It can be hard to know which letters to begin teaching when you are working with beginning readers. Do you teach them in A to Z order? Is it better to teach all of the vowels first? Grab a notepad and pencil because we are about to clear it all up for you! Research has…
Looking for a quick and fun name game for kids? Names are one of the first words many children learn to read and write and this low-prep name game is an exciting way to practice them. In Magic Letters, kids learn how to spell their name by making the letters magically appear. Fun, right?! When you’re done…
Looking for a motivating way to practice letters and numbers?! These pattern block challenges are a MUST!
The print and play cards have kids build all 26 uppercase letters, their 26 lowercase pairs PLUS the numbers 0 to 20.
Students will have so much fun that they won’t even realize they’re working on problem solving, geometry, math vocabulary… even beginning fractions!
To make it easy for you to differentiate, there are TWO versions of the activity:
-> For Pre-K or beginning Kindergarten, have students build the letters and numbers directly on the full size mats.
-> For later Kindergarten and First Grade, stretch students by giving them the mini versions of the pattern block designs so they have to look at the image and then recreate a real-life replica. They’ll practice shape recognition, of course, but they also work on their design, engineering, problem solving and scaling skills too. By adding a little extra dose of thinking, they magnify their STEM skills.
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND…
BEGINNING VERSION –
–> 2 versions of uppercase full size mats (in color + black and white)
–> 2 versions of lowercase full size mats (in color + black and white)
–> 2 versions of 1-10 full size mats (in color + black and white)
ADVANCED VERSION-
–> 2 versions of uppercase letter task cards (in color + black and white)
–> 2 versions of lowercase letter task cards (in color + black and white)
–> 2 versions of 0-20 number task cards (in color + black and white)
–> Record sheets
–> A bonus challenge asking kids to pick a number or letter and find ANOTHER way to build it.
-> The set even includes record sheets and challenge worksheets for kids who are ready for a next step.
Looking for a motivating way to practice letters and numbers?! These pattern block challenges are a MUST! The print and play cards have kids build all 26 uppercase letters, their 26 lowercase pairs PLUS the numbers 0 to 20. Students will have so much fun that they won’t even realize they’re working on problem solving,…
Kids love a great mystery, so pull on your detective hats and dive into a batch of hidden letter sheets that work on upper and lowercase pairs, letter recognition and comparing all at once. Grab your set in our shop or on Teachers Pay Teachers! For more letter fun, check out our best-selling Ultimate Preschool…
Calling all alphabet detectives! The ABCs have gone missing and it’s your job to hunt them down.
Kids will love coloring the uppercase and lowercase letters to make the hidden picture magically appear.
The set includes one page for all 26 letters from A to Z.
–> Bundle with 19 more alphabet activities and save!
For many students, learning how to spell the words “could,” “would,” and “should” can be a challenge. They might spell them CUD or COUD or COOD…. But mastering the irregular -OULD pattern takes extra time and practice before it finally clicks. Thankfully, there is a quick and simple trick that makes it a whole lot…
Are you curious if your curriculum is science of reading aligned so you can ensure your students are receiving the best reading instruction possible? If so, this list is for you. The Science of Reading is a research-based approach that continues gaining traction because of its effectiveness in teaching children to read. It emphasizes phonemic…
Teaching phonics skills is a lot like baking a cake. Skipping ahead or missing a step, almost always makes your lessons flop. Students are either too confused, or too overwhelmed, or too bored… And you’re unsure what to try next. But when you know the best order to teach phonics, it’s like getting your hands…
When students are first learning to read, written letters look like meaningless shapes on a piece of paper. They might as well be squiggles or scribbles – letters don’t have any rhyme or reason. But this fun little alphabet chant changes all of that because it helps students connect each funky shape we call a…
Fun fact: The 26 letters in English actually make FORTY-TWO different sounds called phonemes! (Experts adjust the list from 42 to 45, but we will stick with 42 phonemes here.) The letter G, for instance, can say /g/ as in EGG, /j/ like in GYM, /zh/ as in CHALLENGE, or it can fall silent like…
Did you know that the silent E is an extremely busy letter? It has SEVEN jobs! And somehow, the silent E also finds time to make it difficult for struggling readers to learn it. But here’s a handy way to start making things finally click for kids… Teach students that the silent E is a sidekick. Just like…
Spoiler alert: Teaching vowels in the traditional order A, E, I, O, and U can actually be confusing to new readers. Several of the sounds are so similar that learning them back-to-back is a real struggle. For instance, new readers’ brains strain to hear the difference between the short A in BAD and the short E…
Excellence-driven Pre-K, Kindergarten, & First Grade Teachers Your search for ALL the training & tools for playful Science of Reading instruction stops here. Ready to fill your teacher bag with everything you need to help EVERY student learn to read? HAVE YOU BEEN… Left to fend for yourself? And border-line panicking over the growing complexity…
You don’t need to be a reading specialist to be an exceptional reading teacher. All you need are the scientifically proven tools & training that make learning to read inevitable for every child. If you’re a pre-K, kindergarten, or first grade teacher who wants to finally feel confident about your reading instruction, you’ve come to…
If you’re like so many teachers and homeschoolers I’ve talked to, somewhere along the way, you have probably been told that learning to read is like learning to talk – children can teach themselves how to do it without much adult intervention. But if you follow me on Instagram, you already know that’s simply not…
The science of reading has proven that students need to be able to hear the individual sounds in words called phonemes and focusing on beginning sounds is the best place to start because it’s the first phoneme their brains will be able to identify. These 100 beginning sound task cards make it fun and easy…
Hey teachers! Save time, stay inspired, and get bigger teaching results. Hello, I’m Malia Hollowell. I am a National Board Certified Teacher, Playdough to Plato founder, and lover of Starbucks drinks & bright red nail polish. I’m so glad that you’re here! My obsession is giving you the tools, strategies and support you need to…
Educators in kindergarten, first and second grade face the unique challenge of being responsible for their students having a solid foundation in reading, which will in large part determine their academic success, as all aspects of their future learning and careers need to build upon it. The pressure is enormous, and with large classroom sizes…
So you’re interested in teaching first grade? Good for you! It’s a crucial time to help students build a strong foundation that will help prepare them for their future academic and career endeavors. Beyond a strong dedication to each student’s success, here are some soft skills and practical matters that you’ll need to consider. For…
When students are struggling to hear the individual sounds in words they’re trying to spell, they often need to build a skill called phonemic awareness. And sound mapping is a simple but powerful way to boost it! Add in a fun gumball theme and some squishy playdough balls and it’s a literacy match made in…
If you’ve ever had a student who could sound out each letter in a CVC word but, when it came time to blend those sounds together, they said something else instead like “D-O-G. Drop?” then this phonemic awareness game is for you. Grab a slinky and get ready to s-t-r-e-t-c-h students’ phonemic awareness. Kids will…
If you’re ready for a better way to teach sight words, these pre-sorted lists are for you. Why? When you take your sight word list and organize it by phonics skill, students learn the words faster… You see, old school lists like Dolch and Fry were sorted by the frequency words appear in text. For instance,…
These sight word lists for Dolch pre-primer, primer, 1st and 2nd grade, the first 200 Fry sight words, PLUS the Zeno sight words are a HUGE game changer! Why? When you organize your sight word lists by phonics skill, students learn the words faster…
Old school lists like Dolch and Fry were sorted by the frequency words appear in text. For instance, THE is written most often so it’s the first words students practice. The philosophy isn’t terrible – if a child is going to read THE more than any other word, it makes sense that learning it first would come in handy.
The problem is that THE is often taught right alongside other words that follow completely different rules: OF, AND, A… And that means kids have to wrap their brain around:
– the short A sound in AND,
– the long A sound in A,
– the F that makes a V sound in OF,
– and (as if that wasn’t enough!) the two letters T & H that make just one sound in THE.
It’s no wonder that so many students struggle with sight word lists!
But there is a *much* easier way! Instead of sorting sight words by frequency, we can sort them by phonics skill. Then students can master one spelling rule at a time!
