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My Favorite Pre-K Classroom Materials! 🖍️
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items Early childhood classrooms are a special place where learning happens every day! There are so many things to learn, and there are also so many ways teachers can deliver these lessons. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite classroom materials ...
Sections
8
Fine Motor
Gross Motor
Cognitive
Literacy
Art
Dramatic Play
Fine Motor
Every early childhood teacher knows just how important it is for children to develop strong fine motor muscles! Here I've listed some materials that help support strength and grip.
I find medium and firm to have a healthy amount of resistance. Great for exercising pincer grasp.
Special Supplies Sensory Therapy Putty Sea
These are helpful for sorting activities OR if there is a big basket/bowl of snack students can use these to pick out their piece(s) instead of using their hands. Great for pinching.
Shindel 8PCS Mini Tongs 5.1 Inch for Kids
Love that this comes with a variety so that you can help target which fine motor ability you want to target.
Craftstory Montessori Busy-Board Toy for Kids
Great for the pincer grasp!
Clip Connect 100pcs 1.5" Interlocking Blocks
Also great for the pincer grasp but also overall fine motor muscles.
PLUS PLUS Open Play Set 600 Piece Basic
I love this clay! It doesn't dry out like play dough and is a bit tougher so it really works their fine motor muscles. Can be used for a variety of activities.
Modeling Clay Kit - 24 Colors Air Dry Clay
Lacing is a great fine motor exercise because it requires precision. Great for the pincer grasp. Can be turned into a pattern making activity as well!
Melissa & Doug Primary Lacing Beads Toy
Great for muscle dexterity because students have to twist, turn, and coordinate!
LotFancy Nuts & Bolts, 24pcs Montessori Toy
Engaging and versatile! It can be used for color sorting and color recognition as well as counting.
MTYOKILN Magnetic Color & Number Maze Toy
Children get so excited about taking these home after they are ironed!
FUNZBO 23000 5mm Fuse Beads Kit - 22 Colors
Helpful for pincer grasp and hand muscle dexterity!
edxeducation Double-Sided Geoboard Set, 6 pcs
Gross Motor
Gross motor is just as important as fine motor in early childhood learning. These tools help children with coordination, balance, and strength.
Great for gross motor but also a great cognitive exercise!
Search & Find Beneath The Waves Floor Puzzle
Children can build their own obstacle course and practice their coordination/balance.
Acorn Avenue Balance Beam & Toddler Stones
I love placing a ball in the middle of the parachute and having the children work together to keep the ball within the parachute. Helps with gross motor strength!
GSI Parachute Cooperative Strength Training
Great for throwing and working on hand eye coordination.
Prextex 3-in-1 Yard Game Set - Ring Toss & More
Soooo versatile! You can turn these scarves into anything and the children will have a blast. My personal favorites are to dance with them and play catch.
AIVIAI 24 Pcs Colorful Juggling Scarves
The size of the pieces means that children will have to move around and engage their torso, legs, arms to create with the pattern blocks
Excellerations Giant, 1/2 inch Thick, Foam Pattern Blocks ( Pack of 149), Early Math Skills, Educational Toy, Preschool, STEM, Kids Toys
Great for a quick movement break on the rug and each student can have a turn rolling. Engages a variety of gross motor muscles.
Covelico Animal Exercise Dice - Kids Gross Motor Toy
Helpful for whole body coordination and balance. I love its versatility!
Giggle & Play Montessori Classroom Balance Board
Great indoor movement activity. Can be a choice on the rug for play centers!
Hopscotch Foam Puzzle Playmat - 10 Tiles
Super fun if you have the space!!
Jerify 4PCS Kids Sports Scooter Boards w/ Handles
Cognitive
The mind is a powerful muscle! Here I have listed some tools that can help children with memory, processing, and problem solving.
A puzzle is always a great brain teaser! I usually pair the puzzle with a laminated picture of the completed puzzle so I love that these already come with the images printed inside.
