Send a Phoneme Postcard
Even in first grade, spelling can seem awfully complicated, so teaching your child some spelling strategies and patterns can really help him improve. In this activity, give your child the opportunity to get some spelling practice in while creating a wacky postcard at the same time.
Grocery Store Decoding
Looking for a fun away to help your child practice sounding out words? Look no further than that stack of old magazines--product names are great for teaching word families!
Sequence Sentences...and Make Your Favorite Sandwich!
Which comes first: the bread or the turkey? Whether first graders are telling a story about a sandwich or making a real one to eat, the sequence is crucial! Help it all make sense--and taste good, too--with this activity.
Crack the Code!: A Spelling Challenge
It's a rare kid that doesn't love a good spy game. Here's a way to have fun with mysterious codes while mastering an ordinary, necessary skill: first grade spelling.
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.
Mud Painting: Outdoor Writing Fun!
If you're looking for something to keep your kid busy on a warm day, and give him some writing practice in the process, look no further than that mound of dirt in your yard and the hose sitting nearby. Bring on the mud!
Dictionary Treasure Hunt
In first grade, vocabulary moves to center stage. But when a kid gets stumped--and we all feel that way sometimes, even as adults--it's time to turn to a lifetime resource: the dictionary. Want a fun way to help your child start making friends with this reference tool? Try this treasure hunt!
Create Picture Perfect Postcards!
Show your child how to create one-of-a-kind postcards from family photographs. As you write, address, stamp, and mail each postcard, your child will practice his emerging writing skills while learning the art of correspondence.
Practice Writing with Monster Markings
Give your first grader some extra practice in reading and writing with these "monster marking" riddles!
Make Fingerprint Art
Get your hands dirty and paint with your fingers. Your fingerprints, that is. In this activity, you'll help your child develop the fine motor coordination she needs to master handwriting.
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