Connect with Nature - Free Forest Matching Cards Printable for Preschoolers

As humans, we have an innate desire to connect with nature. This connection with nature is not only beneficial for our physical and mental health but also for the environment. Teaching young children to connect with nature is crucial as they carry the responsibility of preserving it for future generations.

One way to foster this connection is through playing matching games that help preschoolers learn about the environment around them. This Free Forest Matching Cards Printable for Preschoolers is specifically designed to help young children learn about the elements of the forest and their shadows.

Forest Matching Cards Montessori Nature Free Printable pin

Benefits of Matching Activities

Matching activities are a fun and educational way to help preschool children develop important cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Matching games can be played with objects, pictures, or even words and letters. Here are some benefits of matching activities for preschool children:

Brain Development: Matching activities help to develop and improve the analytical and problem-solving abilities of young children. These activities require children to focus on the details of the objects and find matches based on similarities and differences. This helps to build the connections in their brains, which improves their cognitive skills.

Memory Skills: Matching activities help in enhancing memory and recall skills in preschool children. Since children have to remember the details of the objects and locate their matches, they develop better memory skills, which help them in their academic performance later in life.

Visual Discrimination: Matching games help children develop their visual discrimination skills, which is the ability to differentiate between objects based on their characteristics. This skill is crucial for reading, writing, and math skills.

Social Skills: Matching activities aid in developing social skills as they encourage children to collaborate, take turns, and communicate with one another. This helps children in learning about patience, cooperation, and teamwork.

Emotion regulation: Playing with matching activities can also help children regulate their emotions. These games provide a fun way for children to learn about handling frustration and disappointment when they don’t find a match or when they make mistakes.

Matching activities are a great way to engage preschool children and help them develop the necessary skills for their future academic and social success. Encouraging children to play matching games is a fantastic way for parents and educators to help children learn and have fun at the same time.

Forest Themed Matching cards

The printable comes with 24 elements of the forest. Each of these elements has a corresponding shadow card that preschoolers can match with the element. This activity not only helps children learn about the different elements of the forest but also helps them develop their concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills.

The cards are easy to use. Parents can easily print the cards, cut them out, and use them to play the matching game with their preschoolers. The activity can be made more interesting by incorporating fun facts and stories about each of the forest elements, making it a fun and educational experience for both parents and children.

This Free Forest Matching Cards Printable for Preschoolers is an excellent tool to encourage young children to connect with nature. It helps them develop their cognitive skills while fostering a love for the environment. Download the printable today and let your child embark on a fun and educational journey into the forest!

Here is what’s included:

labeled picture cards with forest elements (true-to-life images) x 24
corresponding shadow cards x 24
corresponding shadow cards x 24 (small images)

Use this resource with true-to-life images to create hands-on summer and fall activities for your students. This resource will come in handy if you are planning to explore the forest biome and trees in your Montessori and early childhood classroom.

Print on card stock and laminate for longer use. After cutting cards, write numbers on the flip side back of each pair – one number for each pair. Place the color cards in a row. Invite the child to match shadow cards to the corresponding color version. There are two types of shadow cards included. One set can be used with a magnifying glass to have an additional challenge to the activity.

After the child completed the task, invite him or her to flip the cards and self-check. The numbers of each pair have to match.

Young children can be encouraged to match the color cards when printed twice and draw the forest elements they observed or collected on their nature walk.

Older children might be inspired to research and create their own books about trees and plants that grow in your region.

This printable encourages students to use a magnifying glass. By adding a magnifying glass to the activity, kids can have a lot of fun while also boosting their observation and concentration skills. Here are some fun and easy ways to do matching activities with a magnifying glass:

Find the Hidden Objects: Create a tray with different objects, some of which are hidden amongst the others. Give kids a magnifying glass and challenge them to find the hidden objects. For added fun, you could time them and see who can find all the objects the fastest.

Spot the Difference: This activity involves two similar images, but there are differences between them. Using a magnifying glass, challenge kids to find the differences. This activity is not only fun, but it also helps kids develop attention to detail and visual discrimination skills.

Search and Match: Grab a few small objects and place them on a table or tray. Show kids a picture of the objects and then ask them to use the magnifying glass to find them among the other objects on the table/tray.

Word Search: Create a small word search puzzle with simple words and ask kids to find the words using a magnifying glass. This activity not only helps improve visual perception, but it also helps with reading and spelling skills.

Mystery Pictures: Create a picture with dots or shapes, and ask kids to use the magnifying glass to find the hidden picture. This is a great activity for improving visual perception and concentration skills.

Using a magnifying glass adds an element of fun and excitement to matching activities. These activities help to develop cognitive skills and improve visual perception in an engaging way. Try one or all of these activities and watch as kids improve their observation skills while having fun.

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