Preschool Fun in the Summer Sun Theme

Includes: Planning Map, and links to Activity Guides, and Printable Resources

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Explore preschool Fun in the Summer Sun theme activities, featured resources, and planning tools.

Use this page as a starting point for planning your preschool theme. Gather inspiration, explore featured activities, and discover resources to support your lesson planning.

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Access the complete Theme Planning Guide with linked activities, printable resources, and hands-on learning ideas.

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Download a free sample plan below!

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Download our Free Fun in the Summer Sun Preschool Sample Activity Plan

⭐ Already a Pre-K Printables Club Member?  Access the complete Theme Planning Guide with linked printable resources, activity guides, and more inside the Preschool Activity Library.
No searching. No guesswork. Just print, prep, and teach!

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Download a free sample plan and explore featured activities from this theme.

This free sample plan from our  Theme Planning Guide includes:

• Featured activities organized by learning center
• A simple, flexible theme planning layout
• A starting point for planning your own theme week

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Featured Activities From This Plan

These activities are available inside our Preschool Activity Library.
Inside our Library, Members can:

• Access activity guides with materials and directions
• Download printable resources 
• Explore even more activities for this theme 

Featured  Activities in this Plan:

Art & Creativity
Nature Sun Catcher
Dramatic Play
Ice Cream Stand Dramatic Play Pack
Building & Small World Play
Shell Tower
Language and Literacy
Editable Popsicle Name Craft
Beach Inspired Sand Tray
Mathematics
Ice Cream Scoop Counting mats 1-10
Sort the Sunglasses
Science & Discovery
Make Your Own Ice Cream Recipe
Physical
Fine Motor
Ice Cream Shape Clip Cards
Gross Motor
Beach Ball Towel Toss
Other
Learn About Summer Community Helpers

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Members Get the Full Planning Experience

Existing Members

• Access the complete Theme Planning Guide
• Linked printable resources
• Hands-on activity guides
• Differentiation support
• Assessment ideas for hands-on activities
• Extension activities
• Coordinated planning support tools
  

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Not a Member Yet? Learn how you can get:

• Unlimited access to the Activity Library
• 50+ coordinated preschool themes
• Printable resources
• Planning support tools
• Dramatic play packs
• Flexible hands-on play based activity guides
• Access to Member Only Resources
  

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Preschool Fun in the Summer Sun-Theme Planning Map

Use this flexible planning tool to brainstorm learning topics, classroom invitations, vocabulary, dramatic play ideas, and hands-on experiences connected to this preschool theme.

Preschool Fun in the Summer Sun Activities

Browse our featured Preschool activity ideas, classroom inspiration, and themed resources organized by learning center. Whether you're looking for art, literacy, math, science, dramatic play, or fine motor activities, these ideas can help you plan a more engaging and organized theme.

These featured ideas are just a small sample of what’s available inside our Preschool Activity Library.

Use the yellow arrow to return to the top!

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Nature Sun Catcher

Go on an adventure in the sunshine, collect flowers to create a sun catcher. 
Or create a sunshine shaped suncatcher! See details on how to Make a Suncatcher on my blog. 

Sidewalk Chalk Tape Resist Art

Lay down strips of painters tape in any design you choose.
Set out sidewalk chalk and encourage your preschooler to fill in the shapes. When you're done peel back the tape (get your preschooler to help to support fine motor development) to reveal the masterpiece. View Member Instructions

Plaster Casting in Sand

Create impressions of shells in the sand then fill with plaster of Paris to make casts to explore.
View Member Instructions

Shadow Drawing

Use everyday objects, or take them outside to practice tracing their friends shadow with chalk. Place toys, plastic animals, etc while in the sun and draw/trace shadows.

Create a Sun with Squish & Twist Painting

Use the Squish & Twist painting method to invite your preschooler to blend colors and create the sun. 

Solar Printing Process Art

Soak in the sunshine while engaging in this experiment that doubles as an art process.
View Member Instructions

Try This!

