Games and Activities
Looking for activities to show your child the fun side of learning? From science experiments and math games to writing projects and more, we've got you covered! Use the selector on the right to browse around, or narrow your search by grade and subject area.
Instead of suffering through another worksheet with your child, why not practice improper fractions in a hands-on, interactive way? "Fraction Roll" is a fast and fun activity in which your child uses ordinary dice to identify and compare proper and improper fractions.
Want to put the fun back into writing? This journal is a back and forth project you do together. It models good writing, plus helps kids learn to get their true thoughts down on paper. Tag, you're it!
More activities:
Play: Syllable I Spy!
At some point in your life, you've probably played the game "I Spy." It's perfect for boring waits at the grocery store, or long car rides. But with a little tweaking, the game can also help kids practice a key first grade concept...syllables. Here's how to play:
3 Ways to Practice Getting the Main Idea
Understanding the main idea of a paragraph is an important part of the third grade language arts curriculum, but if can be tough for beginning readers. Here's three exercises you can do at home to help your child to see the forest through the trees!
Explore Genetics by Finding Family Traits!
For a fun family activity to introduce your child to genetics, have your child go on a search for dominant and recessive family genes!
The Build-a-Word Card Game: Better than Go Fish!
Compound words may look hard at first, but things get easier if kids can spot two smaller words that they already know. Want to add a little "holy moly!" to something that can feel ho hum? This card game will help you practice making compound words-- and have some fun while you're at it!
Make Popsicle Puppets...and Practice Communication
How many times a day to you say "Use your words, not your hands" to your young children? Probably more than you'd like to count! Preschoolers need to learn about conflict resolution. And puppets can help!
Make Fabric Letters
Preschoolers love playing games! They especially like games with hands on pieces to move around and manipulate. Make this set and give your kid a chance to play with a cool collection of pieces, and with letter sounds at the same time.
Go on a Citation Hunt
Want to help your child learn to find quotations from books and articles that will support an argument? Here's a fun game that will have him hustling to find quotes to back up written assertions.
Homemade Sidewalk Chalk
Any excuse is a good excuse to get outside. And homemade chalk ranks right up there! Not only will making your own chalk bring hours of hopscotch and drawing entertainment, but all that sidewalk fun builds the hand muscles, which helps young kids as they learn to write.
Bake a Batch of Crispy Kisses!
This recipe makes rice crispy treats, wrapped like giant chocolate kisses! Sweet additions to add to a stack of valentines, this yummy craft will also give your preschool or kindergarten kid a reason to do a little writing and drawing this Valentine's day!
Make a THINGS I LIKE Poster!
Put your junk mail to good use! Armed with a stack of grocery flyers, toy store ads, and a few simple art supplies, your preschooler can make a cool poster for his room. Plus, he'll get some hands-on sorting practice, a key early math skill.
