2. The Lakeshore Story 1950s Our Name
-Big things often have small beginnings, as is the case with Lakeshore.
-Lakeshore story begins in 1954 when Ethelyn, a single mother from Omaha, moved to California to do something few women in the 1950s were doing—she started her own business, realizing her dream of opening a toy store.
-Originally called the Lakeshore Toy House, Ethelyn’s first store was located at 3343 Lakeshore Avenue.
-Although she was focused on providing educational toys and games to parents and other retail customers, schools soon began reaching out for educational supplies such as puzzles and arts & craft materials.
-Ethelyn soon discovered a greater purpose and sensing an untapped market, sold her store and started a mail-order school supply company, Lakeshore Learning Materials, debuting the company’s first catalog in 1958.
-In 1988, under the leadership of Ethelyn’s sons, Mike and Charlie, Lakeshore began researching and developing its own brand of products. At the helm: a talented team of former teachers who put their real-world classroom know-how to work, creating unique products designed to enhance the teaching and learning experience.
-Lakeshore has since grown to become an international distributor of educational products and equipment through our catalogs, website, sales force and growing chain of retail stores
-Today, we are still family owned and operated, led by Etheyln’s grandsons Bo & Josh and remain dedicated to providing the highest quality educational materials that make learning fun!
1950s
When Ethelyn opened a toy store in the 1950s, schools soon began calling for supplies. She quickly gave up toys to serve teachers!
Our Name
Originally called the Lakeshore Toy House, Ethelyn’s first store was located at 3343 Lakeshore Ave. in Oakland, California.

3. Early Childhood Materials

4. Create-A-Path Magnetic Center
Magnetic design allows children to experiment with many different paths on any magnetic surface
Translucent funnels allow children to watch the balls flow through
Great to build problem- solving skills and to explore STEM concepts
These tubes allow children to see the flow and direction of an item.
It attaches to any magnetic surface, so it makes it great for classroom that have metal doors that are not used for entrance and exit to become a teachable STEM center.
Create-A-Path Magnetic Center can also be used with (LA583) Stand-Up Magnetic Design Center, which offers a great way to catch the soft sponge like balls included with the Create-A-Path Magnetic Center.
Great learning experience that can happen with this material is gravity and directionality.
PP777 • Create-A-Path Magnetic Center
Early Childhood p. 29 • $49.99 LA583 • Stand-Up Magnetic Design Center
Early Childhood p. 29 • $89.99

5. Dolls from Around the World
Soft dolls are great for play and cuddling
Dolls are representative of many different cultures and types of kids
Machine-washable dolls are easy to clean
Soft dolls are great for play and for toddler sensory engagement.
Opportunities to connect to different cultures and types of kids.
Machine-washable dolls are easy to clean.
LC437 • Indian Girl LC382 • Peruvian Boy
LC435 • Russian Boy LC434 • Chinese Boy
LC433 • Mexican Girl LC436 • Ghanaian Girl
$24.99 each
LC430X - Complete Set • $139.00
Early Childhood p. 124

6. Circle Time Activity Puppets
The whole class will love these circle time helpers
Use the super-soft puppets to energize favorite topics including weather, birthdays and days of the week
Features include soft-sewn pieces that stick right on the surface and a vinyl pocket to display photos of birthday boys and girls
Set of 3 machine-washable puppets; largest is 15" 
Each puppet is also available separately.
TT195X • Complete Set • $45.00
TT198 • Happy Birthday! Puppet • 15.99
TT199 • Days of the Week Puppet • 15.99
TT197 • What’s the Weather? Puppet • 15.99
Early Childhood p. 130

7. Survive the Quake Engineering Kit
Use the Engineering Design process to build a solid structure to survive the shakes
Great use of trial and error to support learning
Support social and emotional development/self-regulation while dealing with anticipation
Children can use the bricks to design and test structures to see if they can withstand the shaking.
Children can control the intensity of shaking by turning the knob to their desired intensity. They can then build structures over and over again in order to battle the shaking.
Encourage use of the kit related to current events, like local or global earthquakes. This could also be considered a form of block play!
During VIP: If time allows, this a great activity for groups to do under a time limit, or is great to use in a carousel.
DD121 • $ Early Childhood p. 171

8. Light & Sound Touch Circuit
Children must use teamwork to get the circuit to work!
Significant trial and error is a great opportunity to report and document
Supports social emotional development by getting kids to work together
Great for circle time
Group activity:
Get everyone out of their seats—they need to be within reach of others so everyone can connect together.
Tell them to touch the person next to them on their clothing and put the circuit between two people.
Ask them why the circuit did not light up.
Now have a certain group (those wearing jeans) touch the skin of the person next to them.
Ask them why the circuit did not light up and what they can do to get the circuit to light up.
Have everyone touch the skin of the person next to them. Success!
Questions to consider:
How many people must be touching to make the circuit work?
What is the maximum number of people who can touch the working circuit at once?
Can you light up the circuit with your pet?
Waves (electrical, sound, light) are a concept that children will encounter many times throughout their education—what a fun way to start to build a foundation of learning!
DD132 • $24.99
Early Childhood p. 179

9. Shake & Reveal Counting Cards
FF181 • $19.99
Early Childhood p. 198
More magnetic fun!
Kids place the card in the frame and shake to reveal the number like magic!
Each magnetic card has a different quantity and shape of magnets inside so once shaken the correct quantity will be revealed.
The number is visible on the top of the card when it is completely in the window box so children can see the number while they count.
Connect to STEM by having kids design other card designs with their own materials (additional not included)!
Children slide in the card, shake and then count!
Builds counting skills and number recognition
Helps students learn to associate numbers 1-10 with matching quantities

10. Self-Checking Magnetic Language Cards
Kids slide a card into a  Self-Checking Magnetic Board and follow prompts to place magnets…building vocabulary, phonemic awareness and alphabet knowledge
To check their work, kids press a button—incorrect answers fall off the board, correct answers stay
3 card sets, each with 6 magnets and 12 double- sided activity cards
Available as a complete set or individually
Cards measure 8 1/2" x 11". 
Freestanding board (PP291) measures 12" x 12 1/2”.
PP496X • Complete Set • $49.99
PP497 • Alphabet • $19.99
PP498 • Phonemic Awareness • $19.99
PP499 • Vocabulary • $19.99
PP291 • Self-Checking Magnetic Board • $24.99
Early Childhood p. 208

11. To learn more, contact your Regional Manager
Tony Chaidez
(305)