Shell Stamping

Put out plates with different colored paints and a variety of shells. Lay out a large section of chart paper. Invite students to dip the shells in the paint and stamp them across the paper. View Member Instructions

Sand Bottle Art

Provide students with funnels, scoops, colored sand, and bottles to make their own art pieces.
View Member Instructions

Painting with Ice Cubes

Have children make unique pictures by painting with ice cubes. Add water and food coloring to an ice tray. Freeze and then pop out of the tray. Let children move the ice cubes around their paper to transfer the colors!
View Member Instructions

Sing a Song

Sing your favorite fun in the sun song! Some suggestions include Down by the Bay, or Mr. Sun
View Member Instructions

Whip up some puffy paint, pair with a triangle cut from cardboard to make ice cream cone art

Try this!

Yogurt Banana Popsicle

This easy recipe for Yogurt Banana Popsicles is a fun introduction to cooking with preschoolers and such a yummy and healthy snack! Simply dip bananas on a stick inside yogurt, top with sprinkles, and freeze.
View the Blog Post

try this!

Tie Dye Shirts

Create your own Tie Dye Shirts!
View Member Instructions

Ice Cream Stand*

Your preschooler will have fun selling ice cream at their own ice cream stand! This 16-page digital pack includes all of the props you'll need to create your ice cream stand! Buy Now

Get this set in our shop!

Beach Fun

Transform your dramatic play space into a beach. Place a large sandy colored sheet (fabric "beach themed" shower curtains work great for this), and a blue water sheet on the ground. Add beach chairs, sunglasses, sun hats, empty (clean) sunscreen bottles, beach bags, towels, lunch coolers, beach balls, and shovels and pails to your space this week. View Member Instructions

Summer Puppet Show

Add cutouts of people dressed for summer, summer items (cooler, beach umbrella, beach ball, etc) and invite students to tell a summer time story. View Member Instructions

Lemonade Stand

Set up a lemonade stand in your dramatic play center. Provide cups, plastic lemons, straws, play money, and more. Have your students pretend they are either buying or selling lemonade on a hot summer day.
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Pretend Pool Party

Set up the Dramatic Play area with beach towels, sunscreen bottles, pool floaties/noodles. Set down a large blue sheet for the pool. Have children pretend they are at a pool party. Don't forget the bbq so you can grill some tasty food when you get hungry. View Member Instructions

Make Summer Objects with Pattern Blocks

This set of Summer Pattern Block Mats is a great addition to your learning space during this theme.
Build a beach ball, anchor, sand castle and more!
See everything included in the Summer Pattern Block Mats Shop Listing

Buy this Activity!

Sandpaper castles

Cut sandpaper into a variety of 2D shapes. Encourage your students to build their own castles using this textured paper. Find more details and tips for this activity on our Sandpaper Castles blog.
View Member Instructions

Try this!

Build and Trace Shadows

Take your blocks outside for building, or use cardboard boxes in a variety of sizes. After building encourage your architects to trace their creations on the sidewalk using chalk. View Member Instructions

Make Sandcastles

Kinetic sand is perfect for making sand castles, try adding some to your sand table along with some molds and basic tools. View Member Instructions

Shell Tower

Challenge students to use shells to build the tallest tower they can! View Member Instructions

And Then Comes Summer Story Time Activity

The book And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner (affiliate) is such a fun way to lead into summer activities. 
Our story time companion activity is a great way to engage in discussion and keep the fun going with an extension activity!
Get this And Then Comes Summer Story Time Companion pack in my shop. 

Available in my shop!

Roll and Write Letters*

Sidewalk chalk is a summer staple when you have young children. 
Set out this set of Roll and Write Letters Sidewalk Chalk cubes to encourage letter formation with sidewalk chalk. 

Get this in our shop!

Sand Box Letter Press

Place moistened sand in a sensory bin along with cookie cutter letters. Encourage the children to press the letters into the sand. Extend the learning: Can they find the letters in their name? Or the first letter in the word "beach", "sand", or "crab"? View Member Instructions

​Name Building Popsicle

Incorporate name building into your summer with our Popsicle Name Craft and Worksheets pack!

Get this in our shop!

Snow Cone Letter Match*

This letter matching activity from Pre-k Printable Fun is easy to set up. 
Invite preschoolers to practice letter identification and matching with this Summer Fun in the Sun activity. 

