Free printable felt board patterns: ways to use feltboards in preschool lesson plans

Hello my Omschooligans! Today Teacher Omi is taking a walk down memory lane to when I was young. Back then, Sunday school teachers used a tool called Flannelgraph to tell Bible stories. As she told the story, she'd add paper pictures with felt or sandpaper on the back to a piece of flannel attached to a board. The pieces stuck but could also be rearranged. It these made great visuals as well as interactive lesson plans. 

Today we use a similar hands-on activity called a felt board. To teach emergent readers, preschool educators use felt boards to illustrate books and tell stories. As you tell a story, add felt pieces to story board to illustrate. 

Here are free printable feltboard patterns, stencils and felt board reading lesson templates from First Palette. First Palette has free printable stencils and templates of shapes, animals, nature, leaves and trees, flowers, numbers, letters, people, clothing, cars, transportation, food--any pattern you need for any preschool unit!

To make felt board pieces, print stencils, trace on felt or flannel and cut out patterns. Paint pens would probably work best for tracing. You can also just paper clip the template to the felt and cut around it.  Here are more links to free printable felt board patterns. 

Comprehensive Pattern Collections

• Fun Cloth Crafts: This site offers a fantastic "DIY Felt Faces" set to help children explore emotions, along with a weather-themed board. They provide clear, easy-to-use stencils that are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

• PreKinders Preschool Activities: A great source for classic storytelling sets like Ten Red Apples, Duck in the Truck, and It Looked Like Spilt Milk. These are designed specifically for educators to print, laminate, and use immediately.

• Flannel Board Fun (Freebie Section): While they have a large shop, they offer a very popular Free Cat Felt Board Pattern which includes 10 different cats for counting and color games.

  
  
  

Story-Specific Printables

• Jbrary Favorite Felt Stories: This is a goldmine for librarian-approved sets. They include patterns for favorites like Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Slippery Fish, often accompanied by the specific rhymes or songs to go with them.

• Rock N Read Academy (via TPT): They offer a beautiful free printable for Itsy Bitsy Spider and Goldilocks. These are designed in black and white, which is a lovely touch—it allows the kids to color their own characters before you trace them onto felt!

Collections of Patterns, Stencils and Templates

• DLTK Coloring has over 50 free printable felt board stencils. Templates include geometric shapes, animal outlines, solar system, seasons, weather, holiday, snowflake patterns, food and other preschool theme shapes.

• Childcare Land has over 150 free felt board themes. Each theme has free printable felt board patterns, stencils, templates and activities. A helpful teaching video demonstrates how to use each lesson. Each kit has free printable stories. Pattern themes include months, animals, holiday patterns, seasonal, weather, children's literature, clothing, body parts, food, transportation, toys and games. Use free printable felt board patterns for science, social studies, reading, writing and math lessons.

• Making Learning Fun has a gigantic assortment of free printable felt board patterns. This site features complete children's book themed felt board patterns: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?, Cat in the Hat, Clifford, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, fables and more.

The History of Flannel-Graph

Originally called Flannelgraph (or sometimes Suede-Graph), this medium became a staple in the 1950s and 60s. It was designed as an affordable yet vivid way to teach. The "magic" relied on a simple mechanical principle: the fuzzy nap of the flannel board caught the coarse backing (often sandpaper or felt) of the paper figures, allowing them to "stick" at an angle on an easel.

The Gold Standard: Betty Lukens

While many companies produced these, Betty Lukens is perhaps the most famous name in the industry. For over 30 years, their "Through the Bible" sets have been used globally.

• The Scale: A complete set can include over 600 figures and objects.

• The Manuals: These sets came with detailed teacher's manuals (like the ABCJesusLovesMe guides) that provided scripted stories, telling the teacher exactly when to place "Noah" or "the lost sheep" on the board.

Vintage Characteristics

If you are looking for authentic vintage sets (like those found on eBay or in historical archives), you'll often see:

• Bright, Mid-Century Illustrations: Figures often featured the distinct illustrative style of the 1960s—vibrant colors and simplified, friendly facial features.

• Specialized Sets: Beyond general Bible stories, there were specific holiday kits, such as 1963 Easter Suede-Graph sets.

• Interactive Backgrounds: Teachers wouldn't just place a person; they would "build" the scene, turning a simple cave into a home by adding felt doorways, windows, and small benches.

Helping Children with the death of a pet: Ways to process grief in lesson plans

Hello my dear friends of the Omschool. Teacher Omi (Grandma) is going to talk today about a very difficult and painful subject and that is the death of a pet or loved one. I had the sad privilege of sitting with my grandchildren particularly one grandson Moses as his cat Burnt Bagel, passed away. That a softer way of saying "died." I have been thinking up activities and lesson plans to help the children process grief. Here are ways to deal with death in the classroom. 

