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Download our Free Rocks, Dirt, and Mud Preschool Sample Activity Plan
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Outdoor Mud Painting
Mix together dirt and water to create some fun mud painting outside! Fill some containers with dirt and mix in water to create different consistencies. Let students use their fingers or paintbrushes to make mud paint creations on the pavement or on paper. This is a great way for students to explore texture in art! View Member Instructions
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Drop Painting Discover the joy of creative expression with Drop Art! This innovative and easy-to-follow art activity is perfect for preschoolers. Encourage their imagination and fine motor skills as they explore colors, shapes, and textures. Let their creativity soar!
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Paint RocksBring a little nature inside, or art outside. Paint some rocks to add to the garden, or as decor in the classroom. View Member Instructions
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Rock and Dirt CompositionsProvide heavy weight paper and glue outdoors for a fun process art invitation using dirt and rocks. View Member Instructions
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Muddy Finger PaintingInvite preschoolers to explore finger painting with brown paint. Anytime the kids are finger painting is a great time to take a hand print for use in crafts later. When they are done with their finger painting, have them stamp their hand on a blank piece of paper and label it with their name and the date. View Member Instructions
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Create Mud tracksCreate an invitation for your preschooler to mix colors to make the color brown, then dip trucks in and make mud tracks on paper.
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Create an Outdoor Mud Kitchen
Preschoolers love to play with mud. Set up a mud kitchen where children can pretend to cook. Take the Dramatic Play Outside and Create a Space for a Mud Kitchen. Gather old pots & pans, Strainers, Cupcake Pans, Cake Pans, and a variety of kitchen utensils. Find inspiration for your mud exploration station in this related post all about mud kitchens!
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Pretend to be a Geologist
Student can practice sorting, weighing and measuring rocks. Include a variety of rocks, and stones. An investigation form, and sorting mats. Add magnifying glasses, googles/safety glasses.
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Rocks Dirt and Mud Building MaterialsConsider adding rocks, brown felt "Mud" and construction vehicles to the Construction Space this week. View Member Instructions
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Build a Rock ChuteTake a cardboard tube, preferably from gift wrap however a shorter tube from paper towels will work too. Cut the tube in half lengthwise. Supply small rocks in the construction area for children to send down the chute to a construction pit. View Member Instructions
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Build with RocksThis can be done both outdoors and indoors. While outside, invite children to build freely with rocks, take pictures of their structures.
Inside set up a challenge with a set of rocks. How many can you stack? What can you make? Can you build a home? Encourage children to build up as well as lay the rocks out on the table to create something. Vocabulary to use: Structure, Stable, Balance, Smooth, Rough, Topple. View Member Instructions |
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DIY Faux Stone Building Blocks
Create your own faux stone building blocks! These tactile blocks will inspire endless imagination and provide hours of engaging play. Perfect for preschool teachers looking to enhance sensory development and fine motor skills! View the Blog Post or View Member Instructions
Build Rock and Stone Landmarks Around the World
Encourage your preschoolers to recreate famous landmarks from around the world that are made of stone! Display posters of these structures in your Construction Space to inspire their creativity. Discuss the materials used to build these landmarks and provide stones and other building materials for hands-on exploration. Talk about the challenges and advantages of different construction materials. For additional inspiration, check out our Build Landmarks Around the World Poster Pack, which includes themed building mats!
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Build Letters with Rocks*
This Let's Build Letters with Rocks printable preschool activity allows kids to learn about the alphabet while having fun! Encourage fine motor skills as they arrange rocks to form letters, promoting creativity and letter recognition. Get ready for an engaging and educational activity!
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Use a Reference BookPreschoolers are learning that books can be more than a fun story. They are a source of information!
Set out a reference book for preschoolers to compare their rocks to. View Member Instructions |
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Pigs in the Mud Seek-and-Find
Get ready for some muddy fun! This Pigs in the Mud Seek and Find File folder game printable is an entertaining and educational preschool activity. Kids will develop their observation skills while searching for adorable pigs hidden in the mud. Perfect for rainy day play or as a quiet time learning activity. Buy Now
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Reading Comprehension:
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I can Give my Dog a Bath*
Our I Can Give My Dog a Bath: Read and Sequence Set is a fun activity where you can read a rebus story with your preschooler then work on sequencing to improve Reading Comprehension. Buy Now
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Create your own Story StonesBuild story stones and have children create a story with them!