See more from the Fun in the Summer Sun pack in our shop!~

Summer Letter Formation Practice

Tracing cards are a great invitation to set up for preschoolers. They are easy to create individualized learning activities and break the learning up into smaller parts.  Dry erase markers provide less resistance than other writing tools.
You can print these cards from the Summer Tracing Set from PKPF that also includes a variety of worksheets for children to work on tracing letters, numbers, shapes, and lines. ​

Get this in our shop!

Summer Word Building

Dive into summer with literacy fun! This set is easy to set up with your magnet letters and a magnet board or cookie sheet. Preschoolers work on letter sounds and identification as they fill in the missing letter. 
Magnetic Letters Summer Word Activities

Available in our shop!

Beach Inspired Sand Tray

Writing trays are great for practicing letter formation! Follow our tutorial showing how to make your own low cost beach inspired sand tray! Use it to practice tracing letters (or numbers, and shapes)!
View Member Instructions

Summer Rebus Rhymes-Coming Soon!

Get ready for summer fun with these adorable rebus rhymes! Perfect for preschoolers, these engaging activities will help little ones build language skills while having a blast. View Member Instructions

Sunny Letter Walk

 Cut out sun mats from yellow construction paper. Write a letter on each of them (make 2x as many mats as students). Place them in a large circle on the floor. Play the song Mr. Sun or your favorite summer music and have the children walk around the circle while the music is playing, When it stops have the students identify the letter they are standing next to. View Member Instructions

I can build a sandcastle Craft

Enhance your preschoolers' beach day adventure with this interactive sandcastle craft activity. Encourage teamwork, creativity, and fine motor skills as children construct their own unique sandcastle masterpiece. Perfect for reinforcing the theme of the day at the beach book companion. Buy Now

Day at the Beach Pre-K Book Companion

Collecting Letter Shells

Write Letters on the inside of Shells. Place them face down around room. Provide your students buckets, and have them collect shells and identify the letters on each one from around the room.
View Member Instructions

At the beach I spy…

This fun and engaging printable preschool activity will keep your little ones entertained at the beach! Let them explore and discover as they spy different objects and creatures in the sand and ocean. Perfect for a sunny day of learning and playing! Buy Now

Beach Pail Rhymes

This Beach Pail Rhymes Printable is a fun and engaging preschool activity that helps little ones learn rhyming words while playing with colorful beach pails. Perfect for hands-on learning and building early literacy skills!
Buy Now

Fun in the Sun word wall cards

These word wall cards are a perfect addition to your preschool classroom! With vibrant illustrations and easy-to-read words, your little ones will have fun while learning about summer activities and objects. Just print, laminate, and hang them on your word wall for hours of educational fun! Buy Now

Seashell Flip and Find Letters

This Seashell Flip and Find Letters activity is a fun and engaging way to help preschoolers learn their letters! Simply flip over a shell card and match it to the correct letter on the grid. Perfect for developing letter recognition skills in a sea-inspired theme! Buy Now

Snow cone letter match puzzles

This printable preschool activity will keep your little ones engaged and learning! Letter match puzzles featuring colorful snow cones will help them practice their letter recognition skills in a fun and interactive way. Perfect for a snowy day indoors! Buy Now

*And Then Comes Summer by Tom Brenner
Day at the Beach by Tom Booth
Beach Day by Karen Roosa and Maggie Smith
Fun in the Sun by David Catrow
Is It Warm Enough for Ice Cream? by DK

Ice Cream Scoop Count*

These ice cream scoop counting mats are the perfect printable activity for preschoolers to practice counting from 1 to 10. This hands-on activity will engage little learners and help them develop their number recognition skills. Get ready for some deliciously educational fun! Buy Now

Fun in the Summer Sun Preschool Activity Pack

Shell Patterning

Set up different patterns using shells (AB, AAB, ABB, ABC, etc.) and have students complete the patterns.
View Member Instructions

Sort Sunglasses

Set up different colored sunglasses. Have children sort them into bins based on color or size. Extend the activity by sorting by two attributes (examples: Big red sunglasses, small red sunglasses). View Member Instructions

Summer Graphs

Ask a series of summer themed questions (examples: who likes to go to the beach? Do you like chocolate or vanilla ice cream) Have students graph the results. View Member Instructions

Beach Ball Number Toss-Fun for Groups!