• Keen. This is what the Irish people call grieving through crying, rocking, singing and even wailing. Adults sometimes struggle to express their grief openly. We think we have to "be strong" for other people, that crying means we're weak. But we are powerless to stop death. It's nothing to be ashamed of. And it is very empowering to admit that. Children understand the deep healing in a good cry. Last night, my grandson Lucian did just this. And he is feeling a little bit better today, he says. 

• Talk about the deceased loved one. Processing (meaning "to work through") death means recalling happy, funny, even sad times with them. Last night, Moses and I talked till past midnight as he sat with his dying pet. We cried and laughed together. 
  
  
  
• Design a memorial. Draw pictures or make some kind of art work to as a memorial to the deceased pet or person. My grandchildren are making Lego sculptures of their cat. They also helped to build a little casket for their cat. They put in his favorite blanket and some flowers. 

• Decorate the grave. Depending on your faith or ideology, you can arrange a shrine of some kind. Find pretty flower, stones, shells or other natural items. 

• Let the light shine. Did you ever wonder why we burn candles at funerals or as  memorials. That's to allow your friend's spirit "light" to shine in memory after death. Light makes us feel safer and warmer, too. You can add votive candles to the memorial--I suggest battery operated or solar ones for safety. Or hang a solar lantern or string of lights. Moses is going to put a bench out by Burnt Bagel's grave, so he can visit, pray and do his homework with his friend nearby. 

• Learn the grief process. That way, you'll understand why you feel such big emotions. 
  
  
  
  
• Accept all expressions, don't judge. Have open-ended conversations. Avoid time-lining, streamlining or orchestrating a child's (or anyone's including your own) grief. Everyone does it differently. Some don't cry because it embarrasses them, but it doesn't mean they don't care or feel. Some cry a lot and for a long time. That's okay too. There's no deadline you have to meet. 
• Read kids' books about death and grieving. This is called bibliotherapy, or healing you get from books and stories. Here's a bibliography of books on death, dying and grief for children. 

  Classic & Foundational Books

  • When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers

    True to his iconic, gentle style, Mr. Rogers helps children understand that the feelings they have after losing a pet—like anger, loneliness, or sadness—are normal and healthy. It is a wonderful resource for validating that "it's okay to feel."

  • The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia

    A timeless allegory that uses the changing seasons and a leaf named Freddie to explain the cycle of life and death.

  • Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen

    An honest, direct book that explains that death is a natural part of being a living thing, with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

  • The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

    A comforting story about the "invisible string" made of love that connects us to people we care about, even after they are gone.

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  Focusing on Pet Loss

  • The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst

    A boy struggles to find ten good things to say at his cat’s funeral, eventually discovering how the cycle of nature keeps his pet’s memory alive.

  • I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm

    A touching story about a boy and his dog, Elfie, emphasizing the importance of telling those we love how we feel while they are still with us.

  Understanding Emotions & Feelings

  • The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr

    Uses simple text and bright illustrations to describe the many different feelings a child might have after a loss, such as confusion or not wanting to talk.

  • Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen

    A modern fable that validates that everyone’s "recipe" for grief is unique and that it takes time to "simmer" through the pain.

  • Michael Rosen’s Sad Book by Michael Rosen

    A deeply personal and honest look at sadness and grief that doesn't offer easy answers, making it very relatable for older children.

  Memory & Connection

  • Ida, Always by Caron Levis

    Based on a true story of two polar bears at the Central Park Zoo, this book beautifully handles terminal illness and the eventual death of a companion.

  • The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

    A classic story about the lifelong relationship between a boy and a tree. As the boy grows older, the tree gives of herself at every stage of his life. It is often used to discuss the nature of unconditional love, the different ways we experience needs as we age, and the eventual "resting" at the end of a long life.

  • The Memory Box: A Book About Grief by Joanna Rowland

    A young girl creates a box to keep mementos of her loved one, addressing the common fear children have that they might forget the person they lost.

• Make a memory box. When my little daughters passed away, at birth, the hospital gave me a box with their little bracelets and the hats they would  have worn. Children may add photos, the pet's food dish, toys and collar, and a lock of hair. 

