One of my favorite things to do while at the beach is to watch the crabs scurry from hole to hole in the sand. It is like they are dancing as they try to make sure it is safe to move out of their protective hole. Crabs are interesting animals, and if your preschoolers are anything like the little kids at the beach, they love to try to catch crabs! Beach themed activities are a great way to incorporate learning into the summer months. The theme has endless learning ideas and activities, and are always enjoyed by the younger learning group. Our crab pre-writing cards for preschool were designed with for younger and older preschoolers to encourage pre-writing practice and help strengthen those fine motor muscles!
Crab Pre-Writing Cards for Preschool
This free printable set of crab pre-writing cards are perfect for tracing. Each card has a crab on the left and a sandcastle on the right. There are different dotted line tracing paths in the middle.
Prepping this pre-writing preschool center takes no time! Simply print the number tracing cards from the pink button below.
Cut the seashell pre-writing number tracing cards apart on the black lines, or leave the whole page intact and use it like that. Laminate the cards individually after cutting them. You can also use the plastic page protectors to slide the page or cards into. This keeps the cards intact when using with dry erase markers.
Place the crab pre-writing cards in a small basket or on a tray in a pile. Add mini buttons or dry erase markers to the tray.
I am a huge fan of practicing writing without a pencil and paper. Teaching preschoolers and allowing them to see and practice everything that comes along with writing before being bombarded with kindergarten skills, which sometimes lack the developmental appropriateness of 5 year-olds, is so important.
Preschoolers can start to see that letters in words and words in a book move across the page from left to write. Letters are formed from top to bottom and left to right. And there is a definite beginning and ending when reading and writing a word, sentence, or paragraph. Some of these skills are just too big for 3 and 4 year-olds to grasp.
This is why printable activities like our crab pre-writing cards encourage skills needed for later and are engaging for young learners!
The goal of the crab pre-writing cards is to help the crab move down the tracing lines to get to the sandcastle.
Dry erase markers may be your first thought when putting this literacy center together, but feel free to adapt it to best fit your current preschooler at home or in your classroom. I am a fan of adding super small manipulatives (just be sure to add small items in a safe way for your younger preschoolers who may still put things into their mouths), and having them build the buttons, beads, etc. across the tracing line too.
For my higher learners and motivated workers, I will add a die to the center. Use dice with dots or with the numeral printed on the sides. Roll the die, identify the number, and add that many buttons to the crab pre-writing tracing cards. This a great way to combine math and literacy skills into one activity!
There is also a set of crab pre-writing cards with no tracing lines. This set can easily be used to practice name writing, letter writing, shape drawing, and number writing. This is a great way to add open-ended, get ready for kindergarten skills to a simple activity!
If you have your preschoolers use dry erase markers, don’t forget the a good eraser. Pieces of a towel or washcloth cut up, or an old sock work well! I also try to only use black dry erase markers on laminated learning center cards. Sometimes the fun colors take a ton of elbow grease to get the marker off the lamination!
Loving the ocean theme?
Check out the ocean emergent reader, crab letter match, and seashell number cards to add to your beach or ocean theme!
Grab your copy of the crab pre-writing cards now.
