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.
If you're planning a trip with a third grader, consider this: with a few simple tools - a road map, a highlighter, and pencil and paper, you can harness your child's impatience and reinforce some solid academic skills while you're at it.
Making a calendar page with the name of the month, days of the week, and holidays is a fun way to see the month take shape. Plus, it's a great way to identify those words that are always capitalized.
More activities:
Make Rice Pictures
Forget markers or crayons. For a really unusual art project, close the art supply cabinet, and crack open the pantry!
Go on an Alphabet Photo Shoot!
Most preschoolers love to pretend. You can use this to your advantage, with an activity that will make them feel all grown up. As your child plays photographer, snapping pictures around the yard, he'll also be practicing recognizing letter sounds, which will help him learn to read.
Bake Alphabet Cookies
This cookie dough handles like modeling clay, but it also makes delicious cookies. Use this activity to strengthen your child's alphabet skills, to show him where to sit for dinner, or just to have an unexpected treat.
Play the Jumping Bean Game
Most little kids hate to sit still. You can use this knowledge to your advantage, with this cute game that lets your child practice making words, while acting like a Mexican jumping bean!
Fish Me a Word
Want to help your child learn how to read? Put down the books and pick up the fishing rod! This silly game is a fun way to introduce and reinforce sight words--by fishing for them!
Toss and Blend: A Carnival Game
Have you ever played the carnival game where you try to toss chips into a cup, to win a fabulous prize? This version may not snag your kid a human-sized stuffed giraffe, but it will give them a boost with writing and spelling. So get out those paper cups!
Create a School's Out! Calendar
Another school year, come and gone. Plan ahead for summer, by constructing a holiday calendar with your child. Not only will it teach your kid about the passing of time, but it will build excitement, all summer long!
Make a Counting Book
If a picture's worth a thousand words, how many numbers is it worth? Break out some old newspapers and magazines and let your kid find out, by creating her very own counting book!
Make a Ladybug Storyboard!
Does it bug you that math isn't more fun? Teachers have been using flannel boards for years, to make stories sing. Now, you can make your own version of the flannel board, and help bring math to life!
Build Sentence Puzzles
Does your kindergartener know what a sentence is? Does she keep reading, long after she reaches the period, like she's in a run-on marathon? Help her practice reading, and learn the key pieces to the sentence puzzle, by creating sentence puzzles at home!
