1st Grade Activities
First grade is a year of firsts: your child's first full day of school, the first time she'll write a small story herself, and the first time she'll read a complete book cover to cover. We've got dozens of wacky reading and math activities, cool science experiments, and indoor and outdoor games to keep the learning fun.
Spinning Science: Disappearing Color!
Did you ever think you could make colors disappear right before your eyes? This science experiment is just like a magic trick: now you see it, now you don't!
Make a "Handy" Thanksgiving Wreath
First grade social science curriculum includes lessons on our Thanksgiving holiday, but there's no place like home to make it come alive. Here's an activity that expresses thanks while sneaking in some reading and writing practice, too.
Celery Stick Science
We humans drink water through our mouths, but what about plants? What really happens when you sprinkle that watering can? Here's a classic experiment that demonstrates how plants absorb water.
Make Your Own Ant Farm!
All you need is some simple, natural materials to create an amazing ant farm for your budding first grade scientist.
Picasso Pumpkins
There are many wonderful ways to decorate a pumpkin that don't require the use of a carving knife. Case in point: these Cubist art pumpkins.
"Scrambled Egg" Math
First graders spend lots of time learning how to handle double digit numbers. Here's a "green" way to build up those skills and have some old fashioned family fun, too.
Egg Carton Addition!
Using nothing fancier than and egg carton and some beans or pennies, you can play this game with your first grader and see real gains in core math skills.
Make a Halloween Candle Holder
For a Halloween arts and crafts activity that will give your child an introduction to the art of stained glass, give these candleholders a try.
Design a Diorama!
Help your child make an imaginative scene come to life by designing and detailing a diorama. Your child will be practicing two and three dimensional thinking, plus the essential language arts skill of constructing a narrative!
Paint for Learning at "Sidewalk School"
Help your child practice new writing and math skills with a fun outdoor activity that will have your child teaching you! By using watercolor paints to practice writing letters, sentences, and math problems, your child will practice essential first grade skills in his "Sidewalk School."