These print-and-go sheets make it so easy for you to do just that! They include the Dolch sight words through second grade, the first 200 Fry sight words, and the Zeno sight words.
With back to school season upon us and fall right behind, it’s fun to have some themed, seasonal learning activities on hand. This apple alphabet match is the perfect activity for this time of year… or anytime, really. Grab your playful set below and then hop over to grab our best-selling Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in…
It’s crazy but true! If you teach a student 10 sight words, they can read 10 words… BUT, if you teach that same child 10 letter sounds, they can read THOUSANDS of words. That’s the power of phonics! And these beginning sound cards a playful, hands-on way to help kids practice just that. Snag your set below and…
The science of reading has been ALL the buzz lately, but if you’re secretly scratching your head and thinking that you don’t REALLY understand what it means yet, don’t worry. You’re not alone! And I promise this rundown will help break it all down for you. The Reading Wars Before we dive into the science…
Do you have any students who know ALL of the letter sounds but, when it comes time to blend those sounds together to read a word, they STILL struggle? This will help! A lot of times readers just need to practice something called phonemic awareness. Luckily, this playful pop it center is a super fun…
Learning letter sounds is important for both reading and writing, but some letters of the alphabet are trickier than others and make not one but TWO sounds! G is one of those letters. These free little reader books and rhyme help kids learn more about soft G sounds (as in giraffe) and hard G sounds (as in goat). For more little…
Does your little one get confused when trying to read the letter C in a word? Children are so used to spelling words like c-a-t that when they come to one like c-i-t-y they pronounce it as “kitty.” The hard and soft C can be difficult to master. These hard and soft C little books…
Making an ABC book is a fun, hands-on way to introduce children to letters and help them understand how those letters are used to make words. This free printable ABC book takes all of that learning one step further by introducing kids to art techniques including apple printing, car painting and (my personal favorite!) elbow stamping!!…
This alphabet game is one of my hands-down favorites! It’s a simple way to teach ABC letters and, as a big bonus, it’s seriously fun entertainment for kids. Scroll below for your free download and then make sure to hope and snag our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack for more alphabet fun! Getting Ready Prep for this adorable alphabet…
Learning alphabet letters is an important skill for young learners. This Race to School ABC game is a fun and engaging way for children to practice both uppercase and lowercase letters. It’s a great game to use at the beginning of the school year with preschool or kindergarten students. For more alphabet fun, check out…
Are you looking for a helpful tool to teach students about the silent E once and for all? This playful CVCe word work center is a must-try! Scroll below to grab your freebie! Then, for more vowel work, check out our Vowel Team Centers in our shop, too! Getting Ready My prep for this CVCe…
Help kids recognize alphabet letters and memorize sight words by playing a twist on an old classic: Tic-Tac-Toe. The alphabet and sight word tic-tac-toe game’s great to use as a literacy center, homeschool activity or word work station! For more alphabet fun, check out our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop! The rules of…
Back to school season is right around the corner, and with it comes all things apples. Add some seasonal fun to your reading centers this fall with these hands-on medial vowel clip cards. Scroll below to grab your freebie and then jump over and grab our Vowel Team Centers for more fun! Getting Ready To…
If your students have learned their beginning sounds, practiced their end sounds, chances are they are ready to dive into those tricky vowels sounds. Giving kids a strong foundation for this important skill is a must which is why I LOVE our new word family centers pack. It’s a great way to compare and contrast…
Teaching new readers can feel like a daunting task – for both students and teachers. There are so many moving parts. When teaching vowels I like to dig deep into just one at first. It helps boost kids’ confidence and gives them a solid foundation for their reading. Double score! And our short U Pack…
This ABC game is sure to be a hit with firemen fans. Just grab a pack of brightly colored index cards, a water sprayer and a fireman’s outfit {if you have one} and you’re ready to spray. The ABC game has become a must-play in our house and I hope it will be a favorite…
What better way to get kids really looking at how letters are built than by constructing them with LEGOS?! This hands-on LEGO name activity is a great preschool work station, name game or afternoon project. Follow below and then hop over to become a VIP Plato Pack member so you can get all of the…
If you’re looking for a motivating, visual way to teach kids how to read and write blends like BL-, FR- and SM-, you’ll love these free ice cream puzzles. They’re great to use as literacy centers, guided reading activities or homeschool practice. You’ll love the low prep set up and kids will love the sweet theme:…
These free alphabet printables are perfect for young learners! Help children identify beginning sounds, lowercase letters and uppercase letters with a colorful alphabet chart, clip it cards and letter matching puzzles. Snag your set below and then hop over to our shop and grab the Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack for more alphabet and learning fun! Alphabet Printables The…
This fire hydrant ABC coverall activity is great to go along with Fire Prevention Week in October or a community helper unit any time! Pull on your fire gear and get ready for some seriously fun uppercase and lowercase alphabet letter recognition. Then, hop over to our shop and grab our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack…
Kids love things that move! Some of the first terms that children learn are the different vehicles that they see on the streets and in the air. It’s no wonder, really. Wheels turning, loud noises and the magic of things soaring through the air easily capture the attention of a small child. That’s why it’s…
Pumpkin letter tracing is a fun fall ABC game and fine motor activity in one. As kids trace alphabet letters with candy pumpkins, they build hand-eye coordination, hand strength and letter formation skills they’ll use for writing words later. Pumpkin fans will love this festive ABC game! When you’re done tracing letters, hop on over to…
These bright, hands-on alphabet puzzles are a must-grab. Kids will love that they’re fun and YOU’LL love that they’re so easy to prep. Snag your set below and then hop over to grab our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop! Getting Ready To prep for the alphabet puzzles, I began by printing the puzzles…
I’m always on the hunt for simple prep, motivating learning activities for kids. That’s our thing, after all! So I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Educators’ Spin on It’s new book, 100 Fun & Easy Learning Activities for Kids. And I’m excited to report that it’s as engaging and playful as I hoped. First up:…
This festive gumdrop patterns activity sheet stretches students to create patterns of their own. AB, ABB, ABC patterns… they’re all there! The no-prep activity is easy to differentiate making it perfect for preschoolers, second graders, and every age in between! For more pre-K fun, check out our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop! Getting…
Rhymes for kids help children notice that words are clumps of sounds with a similar pattern. When they begin spelling and reading words later, they’ll notice that rhyming words often end with the same letters. For instance, cat, bat, sat and hat all end with the letters –AT. When you think of classic rhymes for kids,…
Playing an ABC game is one of the best ways to introduce the alphabet to your little ones. Our brains learn best when we use several senses at once, so this ABC sort helps pre-readers use a variety of senses to help their brains remember the differences between letters. To play the letter sort, children reach…
Clip cards are a quick and easy way for kids to practice reading skills. That’s one of the reasons we love them so much! Rhyming, alphabet letters, blends, digraphs… you name it, we’ve clipped it! These CVC clip cards are a motivating way to help students identify middle vowel sounds. They are a perfect addition to…
There are so many fun ways to teach kids about digraphs (two letters that make just one sound such as SH, CH and TH). Whether you’re looking for an easy literacy center, morning work activity, or small group game, these digraph clip cards are sure to do the trick! Grab your set (below) and then…
I’m super excited to pass along a brand new freebie your kids will love: diphthong puzzles! Use the set as a literacy center or word work station focusing on those tricky diphthongs including -AU, -AW, -EW, -OI, -OO and -OU. Scroll below to grab your freebie and then hop over and snag our fun-filled Editable…
Mastering letter sounds can be a tricky thing, and learning digraphs can be even more challenging. After all, now kids need to remember not only what letters say on their own, but what certain combinations say when put together! Since we are all about making learning fun, this cookie jar beginning digraph sort was the perfect…
