I can’t believe that it’s already time to send my children back-to-school. I’m a little nervous this year because my little one is starting school for the first time. I may be worried, but he is so excited. He asks me every day when it’s time to go to school. I thought that it would be fun to create a “Countdown to Preschool” Back to School Craft so he could tear a link off every day and get ready for the school year to begin.

How To Make The Back to School Craft:

Supplies:

• Card Stock (yellow, brown, black, and pink)
• Aluminum Foil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Construction Paper (in a variety of colors)
• Stapler
• Marker

RELATED: Preschool Supplies for Back to School

Back to School Craft Directions:

To begin this activity, your child will cut a large rectangle out of the yellow card stock. You can use construction paper instead of card stock but the card stock is stronger and won’t tear.

Next, he or she will cut a large triangle out of the brown card stock and a small triangle out of the black card stock. Your child will then cut a small rectangle out of both the pink card stock and aluminum foil.

To assemble the pencil, he or she will glue the brown triangle onto the yellow rectangle and the black triangle onto the brown one for the lead.

Then, your children will glue the foil and pink rectangles on the other end of the yellow rectangle for the eraser.

If your child has a difficult time cutting the shapes, you can cut them and have your child glue them together. You can also help your child cut by providing hand-over-hand support.

After your child has created the pencil, cut a slit in the yellow rectangle.

Next, you and your child can count the number of days till school starts. This is a great time to teach your child about using a calendar too.

After calculating the number of days left of summer, cut that number of long, thin strips out of the construction paper.

Then, slide one of the strips through the slit in the pencil and staple the ends together. Loop the next strip through the link and staple the ends together. Continue to link all of the strips of paper together until the links are connected and the paper chain is complete.

RELATED: Don’t Worry, Parents of Preschoolers: Playing IS Learning

As an option, you can write “Countdown to Preschool” on the center of the pencil.

Finally, hang this school craft in a spot where your preschooler can reach it.

This back to school craft is a fun and interactive way for children to countdown to the first day of school. Your child will love tearing the loops as he or she prepares to start school.

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Karen

Writer at ABCs of Literacy

Karen is a teacher with over 13 years of experience teaching preschool through 2nd grade and a mom to two sweet little boys.She has a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and loves to share literacy activities on her blog, ABCs of Literacy, and play ideas, simple crafts, and much more on her blog, Raising Little Superheroes. Follow her on Pinterest and on Instagram .

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