Break out these pumpkin shape mats to explore shape knowledge, fine motor skills, counting, and more. Add them to your list of preschool pumpkin activities to do with the children this fall.
You can grab a copy of the mats at the bottom of this post.
Related: Free Preschool Printables
I love using printables, rather than preschool worksheets, with young children.
Printables can be used in multiple ways, and they’re great combined with hands-on materials to explore early learning concepts.
And our pumpkin shape mats definitely fit the bill!
Pumpkin Shape Mats
As I mentioned above, you can use these printable pumpkin shapes a variety of ways.
Below I’ll share some of the ways we’ve played and learned with the mats. But don’t be afraid to try something completely different.
Materials
Here are the various items we’ve used in conjunction with the pumpkin shapes. You can, of course, use different items as you see fit.
I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
- Pumpkin shape mats (grab your own at the bottom of the post)
- Printer
- Laminator
- Dry erase pockets
- Mini erasers
- Pompoms
- Play dough
- Dry erase markers
The pumpkin shapes included with this free printable include – circle, heart, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, octagon, pentagon, and star.
How to Prep the Shape Mats
There’s not much to getting the pumpkin printables ready to go. Which I consider to be a perk!
First, print out the shapes you’d like to use with your students.
Next, decide how you want to protect the pumpkin shape sheets. Because, let’s be honest here, young children can be tough on paper.
So you can laminate the pumpkin shapes or place them inside dry erase pockets. It really just depends on your preference and the supplies you already have on-hand.
How to Use the Pumpkin Shape Mats
Once the mats are protected, it’s time to let the children play and explore.
The pumpkin shapes make great play dough mats. Simple grab some homemade or store-bought play dough to pair with the pages.
Related: Learning Shapes and Colors with Rainbow Rocks
We used orange and green play dough with the mats. The kids can use the play dough to cover the shapes on the mats or they can free-hand the shapes using the mats as a reference.
You can also use manipulatives with the mats! Mini erasers, pompoms, acrylic pumpkins, Unifix cubes, or any other manipulative you want to use.
Related: Easy Halloween Activities Using Mini Erasers
Let the kids practice their pincer grasp by tracing around the shape with the manipulatives. Or place some kid-sized tweezers out for the children to use instead.
The pumpkin shape mats work well with dry erase markers too. Kids can trace around the shapes or practice drawing the shapes on their own.
Related: Printable Bunny Shape Mats
If you want to encourage a scavenger hunt, why not use the pumpkin shapes as sorting mats? Challenge the kids to find other items to match each of the shapes.
Basically, there are a lot of ways to use these shape mats! I’ve only listed a few ideas for you.
How will YOU use the printable pumpkin shape mats with your students?
More Pumpkin Shape Activities
If your students are having a blast with the pumpkin shape mats, they might enjoy these additional pumpkin shape activities:
Pumpkin Shape Movement Game from Toddler Approved
Shape Puzzle Pumpkins from School Time Snippets
Pumpkin Shape Faces from The Stay-At-Home Mom Survival Guide
Pumpkin Shapes Sticky Wall from Happy Toddler Playtime
Done-For-You Preschool Resources
Take back your spare time by letting Preschool Teacher 101 do some of your planning for you.
With hundreds of done-for-you resources, that’s a lot of time! Sign up for the waiting list so you’re the first to hear when our membership is open.
Click on the photos below for more information about each resource:
Get the Free Printable Pumpkin Shape Mats
The shape mats are available to members of Fun-A-Day’s free email community. If you’re a member, simply enter your information below and get the download information sent to your email.
If you’re not a member, you can join by entering your information in the form below. You’ll get the printable as a welcome gift.
If you can’t see the above form, click this link to access the form.
Really like the pumpkin mats
Thank you! Let me know how it goes if you try the pumpkin shape mats out. 🙂