Digraphs and blends tend to trip up new readers. Just when kids finally have their letter sounds down, out pop tricky letter combinations that change those sounds. Oy! This digraph and blend chart is a helpful way for students to keep letter clusters straight once and for all. Grab your copy below and then hop over and…
If you’re teaching kids about diphthong (two letters that make one sound like OI in the word “coin”), these free clip cards are a must-try literacy center or word work station. They’re easy to prep and fun to play! For more word work, check out our Editable Word Work Games in our shop! Getting Ready…
These magic fizzing popsicle paints are an awesome kids’ science project for all ages. One hot day a few weeks ago, I pulled out a batch of the magical popsicles from our freezer and invited my 4 year-old daughter to start painting. She was thrilled when her masterpiece began fizzing! Ready to make your own…
Looking for a quick prep Veteran’s Day activity for preschool or kindergarten? These free handwriting sheets give kids practice writing and sounding out the letters V and P. Grab the printable below and then hop over to become a VIP Plato Pack member so you can get all of the tools, strategies and support you…
Alphabet recognition is an important skill for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. This School and Bus Alphabet Match is a fun way to work with uppercase and lowercase letters when heading back to school this fall. Grab your copy below and then hop over and snag our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop! Getting Ready…
Learning letter sounds is no easy task, but there are few things more exciting than when kids start down the path of learning to read. Letters and sounds are a huge part of that journey so we love playing fun games to help us practice! These beginning sound match cards are the perfect addition to…
As kids learn letter sounds they can start putting those sounds together to read words. This super simple word slider is an awesome visual showing them how to do just that. It’s one of those teaching tricks you’ll never want to forget. For more reading fun for your beginning reader, check out our Emergent Readers Bundle in our shop! Getting…
Wondering what your soon-to-be kindergartener needs to know before the first day? As a kindergarten teacher, I spent many days leading up to the start of school calming parents’ anxiety about their child’s transition. Not knowing what their child REALLY needed to know was unnerving. What does kindergarten readiness mean anyway? To ease their uncertainty, I…
Guest post by Kindergarten and Preschool for Parents and Teachers. Young children learn with hands-on exploration using their five senses and movement. Of course you want them to learn to read, but do their eyes glaze over when you try to interest them in flashcards? Enter: a letter sound activity that requires movement and action!…
rab I’ve heard that good things happen in threes and that is definitely true of this three-part busy bag series. Boy Mama Teacher Mama and I teamed up several weeks ago to give away six printable kindergarten busy bags: 3 that work on literacy skills and 3 that focus on math. So far, we have…
We love playdough recipes and activities! With fall just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to whip up a batch of oh-so-yummy green apple playdough and get some hands-on number practice. These free apple playdough mats are a perfect preschool math activity for fall. This is one fall activity you won’t want to miss! When you’re…
With the summer half over by now, places like Pinterest are flooded with back to school checklists and quizzes to determine if children are ready for kindergarten this fall. Scattered among those checklists and quizzes are questions about pencil grasp development. They all seem to ask, “Does your child have it, or not?” To ensure…
These 25 American-themed activities for kids include engaging math, science, literacy and crafts young patriots will love. If you’re in need of a little red, white and blue inspiration, we’ve got you covered. Kids will go crazy over these 4th of July activities and we think you will too. Want more fun activities!? Become a VIP Plato Pack member so you…
This seashell vowel team sort is a motivating way for students to practice their long vowel sounds this summer! Scroll below to grab the freebie and then jump over and snag our Vowel Team Centers in our shop! Getting Ready The prep for this vowel team sort was very simple. I printed the vowel team pails…
Summer is almost here which means that it’s the perfect time to add some beach-themed literacy and math activities to your centers! If you’re looking for some more serious fun this summer, grab our Editable Sight Word Games in our shop! And the best part about these summery centers is that they’re all FREE! Beach-Themed…
Looking for a motivating alphabet activity as we head into summer?! This Pool and Beach Ball Alphabet Match is a super fun way to work with uppercase and lowercase letters during the summer so pre-k and kindergarten students are ready to hit the ground running in the fall. Grab your copy below and then hop…
If you’re teaching kids how to read blends including FL-, BR- and SM-, these free blend clip cards are a must. Use them as a literacy center, word work station, word work activity or homeschool game. The sky’s the limit! When you’re done, hop on over and check out our Inflectional Ending Centers in our shop…
Looking for a motivating way to teach kids how to write the ABC’s? These free letter tracing sheets take writing practice to a whole new level of fun. The motivating pages are great to use as a literacy center, homeschool activity… even a busy bag you can take along when you’re out and about. Grab the…
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, homeschooling parent or hands-on family member, our newest freebie is a must-try. A follow up to our incredibly popular uppercase letter tracing book, this letter tracing sheets set makes learning how to write lowercase letters super motivating and fun. We hope you love it as much as we do. On your…
Fun fact: Did you know that every word in English has a vowel? In fact, every SYLLABLE in English has a vowel. So why is that such a big deal? Well, kids learn to read middle vowels in CVC words AFTER they learn to read those ending consonants. For instance, a new reader might see…
Are you looking to introduce some fun early learning American holiday activities to your students? Well, look no further! These two jam-packed activity packets are the perfect solution. Combined, this gives you a fantastic handwriting practice workbook, along with two number puzzles(depending on your students’ abilities) PLUS a fun flag craft! So buckle up and…
If you’re teaching contractions like CAN’T, SHE’LL and I’VE, this bundle is a must grab. The playful contraction centers make it fun to practice and they’re flexible enough to use for one-on-one instruction, small groups, literacy centers and even whole group lessons. Snag your bundle in our shop or on Teachers Pay Teachers! Teaching Contractions…
For many kids, the hardest letter sounds to learn are those tricky vowels: A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y. Every word in English has at least one, so tackling them is uber important but, MASTERING them…. well, that can be a long road for some. This vowel activity is here to help! These…
This list of 10 ways to help struggling readers is a great one to bookmark or pin so you can quickly find it again! Since every child’s brain is different, every solution can be slightly different too. Having this list handy will make it easier to find a just right solution for ALL of the…
An important first step in teaching kids how to read is figuring out what they already know. This simple reading assessment makes it easy to see the letter names, sounds and sight words students have mastered so that you can determine what to teach next. It’s the perfect jumpstart to our 4 week teacher training…
past tense, present tense, ING, ES, S, ED
Did you know that there are two kinds of readers sitting in your classroom right now? It’s true! And if you’ve ever felt unsure about how to help a struggling reader, than you’ll want to stick around, because knowing how to spot each type will help you get bigger, faster teaching results. This is just…
When you think of teaching kids to read, you probably picture alphabet letters, little reader books and sight words…. lots and LOTS of sight words. But the truth is that what happens before you dive into phonics and sight words is key to skyrocketing students’ reading progress later. Let’s dive into the 4 pre-reading skills…
If you’re wondering how to teach reading, you’re in the right spot! This step-by-step guide covers everything from pre-reading skills to phonics, sight words and reading comprehension so that you can take kids from NON-readers to STRONG readers. Check out the step-by-step below and then request an invite to my 4 week course, The Reading…
Just like we’re never 100% sure when kids will take their first step, we also can’t name the time and place when students will read their first word. But there ARE four signs kids are ready read… Dive into the 4 signs below and then request an invite to my 4 week course, The Reading…
Do your kids love bugs and butterflies?! These 14 must-have activities will keep preschoolers and kindergarteners learning and engaged for weeks. Practice alphabet letters, sight words, numbers, addition, writing, learn about the butterfly life cycle and so. much. more. Grab your Bug and Butterfly Activity Pack in our shop or on Teachers Pay Teachers. For more…