This is a fantastic group activity. Use a sharpie to add numbers (or letters, or names, or shapes) to the beach ball. Toss it to a friend! The child will look and announce which numbers they are touching. Looking for more low cost activity ideas? View Member Instructions

Build an Ice Cream Cone Patterning*

This build an ice cream cone patterning printable preschool activity is perfect for little ones to practice patterns! They will have a blast matching colorful scoops to create their own sweet masterpieces! Buy Now

Fun in the Summer Sun Preschool Activity Pack

At the beach color matching puzzles

This printable preschool activity is perfect for a day at the beach! Let your little ones explore colors with these fun and educational color matching puzzles. Ideal for developing fine motor skills and cognitive abilities. Grab your crayons and get ready for some beachy fun! Buy Now

Hot vs. Cold Sorting

This Hot & Cold sorting printable activity is perfect for preschoolers! Help little ones understand temperature concepts while engaging in hands-on fun. Teach hot and cold with this easy-to-use, colorful activity.
Buy Now

Ice Cream Counting Mat 1-20 and Counters

Personalize the learning experience with our Editable Fun in the Sun Name Worksheets! Children will delight in tracing and writing their names amidst cheerful beach scenes, promoting name recognition and fine motor skills development. Buy Now

Ice Cream Race to the top game

This Ice Cream Race to the top game is a delightful and educational preschool activity. Watch as your little ones race to build the tallest ice cream cone, while developing fine motor skills, color recognition, and turn-taking. It's a scrumptious way to have fun and learn together! Buy Now

Ice Cream Scoop Ten Frame Counting Mats

These ice cream scoop ten frame counting mats are a perfect hands-on activity to help children practice counting and number recognition. Printable and fun!
Buy Now

Ice Cream Shape Clip Cards

These ice cream shape clip cards are a fun and educational activity for preschoolers! Help your little ones recognize and match shapes while practicing fine motor skills. Perfect for at-home learning or classroom centers. Download and print today! Buy Now

Learning Grill Recipe Math Cards

These fun and engaging Math Recipe Cards are perfect for preschoolers to practice counting and number recognition skills. Download and print these learning grill cards today! Buy Now

Study the Water Cycle*

Recalling and exploring the water cycle is a great idea to revisit each season. 
This evaporation observation is excellent to perform during summer as the water will evaporate faster in the hot weather. Tie this into why it's so important to drink more water during hotter months. 
Water Cycle Preschool Science Activities

Water Cycle Preschool Activities

Hot and Cold Sorting*

Have children practice sorting objects that are hot or cold. Set out a variety of pictures that represent hot and cold. Have children sort into two groups. Use this set of Hot and Cold Sorting Mats to make the activity even easier!

Fun in the Summer Sun Preschool Activity Pack

Solar Oven

Treat your preschoolers to a tasty snack while exploring science!
Build your very own solar oven and then test it out by making yummy s'mores. View Member Instructions

Try this!

Shadow Exploration

Exploring shadows with preschoolers is a fun and easy way to incorporate science into the summer theme. Use everyday objects, or take them outside to practice tracing their friend's shadow with chalk. View Member Instructions

Try this!

What Melts in the Sun?

Place each test item in a section of the tin and place outside in a sunny area. Check on the items periodically and note the time in the sun and the condition of the items. Compare the time it takes each item to to melt and the change in texture. View Member Instructions

​Make Your Own Sun Tea

Brewing tea out in the sun simply tastes better than quick brewing with hot water. This is also a fun science exploration to enjoy with preschoolers. Brewing tea is a fun science and discovery addition to a Fun in the Sun theme. Keep reading to see the process and tips for supporting learning along the way. 
Find more information and tips for this project on our Make Your Own Sun Tea blog post. 
View Member Instructions

Try this!

Lemon Science Activities

Unlock the wonders of science with our Printable Lemon Science Activity Pack! This 27-page PDF provides step-by-step instructions, colorful posters, and recording forms for engaging lemon investigations. Teach children scientific processes through hands-on exploration and fun activities like Lemon Anatomy, Lemonade Chemistry, and more. Perfect for fostering a love of learning in young minds. Buy Now

Buy this Activity in Our Shop!

