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.
Snowflakes offer endless delight for curious little kids. If you live in Maine or Wyoming, your first grader can step outside in December to collect the real thing; but if you live in warmer climes, no worries! You can make your own.
Recognizing common abbreviations is an important component to second grade language arts. Here's a fun book-making project that will help your child learn to abbreviate and provide a great art lesson at the same time!
More activities:
Get Metaphor and Simile Savvy Through Writing
How do literary devices work? Here's a review of simile, metaphor, and personification, and a fun, creative writing activity to make things like metaphor a piece of cake!
Make a Clock!
You thought this day would never come, but guess what, it's time! Time for your child to learn to TELL time, that is. Mastering this skill can seem hard at first, but hands-on practice helps. Here's a fun at-home activity that lets kids make a clock of their own.
Play Traveling ABC's!: A Spelling Game
When it comes to spelling, using a hands-on activity can help children remember each word better than just reading the word on a page. Want to give your kid some spelling practice, without making her groan? Take her spelling list on the road!
Create a Fish Art Print!
The fish most first grade kids see is usually filleted or canned, and it's hard to see how it came from a lake or sea. Here's a delightful way to bridge the gap, with an activity that blends art with life science discovery.
Write an Art Project Proposal
Here's a great project to get your child on the right track towards writing well thought-out proposals (it may even be a substitute to all the begging and whining!)
Bake Some Words!
Forget handwriting practice at a desk, take it to the kitchen! This writing activity lets kids practice spelling and writing with cookie dough.
Be a Prime Number Hunter
Wondering how to help your child get a handle on prime numbers? Why not turn her into a prime number hunter?
Leprechaun Treasure Hunt!
This hunt for leprechaun gold is so much fun, kids won't even realize they're working their reading muscles at the same time.
Play with Characters...and Writing!
Who are the people young readers meet in their books? How do authors help us know what these characters are like? This reading and writing activity will help your first grader build important comprehension skills that she'll need in second and third grade, too.
Slap It!: An Odds and Evens Card Game
This activity is based on the popular card game, Slapjack. It's rip-roaring fun, and it reinforces the concepts of odd and even, which in turn will help your child succeed in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