Vowel sounds (A, E, I, O and U) are often the most difficult for children to master. These hands-on puzzles and word cards give kids plenty of practice sounding out short CVC words and identifying the missing middle vowel sound. They’re great to use as literacy centers, guided reading activities or word family games with new readers. …
My four year-old and I have been playing games with the letters of his name for quite awhile now. I taught him a silly song to help him learn how to spell it, we’ve built his name with blocks, turned it into a rainbow… the list goes on and on. So I knew he would…
These beginning sound clip cards are a hands-on way to make learning fun and engaging for young learners! Students simply look at the picture on the sunflower and clip the letter that starts the word. They are a great addition to your small reading groups or literacy centers. For more literacy fun, check out our…
Learning the alphabet is exciting, but mastering it takes practice… lots and lots of practice. I’m always looking for fun ways to make all of that hard work fun for students and this playful alphabet match up was just the trick! Grab your set below! Ready for more fun preschool centers? Check out our awesome…
Getting ready for a community helper theme?! These playful alphabet dabber sheets are a must-try. Just grab your box of daubers, print off the pages and you’re ready to work on the ABCs. They’re a perfect complement to our super popular Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Getting Ready To prep, I…
Kids will learn common digraphs in no time with these cute playdough mats. They are easy to prepare and make an awesome word work station or literacy center. This playdough digraph activity is the perfect complement to our popular Digraph Activity Pack! Grab your download below! And for more playdough fun, check out our awesome…
We often say we learn 26 letters. While that’s partially true (we learn 26 letter names) we are actually learning several more symbols when we combine both upper and lowercase. So, practice, repetition and having fun are all ways I can help my kids work on their letters and build their confidence! This flower alphabet match…
“Rain, Rain, Go Away…” Are you having some rainy days this spring, too? Even if you aren’t, this raindrop beginning sound match is a great alphabet activity to add to your spring literacy centers! Scroll below to grab your freebie and then make sure to hop over and snag our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack for…
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is one of our favorite alphabet books for kids. The silly rhyming story helps little readers learn the names of letters as they dance up the side of a coconut tree and then come crashing down. One afternoon, I pulled together this simple ABC activity for my 4.5 year-old. It was a natural…
Learning to identify letters of the alphabet takes a lot of time and practice. Since we always want that learning to be a fun experience for kids, we LOVE adding new games into the mix! This acorn alphabet match was the perfect game! Grab the printable below and then hop over to become a VIP Plato…
As the air turns cooler and the leaves change colors, it can be fun to bring a little bit of autumn into the classroom. Kids will LOVE this playful fall alphabet match! Click the blue “download” below and then hop over to grab our awesome Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop! Getting Ready Just like…
There’s no word on the planet that my 3.5 year-old loves spelling more than his name. Recently, he became extremely motivated to learn how to write it, too. Like most things, I knew that he would need plenty of practice before he would master his new skill so to make writing and rewriting a little…
These twelve colorful shape puzzles are a fun way to practice the names of shapes while kids begin spelling out words. Sliding together one puzzle piece at a time, young mathematicians magically make each shape appear. The shape game is guaranteed fun! For more shapes fun, snag our Roll and Cover Pattern Block Mats in our shop! Getting…
Every so often, there’s an alphabet activity that makes my teaching heart skip a beat. It stretches kids’ thinking and helps them tackle those tricky letter sounds. It’s colorful, playful AND engaging. This is one of those alphabet activities. Enjoy these letter sound wheels as you and your little one make your way through the…
I love using a skill that kids have already mastered to help teach them a completely new skill. These math activity sheets do exactly that! In Math My Name, your child can practice handwriting, number recognition, addition and subtraction, ten frames, tally marks and even drawing! You and your little one will have the best…
Sound boxes are a great way to build phonemic awareness with new readers because they encourage children to focus on one sound at a time and then blend those sounds together to make a word. Snag your sound boxes below and then grab our Phonological Awareness Warm Ups so you have everything you need to…
Being able to identify beginning sounds in words is an important skill, especially for learning to read and write. This St. Patrick’s Day beginning sound match is a great game for early readers! Kids will love connecting initial sounds to their written letters in a fun, playful way. For more preschool activities, check out our best-selling Ultimate Preschool…
Practicing sight words just got so much more fun! As kids race to reach the rainbow first in this sight word game, they read, write and spell their sight words along the way. Grab your copy below and then hop over and snag our best selling 32 EDITABLE Sight Word Games for even more fun! Getting Ready Prepping…
Little leprechauns will love this reading and counting activity along with this gold coin counting book! Snag your set below and then hop over and grab our best-selling Number Formation Sheets in our shop! Getting Ready This counting activity was really easy to prepare! I simply printed all 11 pages of the book on festive…
Looking for St. Patrick’s Day activities your students will beg to play over and over again?!
When I saw classic Valentine’s Day candy hearts with letters instead of words, I knew I could use them for multi-age learning with a sweet sight word activity. My 2.5 year-old is obsessed with his name and my 5 year-old, A, loves working on sight words. These candy letter hearts were a sweet way to practice…
I’ve seen tons of fine motor skills activities on Pinterest lately. Beading projects, scissor cutting, playdough trays. They are all great for building kids’ hand-eye coordination and muscle strength so that they are ready to write on their own later. Conversation Heart Letter Tracing is a great way to build those important fine motor skills…
When Easter is over, what do you do with those extra plastic eggs? Instead of tucking them back into storage, keep them out for this hands-on word family game! See the surprisingly simple step-by-step below and then request an invite to our 4 week course, The Reading Roadmap, so you can get the proven, ready-to-deploy…
‘Tis the season for all things warm and fuzzy! To get into the Valentine’s Day spirit, I was excited to round up 30 of my favorite heart activities for kids. The mega list includes fun math games, science experiments, crafts projects and recipes children will love. Grab the freebie below! Want more activities? Join The…
What kid doesn’t like a little bit of magic?! Add in a sweet message and you’ve got a sure fire winner for Valentine’s Day. These invisible ink valentines are a perfect addition to any Valentine’s Day party, friendship unit or rainy day activity. For more science kids will love, check out our 30 Science Experiments,…
Are you looking for a fun way to practice magic E words this winter? This icy magic E sort is a must-play! You can stay warm and cozy inside while you practice six long vowel word families. Snag your set below and then hop over to grab our Vowel Team Centers in our shop for…
This easy-peasy, low-cost kids’ science experiment uses borax to grow crystal names. All kiddos will love seeing their name shimmer and sparkle in the sunlight! Crystal names are one of our favorite science experiments EVER. Follow the simple step-by-step below and then grab 30 more easy-to-follow science experiments kids will beg to repeat (plus a…
Do you love Easter but loathe the post-egg hunt sugar crash too?! Every year at about this time, I start brainstorming non-candy Easter basket stuffers. I’m all for festive-colored sweet treats (Cadbury Cream eggs are my absolute fave!) but I also like the fun to last. I hope you enjoy my non-candy Easter basket picks…
Whether you’re a super fan of the movie Frozen or you’re just on the hunt for some wintery science projects kids will love, these 20 Frozen science experiments are sure to melt your heart. Whip up ice that’s hot to the touch, melt Elsa’s frozen hands, make some fizzy ice castles and more. Get inspired below and then…
Making patterns is an important math concept for kids to know – and what better way to learn them than through conversation heart patterns!? When I told my 5 year-old, A, that she would be making patterns using classic Valentine’s conversation hearts, she couldn’t wait to get started. A loved sorting the different colored hearts,…
This digraph center is full of fishing fun! Digraphs are two letters that make just one sound. (“DI” literally means two and “GRAPH” means letters). For example, “shark” has the digraph SH- and “chant” starts with the digraph CH-. Learning digraphs can be tricky for kids, so it’s important to give them plenty of practice….
