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You are here: > Early Childhood Education |
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Early Childhood Activities
This section features inquiry-oriented early childhood education resources. Hands-on science and nature activities such as these are perfect for after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, preschool teachers, camp leaders, extended day care providers,and parents seeking to enrich a young child's learning environment. Included are learning blocks, growth charts, educational DVD's, science and nature curricula, outdoor education guides and literally hundreds of other hands-on resources for enhancing learning at an early age.
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Science and Nature Games for Young Children
This section features engaging early childhood science and nature games for preschool and kindergarten teachers,extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Art and Nature Activities
Art activities form the perfect platform for introducing science and nature to students of all ages. Included in this section are hundreds of resources, including art activity guides, fish printing supplies and replicas, sketching kits and references, leaf printing activities, sunprint kits, tools for preserving leaves and flowers, paper making kits and books, waterproof papers and field notebooks, American Indian crafts, rubbing plates, magnets, animal rubber stamps and more.
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Alphabet and Number Wall Cards
Wall cards have been used by parents and teachers for decades to introduce young children to the alphabet and numbers in a fun and friendly way. With all the technical wizardry out there, it is nice to know that this simple yet effective method of learning numbers and letters is still available, with four selections to choose from. Each heavy duty laminated card measures 8" x 10".
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Memory Games
These simple, fun games are designed to help children ages 3-7 build memory and retention. Easy to handle 3" hard cardboard tiles feature animals children know and love. Each set contains 10 matching pairs.
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Wooden Memory Tiles.
Classic matching game with 12 pairs of pictures (24 tiles) made from durable, attractive 2-1/2" square varnished hardwood. Includes complete instructions. 100% made in Vermont for young children ages 3-8.
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Children's Bingo Games
These colorful games for young children contain 42 illustrated bingo cards with information about each picture on the back of the card. Includes six playing boards and plenty of bingo chips. Perfect for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Puzzles and Stacking Blocks
This section features challenging puzzles and stacking blocks that are perfect for enhancing early childhood education programs. These puzzles emphasize science and nature learning while teaching matching and pattern recognition skills to young children. Perfect for early childhood education including extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Science and Nature Music for Young Children
Over the years, Acorn Naturalists has distributed the music of recording artists who specialize in music that relates to science, nature and the environment. These songs create fun learning environments in extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start science and nature education programs, for preschool and kindergarten teachers, as well as camp leaders, daycare providers and parents. Included are science and nature songs, environmental music and outdoor education and camp songs from many musicians, including Billy B Brennan, The Banana Slugs, JP Taylor, Stan Slaughter, Bunjee Jumping Cows, Chris Rowlands, David Stokes, Ken Lonquist, Jon Sherman, Lucas Miller, Michael Caduto, Steve Schuch, Strollin' Jeff Wollin and more. We now also offer a selection of live music clips on our website to help you select the music you are looking for. To listen, simply click on the Science and Nature Sounds and Songs button found near the bottom of each page, or click here.
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Children's Literature Books
In this section you will find a vast array of award-winning, nature-oriented books for young children.
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Animal Book Series for Young Children
A number of exemplary book series for early childhood science and nature education are offered in this section. Includes many informative, engaging and beautifully illustrated books for young explorers.
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Puppets for Storytelling with Young Children
Puppets are wonderful resources for early childhood educators interested in introducing young children to food chain concepts, basic anatomy, animal behavior, biodiversity, and life cycles. In addition, for teachers, interpreters and naturalists, puppets make excellent models for introducing behavioral traits and adaptations found in wild animals. Young children naturally gravitate toward puppets and begin role playing as soon as they pick them up, making them an excellent enrichment tool for discussions, presentations and, of course, for storytelling.
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Life Cycles - Activities and Models
This section contains a wealth of resources for teaching children about plant and animal life cycles. Included are readers, references, activity books and models, all designed to enhance early childhood learning about life cycles.
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Animal Models and Replicas
Young children learn through tactile experiences as well as through visual and audio means. This section contains a selection of hands-on models for enhancing early childhood learning experiences. Perfect for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Center for Gifted Education Resources
The Center for Gifted Education at The College of William and Mary was established in 1988 to provide services to educators, policy makers, graduate students, researchers, parents, and students in support of the needs of gifted and talented individuals. Their science and nature publications are found in this section.
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Flip-4-Science Kits
Involve your students in inquiry-based, hands-on experiments with Learning Resources Flip-4-Science kits. Includes a comprehensive Teacher’s Guide providing step-by-step support and blackline masters. Aligned with National Science Education Standards, these kits include a stand-up, double-sided, full color Activity Flip Book, 72-page Teaching Guide, including lesson plans and student recording sheets, five Science Journals and manipulatives for each activity. Engaging, hands-on inquiry learning for ages 5-7.
