This watermelon printable emergent reader is a fun and easy way to explore early math AND literacy concepts.
I love using printable books with young children! 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.
You can grab your own version at the bottom of this post.
Related: Explore Hands-On Math with a Watermelon Geoboard
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Watermelon Printable Emergent Reader
This printable watermelon book helps children practice counting and one-to-one correspondence. And you can use this printable in a few different ways.
It’s a great addition to your preschool watermelon theme, fruit theme, or summer theme.
How to Prep the Watermelon Counting Book
You’ll need a printer and a stapler to get the watermelon printable reader ready. That’s about it!
Print the version you’d like to use with your students. 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 version of this book at the very bottom of this post.
How to Use the Color Version
You can assemble it into a book as directed above, of course. Then read the 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: Free Printable Apple Counting Book
How to Use the Black-and-White Version
To make black-and-white printable watermelon 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 Version
The blank version of the watermelon printable book is to fully allow the children artistic license.
Related: The Mitten Printable Emergent Reader
Your students could 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 the children could 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.
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 she can place the manipulatives (or play dough!) over the watermelon seeds. Again, encourage the children to go back, touch, and count their watermelon seeds.
You could 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).
Preschool Watermelon Printable Lesson Plans
If you love a good watermelon theme, and really who doesn’t?!, be sure to check out Preschool Teacher 101’s done-for-you watermelon lesson plans.
The lesson plans have the theme all planned out for you. They come with weekly and daily lesson plans, a suggested book list, center ideas, and coordinating printables!
Get the watermelon lesson plans here
You can also find them on Teachers Pay Teachers
If you’re looking for more watermelon printable math activities, we also have ready-to-go watermelon number sense activities!
These activities are watermelon-themed and made to use whole group, during small groups, or one-on-one with students.
Grab the watermelon number sense pack here
You can also find it on Teachers Pay Teachers
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.
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Check out my Making Books with Preschoolers Pinterest board for more ideas.
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