If you’re looking for first grade centers your students will beg to repeat, you’ve come to the right spot! Playdough to Plato is all-in on helping you save time, stay inspired and get bigger teaching results so we pulled together some of our favorite first grade centers in one spot right here. Just click one…
If you’re looking for kindergarten centers your students will beg to repeat, you’ve come to the right spot! Playdough to Plato is all-in on helping you save time, stay inspired and get bigger teaching results so we pulled together some of our favorite kindergarten centers in one spot right here. Just click one of the…
If you’re looking for pre-kindergarten centers your students will beg to repeat, you’ve come to the right spot! Playdough to Plato is all-in on helping you save time, stay inspired and get bigger teaching results so we pulled together some of our favorite pre-kindergarten centers in one spot right here. Your students will love switching…
For most kids, learning how to count and write numbers takes lots and lots of practice. So why not make all of that hard work fun for kids with these number activity sheets?! These free number activity sheets are a no prep, motivating way to practice the numbers 0 to 5. Grab your set (below)…
Need an easy way to help kids build engineering skills they’ll need for their STEM future? These 24 printable challenge cards are perfect to use in STEM centers, makerspaces, or math stations. Kids will love learning about 2 and 3-dimensional STEP structures as they build and analyze each toothpick STEM structure! Grab your set in our…
Want a DIY, taste-safe paint recipe for kids? You’ve come to the right spot! This simple homemade flour paint recipe is surprisingly easy to make and keeps the kids entertained for hours. Plus, as a huge bonus, it’s safe for kids to put in their mouths – making it perfect for even the youngest artists! Snag…
Are you working on beginning sounds with kids this February?! These playful beginning sound Valentine’s Day puzzles will be the perfect addition to your literacy centers. Your students are sure to L-O-V-E this center! For more learning fun, hop over and grab our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop! Getting Ready To prep, I printed…
If you’re on the hunt for a motivating alphabet activity for Valentine’s Day, you’re in the right spot! This playful heart game is a guaranteed win. Grab the freebie below and then snag our best-selling Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop for more playful learning! Getting Ready To prep, I simply printed the…
ABC games are a fun, hands-on way to teach kids the names and sounds of letters. This roundup of 50 ABC games includes favorite finds from across the web. Whether you’re looking for a super-active game or you’d like an easy download you can print and play, this list has you covered. Then, hop over to become a…
Teaching kids to cut with scissors is an important life skill and helps build fine motor strength and hand-eye coordination they’ll need for writing alphabet letters and words later. Paper cutting stations are here to help! Handing over a pair of blades to young kids sounds intimidating, but you’ve come to the right spot! Find out…
These must-try playdough mats are a squishy, hands-on way to develop kids’ fine motor skills while they practice upper and lowercase letter formation, letter sounds, 2D shapes, counting and writing the numbers 1 to 10. They’re the perfect combination of fun and learning! Grab your pack in our shop! And for more fun, snag our Ultimate…
When my oldest son gave up naps almost a year and a half ago, I scrambled to set up some quiet time activities that would keep him entertained for half an hour so that I could have a much needed break in the middle of the day. Fast forward to today, and we have a…
These shamrock sight word puzzles are the perfect addition to your March literacy centers and word work time. Grab your set below and then hop over to download our popular Editable Sight Word Games, too! Getting Ready To prep this activity, I printed each page on cardstock and used a paper cutter to cut around…
Looking for some fun St. Patrick’s Day activities with a math, science and literacy focus? You’ve come to the right spot. We’ve pulled together 25 of our favorite St. Patrick’s Day activities for kids in one spot. We hope your little leprechauns love them too! For more activities, join The Plato Pack and get unlimited…
Kids love rainbows (and I do too!) so I couldn’t wait to create a set of colorful rainbow puzzles that would give new readers plenty of practice matching alphabet letters with their beginning sounds. These beginning sound rainbows are perfect to use as a literacy center, guided reading activity… even a St. Patrick’s Day game! …
This playful penguin word family sort is sure to be a hit with kids and you’ll love that they’re practicing important reading skills. To make it easier for you to get EVERY student bigger results, the freebie comes in TWO versions so you can quickly adjust the difficulty: One focuses on rhyming And the second…
Our snowball digraph puzzles are a fun, hands-on winter literacy center or word work activity. Just match the digraph to a word that starts with it. No snowsuit required! Snag your activity and then hop over and snag our Vowel Team Centers for more practice with words! Getting Ready To prep, I printed the digraph puzzles…
This Race to the Snowballs CVC game is sure to be “snow” much fun for students! It’s a great way for beginning readers to sound out and write three letter words. Scroll below to grab your download and then check out our best-selling Editable Sight Word Games in our shop! Getting Ready Prepping the activity…
Looking for easy prep math and literacy activities for Valentine’s Day?! This pack is jam-packed.
Gingerbread activities are always a hit with kids and this batch of literacy and math games is no exception. Pre-K and kindergarten students will love the 13 motivating activities including alphabet puzzles, counting activities, sight word games, graphing sheets, pattern cards, addition and subtraction activities and more. Grab your set in our shop or on Teachers…
If you’re looking for a fun little Thanksgiving book, we’ve got you covered! Kids will love reading about these yummy Thanksgiving foods! It’s the perfect complement to our Thanksgiving Activity Pack. For more reading fun, check out our Emergent Readers Bundle! Getting Ready I love using emergent readers with my students. The repetitive text and…
Playdough mats are an easy way to grow kids’ imaginations, develop fine motor skills and teach important skills like counting and the ABCs. This roundup of 100 free playdough mats includes some of our favorite finds from across the web. Get inspired below then hop over to become a VIP Plato Pack member so you…
Little engineers will love these 25 LEGO activities. They’re hands-on, motivating ways to practice math, literacy, engineering… even science! So grab your bucket of bricks and get ready for some serious LEGO learning fun. And for more fun, check out our Epic STEM Challenge Bundle! This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Getting Ready Before jumping in…
Help preschoolers and kindergartners remember the shape and sound of the ABCs with these adorable letter of the week crafts. Then, hop over to become a VIP Plato Pack member so you can get all of the tools, strategies and support you need to reach ALL of your learners. To young children, a letter is…
‘Tis the season for Santa Claus, jingle bells and sweet treats. I love it! This go-to Christmas Activity Pack includes 23 elf-approved math and literacy activities bundled together in one easy instant download. It’s perfect for Pre-K and Kindergarten. Grab the printable below and then hop over to become a VIP Plato Pack member so you can get all…
This free Santa stationery is a perfect addition to your writing center this holiday season! Snag the activity below. Then, ready for more writing? Take a look at our Writing Center Starter Kit in our shop and turn your students into authors! Getting Ready Prepping the Santa stationery was easy peasy! I printed a copy…
Get ready for some seriously fun learning! These 14 fall centers are perfect for kindergarten or first grade and include print-and-play math AND literacy stations. Grab the printable below and then hop over to become a VIP Plato Pack member so you can get all of the tools, strategies and support you need to reach…
Salt tray writing is a super simple, multi-sensory way to encourage kids to practice letter formation and sight words. And with a little orange food color and a dash of pumpkin pie spice, you can quickly turn an ordinary salt tray into a PUMPKIN SPICE one. It’s such a simple way to add a BIG…
Tis’ the season for all things orange! There are SO MANY super fun pumpkin activities and we’re excited to pass along our favorites from across the web. This fall-themed roundup includes pumpkin-themed math, literacy and science projects your kids will LOVE. If you’re looking for more, hop over to become a VIP Plato Pack member so…
Nothing screams fall quite like apples, am I right? These 16 motivating apple activities make it fun to practice literacy, math, science and STEM. And the best part is that your kindergarten and first grade students will LOVE every single one of them! Snag your jumbo-sized apple pack in our shop or on Teachers Pay…
The title of this ABC game really says it all! These easy prep alphabet stamping sheets are a fun and simple way to practice letter recognition or stretch kids to pair upper and lowercase combinations. Grab your copy below and then hop over and snag our best-selling Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop! This…
Get ready for some serious fun! These 18 engaging print-and-play centers motivate kids to practice reading and writing the 8 most common diphthongs: -AU, -AW, -EW, -OI, -OO, -OU, -OW, -OY If you’re looking for more just like this, become a VIP Plato Pack member so you can get all of the tools, strategies and support you…
Teaching kids to read is one of the most important things on your daily to-do list. But making that learning FUN can feel daunting – it’s hard to know where to start. Enter: phonics games! When learning feels more like play than work, even reluctant readers will ask to practice it. And this roundup of…
Looking for some sight word practice that doesn’t include flashcards? This easy-peasey, squeezy activity is one of our favorite sight word games! It’s the perfect compliment to our Editable Sight Word Games! Getting Ready The prep for this was as easy as it comes. I quickly wrote a list of sight words down the right-hand…
I’m embarrassed to admit it, but my stash of geoboards sat on the shelves for YEARS collecting dust. I didn’t really know how I could make them engaging for kids and I was too busy trying to keep up on my to do list to dive in and figure it out. I soooo wish I…
These alphabet geoboard challenges build problem solving and design skills while working on geometry, counting, perimeter, angles, comparing, scaling AND letter recognition at the same time.