This is a fun and easy way for children to practice telling stories and story structure. View Member Instructions |
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Mud Pie Recipe Cards*
These mud pie math counting recipe cards are a fun way to engage preschoolers in math activities. Each card features an image of all the ingredients needed to make a mud pie. Buy Now
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Rock counting Ten-Frames*
Engaging and educational, these Rock Counting Mats are perfect for teaching little ones numbers 1 to 10! Featuring frames to place the rocks in, this printable preschool activity is interactive and helps develop counting skills. Get your child excited about learning with this fun and hands-on resource! Buy Now
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*Rock SortingPair an egg carton and rocks for preschoolers to practice sorting skills.
Leave this activity open-ended; How can you sort the rocks View Member Instructions |
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Rock Count & Clip Cards
This Rock Count & Clip Cards activity is perfect for preschoolers to practice counting and fine motor skills. Simply count the rocks and clip the correct number. A fun and educational printable for little ones!
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Rock Dig Number Sensory Bin
Add play dirt or sand to your sensory tray, and bury rocks. Practice counting rocks or write numbers on rocks and practice identifying them.
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Weigh Rocks
Reader Darlene G. created this rock weighing station. This discovery center is placed in a corner with just a couple of chairs to create a private, and cozy space for just a few children to explore specimens. In addition to magnifying glasses, she has also included a balance scale that allows children to explore the weights of different materials.
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Photo Credit: Darlene G.
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*Practice Counting to 10
Engage your little geologist with this fun and educational puzzle activity! Designed for preschoolers, this printable set features 10 captivating geology-themed puzzles that encourage problem-solving and cognitive development. Dive into the world of rocks, minerals, and fossils with this hands-on learning tool! Perfect for homeschooling or classroom use. Get yours now and let the exploration begin!
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Grow Your Own GeodesLearn how to make DIY geodes with your preschoolers! This fun, hands-on activity will engage their senses and spark their curiosity about geology. Perfect for incorporating science into your classroom!
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Make this!
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Invitation to explore Rocks and StonesCreate a place to explore rocks. Add magnifying glasses, and plenty of specimens. You may also want to include books and magazines about rocks. View Member Instructions
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*Above Ground Below GroundThis printable preschool activity engages little learners in above and below concepts! Just print, cut, and explore the world around us, from clouds above to worms below. A fun and educational resource for hands-on discovery! Buy Now
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Get MuddySuit the kiddos up in mud suits and rain boots for plenty of free exploration outdoors. View Member Instructions
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Explore Rocks, Dirt, & MudThere is so much to explore with rocks, dirt, & mud.
Supply children with shovels, containers, and a space to dig and make mud. View Member Instructions |
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Create a Sediment JarThe Sediment Jar activity allows preschoolers to create a jar to observe how dirt falls in layers. With the use of materials such as dirt, rocks, and water, preschoolers will be able to see the sediment settle over time. This activity promotes critical thinking, observation skills, and understanding of natural processes. Preschoolers will enjoy seeing the layers form in the jar. It is a fun and engaging way to learn about science and the natural world. View Member Instructions
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Use a Sieve to study Rocks and DirtSupply preschoolers with plastic sieves and shovels. Invite them to add dirt to the sieves. Make observations about what they see. Gently shake the sieve, now what do they see? Are there materials beyond dirt and rocks?
After one round, invite preschoolers to predict what they will find the next time. View Member Instructions |
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Sort Rocks By Type*
This sorting rocks by type mat printable preschool activity is a fun and interactive way for little ones to learn about different types of rocks. Encourage little geologists to categorize rocks based on their characteristics and spark their curiosity about the fascinating world of geology! Buy Now
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Create a Dirt VolcanoCreate a volcano with dirt and rocks, add baking soda to the center and then invite preschoolers to set it off by adding vinegar.
