This activity is available for purchase in the Simplicity Happens shop. Read on to find out more!
Today’s activity is inspired by our local Farmer’s Market. My family visits the local Farmer’s Market 1-2 times per month because it’s such a fun place to go and look around. We check out all of the fruits and vegetables for sale and take home some favorites to eat during the upcoming week. This fruit and vegetable Farmer’s Market activity is great for supporting your little ones with identifying, matching, and labeling skills.
The contents of this activity, such as text, graphics, images, information, as well as other material and content contained in this activity are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development.
This activity features language and cognitive development concepts children learn throughout their early childhood years as a toddler, preschooler, and within their early elementary school years. Specific age milestone information can be found with a simple internet search!
Let’s get the Farmer’s Market activity started!
First, let’s print and laminate the two background scenes and the picture cutouts.
The first background scene (see picture below) is best for younger toddlers for identifying, labeling and matching picture to picture.
The second background scene (see picture below) is best for older toddlers/preschoolers for matching pictures to words (no visual pictures).
Next, cut out the picture cutouts.
And place them in a pretty pile!
Then, use dot adhesives or magnets for this activity. Note: Adult Supervision is required. Use caution with the magnets, dot adhesives, and small pieces as they are not intended for use with children under the age of 3. Please use caution and supervise your child with the dot adhesives, magnets and small pieces when working on this activity. Only work on activities that you feel are safe for your child. Warning: Choking Hazard. Children under 3 should not participate in any activities that involve small pieces.
Is your child under 3? This activity includes a modified version of this activity available in bigger print for younger toddlers. Small pieces, magnets, and dot adhesives are not intended for use with the bigger print activities. Please remember that adult supervision is required with all activities shared and/or purchased on Simplicity Happens. Just a kind reminder to stay safe and have fun while learning with your little ones!
You’ll notice I used adhesive dots (rough side) on the background scene (you’ll also notice I cut some in half to leave room for the word labels). I also hole-punched my background scene for storage in the interactive play binder.
Last, place the adhesive dots (soft texture) on the back of the picture cutouts (see below):
Great! It’s all set up! Let’s PLAY!
Matching and Labeling
This activity can be used used for receptively and expressively labeling the fruit and vegetables.
First, my son and I go through the pictures together. I want to determine his ability to identify the fruit and vegetable vocabulary pictures when I name them. This demonstrates his ability to receptively label fruit and vegetable vocabulary.
First, we work on receptive labeling:
He continues to work on picking out the remainder of the fruit and vegetables and matching them on the background scene. I keep a record of his learning to support his knowledge during future play activities in my “Activity Garden: Goal Tracking Sheets” booklet:
I then take notes on this specific activity in my “Activity Garden: Goal Tracking Sheets” booklet:
Next, my son and I go through the pictures together. I want to determine his ability to identify fruit and vegetable vocabulary pictures when I point to the picture and ask, “What fruit/vegetable is this?”. This demonstrates his ability to expressively label fruit and vegetable vocabulary.
Now, we work on expressive labeling:
My son responds, “Apples.” Great job!
My son responds, “Carrots.”
My son isn’t as familiar with green beans so he needs some help from me!
I’ll say, “These are green beans. Green beans are vegetables.” Then I ask again, “What vegetable is this?” He responds, “Green beans!” Great work!
I then take notes on this specific activity in my “Activity Garden: Goal Tracking Sheets” booklet:
This activity could also be used for sorting/categorizing fruits and vegetables!
Once we are done playing, the activity goes in the busy booklet, and we store the fruit and vegetable picture cutouts in a plastic zip pouch for later use!
I hope you and your little ones enjoy this activity together! Happy Playing!
What did you enjoy about this activity with your little ones? Let me know in the comments section below!
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