They’re jam packed with learning!
Just print the cards on cardstock, cut them apart, and grab a geoboard and rubber band set. Kids will love building all 26 uppercase letters and their 26 lowercase pairs.
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND
–> 2 versions of uppercase letter cards (easier + harder)
–> 2 versions of lowercase letter cards (easier + harder)
–> Record sheets
–> A bonus challenge asking kids to build 4 geoboard designs of their own.
You can easily stretch the activity for kids who are ready for a challenge by giving them the set of harder challenges or simplify it for students who are new to geoboards by pulling out the easier one.
As a bonus, the set also includes record sheets and challenge worksheets for kids who are ready for a next step.
Graphs of the week are a valuable way to teach students how to create, read and analyze graphs.
This mega bundle provides 5 pocket chart graphs for each month so kids can practice data analysis all year long.
They’re great to use as morning work or quick whole group lessons!
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
–> EDITABLE student cards that make it easy to print personalized pocket chart cards for every child in class.
–> 5 pocket chart graphs for each month.
–> 5 follow up record sheets for each month.
One of my favorite weekly traditions was pulling out our jumbo-sized pocket chart so students could complete a whole class graph. That’s why I am SO excited about our newest activity pack: a MEGA pack of weekly graphs you can use ALL YEAR LONG. Scroll below and then become a VIP Plato Pack member so…
Whether you’re prepping a farm unit or just need motivating ways to teach STEM, math, science, reading and writing skills, this farm MEGA pack is a must-try. These activities are yours when you become a VIP Plato Pack member. Just join, print, and play! SO EASY TO DIFFERENTIATE As always, the activities are designed for…
These back to school activities will keep kids engaged and learning all month long! The mega pack includes 15 math and literacy centers.
The back to school set is perfect for kindergarten and first grade.
Scroll down to take a peek at all of the exciting fun ahead!
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
LITERACY
–> Rhyming Clip Cards. Clip the word that rhymes!
–> Match Up. Sound out 16 pairs of CVC words.
–> Alphabet Glue. Motivate students to work on letter recognition and upper and lowercase pairing.
–> Letter Sound Puzzles. Solve playful puzzles by matching letters to words that start with them.
–> EDITABLE Hide and Seek. Playfully practice sight words, alphabet letters, classmate names… anything under the sun!
–> EDITABLE Back to School Sight Word Race. Race to the school as you read and write sight words, word families, classmates’ names… you pick!
–> 3 Story Starters. Get kids writing with fun story prompts.
MATH
–> Counting Clip Cards. Reinforce the numbers 1 to 20 by practicing counting on and number recognition.
–> Spin to 20. Work on counting, number recognition and ten frames at the same time!
–> Color by Ten Frame. Motivate kids to build number recognition from 1-20!
–> Making 10 Challenge Cards and Review Sheet. How many more do you need to make 10?
–> 2 Roll and Cover Pattern Block Mats. Race to cover the pattern block mat and practice number recognition OR addition along the way.
–> Subtracting from 10. Roll the dice, subtract the number that lands on top and write the problem you created.
–> Subtraction Color Up. Race against your partner to solve the most subtraction problems.
–> Spinning Shapes. Work on 2D shapes and graphing with a playful spinning game!
Helping kids notice differences between short vowel sounds can be tricky but, thankfully, these ten short vowel emergent readers are a huge help! The ten emergent reader books are a motivating and easy prep way to help kids build critical pre-reading skills. Each set even includes pocket chart cards and follow up practice sheets so you can easily…
These bright and colorful alphabet posters are the perfect addition to your classroom or homeschool!
They’re a helpful tool for Pre-K, kindergarten and first grade students who are learning beginning sounds because they can easily match the upper and lowercase alphabet letter to a familiar word that starts with it.
You can even print multiple sheets on a page to make flashcards students can take home for review.
Get ready to add a fun pop of color to your walls!
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
–> 26 alphabet posters featuring uppercase and lowercase letters and an image to go along with the letter
Looking for St. Patrick’s Day activities your students will beg to play over and over again?!
This print and play pack includes 13 motivating ways to teach alphabet letters, word families, sight words, number concept, graphing, making ten and so much more.
The St. Patrick’s Day activities are easy to differentiate, making them perfect for pre-K and kindergarten!
Check out all the fun details below.
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
LITERACY
–> Alphabet Puzzles. A playful way to work on letter sounds.
–> Rhyming Puzzles. Find the matching words.
–> Perfect Pairs. Sound out 16 pairs of CVC words.
–> EDITABLE Gold Rush Sight Word Game. Race to the gold as you read and write sight words along the way.
–> EDITABLE Leprechaun Words. Write your word list in a St. Patrick’s Day tray!
–> 3 Story Starters. Get kids writing with fun story prompts.
MATH
The set also includes math activities teaching critical skills including counting, number writing, patterns, shapes and graphing.
–> 1-20 Ten Frame Dab. Read the number and then fill your ten frame with that many dots.
–> Shamrock Ten Frames. Spin a number and color the shamrock ten frame to match.
–> Making 10 Challenge Cards and Review Sheet. How many more do you need to make 10?
–> Cut and Paste Patterns. Solve AB, AAB and ABC patterns.
–> Leprechaun Shapes. Spin a shape, name it and graph it. What shape reaches the top first?
–> Counting Clip Cards. Count the St. Patrick’s Day objects and clip the matching number from 1-12.
Learning how to rhyme is an important step toward reading. It teaches kids to notice patterns in words, break words into parts and incorporate rhythm when they read with expression later. This rhyming pack includes eight of my favorite ways to teach kids how to rhyme. The activities are flexible enough to use with one student or 28 – making the…
Motivating sight word games that work for any grade and school district. A HUGE time and money saver!
Gingerbread activities are always a hit with kids and this batch of literacy and math games is no exception.
Pre-K and kindergarten students will love the 13 motivating activities including alphabet puzzles, counting activities, sight word games, graphing sheets, pattern cards, addition and subtraction activities and more.
Check out all the fun details below!
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
LITERACY
–> Alphabet Gumdrops. Such a motivating way to work on letter recognition and upper and lowercase pairing.
–> Beginning Sound Puzzles. Solve playful puzzles by matching letters to words that start with them.
–> Gingerbread Families. Practice word families by brainstorming three at a time.
–> EDITABLE Gumdrop Words. Make sight words magically appear on gumdrops!
–> EDITABLE Sight Word Race. Race around the game board reading and writing sight words!
–> Story Starters. Get kids writing with fun story prompts.
MATH
–> 1 to 20 Clip Cards. A fun counting, number recognition and fine motor activity in one.
–> Roll a Gingerbread Man. Practice the numbers 1 to 6 with a playful dice game.
–> Colorful Numbers. A motivating way to work on number writing.
–> Gumdrop Patterns. Practice AB, AAB, ABB, ABC and AABB patterns with a holiday twist.
–> Shape Graphs. Flick the spinner, name the shape and graph it. What shape reaches the top first?
–> Gumdrop Write and Wipe Addition Cards. How many gumdrops do you have in all?
–> Subtracting from Ten. Roll the die and take away that many gumdrops. How many are left?
These letter sound wheels are absolute alphabet perfection! The playful clip cards are a motivating way to work on beginning sounds.
Clip the words that start with each letter.
But don’t be fooled! Four of the choices aren’t a match.
There’s one wheel for all 26 letters.
—> Bundle with all of our other alphabet activities and SAVE!
Our super popular alphabet, fine motor and preschool math packs bundled together for an easy (and DISCOUNTED!) bundle.