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Muddy Car Wash Sensory BinMix together water and dirt to create mud. Have your preschoolers drive plastic cars through the mud to make the cars messy. Then invite them to clean off the cars by setting up a bin with water, soap, sponges, towels etc to create their very own car wash! View Member Instructions
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Rock Washing Sensory BinHave your preschoolers collect rocks and then add them to a rock washing station. Include an empty bucket, bucket with water, scrub brushes, sponges, dish towels and soap. Let them clean and dry each of the rocks. View Member Instructions
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Mud Slime Oobleck
Make your own chocolate oobleck Mud Slime for your students to play with. The can add their own farm animals, dirt bikes, or monster trucks!
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Rock Sorting* Relay-Gross Motor
Engage your little one's senses with this fun and educational rock sorting activity! Develop fine motor skills and learn about size concepts as your preschooler sorts rocks by size. A perfect printable activity for hands-on learning at home or in the classroom. Buy Now
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Hidden Gems-Fine MotorPair gems with play dough. Push the gems inside of the dough for children to extract. View Member Instructions
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Muddy Target-Gross Motor
Let your preschoolers get a little messy while working on their gross motor skills! Set up a target outside. Create mud that they can pick up and easily throw. Challenge them to hit the bullseye!
Check out our Create Your Own Shower Curtain Target blog post for directions for easily creating an outdoor target. View Member Instructions |
DIY Shower Curtain Target for Preschoolers
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Rock Tracing Lines-Fine Motor
This printable preschool activity is packed with fun and engaging fine motor pre-writing and cutting practice activities. Perfect for little ones to develop their motor skills and prepare for writing and cutting tasks.
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HopscotchSet up a hop scotch board either inside or outside using chalk. Give your preschoolers a stone and have them throw the stone to one of the squares. This is the square they have to try to get to.
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Create a Mud and Worm Pudding Snack-Fine MotorChildren will have a blast creating their own Mud and Worm Pudding Snack! This hands-on activity promotes fine motor skills and sensory exploration. With chocolate pudding, crushed cookies, and candy worms, this delicious treat is sure to be a hit. Don't forget to involve parents and emphasize proper hand hygiene!
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Go on a Rock HuntEncourage families to find a rock around their neighborhood or in their backyard. Families can research the type of rock using the internet or classroom resources. Children can bring the rock in to share during circle time. View Member Instructions
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Rock Scavenger Hunt
Have children complete a rock scavenger hunt. You can give them images of different types of rocks to find or you can have them collect whatever rocks they find or like. Extend this activity by having them bring their rocks back to the group so that you can look at them together and talk about the differences and similarities!
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Learn about Rocks as Tools |
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Take a Rocky TripThere are all kinds of fun ways to engage in the community. Here are three options for this theme depending on the structure of your program.
Join us for a Preschool Take a Rocky Trip activity where children will have the opportunity to explore the world of construction and learn about rocks and dirt. Whether it's through an exciting field trip, a visit from an expert, or a virtual experience, this activity promises to be both educational and entertaining for preschool students. Come and join the fun! View Member Instructions
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Stack Rocks TeamworkCairns are rock piles, or stacks. They are often created as landmarks to mark trails. Have your preschoolers pair up. Provide them with flat stones and have them take turns building rock towers. Their goal is to build the tallest tower without it falling. View Member Instructions
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Take Turns Play a Rock or Muddy Game Together*
Play a cooperative game with your kids. Take turns, working together to meet a common goal. This pigs in the mud game can be found inside my rocks, dirt and mud activity pack. Children work together to add all of the pigs to the mud! Buy Now
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Sharing Rock |
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Rock Tic Tac ToeDraw a tick tac toe board and allow students to use rocks as the Os in the game. Students can practice taking turns both in the game as as the Os. Extend this activity, by having each student decorate their rocks before playing! View Member Instructions
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Rock Show and TellBefore circle time go on a rock hunt with your preschoolers. Invite each child to bring one rock back with them. During circle time, give each child a turn to describe their rock using one or two words.
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Play an Ancient Game of MancalaEvidence of this board game was discovered in Israel between 2nd-3rd AD. This game was played with stones (or seeds), and common reproductions use colorful stones or gems.
This is a great game to practice counting, and is also great for building fine motor skills. View Member Instructions |
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Rocky Emotions
Draw or paint eyes, mouths, and noses that show different emotions on flat stones. Give students construction paper and have them draw a circle for a face. Challenge them to show different emotions on their faces using the painted stones or have them create a face that shows how they are feeling that day and have them share about their emotion. View Member Instructions
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