Make Your Own Moon Sand

This sensory rich activity is perfect for preschoolers and they will have a blast helping you make it! This tutorial has all the information you need including the simple ingredient list. 
Find all the instructions for mixing up this fun play material and teaching tips in our Make Your Own Moon Sand blog post. View Member Instructions

Try This!

Make Your Own Ice Cream

​What do preschoolers like more than eating ice cream? Making their own of course! This preschool cooking activity is easy and includes a variety of learning opportunities.
Find the details and teaching tips for this activity on our Make Your Own Ice Cream blog post. 
View Member Instructions

Try this!

Make a bouncy ball

Make a bouncy ball with preschoolers using warm water, Borax, and clear glue. This hands-on activity introduces basic chemical reactions and encourages creativity and exploration. After making the bouncy balls, children can test and play with them, and then reflect on the process. Display their creations to celebrate their creativity. View Member Instructions

Pool Noodle Marble Run

Cut a pool noodle in half long ways. Then have a race using different colored marbles or sizes!
View Member Instructions

Make your own Bottle Fountain

Recycle some used water bottles by poking different sized holes in the bottom. Then fill with water and watch how the water escapes!
View Member Instructions

Reflector STEAM Activity

Shine bright with our DIY Reflector! Crafted from cardboard covered in foil, take it outside and watch as it beautifully reflects the light. A simple project for a dazzling play of brilliance!
View Member Instructions

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More Fun in the Sun Science & Discovery Ideas:

DIY Garden Sundial from KCedventures
Sun Upcycled Crayons from mamasmiles
Summer Sensory Washing Stations from Little Bins for Little Hands

Ice Cube Fine Motor Fun

Place white or blue craft cubes blocks inside a small lunch cooler. Provide your student with plastic cups and a pair of tongs. Have them use the tongs to remove the "ice cube" blocks from the cooler and place them in the cups.
View Member Instructions

Ice Cream Cone Shape Clip Cards*

Get in a bit of math with this fine motor activity!
Preschoolers identify the shape of each ice cream and then use a clothespin to clip the matching shape on the bottom of the card. You can find this activity in the Summer Fun in the Sun Activity Pack from PKPF. 

Fun in the Summer Sun Preschool Activity Pack

Trace & Color Fine Motor Practice

These Trace & Color pages make setting up fine motor practice easy this summer, the set includes a variety of themes great for all year round including several fun summer themed pages. 

Trace and Color Set

Water Challenge-Fine Motor

Place two bowls inside a sensory bin. Add water to one bowl, along with sponges. 
Challenge students to transfer the water to the other bowl by absorbing and squeezing the sponges.
View Member Instructions

Beach Bin Sensory Hunt-Fine Motor

Bury different summer themed objects in a sand sensory bin. Give students a visual list of what to find. Give them scoops, tongs, tweezers, etc. and have them dig through the sand to find each item on the list.
View Member Instructions

Scoop your own ice cream-Fine Motor

Scooping ice cream is a fantastic way to build fine motor skills-and a tasty summer treat!
View Member Instructions

Shell Impressions-Fine Motor

Provide your students with a sensory box of kinetic (or wet) sand, and shells, and have them practice making shell impressions. View Member Instructions

Beach Ball Towel Toss-Gross Motor

Gather your beach towels and beach balls for a fun way to get little ones moving! 
Pair off giving each pair of people a beach towel. Place a ball in the middle, work together to wave the towel to make the ball fly into the air. 
View Member Instructions

Splash in the ocean-Gross Motor

Place a large blue sheet or blanket on the floor. Have your students take off their socks, and shoes, and  take turns "splashing" their feet in the "water" as they name shapes, letters, numbers, or any skills you are working on this week. View Member Instructions

Hopscotch

Combine math and motor skills with a fun invitation to play hopscotch. 
This DIY is from community member Piper M. of Brainy Bumblebee Academy. 
Find more ways to spruce up your outdoor space on my blog post DIY Ideas for Your Outdoor Space

DIY Ideas for your Outdoor Space

Giant Bubbles-Gross Motor

Create giant bubbles by making your own wands from loops of yarn or other recycled objects. Challenge students to make the largest bubble! Check out our tutorial for how to make your own bubble solution.
View Member Instructions

Wet Sponge Toss-Gross Motor

Engage your preschoolers in fun water play with our Outdoor Water Target! This interactive activity promotes motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and social development. Perfect for sunny days in the classroom or playground.
View Member Instructions

Try this!

