Back-to-school is already upon us, and if you’re looking for a quick and fun activity for the first few days of school with your preschoolers, I’ve got you covered with this back-to-school printable. It’s pencil dominoes and you can download your FREE copy at the end of this post!
Printable Dominos Game for Back-to-School
The first day of preschool is s fun, right! (Well, maybe not always). There are always some tears, from kids and from parents, too, and maybe by the end of the day, you’re hiding in the supply closet on the verge of a few tears.
I hope that’s not the case. Any of it, except the fun part.
One thing I like to do on the first day of school is just some fun activities that are low pressure. That helps the children feel comfortable. That helps them feel welcome. That helps them gain trust in you. That helps them want to come back the next day with a few fewer tears than before.
This is one of those activities.
Pencil Dominoes Back-to-School Printable
Dominos.
Kids love a good game of dominoes. They enjoy making matches, and as my daughter would say, “making pretty pictures with turning the cards so you make a design”.
As a teacher, I love dominoes because you can adapt the game to just about any level. My older preschoolers love the game, and so do toddlers. (I’ve actually added them to the quiet bins I made).
And they are an excellent addition to any math or STEAM content!
I designed these cards to be larger than your average set of dominoes, making them easier for little hands to hold, kinda like these no-sew quiet book pages. The game takes up a bit of space this way, so we play on the floor, which adds another fun element. (Ever done a floor puzzle with your kiddo?)
Just print in color on heavy card stock, laminate (this one is my favorite), and cut. (I like to use this paper cutter because it’s much safer with kiddies around).
Now, you’re ready to go!
The object of the game is to match the colors of the pencils. The blank ends we play as wilds, which helps the children who don’t have any cards that match.
For complete instructions on how to play dominos, click this link!
Preschoolers love the colorful cards and the pencil design is perfect for the first few days of school. As an added bonus, I gift each of my preschoolers with a special pencil they get to take home. This helps them feel excited to come back to school the next day, which means fewer tears when they say goodbye!
Get your FREE Pencil Dominoes Printable
Think this is something your preschoolers would enjoy? You can download your FREE back-to-school printable by clicking the giant red button below!
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I’m Sarah, an educator turned stay-at-home-mama of five! I’m the owner and creator of Stay At Home Educator, a website about intentional teaching and purposeful learning in the early childhood years. I’ve taught a range of levels, from preschool to college and a little bit of everything in between. Right now my focus is teaching my children and running a preschool from my home. Credentials include: Bachelors in Art, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
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