This watermelon printable book is a fun and easy way to practice both early math AND literacy concepts with preschoolers. Be sure to add it to your own collection of printable books!
This free preschool printable is actually a set of watermelon printable books. Yes, there are three! One is color, one is black-and-white, and the third contains only text. This way, you can really make the most out of the watermelon emergent readers.
No matter which version you choose, your students will be able to work on a multitude of important skills. Number identification, counting, and one-to-one correspondence are just a few of the concepts to be explore with this simple reader.
Related: Free Preschool Printables
I love printable readers like this one, what about you? Obviously, they’re a great way to work on early reading skills in an engaging, fun way. Skills like how to handle a book, identifying parts of a book, left to right progression, words and letters, etc.
On top of that, homemade books and emergent readers can help teach other concepts to preschoolers. Math, science, social skills, and so much more can be touched on using simple printable books. This one happens to focus in on math, of course! Be sure to grab your own version at the bottom of this post.
Watermelon Printable Book
I’m not a big fan of preschool worksheets, but I love a multi-use printable like this one! You can use it in so many different ways. And it’s perfect paired with hands-on manipulatives! It’s definitely a great addition to your preschool watermelon theme, fruit theme, or summer theme.
How to Prep the Watermelon Counting Book
You don’t really need much to get the watermelon reader ready to go (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):
And that’s about it! Of course, you might want to add a few more items to your materials list. But they’re completely optional:
- Laminator
- Dry erase pockets
- Black buttons
- Black pompoms
- Dry erase markers
- Dry black beans
To assemble the book, first print the version you’d like to use with your students. Then fold the pages in half, with the print facing out. Arrange the pages in order, and then staple the book together on the left-hand side.
Here’s a quick video to show you how put it together:
Remember, you can grab your own copy of this book at the very bottom of this post.
How to Use the Color Version of the Book
You can assemble it into a book as directed above, of course. Then read the watermelon printable book to the children as a whole class or during small groups. This is a great way to introduce the book to the children.
Just read it, make some observations along the way, and ask the children to join you in counting and reading.
Once the watermelon book has been introduced, you can use it during small groups. This can be done with one copy of the watermelon book, or you can make enough copies for a small group of your students.
Read the book to the small group, and then break out the manipulatives! You might use small black pompoms or small black buttons as “watermelon seeds.” You and the children can read a page, and then the children can add the small black manipulatives on top of the watermelon seeds on that page.
Be sure to encourage the children to go back and count their watermelon seeds!
Related: Apple Counting Book
How to Use the Black-and-White Watermelon Printable Book
To make black-and-white readers, print and assemble via the directions above. (You can get a copy at the very bottom of this post.)
Then let the children color in the pages using crayons or markers before reading and counting.
If you’d like to incorporate different art materials, like watercolors, I suggest letting the children use those materials on the pages first. Then go back to fold and assemble the books.
How to Use the Blank Watermelon Reader
The blank version of the watermelon printable book is to fully allow the children artistic license.
Related: The Mitten Printable Emergent Reader
Your students can draw, color, or paint a watermelon on each of the pages. It just depends on your preference and what art supplies you might have on hand.
How fun would it be to create oil pastel watermelons and then paint over them with watercolors?!
Then have the children add watermelon seeds however you’d like.
- Perhaps they can cut small bits of black construction paper and glue those on each page.
- Maybe you want the children to add the seeds using their fingerprints.
- Or you might choose to keep the watermelons “seedless” so the children can use manipulatives to add the seeds during small group.
Alternative Uses for the Watermelon Printable Counting Book
Of course, you don’t just have to use the watermelon printable as a book! You can also make printable watermelon counting cards. First, get your own copy at the very bottom of this post.
Then just print out the pages, cut them in half, and laminate. You can use dry erase pockets instead if you’d prefer.
Related: Free Preschool Number Printables
If you’re using the black-and-white version to make counting cards, consider printing on colorful paper. These counting cards would be perfect paired with black manipulatives (like pompoms, buttons, or Unifix Cubes). And they would make great play dough mats!
The children can practice reading the words on each counting card, and then they can place the manipulatives (or play dough!) over the watermelon seeds. Again, encourage the children to go back, touch, and count their watermelon seeds.
Related: Summer Literacy Activities for Preschoolers
You can also use the printable as cards to hang up in your math center during a watermelon theme or over the summer (or just because). Then let the children use small pointers to point and read the words (and of course count the watermelon seeds).
More Watermelon Activities
If your students loved the watermelon printable book, I have a few more watermelon-themed ideas you should check out:
- Watermelon Geoboard
- Pom Pom Painted Watermelon
- Summer Calendar Numbers (there’s a watermelon set!)
- Watermelon ABC Matching Game
- Watermelon Cover Up Game
Preschool Watermelon Printable Lesson Plans
If you love a good watermelon theme, be sure to check out Preschool Teacher 101’s done-for-you watermelon lesson plans. The lesson plans have the theme all mapped out for you. They come with weekly and daily lesson plans, a suggested book list, center ideas, and coordinating printables! Click on the image below to check them out:
You can also find us on Teachers Pay Teachers. And be sure to check out The Pack from Preschool Teacher 101, a membership for teachers like you! It’s built to save you TONS of planning time (with hundreds of done-for-you resources).
Get Your Free Watermelon Printable Counting Book
If you’re a member of Fun-A-Day’s free email community, you probably grabbed this printable months ago. I love sharing freebies with my email readers – often way before I have the chance to share the printables here on Fun-A-Day.
If you didn’t grab it yet, enter your email in the form below. Then you’ll get the watermelon book sent to your email. You won’t be subscribed to the email list twice, I promise.
If you’re not part of the free email community, we’d love to have you! Enter your information in the form below. You’ll join and receive the watermelon book in your email as a thank you.
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Check out my Making Books with Preschoolers Pinterest board for more ideas.
Originally published August 2019.
Thank you
You’re so welcome!
Really like the variety of suggestions you have for using booklet. Thanks many times over.
Thanks for your continued kind words, Kathy! They mean a lot to me. We’ve enjoyed using the watermelon book over the years!
It is extremely difficult to print these books.
Sorry to hear you’re running into some trouble, Jessica. If you could elaborate on what, exactly, the issue is I could offer some help. I also have a Printing Troubleshooting page here that covers most problems. The biggest issue people run into is not using the most up-to-date version of Adobe Reader to open the file for printing.