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Little Labs Science Kits
Little Labs Science Kits are ideal for introducing children to the world of science and nature and offer perfect extensions of the Stepping into Science Kit. Each contains a 16-page booklet with information and experiments involving plants, animals, weather, color, or navigation (compass use). These introductory science and nature education kits are perfect for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start science education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Scientific Explorer Kits
These kits were developed to provide teachers and parents with fun activities based on the Lawrence Hall of Science Great Explorations in Math and Science series. Each kit comes complete with easy to follow instructions and materials. Perfect hands-on kits for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Instructional Play Balls for Young Children
These 24" Clever Catch® inflatable balls add a new dimension to learning fun! Toss around the classroom, playground, nature center, or home. Wherever your left thumb lands, that is the question that is to be answered. Perfect icebreakers that get young children in a learning mood! Answer key and instructions are included. These play balls are perfect for extended care and after school programs, Early Head Start and Head Start science education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Rubbing Plate Kits for Early Childhood Learning
Rubbing plate kits offer a creative way for young children to learn about nature while having fun. Rubbing plates offer the perfect enrichment hands-on activity for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents. Many different sets of rubbing plates are now available. For example, using the animal tracks set, children can create track patterns; skeleton rubbings can be used to teach anatomy; dinosaur, fossil and botanical prints can be used for both educational and artistic displays. Each kit comes with directions and ideas for expanding this unique art form into a variety of projects and lessons. An ideal way to combine art, science and nature study for young children ages 5-9. Rubbing plates are made of durable yet flexible plastic and range in size from 4 x 5 inches to 4 x 8 inches.
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Rubber Stamp Kits and Ink Pads
Complete rubber stamp kits, including animal tracks, insects and nature images, and colorful, non-toxic ink pads.
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Nature Coloring Books
Acorn Naturalists offers a selection of high quality coloring books that offer a chance for young children to combine art and nature study. Students create their own personal field guides to nature. These coloring books are ideal for enriching extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Alphabet and Counting Books for Ages 3-8
Intriguing, beautifully illustrated series for young children. Filled with fascinating stories and tales about a vast array of creatures and their habitats. These alphabet and counting books are perfect for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Introduction to Trees Series for Ages 3-5
This early childhood education series offers a perfect introduction to trees for young children ages 3-5. These books feature simple captions that discuss common trees that parents and teachers can often find growing right outside their door: maples, oaks, palms and pines. Includes glossary, notes to teachers and internet links.
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Garden Flags - Handmade Block Prints
Inspired by traditional prayer flags, these feature hand-carved block prints and are a welcome addition to any outdoor environment. Designed and printed one at a time by a West Coast artist, they are printed on cotton using fade-proof inks. Individual flags are 5" x 7"; strings are approximately five feet long. Note: The inks used for these flags are non-toxic, but initially the flags may have an ink odor which dissipates within days when hung outdoors.
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Leaf Replicas for Leafprint Art
Actual imprints of leaves that have been cast in flexible vinyl for use in creative art projects or as an aid in plant identification. Press with different colors of stamp pads or roll on different colors of block inks to make leaf prints using a brayer. These leaf replicas range from 5" - 9” in length. Leaf replica art is perfect for enriching extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start nature education programs, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Fish Replicas and Kits for Fish Printing (Gyotaku)
Fish printing, or Gyotaku, incorporates science (fish diversity, anatomy, ecology), art (create colorful paintings, note cards, displays), math (measure and count fins, proportions, count fin rays), reading (use with stories about aquatic environments) and creative writing (write fact or fiction about the fish prints). All ages and abilities can enjoy creating beautiful, unique, artistic prints. We now offer 24 different fresh and saltwater varieties.
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Gardening - Activities, Games and Equipment
This section contains an array of activity books and games that celebrate the joy of gardening (as well as the social growth and learning that can take place in school gardens). Gardening activities offer fun, engaging outside learning for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Sunprint Kits (Photosensitive Paper)
Sunprint art utilizes sun-sensitive paper that can be developed using plain tap water. Natural objects such as ferns, feathers, flowers or leaves are placed under a transparent cover (provided) and exposed to the sun for from 1-5 minutes. With adult supervision, young children can create a wide array of beautiful patterns for use in making cards or art collages. Wonderful hands-on art activity for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Insects and Other Arthropods Series for Ages 5-7
Young children are universally fascinated by the creatures, mostly insects, that they find in yards, parks and playgrounds. This series introduces children ages 5-7 to the diversity found in insects and other arthropods. Large color photographs and simple text explore appearance, behavior and ecology of each group. Includes diagrams, word lists and notes for parents and teachers. This series is perfect for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Insect Replicas
Selection of insect lifecycle replicas plus individual replicas (monarch, swallowtail, and morpho butterflies plus dragonfly, fire ant, bee, red ladybug and praying mantid). These accurate, durable, hand-painted, models are perfect for classroom learning centers. Replicas comply with toy safety standards.
