We’re finally back into schoolwork, and what better way to start than with our Back to School Preschool Centers & Morning Tubs! If you’re looking for hands-on activities to build fine motor skills, early literacy, and number sense, keep reading for a peek at what’s included in this printable set.
What’s Inside the Back to School Preschool Centers
This 160-page resource includes 9 low-prep printable activities. They are designed to help preschoolers develop early academic and motor skills through meaningful play.
Fine Motor & Pre-Writing
We began with a simple line tracing activity. Honestly, it was a little tricky at first! Filip struggled to make a straight line down; his hand kept resting on the table, which made for some funky zig-zags. But once he lifted his hand, his final line was spot on. It was such a great reminder that these foundational skills need practice and encouragement.
Next, we used our Pre-Writing Cards to trace curved lines from left to right. Filip loved helping the lost Nursery Rhyme characters find their way back to their storybooks!
Alphabet Activities for Early Literacy
We moved on to the Paint Palette Alphabet Match, a great way to practice letter recognition and matching upper and lowercase letters.
Since Filip’s name starts with F, we pulled out the letter F tracing mat too. These are some of my favorite pages from the set: the directional arrows are inside the letters, making it easy for young learners to see exactly where to start each stroke.
Number Recognition and Counting
Then came number fun! Filip matched crayons to the correct number box in our Crayon Number Sorting Activity, perfect for visual discrimination and numeral matching.
We also used our Number Tracing Mats, practicing writing the number 5 and showing it on a ten frame with dice.
Sorting by Color and Shape
We sorted colorful object cards into the correct jars. You can also use real items from home or your classroom!
Later, we moved on to shape sorting. Filip matched square and circle images to the right mats. Simple, visual, and just the right level of challenge.
One Last Fine Motor Boost
We wrapped up with a fun fine motor activity. Filip used blue gems to fill in each circle on the Fine Motor Mats, but really, you can use anything small—pom-poms, beads, mini erasers. It’s a quiet, calming activity that’s perfect for morning work.
Final Thoughts on the Back to School Preschool Centers
That’s a peek at what’s inside our Back to School Preschool Centers. I’ll admit—there’s a bit of prep involved (hello, laminator!), but once they’re ready, these activities are reusable and so engaging for little learners.
Purchase the Back to School Preschool Centers
Click on the links below to purchase the complete 160-page Back to School Preschool Centers | Morning Tubs.
You might also like…
See you soon with more from our Preschool Letter of the Week series!
Happy Teaching 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing some of your AWESOME unit!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much! I love everything you create and so do my kids.
It all looks awesome, as usual!!! Thanks for the preview freebies!
Sara
Teaching Munchkins
Hi. I love the crayon box numbers activity. Would you be willing to sell those on their own? Thank you so much! I simply love your materials!
I am also wondering if you have the Creation materials for days 5-7? Thank you! God Bless!
Hi Meaghan,
Thank you so much for stopping by 🙂 The crayon box is only available as part of this unit. My intention is to to have Day 5 of Creation up on the blog by the weekend or Monday.
Lavinia
I also would love that activity as a solo buy as well if you ever thought about it…
I haven’t seen such a perfect Back to School centers before! It is on my wishlist 🙂 Thank you for the prewiew freebies.
Thank you for your kind words, Andrea 🙂
I love the color palates with the letters! Those are awesome! When will you be coming out with other letters of the alphabet?
Alisha,
The complete alphabet is available for purchase here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Preschool-Centers-2071761
THANK YOU so much for sharing!=) I have a 3 & 2 yo that I’m homeschooling this year & these activities look so much fun.
I would love to have all of the letters of the alphabet in the letter sorting activity.
Kathy,
To access all the letters, you will need to purchase the unit. I’m so sorry, but it’s not available as a separate unit.
Love this unit for my little girls! I am wondering how you store the pieces? I am an organization junkie and would love to know!
Ashli,
I store all the flat resources (plain paper ones that have been laminated) in expandable plastic pockets. The bulky resources (the activities with pegs), are stored in shoe boxes or plastic file boxes. I hope that helps 🙂
I just love these ideas for learning. I’m hoping that they help with my son. He has asheberghers Syndrome. If you have some ideas I am open to them. He is in preschool preparing him for kindergarten next year.
when my brain has gone still, you save the day with awesome materials!!! amazing as usual!
Where can I get all of the alphabet color palettes?
Sarah, they are available here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Preschool-Centers-2071761
These are GREAT! Thanks for sharing. Does it come in a black and white version? I like to color and am cheap. Lol.
Hi Emily,
I don’t have a black and white version of the centers, only some worksheet style activities which can be found here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Preschool-No-Prep-Worksheets-Activities-2042866
Oh my goodness! This is absolutely amazing. I’m so impressed and love it so much. It will work great with in my special education classroom. Thank you for allowing it to be a free download =) so convenient.
loved it thank you so much for sharing
Thanks for all of your ideas. I love the color jars for sorting. Do you have the other colors available? Thanks again.
You have saved me hours! Thank you 🙂
These are awesome thanks for sharing.
Thank you very much. Fantastic for my Spanish 2 year olds to catagorise colours
Awesome! Will the letter and tracing mats be sold together as a bundle or separately? My special needs some still needs work with writing and You are the only one that has what I’ve been looking for to help him master the formation of writing his numbers and letters correctly.
Hello! I’m so glad that you were able to find what you were looking for! I will not be selling these separately, just included in this back to school unit.
Lavinia
Do you have more possibly for the color jars than just the four colors?
Hi Holly,
The activities in this post are just a sample of what included in the unit. To purchase the unit, which includes all the basic colours, please follow this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Preschool-Centers-2071761
I love your theme!! That’s our theme his year (“art” ) and I love your paint pallete!!! How can I purchase it?
Thank you.
Hi! I just love this color sorting. Is there any way just to get that printable I don’t want all the other right now???
How do I get some of these items? I do not see where to order or download. Thank you!
Hi dear! you are so good to everyone, I love your art, you’re so kind and sweet, thank you very much!
very good thank you so much
– from south korea
Love your web page
thx for sharing!!
I love the color sorting jars. do you have more colors? Do I need to purchase? How?
Thanks!!
I saw this, wanted it, had to have it and now it’s MINE MINE MINE! Thanks for sharing, my kiddos will love it.
Hello! I’d like to have number tracing 0-10.
Hello I’d like to
placing the crayons under each corresponding number packet the all numbers please. Thank you
AWESOME！！ My Child Love it!! Thankyou!
Oh my God, your page is so cool, and the activities are so USEFUL!!! I got quite a few for tomorrow’s class! My students are gonna love the crayon numbers one
REALLY HEPFULL , Thank you so much 🙂
Can I please get the full alphabet for the alphabet sort. I would love it for my classroom
Can I please get the rest of the alphabet for the painters palate
Hi Rebecca,
You can find it here: https://kinder-resources.com/product/alphabet-match-activity-paint-palette/
– Lavinia