Printable Gardening Theme Circle Time Props

Last Updated on March 18, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Work on color and number recognition with these printable toddler and preschool gardening theme circle time props. This set includes colorful plain and numbered flowers for learning fun!

We’ve had fun using props all year long with our toddlers and preschoolers.

In fact, now they look for them as we gather on our circle-shaped carpet.

So whenever I plan a new theme, I make sure I have props that they can hold and that I can display in a variety of ways.

Bonus if the prop can also be used as a table activity during centers time!

(Because we teachers love to be able to use something in a variety of ways, right?)

These printable gardening themed circle time props are part of our activities for the next two weeks and I can’t wait to show the children!

Scroll down towards the bottom of this post to find the link to the free download.

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that I love using props during circle time.

And for good reason!

Way back when I was a new teacher, I struggled with getting my young students’ attention during circle time.

At one point I actually considered stopping circle times altogether.

It was painful planning my activities only to find that the children would lose interest quickly.

Two decades later and I still recall that feeling that I would never get it right.

Thankfully I eventually learned that having visuals during our circle time made a huge difference.

Especially if this includes something the children can hold.

(You can see our whole collection of props here.)

For our gardening theme I created some flower props that can work on color and number recognition.

And yes, these can also be glued to popsicle sticks so the children can hold their own props!

Printable Toddler and Preschool Gardening Theme Circle Time Props

This printable set comes with plain colored flowers and numbered flowers.

When working on simple color recognition, use the plain flowers.

Add counting and number recognition to your circle time by using the numbered flowers.

Ideas for the Plain Colored Flowers

Flower Sticks

What you will need:

Popsicle sticks or Jumbo Craft Sticks
Laminator
Scotch tape
Printable flower prop (scroll down to find the link)

I suggest either printing these on heavy paper or laminating them for extra durability.

Make enough copies so that you have one flower stick for each student and yourself.

After cutting out each flower (make sure you have enough for each child), tape them to the end of a popsicle stick.

Once the children are situated, hand them each a flower stick and we use them while singing flower songs and reading flower books.

Flannel Board or Cookie Sheet

Another way you can use these flower props is by displaying them either on a flannel board or a cookie sheet.

Flannel Board: Attach a piece of velcro on the back of each flower.

Cookie Sheet: Attach a magnetic strip on the back of each flower.

Who has the same color?

Turn this into a color matching activity!

Each of your students will be holding different colored flower sticks.

Show them the flowers you have displayed on the flannel board or the cookie sheet.

As you point to each flower, ask them what color it is.

Then, tell them that when you point to each flower, those who have the matching colored flower stick can hold it in the air.

For example, when you point to the red flower, the children holding the red flower stick will hold it up.

Do this for each flower

Extension:

These colored flowers can also be used as an independent activity at the table!

Make two copies of the colored flowers.
Keep one copy whole and cut around the flowers of the second copy.
Match the flowers by color.

Numbered Flowers

The numbered flowers are a great way to add some math to your circle time!

Stick Puppets

Assemble and use the numbered flower stick puppets the same as the plain colored flowers.

You can make a set for yourself and then enough extras so each child has their own stick to hold.

As you hold up each number, ask who has the same number stick?

Number Hunt

Another idea is to hide the numbered flowers and invite your students to go on a number hunt!

First, meet at your circle time area.

Tell your children that they will be going on a hunt to find flowers.

As they find each flower, have them tell you what number it is.

You can even have a second set of numbered flowers on the floor in the middle of the circle time area.

As the children find the hidden numbered flowers, they can bring them back to the circle, placing them on top of the matching numbered flower that is on the floor.