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Spider and Scorpion Replicas
Selection of three common arachnids; the black widow spider, orange-kneed tarantula, and scorpion. These durable, hand-painted semi-hard plastic models are perfect for classroom learning centers. All replicas are pthalate-free and toy safety standards.
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Starting Life Series for Ages 5-8
Beautiful photographs complement this fresh approach to teaching young children about animal and plant life cycles. These award-winning, bright, bold picture books take young readers through each stage, from beginning stages to maturity. Creative die-cut pages get longer as the animal (or tree) grows. An engaging series for enriching science education at extended care and after school programs, in Head Start and Early Head Start programs, or for preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Patterns in Nature Series for Ages 4-7
Young children are naturally curious about the world around them—this series introduces the fascinating patterns and sense of order found in the natural world. From day and night to hibernation, moon phases and seasons of the year, these books give young readers ages 4-7 insight into worlds that are, at once, both predictable and full of surprises. This series is ideal for enriching extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Water - Early Childhood Series for Ages 6-7
This series introduces young children in grades K-1 to water as it appears in various states. Each book in the series includes beautiful photographs, captions, extended glossary definitions, and notes to teachers and parents along with internet links. These basic, introductory guides capitalize on children’s natural curiosity about and affinity for water.
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Oceans - Early Childhood Series for Ages 6-7
This series introduces young children in grades 1-2 (ages 6-7) to the diversity found in the oceans of the world. Each of the five booklets features photographs, large word captions, extended glossary definitions, and notes to teachers and parents as well as internet links. These basic guides capitalize on young children’s natural curiosity about and affinity for ocean environments and begin the process of explaining how important oceans are in their daily lives.
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Marine Invertebrate Replicas
Selection of marine invertebrates that are accurate and durable. These hand-painted, semi-hard plastic models will last for years and are are pthalate free and comply with toy standards).
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Marine Mammal Replica Collection
Selection of marine mammals and their young. These accurate, durable, hand-painted plastic models will last for years. All are phthalate-free and comply with toy safety standards.
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Living in a Biome Series for Ages 5-6
This series introduces young children in grades K-1 to the concept of animal adaptation in places as diverse as deserts, oceans, rainforests and polar regions. Children explore the diversity of global habitats and read about the animals that call these places home. Each of the eight books in the series has a glossary, a read more section, global maps, notes to parents and teachers and internet links. Ideal for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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Living in a Biome Series for Ages 6-7
This series introduces young children in grades K-1 to the concept of animal adaptation in places as diverse as deserts, oceans, rainforests and polar regions. Children explore the diversity of global habitats and read about the animals that call these places home. Each of the eight books in the series has a glossary, a read more section, global maps, notes to parents and teachers and internet links. This series is appropriate for extended care and after school programs, Head Start and Early Head Start science education, preschool and kindergarten teachers, camp leaders, daycare providers and parents.
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One Small Square Series for Ages 6-10
This interactive, popular book series effectively teaches children how to observe nature closely at the same time as teaching basic scientific methods. Each has beautiful illustrations to accompany an informative text. Along with habitat descriptions, these books feature suggested activities to extend studies from the classroom out into the field. Ages 6-10.
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Seasons - Early Childhood Series for Ages 6-7
This series introduces children in grades K-1 (ages 6-7) to the four seasons. Explores how changes in weather affect plants and animals, including humans who also respond to seasonal changes. Each book in the series includes beautiful photographs, extended glossary definitions, and notes to teachers and parents along with internet links. These books capitalize on children’s natural interest in the seasons.
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Weather - Early Childhood Series for Ages 6-7
This series teaches young children in grades K-1 (ages 6-7) about weather through the use of expository language and beautiful photographs. Each book in this series includes word lists, notes to teachers and parents, and useful internet links. These books capitalize on children’s natural curiosity about weather-related phenomena.
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Astronomy - Early Childhood Series for Ages 6-9
This Galaxy Series offers a perfect introduction to the night sky for children ages 6-9. Young readers explore asteroids, comets, meteors, meteorites and the Milky Way in this fun series. Books feature fun facts, activities, beautiful photographs and diagrams.
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Exploring the Earth Series for Ages 6-9
Explore the elements of the natural world, from plate tectonics beneath the surface of Earth to the rocks, soil, minerals and fossils we find on top. Well-organized text complements bold, colorful photographs to help readers learn and understand more about Earth and its continually changing features. Perfect introduction to earth science for young children, ages 6-9.
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