• Write a letter to your pet. Or you can write a poem about him or a memorial "obituary." You can make a list of 10 good things about your pet. Here is a poem I wrote called "To our furry friend with love" for our kitty Burnt Bagel. 
• Create a 

• Have a funeral or memorial service. Most people and pets are buried. Sometimes, they are cremated. Either way, have a little service for them of some kind. When my goldfish "Figaro" died, I invited some friends. We buried him in a perfume box and had a funeral procession to the back yard.  My mom played the organ and we all sang "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty." (badly and perhaps not the best funeral song, but it was what I wanted).  And that is how kids should express grief, in ways that seem best to them. And planning the pet's funeral gives them something to focus energy on. 

• Feed the mourners. I think we had cookies Figaro's funeral. Some people wonder why food is served or other people send meals when a person dies. It's because you are too tired and worn out by sadness to cook for yourself. Sometimes it's hard to eat. But then you just feel more tired if you don't. Help kids plan and prepare a luncheon for afterwards. 

• Look for the fern. When my oldest daughter (the mother of the grandchildren who lost their pet) was two, she saw a dead baby mouse and was sad. I told her that the mouse's body would go into the ground and grow into something new and wonderful. I forgot but she didn't. And sure enough, next spring as we admired an opening fiddler fern in that spot, she said with joy "Look Mama, the baby mouse came back!" 

• Plant a tree or flower. You don't have to just watch for things growing on the loved pet's grave, you can make sure they do! That's why we plant flowers on graves to remind ourselves that they are gone but not forgotten and in death there is life. Because life is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth. As "The Giving Tree" and "The Fall of Freddie the Leaf" have taught us. 

• Learn the life cycle of a tree. Now is a good time to explore science lesson plans on new life in spring. Understanding the death and rebirth cycle of a tree, helps illustrate the idea that even when a part of nature passes away, it contributes to new growth.

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  The Stages of a Tree's Life Cycle

  • Seed: It all starts with a tiny seed falling into the soil.

  • Sprout: With enough water and sunlight, a small green shoot emerges.

  • Sapling: The tree grows taller and its stem becomes a woody trunk.

  • Adult Tree: The tree reaches full size and begins to produce its own seeds (like acorns or fruit).

  • Decomposition: When a tree eventually dies, it returns to the earth, providing nutrients for new seeds to grow—just like Molly's baby mouse and fern. 

Helping children learning new behaviors with science and CBT not punishment

Hello my Omschooligans! Teacher Omi here with some fun, interactive ways to learn new behaviors using science principles. We talked, about a month ago, how to learn decision-making and problem-solving skills with CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy). That's a fancy way of saying changing problem behaviors by thinking about what you're doing. Today we're going to use science to help us learn new behaviors! And parents and teachers, we're going to explore how to teach healthier behavior with science and CBT, not punishment and scolding. First the psychology.  

The CBT Cycle: How It Works

CBT is based on the idea that it isn't just "events" that make us upset, but rather the way we interpret (think, feel, understand) those events.

Component	What it is	The Internal Dialogue
Thoughts	What we say to ourselves in our heads.	"I can't do this, it's too hard."
Feelings	The emotions and physical sensations we have.	Anxiety, frustration, heavy chest.
Behaviors	The things we do (or avoid doing).	Giving up or procrastinating.

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A Simple Breakdown Chart

You can think of CBT as a five-step process to "re-wire" a reaction (with one not to do). 

1. Identify action, thought and feeling: What did you think and feel in a negative situation? Angry because she got  markers and I didn't. Jealous because I thought it was unfair. 

2. Describe results: What happened? You took her markers and broke them, she got angry and took your car and smashed it. 

3. Clarify cause and effect. You didn't "make" her  retaliate but she probably wouldn't have if you hadn't started it by breaking her markers. Admit what you did that got this ball rolling. 

4. Challenge: Ask yourself, is this working for either of us? (two big heads shake, no) How do I think and feel now? Sad about having to pay for her markers and that I lost my car. Guilty that I didn't make a better choice. A little angry at myself and her and the adults involved. And kind of dumb for getting so angry about it. 

5. Brainstorm: Is there a better way? Yes, I can apologize and offer to replace her markers (restitution). I can offer to help with her chores (reconciliation). I can count to 10 and think of what I want to do differently. Which is we all get to play with markers and cars. 

6. Replace: Swap the unhelpful thought (I was dumb. I can't do anything right) or behavior (exploding) with a more balanced one.  Make a list of ways to make this happen and do them. 

7. The not to do. Notice Teacher Omi didn't say "stop taking her markers." or "don't fight." That's because it's impossible not to do something. It is a logical fallacy called the "white bear" and here's why it doesn't work. 

🧠 The "White Bear" Problem

If I tell you, "Whatever you do, do not think of a white bear," what is the first thing that pops into your head? A white bear! 