SYNARRY Large Dinosaur Wooden Puzzles 4-in-1
A classic! I find that children always love these. Great open ended activity.
Anbalulu 134PCS Magnetic Building Tiles Set
Building blocks are great for many reasons especially if students are working together — problem solving, cooperation, communication. Possibilities are endless.
Melissa & Doug 100-Pc Wooden Building Blocks
Very engaging and I love that there are multiple ways of completing the puzzle. Fun for children and adults!
Wooden Blocks Puzzle 2 Set Russian Tangram
I find these are great for open ended activities and for following the puzzle images that come with the pack. Versatile!
JCREN Wooden Pattern Blocks Montessori Toys
Great activity for helping children with stamina and focus.
Montessori Slide Puzzle Color & Shape Toy
Engaging way for children to practice problem solving. Also great for talking through trial and error — Will it work? Let's find out! Can we try a different way?
Marble Run 135 PCS STEM Building Set
Can be a great tool for when children are working on letter sounds.
BEESTECH Alphabet ABC Wooden Puzzle Cards
Great for problem solving and fine motor!
Montessori Busy Board for Toddlers 3-5 Years
Love that it is a shape and size puzzle! Children can work on shape/color recognition, matching, size.
Toddler Montessori Wooden Shape Sorting Puzzle
Literacy
Learning to write is a big focus in preschool. Children work on it all of the time in school — here are some of my favorite tools to have them practice with!
I like to pair these boards with pebbles and have students follow the lines to form the first letter of their name. That tends to be a little more engaging for them than tracing the letter with the wooden stylus that comes with the boards.
Wooden Alphabet Tracing Boards - Montessori
These are such a helpful tool to use when students are practicing how to write their names freehand.
PANDRI 26 Pack Double Sided Dry Erase Boards 12.5x9
I find these are a better size for children's small hands since they are shorter than the typical dry erase marker.
SKKSTATIONERY 36 Pcs Mini Dry Erase Markers
veryyyyy helpful when it comes to tracing and writing exercises. I like having them practice how to write their names, letters, and numbers using these sleeves.
Ndsox 15-Pack Oversized Dry Erase Pockets
A fun and playful way to work on letter formation!
Giant Magnetic Letter Construction, 21 Pc
I would pair these with magnetic whiteboards to create a fun literacy activity. Can be used for letters or numbers!
Learning Resources Magnetic Letters & Numbers Set, 262 pcs
These are wonderful if you're doing a whole group lesson on letter recognition, formation, and/or sound. Very versatile!
Jumbo Magnetic Letters - Uppercase
Such a fun game! Helps me gauge where each child's understanding of letter sounds is. Also great for transitions — you can ask each child to do at least one object/letter match and then ask them to line up or head over to the next activity.
JoyCat Mystery Alphabet Box 26 PCS Letters
When children are working with traditonal pencil and paper, I personally love using these pencils because of their triangular shape — it helps support proper grip and finger placement.
Ticonderoga My First Short Triangular Pencils, #2 HB, 4 Count
Again, very helpful when it comes to correct finger placement and grip! I like to use these to make tracing activities a little more engaging.
PABLUE Triangular Jumbo Color Pencils 12ct
Art
Art has a special place in early childhood learning. Children just love it! Here are some materials I think should be in every preschool art center!!
Love this clay because all you need is a little water and air and then you have endless possibilities!!
Crayola Air Dry Clay 5lbs Natural White
These are so helpful when it comes to preserving paint for the next day if you're doing an ongoing project with the kids. The no spill design is a plus!!
Colorations No-Spill White Lid Tempera Paint Cups (10 pack)
Fun alternative to markers and crayons while also being less messy than paint.
Kwik Stix Tempera Paint Sticks, 12 Colors
Children love to paint and I just find these easier for them to work with than acrylic paint.
