks side by side, then glue your last popsicle stick horizontally about 2/3rds up to make Abe’s hat brim.
2. Once the glue has dried, paint the stovepipe hat black, including the brim.
3. Use brown paint to paint Lincoln’s beard.
4. Finally, add a face using black paint for his eyes and mouth, and pink cheeks. (This would be a great step to sub in a fine tip marker or even some googly eyes.)

Flag Fine Motor Activity

My boys had so much fun with this activity! I actually did it with Goose last year, and then brought it out again this year. Even though it is much less challenging now he still enjoyed the activity quite a bit. The best part is that it requires almost no prep work!

All you need is a package of toothpick flags (Mine were sold as cupcake toppers!) and a square piece of floral foam. That’s it. See, I told you it was easy! Now let your child poke each toothpick flag into the foam. There is just enough resistance from the foam to build hand strength, which is vital to develop the muscle control necessary for writing.

Patriotic Nomenclature Cards

This set of nomenclature cards features 18 patriotic vocabulary words. There are basics like ‘Fireworks’, ‘Statue of Liberty’, and ‘Bald Eagle’ as well as a few more advanced concepts like ‘Declaration of Independence’ and ‘Revolutionary War’. Of course, as a parent it’s always up to you to decide just how much information your child is ready for. I hope that this free download will help with whatever way you wish to teach your children about the history of Independence Day.

You can download your own free set of Patriotic Nomenclature cards from my Digital Resource Library. Sign up below to get the password!

Montessori Bead Spooning

I continued to work on my boys’ fine motor skills with this easy Montessori spooning activity. I presented a tray with 2 dishes, one of which was full of assorted red, white and blue beads. Then I carefully demonstrated for Nugget how to scoop up a spoonful of beads and pour them into the adjacent dish. He spilled plenty, but he also surprised me with just how well he did. The really wonderful part was when Goose came over and began helping him. Brotherly love at its finest, and it just melted my heart!

Easy Star Clings for Early Tot School

Some of the activities I have listed today are better for slightly older children, so I wanted to include something for the younger siblings as well. I found this set of 4th of July gel window clings in the Dollar Spot at Target. They are VERY sticky and stretchy, so I introduced them with a child-sized cookie sheet (I think it came from this Melissa & Doug cooking set). The primary activity was to peel the star clings off of their backing and stick them to the cookie sheet. As it turned out, they were so sticky that it turned into great sensory play.

I think that a child as young as 6th months would enjoy touching and interacting with the sticky texture if you placed them on a cookie sheet yourself. As always, watch your child to ensure that they don’t try to eat them (and if it were me, I would wash hands after handling, who knows what chemicals are in these things – eek!)

Free 4th of July Decorative Printables!

After so many activities for the littles, here is something for the Mamas! This download features 3 separate 8×10 designs, perfect for framing or adding a patriotic touch throughout the house. Visit my Digital Resource Library to get yours, and have a Fabulous 4th of July!!

Don’t miss Part 2 of my 4th of July Tot School Unit!

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