The To-Do List

Adults need to understand how White Bear works too! Because too often grownups often tell kids what not to do. And we forget to tell kids what to do instead (raising hand, guilty!) We can't make ourselves "not do" a thing, any more than we can not think of poor Mr. White Bear. We have to give ourselves choices to do in its place.  Instead of not doing something, we need to find replacement behaviors I call blue frogs. This is much easier because:

• Willpower is a limited resource: It takes a lot of energy to "stop" a thought or action. That rascally white bear will keep running back in the more you try to keep him out! (But don't worry, we'll find a way to let him in properly). 

• Action is easier than inaction: The brain prefers to do a new task rather than try to maintain a state of doing nothing. So we think about a blue frog instead! She is our new thing to do! 

  🎡The Power of the Pivot

  Think of your brain like a steering wheel. You can't just "not turn left" to avoid a ditch; you have to physically turn the wheel to the right to stay on the road.

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  Learning new behaviors works the same way. We don't just "not fight"—which keeps our minds stuck on the conflict—we pivot toward kindness. This gives our hands and hearts something active to do! Then Mr. White Bear and Ms. Blue Frog can work together instead of against each other. By being kinder we're also not fighting! YaY!

Vacuum science experiment

Science tells us "nature abhors a vacuum." In other words there can never be nothing, just like we can not not do something. As you drink from a glass, air rushes in. That's why you can blow bubbles in your milk. Air is changing places with the chocolate milk. In fact, if it can't like in a sealed glass, you can't suck any more milk out. Physics won't let you. It says "nope, not till you put something in there instead." 

🚫 The Vacuum Principle in life

🥤Vacuum in action

Think of behavior like the glass of chocolate milk. When you suck the milk out with a straw, the glass doesn't stay empty—air rushes in to fill that space immediately!

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So you can’t just "empty" a bad habit out and leave a hole. If you don't intentionally fill that space with a new, good habit, the old one will just rush back in to fill the vacuum!

Let's take it one step further:

Probably the most vivid example of a vacuum in nature is in a tornado. And we can think about that in our behavior changes too. 

🌪️Tornado Myth: Do Houses "Implode"?

There is a famous myth that houses "explode" during a tornado because the low pressure (the vacuum) inside the funnel causes the air inside the house to push outward. Science tells us this isn't true.

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It’s not the "nothingness" of the vacuum that destroys the house—it is the violent rush of air trying to get into that empty space. So not only is it impossible not to do  something, it  might be dangerous. If we leave a "vacuum" by not  replacing a bad choice with a better one, we invite in a tornado! Which is exactly what anger, fear, guilt and shame feel like! A whirlwind!

Bringing it all together with CBT

• CBT shows us we're not at the mercy of the tornado of our feelings. 
• CBT teaches kids and adults that they operate the steering wheel. 
• CBT teaches how to steer by thinking, not reacting.  
• It demonstrates that we all have wonderful tools called "choices." 
• CBT helps us fill the vacuum by exploring blue frogs that work better for us. 
• It helps our white bears and blue frogs make friends. When we do healthy new behaviors (blue frogs) we also won't do what Mr. White Bear tells us not to. 

Here are some examples of the "white bear and blue frog" friendship

• I don't have to fight. I can talk it over.
• I don't have to argue. I can collaborate. 
• I don't have to be jealous. I can ask for some markers.
• I don't have to steal hers. I can get my own. 
• I don't have to shove him. I can ask him to move, politely. 

Geography Landforms craft projects and free printable topography maps and lesson plans

Hello my Omschooligans! Today in the Omschool you and I are going to make some hands-on Geography crafts projects. We'll begin by making topography maps. Let's first mix up a large batch of play dough. Make the play dough in class and use it for interactive math measuring lesson plans. Here's an easy play dough recipe.  Students will use these in hands-on geography lessons.

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🥣 Omschool Kitchen Science: Topography Play Dough

Turn your kitchen into a geography lab with this simple, non-toxic recipe. Use this for interactive lessons in fractions and measurement before the geography lesson begins!

Yield: 1 Student Portion (Multiply for class size)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Hot water

• 1 cup White flour

• 1/4 cup Salt

• 1 tsp Vegetable oil

• 2 tsp Alum (or Cream of Tartar)

• Food Coloring (Blue and Green/Plain)

Instructions:

1. Mix: Combine ingredients with a fork until the dough is smooth and cool enough to handle.

2. Divide: Separate the dough into two equal balls.

3. Color: Leave one ball plain (Land) and color the other blue (Water).

4. Prep: Give each student a paper plate, a plastic knife, and two zippered bags for storage.

Next, introduce geography bee terms and definitions for landforms. Demonstrate shapes of landforms using play dough and then by drawing landforms on the overhead projector. Use black pen for land and blue for water. Students will use their blue and white clay to create landforms based on drawings from the board or overhead projector. Students should locate examples of landforms on topography maps or globes with 3D landforms. 