Watercolor Paint Set for Kids, 12 Colors, 24 Pack
Sturdy and great quality! I like using these for special painting projects (not for every day art making)
Bellofy 2X Watercolor Paper Pad, 9x12, 100 Sheets
Great to have around in the classroom! Can be used for many things like drawing, practicing cutting, gluing together a collage.
Colorations Construction Paper 7 Colors 600 Sheets
Good to have safety scissors for children to practice cutting for when they are ready. Great for fine motor. I like that these are rounded at the end.
BURVAGY 24 Packs 5" Kids Safety Scissors
I find that the disappearing purple glue is helpful in showing children if they've applied too much or not enough.
Elmer’s Disappearing Purple Glue Sticks, 7g, 30ct
Great material to have on hand that children are often familiar with using already.
Crayola Crayon Classpack 800ct Bulk
Great material to have around that children are also usually familiar with!
Rarlan Washable Markers, 12 Colors, 144 Ct
Dramatic Play
Dramatic play is quite popular in early childhood learning — there are endless possibilities! Here are some props I've noticed children use often at this center.
If you are looking for something that isn't a kitchen I suggest this grocery store set! It's a fun way to get children to practice buying at the store, handling money, making a shopping list, etc.
Best Choice Wooden Play Grocery Store Set
Adding babies to the dramatic play center is a great way of practicing caring for others!
Toy Choi Twin 12in Soft Body Dolls Set
I find that costumes are great way to get children inspired in dramatic play! I love that these costumes are of community helpers.
Hungdao 6 Sets Kids Dress Up Costumes Age 6-10
Helpful tool for children to create stories and explain feelings! Can also be used as a teacher tool to deliver certain messages.
hand2mind Feelings Family Hand Puppets Set
I love the variety in this set. Children can pretend to shop or to cook!
Lehoo Castle Wooden Play Food Set for Kids
Great for role playing dinner or setting the table.
Lonico Wooden Play Kitchen Accessories Toys
Great for pretending to cook in the kitchen! I love that it comes with the rack.
12Pcs Kids Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Set
Great tool for teaching kids to "clean up" and take care of their space/classroom.
JustForKids Wooden Kids Cleaning Set - 6 pcs
Wonderful option for children who like to be helpers or problem solvers!
Nothing But Fun Let's Play Tool Belt 2+
If you are starting from nothing and need to build your dramatic play area I would suggest a high quality and durable set like this one!
Play Kitchen Cupboard, Stove, Sink & Fridge
Science
Science is always an engaging subject for preschoolers because they love seeing how things work and asking questions! Here are some wonderful tools that can indulge some of their curiosities.
Wonderful tool for observational work. Can work for both math and science!
Guidecraft LED Tabletop Lightbox for Kids
Amazing long term project to do with preschoolers. Teaches about growth, change, caring for our environment and those that live in it. Children love watching the release at the end!
Insect Lore Butterfly Garden Kit with 5 Caterpillars & Habitat
Great visual of different life cycles! Can help support different lessons.
Mbrain Life Cycle Montessori Toys Kit for Kids
A class favorite year after year! Great option for the sensory table.
Kinetic Sand 11lb Natural Brown Mega Box
Love that this is reusable! It's easy to clean up after doing the vinegar, dish soap, and baking soda experiment.
Yellow Door Play Volcano | Oriental Trading
Math
Math finds its way into many activities in a preschool classroom — here are some math centric materials I find helpful in teaching important math concepts (ex. one to one correspondence, counting, etc.)
Wonderful for one to one correspondence!
TEUVO Counting Pegs Board Montessori Toy
Great for sorting and counting!
Colorful Counting Bears & Matching Cups - 60
Can be used as a visual aid for lessons on counting, measuring, adding, subtracting color recogntion, building — the possibilities are endless!!
TOYLI 100 Piece Linking Cubes STEM Blocks
Made of quality material and is great for sorting by color or by shape.
Skillmatics Silicone Rainbow Sorting Game Toy