Get ready to add a huge dose of fun to your alphabet centers! These 23 fun, motivating alphabet games teach kids critical skills including letter names, letter sounds, ABC sequencing, letter formation and uppercase-lowercase pairing. Use them as literacy centers, small group activities, morning work or homeschool activities. There are so many possibilities! Grab your…
Whether you use Daily Five, reading groups or something else entirely, these editable literacy center labels make it *so easy* to customize a station rotation that’s a perfect fit for your classroom. Grab your set in our shop or on Teachers Pay Teachers! Then, speaking of literacy, try out our awesome Emergent Readers Bundle to…
Looking for a motivating sight word activity for kids?! This is a must-try! It’s a clever way to turn kids’ love of technology into a screen free activity that helps them practice any words under the sun – word families, sight word lists, names… even alphabet letters! For more exciting sight word practice, snag our best-selling Editable Sight…
These 15 editable word work board games are a huge time and money saver! Type your unique word list once and the words pop into the right spot on every single game.
Whether you’re in need of ready to go word work activities, literacy centers or fun spelling practice, this pack has you covered.
Use it with any word list under the sun: sight words, word families, themed words, classmates’ names…the sky’s the limit! Kids love that they’re fun – grown ups love that they’re ready to play!
The games make practice reading, spelling and writing words so motivating.
EASIEST PREP EVER
The word work game boards couldn’t get any simpler to prep. Just print the activity you want kids to work on, grab one or two school supplies like playing pieces and dice, and you’re all set. Easy peasy!
EASILY DIFFERENTIATE WORD LISTS
The word work game boards are incredibly easy to differentiate so you can give kids at different reading levels “just right” practice. Type in your word list for your first level of readers, and print the activity you want your kids to play.
Hop back to the word list and swap out the words for your next level of readers. The new words will automatically load into the correct spot on all of the activities.
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
The 15 editable board games are guaranteed fun for kids!
The pack includes ready to play board games and coordinating follow up record sheets:
–> Unicorn Race
–> Construction Site
–> Scuba Dive
–> Forest Hike
–> Monster Mash
–> The Farm
–> Car Race
–> Firefighter Dash
–> Space Race
–> School Carnival
–> Flower Garden
–> Police Chase
–> Basketball Swoosh
–> Treasure Hunt
–> Snow Day
Clever word work centers make it fun for kids to practice everything from rhyming to word building, sight words, word families, spelling and more. These motivating word work centers are so entertaining that kids won’t even realize they are learning. Snag your free game below and then hop over and grab 14 more board games for your…
My favorite way to begin teaching kids how to read is to start them off with the word they love most: their name! These playful, editable name puzzles are perfect for a zoo unit, beginning of year activity or just because. And, just like our super popular Editable Name Games, they work with any name under…
Designing and creating leprechaun traps is one of my favorite activities for March! Kids can come up with amazing ideas if you simply give them an opportunity to be creative and BUILD! I prefer to view it as a project-based learning (PBL) opportunity by having families send in materials for the students to create their…
Pumpkin activities are a must for fall! These 21 playful pumpkin math, literacy and science activities take learning to the next level by teaching kids alphabet letters, sight words, numbers, beginning addition, pumpkin life cycles and so much more. They’re perfect for preschool and kindergarten! Grab the activity pack in our shop or on Teachers Pay Teachers, Want more?! Hop over to…
We’ve all heard it a million times. In an increasingly techy world, computer coding is “the wave of the future.” But what does “coding” really mean and how in the world are we supposed to actually TEACH it?! Thankfully, teaching kids computer code has never been easier! This STEM challenge pack explains what “binary code” means…
CVC sound boxes are an awesome way to help kids learn how to sound out and spell simple three letter words such as cat, log and dog. These print and play sound box mats are a ready to go literacy center or word work station. Since kids can practice spelling the CVC words using magnetic letters…
Consonant blends (also called consonant clusters) are groups of two or three letters that are often placed together in words. A few of the most common blends are BL-, CL-, CR-, FR-, SC- and SM-. Our Blend Activity Pack makes it easy to focus on one type of blend with newer readers (for instance, L blends) or…
As children learn how to read, the part of words they are able to isolate and spell first are beginning sounds. It is as though their brain works so hard to pull apart that first sound that the rest of the letters just melt away. These eleven beginning sound games are the perfect combination of fun and effective…
These eight beginning sound games are the perfect combination of fun and effective for kids! As children learn how to read, the part of words they are able to isolate and spell first are beginning sounds. It is as though their brain works so hard to pull apart that first sound that the rest of the letters just melt away.
Each game comes in color and black and white versions, and they are perfect for centers or small reading groups. Grab them now to help your students move on to ending sounds in no time!
BEGINNING SOUND GAMES INCLUDED:
–> Clip cards
–> Alphabet match up puzzles
–> 5 game boards
–> Color by sound no prep sheets
–> Sound sort
–> Mystery beginning sound no prep sheets
–> Beginning sound cover up mats
–> Match & cover consonants and vowels
NOTE: All of our activities are instant downloads.
For most children, the most important words they’ll ever learn to read and write are their names. That’s why names are the perfect word to teach them first. These 10 editable name games make learning fun for kids and easy for grown ups. Because all of the sheets are editable, the activities work with any name…
The first words many children learn to read and write are their names. These 10 playful name games make learning them fun for kids and easy prep for grown ups.
Because all of the pages are editable, the activities work with any name under the sun. Type it once and the name automatically loads into every page. It’s a huge time saver!
The editable name games include ten motivating activities. Check out all of the fun details below.
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
–> Dot the letters in your name sheets
–> Name puzzles
–> Colorful letter art collages and class book
–> In my name/not in my name sorting mat
–> Magnetic letter spelling mat
–> Play dough spelling mat
–> Name writing practice sheets
–> Name book
–> Glue tracing page
–> Symmetrical name craftivity
NOTE: All of our products are instant downloads.
If you’re looking for motivating bug and butterfly activities for Pre-K or kindergarten, this set is for you!
The bug and butterfly set includes plenty of variety so that you can easily differentiate for different learners. Work on alphabet letters, word families, sight words, counting, adding, life cycles and so much more!
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
–> Rainbow butterflies practicing upper and lowercase pairs
–> Alphabet puzzles working on letter sounds
–> 2 EDITABLE sight word games
–> Rhyming clip cards
–> Word family clip cards and writing activity
–> 0-20 counting clip cards
–> Ten frame coloring sheets
–> Roll and cover pattern block mats practicing counting and adding
–> Ladybug addition sheets
–> Butterfly life cycle hats
–> Butterfly life cycle posters
–> Ladybug life cycle wheels
–> Ladybug life cycle posters
–> 4 story starters
These NO PREP handwriting activity sheets make it fun for kids to practice letter names, letter formation and letter sounds!
BIG UPDATE–> The pack now includes D’Nealian handwriting pages and British English versions that ask kids to “colour” instead of “color”.
Use the covers to bind them together as an engaging handwriting book or have kids work on the sheets one at a time!
The handwriting activity sheets are great to use as morning work, word work stations, supplemental handwriting practice or alphabet activity in kindergarten or preschool.
STUDENTS WILL:
–> Write upper and lowercase letters with highlighters,
–> Rainbow write them with six colors of crayons (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple),
–> Write them in boxes
–> Trace them on a line
–> And color a word that starts with the sound
These handwriting activity sheets are so motivating! Just print and play.
Welcome Instagram friends! This is the place to find all of our latest posts in one spot. Simply scroll down and click on the activity you’re searching for – our newest posts are on top. Spring STEM Challenges in our shop // on Teachers Pay Teachers 3D Shape Puzzles Sticky Ice Rainbow Digraph Puzzles Egg…
Looking for Valentine’s Day activities your students will beg to play over and over again?!
This print and play pack includes 20 motivating ways to teach alphabet letters, word families, sight words, number concept, graphing, estimating and so much more.
The Valentine’s Day activities are easy to differentiate, making them perfect for pre-K, kindergarten and first grade!
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
LITERACY
–> Alphabet Hearts. Such a motivating way to work on letter recognition and upper and lowercase pairing.