👩‍🏫 Omi’s Pro-Tip for the Classroom:

"When modeling these landforms for the class, I like to use a black pen for land and blue for water on the overhead projector. This way, the students can perfectly match their clay colors to my drawings on the board. It keeps everyone on the same page (and the same continent!)"

🗺️ Geography Bee: Landform Key

Use these definitions and examples to identify features on your topography maps and globes.

Water-to-Land Connections

• Isthmus: A narrow strip of land separating two large bodies of water and connecting two larger landmasses (e.g., Isthmus of Panama).

• Strait: A narrow strip of water separating two large landmasses and connecting two larger bodies of water—the inverse of an isthmus (e.g., Straits of Mackinac).

• Delta: The mouth of a river where it fans out in silt or tributaries to meet a larger body of water (e.g., Mississippi Delta).

Island & Coastal Features

• Island: A small landmass surrounded by water.

• Archipelago: A chain or group of islands (e.g., Hawaii).

• Atoll: A circular ring of islands, often surrounding a lagoon.

• Peninsula: Land that juts out into a body of water (e.g., Michigan, Florida).

• Key: A small island in a chain.

Inland Water Features

• River: A narrow strip of water flowing from high to low elevation.

• Tributary: A branch or smaller stream that flows into a main river.

• Lake: A large body of water, generally smaller than a sea (e.g., Lake Superior).

• Basin: The area along a river that is drained by that river.

Elevation & Terrain (Highlands)

• Mountain: A high area of land rising to a peak.

• Mesa: A steep, narrow elevation with a flat top—like a table.

• Butte: An isolated rocky hill with vertical sides and a flat surface.

• Plateau: A wide, expansive area of high, flat land.

• Cliff/Bluff: Sharp or rounded edges where land drops off to a lower elevation.

Terrain (Lowlands & Passages)

• Canyon: A narrow corridor or pass between rocky elevations.

• Gorge: A canyon with a riverbed at the bottom (e.g., Snake River Canyon).

• Dune: A sandy elevation, often found along the shoreline.

Printable landforms charts

🌍 Landform Discovery Chart

Category	Landform Type	Description
Highlands	Mountain, Mesa, Butte, Plateau, Hill, Bluff, Cliff, Promontory	Elevated areas ranging from sharp peaks to flat-topped "tables."
Lowlands	Valley, Canyon, Dune, Basin	Areas that sit below the surrounding terrain, often carved by water or wind.
Water Features	River, Tributary, Lake, Bay, Sea, Ocean	Bodies of water that vary by size, salt content, and movement.
Coastal & Islands	Peninsula, Cape, Delta, Strait, Isthmus, Archipelago, Atoll, Key	Land features defined by their relationship and proximity to the sea.

📚 Montessori-Style Landform 3-Part Cards

• The Helpful Garden: Offers a fantastic free download of land and water forms using real-life photographs. These are highly recommended by Montessori educators for their clarity.

• Kid World Citizen: Provides 20 free landform posters with beautiful illustrations and definitions that can be used for a matching game or a classroom word wall.

• Landforms Match-Up Foldable: A free TPT resource that includes photos and definitions for 8 key landforms (plateau, isthmus, cape, etc.) specifically designed to be used in a graphic organizer.

🧩 Landform Matching Worksheets & Games

• Super Teacher Worksheets: A great set of 2nd-4th grade picture cards that can be used for a memory game or a classic "question and answer" review.

• Tutoring Hour Landform Pack: This site has a massive collection of free PDFs, including a "Cut and Glue" matching activity where students match picture cards to written descriptions.

• Landforms on Earth Flashcards: A set of 12 vibrant, colorful flashcards perfect for visual learners to identify key terrain features.

Assorted Links for Geography worksheets to print. 

• Enchanted Learning has free printable geography worksheets, landforms coloring pages, terrain and topography maps. worksheets, diagrams, labeling pages, coloring pages, puzzles, maps, quizzes and activities.
• Teacher Planet has free printable geography worksheets with matching activities to teach geography and landforms vocabulary. 
• Super Teacher Resources has some free printable geography worksheets.
• ESL Tower has many free printable geography worksheets, landforms coloring pages, diagrams, puzzles and topography maps. 
• Edupics has free printable social studies coloring pages, world maps, landforms coloring pages, biomes, habitats, nature scenes, political maps, topography maps to use as geography worksheets. This link takes you to free printable maps, diagrams and coloring pages.