1st Grade Arts and Crafts 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.
Celebrate Labor Day and give your child a jump start on the school year by taking a walk through your neighborhood and talking about the different jobs that people do, then showing him how to make his very own "career book."
This fun activity makes use of some simple "ingredients" to make a crab while your child learns about this unique creature. Get started with just a few pasta shells and some paint!
More arts and crafts activities for first grade:
Practice Stick Writing!
First graders will get a kick out of creating a written message and practicing their letters using sticks they find in nature. This also helps to practice their letter formation and handwriting strokes.
Make Your Own Pinata!
A longtime staple of birthday parties, the candy-filled pinata is a part of everyone's childhood. Now, your family can make its own pinata!
Get Your Head in the Clouds!
First graders are eager to learn about science - especially using large objects to observe like clouds. Let your child daydream a little and use those science and writing skills, too!
Build a Better Sandcastle
If your child aspires to be the next Frank Lloyd Wright, we've got some tips on building a castle that lasts.
Build a Pop Rocket
What's cooler than an explosion? Not much! This simple science experiment lets kids build their own pop rocket, with help from a basic chemical reaction. So put on your safety goggles and let her rip!
Make a Pinata!
Got that party fever? Looking for a crafty distraction for a warm day? Few things are as fun for kids as a piñata, and it's easy-as-pie to make your own!
A Martin Luther King Day Project
Martin Luther King Day is a great excuse to show how just one person can make a difference in the world, and teach kids that they can be that person! This hands-on activity gets them brainstorming about what needs change in the world, and how they can help.
Make a Tissue Paper Bouquet
Whether you're a kid or a grownup, spring flowers are just about irresistible. Here's a classic first grade activity to make flowers, anytime, with just a few sheets of tissue paper and some pipe cleaners.
Make Paper Snowflakes
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.
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.
