Inside: Make April preschool prep easy with this no-prep spring morning work binder. 10 hands-on activities for Easter, Earth Day & springโjust print, add to a binder, done
E ver feel like preschool prep requires a PhD in arts and crafts? If so, keep reading.
Spring is here, and that means itโs time to swap out the winter activities for something fresh, fun, andโmost importantlyโZERO PREP. Because letโs be real, sometimes you need some quick, hands-on activities when you don’t have time to cut out 100 little pieces. 🫠
This set of 10 hands-on printable activities is all about keeping your preschoolers engaged without the late-night date with the laminator.
Just print, pop them into a protective sleeve, and stick them in a 3-ring binder. Done.
Here’s why you’ll love them:
1️⃣ Increase Focus & Independence: After introducing each activity, kids can work on the interactive, self-guided tasks all on their own. Perfect for classroom centers, or for parents who need a break at home. (And the more kids practice solo tasks, the better they get at it.)
2️⃣ Low (to zero) Prep: I’ve designed these so there’s no cutting or laminating required. Slip them into a binder sleeve to make them reusable.
3️⃣ Hands-on & Play-Based: Just add manipulatives to make these activity mats interactive.
You now have a go-to set of open-ended learning activities that actually build critical thinking skills and alllllllll the foundations (letter recognition, number sense, counting). Plus, theyโre packed with spring themes like Easter, Earth Day, and all things blooming and bright.
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Table of Contents
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Recommended Materials
The key to making no-prep printables hands-on? Adding manipulatives.
I designed these activities so you can use the the same manipulatives again and again, and probably things you already have on hand. Here are my top recommended items to make the most out of this set of binder activities.
A basic 1″ binder for 8.5×11 paper with front/back/spine inserts so you can easily customize the covers
Slip activities in here, then add to the binder. Wipe any washable markers/dough off and reuse.
These are perfect for covering targets, but still being able to see what’s underneath. You can use these for 80% of the activities in the binder.
Use these for the shape sorting activity, or any shape sorting manipulatives you have on hand.
How To Use These Activities
These activities are aimed at ages 3-5 years old, and focus on building key foundational number & literacy skills, while targeting important cognitive skills too. By building focus, attention, problem-solving and working memory, kids will have an easier time focusing on longer lessons later.
TEACHERS
- Use these for center time or small group activities
- Add items to a binder or tub for math & literacy centers, or for independent morning work for a soft start
- Use these for early finishers
- Send them home as a homework packet
PARENTS
- Create an activity binder to have in your back pocket when you need an emergency 20 minutes to yourself
- Bring it to restaurants or when you’re on the go for an easy screen-free activity
- Set this up as a morning binder that’s ready for your kiddo when they wake, making mornings less chaotic
- Work on these activities together to build a connection, and start forming positive relationships around learning
Ready to see the activities? Let’s dive in.
1. Alphabet Matching Mats
Preschoolers find target uppercase and lowercase letters while building visual discrimination skills (a must-have for pre-reading). Find and cover the letters on the frog, shape letters out of play dough, match moveable letters and practice writing. 26 mats included for each letter of the alphabet.
2. Beginning Letters Game
Phonics, but make it Easter themed. Kids identify the letter sound of the object and cover the corresponding letter. Using adorable Easter visuals to keep them engaged. Cover with any manipulative (like these translucent chips or try moveable letters). 7 pages of beginning letter matching.
3. Number Bingo
A classic, but with a preschool twist. This game builds number sense, helps with quantity recognition, and reinforces number identificationโwithout feeling like work. Find 3 in a row of the same number to win. 10 bingo sheets covering numbers 1-10.
4. More & Less Counting Mats
Hands-on counting practice. Kids use Easter baskets to figure out 1 more and 1 less, helping them build number relationships in a way that sticks. 5 counting mats covering numbers 1-10.
5. Sort The Recycling Mats
A perfect Earth Day activity. Use the included poster to teach about sorting recycling and why recycling is important to our planet. Then kids use these mats to sort items into the right recycling bins, teaching environmental responsibility while strengthening categorization and problem-solving skills. 1 poster + 6 sorting mats included.
6. Raining Shapes Mats
This activity has kids identifying, sorting, and placing shapes in a fun, visual wayโboosting both recognition and spatial awareness. With a fun rainy April theme. 7 shape mats included for triangle, square, circle, rectangle, star, heart, pentagon.
7. Easter Riddle Mats
Picture-based riddles with an Easter theme. Kids use mapping and decoding skills to solve visual riddles, building problem-solving abilities without even realizing it. 4 riddles included.
8. What Comes Next? Pattern Prediction
A hands-on way to practice sequencing and logical thinking. Kids work with colorful Easter egg patterns to predict what comes next. 3 pattern prediction mats included.
9. Color Matching Mat
Simple, hands-on color practice that doesnโt involve a screen. Kids match colors while sharpening their visual discrimination skillsโbecause recognizing differences is an early reading skill, too. Use play dough or washable markers to connect the color to the shape. 1 color mat included.
10. Rainbow Play Dough or Color-by-Number Mat
A double-duty activity: kids build fine motor skills while reinforcing color recognition. Whether they use play dough or a washable marker, itโs engaging, creative, and mess-free. 1 color rainbow included.
Want to get your hands on these activities?
All of these activities are part of the April Learning Binder bundle. Grab them here:
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