–> Letter Sound Clip Cards. Clip the letter that starts each word.
–> Rhyming Puzzles. Find the matching words.
–> Perfect Pairs. Sound out 16 pairs of CVC words.
–> EDITABLE Sight Word Dash. Race to give your friends their valentines as you read and write sight words along the way.
–> EDITABLE Heart Words. Write your word list in a Valentine’s tray!
–> 2 Little Reader Books. Practice pointing underneath each word, using picture clues and more.
–> 3 Story Starters. Get kids writing with fun story prompts.
MATH
The set also includes math activities teaching critical skills including counting, number writing, patterns, estimation, odds and evens and graphing.
–> 1-20 Ten Frame Dab. Read the number and then fill your ten frame with that many dots.
–> Spin to 20 Game. Race to reach 20 as you practice adding on.
–> Making 10 Challenge Cards and Review Sheet. How many more do you need to make 10?
–> Heart Patterns. Solve AB, ABB, ABCD, AABB, AAB and ABC patterns.
–> Shape Graphs. Pick up a valentine, name the shape and graph it. What shape reaches the top first?
–> Estimation Station. Practice making good guesses and comparing them to actual answers.
AND THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING!
There are 20 Valentine’s Day activities in all.
I always think the pumpkin season is our favorite classroom theme… until it is time for gingerbread! This Gingerbread ABC Game is a simple way to incorporate some seasonal fun into mastering letters and sounds, ABC order and even CVC words! When you’re dong matching, snag our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop for access to all of our…
I won’t downplay it – I’m totally obsessed with these 32 editable sight word games. And teachers are too! The pack has earned more than 1,300 four star ratings on Teachers Pay Teachers. “This has to be one of the best things that I have ever bought! These save me so much time and headaches when it’s time to…
My son knows how to write all of his letters and numbers, but the sizing, spacing, and smoothness needs a fair amount of improvement. To help him work on handwriting skills in a motivating way, I wanted him to practice writing my son’s favorite word: his name! I created this fun name writing workbook so I could follow along with his…
Learning the alphabet can be a lot of work, but one way to keep kids motivated is through fun games. Such as this free ice cream themed ABC activity! Scroll below to grab the freebie then make sure to hop over and snag our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack! Getting Ready This free alphabet matching game…
ABC games are a motivating way to teach kids the names and sounds of letters. This superhero-themed alphabet match up takes the fun to a whole new level. As kids pair upper and lowercase letters together, they magically build an awesome superhero. This ABC game is a low-prep, must-try activity kids will beg to play again and again. For more alphabet fun, snag…
My almost 3 year-old is obsessed with his name so, to help him practice spelling it, I headed to my local hardware store. With just a few supplies, I quickly whipped out this paint chip clothespin name activity. Its a good thing this took a mere minutes to prep because my kiddo could barely wait…
These 25 awesome name games are sure to keep kids entertained for days. They’ll love crystallizing, tracing and painting the most important word they’ll ever learn. And for more fun, be sure to grab our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack in our shop! Whether you’re in the mood for an art project, need to burn off some extra…
I admit it: I used to be a Dollar Tree skeptic. I couldn’t imagine that a store filled with things costing just one buck could possibly have anything worthwhile. Boy was I wrong. The Dollar Tree is packed with awesome classroom supplies – scissors, flashcards, posters, dice… It even has a teacher supply aisle. No joke. Here are 100+ of…
These 23 Christmas activities will make even the Grinch smile! The festive math and literacy centers include alphabet games, counting activities, pattern and shape practice… so much learning in one download.
The set is perfect for Pre-K and Kindergarten!
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
LITERACY
–> Rhyming Clip Cards. Clip the word that rhymes!
–> Alphabet Christmas Lights. Such a motivating way to work on letter recognition and upper and lowercase pairing.
–> Letter Sound Puzzles. Solve playful puzzles by matching letters to words that start with them.
–> Alphabet Clip Strips. An awesome way to practice upper and lowercase pairs.
–> ABC Trees. Roll the alphabet die and color the matching ornament. So fun for letter recognition!
–> Christmas Themed Handwriting Activity Sheets (in Print and D’Nealian). Strengthen letter formation and fine motor skills.
–> EDITABLE Sight Word Maze. Race to Santa’s workshop and read sight words along the way.
–> Christmas Bingo (Class Set). Play a fun round of Bingo as you practice reading Christmas themed words.
–> North Pole Little Reader Book. Practice pointing underneath each word, using picture clues and more.
–> 5 Story Starters. Get kids writing with fun story prompts.
MATH
–> Christmas Counting Clip Cards. A fun counting, number recognition and fine motor activity in one.
–> Counting Mats. Reinforce counting from 1 to 10 and ten frames.
–> 1-20 Ten Frame Dab. Read the number and then fill your ten frame with that many dots.
–> Color by Ten Frame. Work on instantly recognizing the numbers 1 to 20.
–> Spin to 20 Game. Race to reach 20 as you practice adding on.
–> This or That. Compare two numbers and color the one that’s largest.
–> Roll to 30 Sheet. Practice number recognition and adding on as you race to 30.
–> Making 10 Challenge Cards and Review Sheet. How many more do you need to make 10?
–> Cut and Paste. Solve AB, ABB and ABC patterns.
–> Candy Cane Patterns. How many different patterns can you create?
–> Reindeer Spin and Graph Shapes. Flick the spinner, name the shape and graph it. What shape reaches the top first?
–> Christmas Tree Roll and Cover Pattern Block Mat. Race to cover the pattern block mat and practice number recognition and adding along the way.
NOTE: All of our products are instant downloads.
If you’re looking for a really quick way to help students learn to spell their name, you’re in the right spot! These simple name songs for kids make it surprisingly easy for them to learn the letters in their name… and their classmates’ names too! Get your hands on a printable version of the songs…
Looking for a playdough recipe that’s perfect for fall? These homemade playdoughs are scented with real apples, pumpkin, and spices. Use them in a pretend bakery shop, play with some free playdough mats or stamp them with alphabet letters… the possibilities are limitless. Each playdough recipe makes enough for 2-3 children to have a large ball of…
INSIDE YOU’LL FIND:
LETTER RECOGNITION
–> Alphabet Stamping
–> Letter in My Name Sort
–> Curvy, Straight Letter Shape Sort
–> Alphabet Clip Cards
–> Alphabet Memory
–> Little Mouse Alphabet House Game
LETTER FORMATION
–> Handwriting Activity Sheets (in standard AND D’nealian fonts)
–> Alphabet Tic Tac Toe
–> ABC Hide and Seek
–> Race to the Top
–> Matchbox Car Tracing
LETTER SOUND
–> Alphabet Chant
–> Alphabet Charts (in color AND black and white)
–> Alphabet Match Up
–> Phonics Clip Cards
–> Phonics Match Up
ABC SEQUENCING
–> Paperclip Letters
–> Missing Letters Game
–> Missing Letters Clip Cards
Bundle with our fine motor and preschool math pack and save here!
ABC games are a great way to teach kids the names and sounds of letters. What makes this roundup of 20 ABC games a little different is that it’s filled with boy-tested and strongly approved activities that are about the things boys love most. No worksheets allowed. So roll up your sleeves, pull on your fireman hat and get ready to…
I love finding preschool activities that make learning fun for my kids – science projects, math games, ABC games… you name it, I’m a fan. That’s why I was excited to pull together a list of more than 100 of my favorite hands-on preschool activities from across the web so that I could find tons of fun, educational ways to fill…
This activity is perfect for developing fine motor skills. This salt writing project was a creative and fun fine motor skills activity perfect for building the hand muscles my boys will use later when they’re writing. I was excited to play it again at home. For more preschool fun, try our Ultimate Preschool Activity Pack! To…
These Word Family Spiders are cute AND educational! If you follow me on Playdough to Plato’s new Instagram page, you already know that our family has a serious case of Halloween fever. And I love it. So I decided to overcome my arachnophobia and pull together a low-prep, spider word family activity for my oldest son,…