Ice Cream Scoop Toss-Gross Motor

In this fun preschool activity, children will take turns tossing ice cream scoop "balls" into large bowls. They will work on their aim while enjoying lively music and celebrating successful tosses.
View Member Instructions

Sprinkler Fun

With the use of a sprinkler, water toys, and a safe outdoor play area, children can run, jump, and play while developing their gross motor skills and enjoying sensory exploration. Parent participation and teacher safety tips ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all. View Member Instructions

Summer Community Helpers

While community helpers are important all year round, there are certainly ones that are more obvious during each season.
During the summer months preschoolers may notice construction workers, librarians, farmers, and lifeguards more. What other community workers are important during the summer months? 
Explore the important workers in your community through Community Helper Conversation cards. ​

Community Helper Conversation Cards

Take a trip to the beach or community pool

Teach students important safety rules for the beach/pool and take a trip to practice skills and have fun in the sun!

Summer Scavenger Hunt Field Trip

Have students look for summer themed items throughout the community and report back how many items they were able to find from the scavenger hunt list. View Member Instructions

Sunny Emotions

This Sunny Emotions Play Dough Mat will brighten up your preschooler's day! Encourage imaginative play and emotional expression as they sculpt different sun faces and explore different feelings. A perfect activity for building fine motor skills and social-emotional learning. Download now! Buy Now

Buy this Activity in Our Shop!

Summer Themed Yoga

Have students do summer themed yoga poses on a beach towel and work on breathing and mindfulness.
View Member Instructions

Pack for a Summer Vacation

Provide students with a variety of winter and summer items, along with a suitcase.
Have them practice sorting items they would take on a summer vacation. View Member Instructions

Collaborative patterning

Cut out a large yellow circle "Sun" (a yellow paper plate works well for this). Collect: orange, yellow, and red clothespins (you can pain them) sun rays, and place them in a basket in the center of your group area, with the sun. Start a pattern using the clothespin "sun rays". Invite each child to get up and take turns completing the pattern by clipping a clothespin to the sun. View Member Instructions

Participate in a Group Song Together

Before singing this song: show a photo, or watch a video about a beach!
Sing this song to the tune of the "Wheels on the Bus"
The waves at the beach roll in and out, in and out, in and out.
The waves at the beach roll in and out.
all day long. View Member Instructions

Variations:
The dolphins at the beach leap and splash
The  fish at the beach swim here and there
The crabs at the beach go snip and snap
The shovels at the beach go dig, dig, dig

Play a Game Together*-Teamwork

This is a great game to play with a partner. 
Take turns rolling the playing cube to move the cherry to the top of the stack. This Ice Cream Cone Race to the Top Game can be found inside our Fun in the Sun activity pack. 

Fun in the Summer Sun Preschool Activity Pack

Ice Cream Theme Sign-in Activity

​Welcome your students to class with this engaging name recognition activity. 
Includes a variety of themes and available in the shop!

Daily Attendance

Create Outdoor Learning Opportunities

Be ready for learning outside this summer with our Summer Dry Erase Binder !
Activities from this set support preschool math, literacy, and fine motor development. 
You can also check out this post with suggested ways to create outdoor learning spaces.
View Member Instructions

Preschool Summer Activities Binder

Pre-K Printables Club Members

Pre-K Printables Club members can download all of our printable products for FREE through the member links in our shop listings and activity library.  Not a member yet? Join here!

Fun in the Summer Sun Preschool Activity Pack

$7.00

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Ice Cream Stand Dramatic Play Pack

$4.00

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Ice Cream Themed Incentive Reward Chart Set

$3.00

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Ice Cream Cone Race to the Top Game

$0.00

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Sidewalk Chalk Roll and Write Uppercase Letters and Symbols

$2.00

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Magnet Letter Summer Vocabulary Centers

$3.00

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Preschool Summer Binder

$4.00

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Summer Tracing Set

$5.00

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