Printable Car Props for the Transportation Circle Time

Last Updated on July 14, 2022 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: Get your toddlers and preschoolers engaged during the transportation circle time with these free car props. A fun way to work on color and number recognition, too!

The transportation theme is always a hit with our toddlers and preschoolers.

In my 22+ years of teaching, all of my students have enjoyed learning about different vehicles in a variety of ways.

In fact, I highlight them in my largest collections of transportation activities.

While we always have an assortment of vehicles available in our block center, we’ve also added them to our art table while driving them through paint, and in our sensory bin while learning about construction.

Today, I’m sharing how to add transportation activities to your circle time with free printable car props.

You can also take these same printables and use them as a table activity during centers time!

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

Printable Car Props for the Transportation Circle Time

Circle time can be tough with toddlers and young preschoolers.

If you teach this age group, you probably know what I’m talking about.

I am constantly asked how to keep these young children (that seem to have an abundance of energy!) engaged.

Props.

If you’ve been following me here or on my YouTube channel, you’ve heard me mention this word so many times.

And for good reason!

Whenever I have props at my circle times – whether it be puppets, flannel board sets, magnetic board pieces, or even stuffed animals – I’ve found the children to be much more attentive.

Car Stick Puppets for Circle Time

One of my favorite ways of using props is attaching them to jumbo craft sticks.

They are easy to hold and you can make extras for the children, too.

Over the years I’ve discovered that if the children can hold a prop during circle time, they feel more connected.

What you will need:

Popsicle sticks or Jumbo Craft Sticks
Laminator
Scotch tape
Printable color car props (scroll down to find the link)

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

Preparation:

Cut out the desired amount of cars.

Gather your popsicle or jumbo craft sticks. After cutting them out, tape them to the top of a popsicle stick.

I like to make enough car sticks so that not only do I have a full set, but that each of the children get one car stick to hold during circle time.

I like to vary the colors I give the children so that when we do any color recognition activities, we can note who has a red car, who has a blue car, etc.

Songs

Invite the children to hold their car sticks while you sing favorite car songs.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

Books

Before reading a favorite car book, invite the children to hold up their car sticks.

Every time the children see a car in the book, they can hold up their car sticks.

Here are a couple of favorites:

Color Recognition

As you hold up one of the car sticks, ask the children what color it is.

Who else has a car that color? Invite the children with the matching colored cars to hold them up high.

Do this for each color.

Numbered Car Props

Included in this packet for the transportation circle time are numbered cars.

We love to use circle time to build counting skills, especially when they are combined with counting books and songs.

Numbered Car Prop Sticks

What you will need:

Popsicle sticks or Jumbo Craft Sticks
Laminator
Scotch tape
Printable numbered car props (scroll down to find the link)

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

You can use all ten of the cars or less, depending on the age of your children and/or the books and songs you will be using.

Before reading and singing, hold up the numbered cars and invite your children to help count them.

Here are some song suggestions:

Car Number Matching Circle Time Activity

For this activity, have a complete set of numbered cars and also make extra so that each child can hold one. Vary the numbers that the children are holding.

As you hold up a numbered car, ask who also has that same number?

Do this until all the numbers are recognized.

Related: 20+ Counting Activities

Match the Numbers on the Cars – Table Activity

Once you’ve used the number cars at circle time, create a similar activity for centers time!

Make two sets of the numbered cars.

Keep one set whole and cut the cars from the second set. (I suggest either printing these on heavy paper or laminating them for extra durability.)

Invite your children to match the cars, placing the separate cars on top of the matching cars on the page.