Reading Activities and Games
Reading activities to help show your child the fun side of learning! From easy reading activities to help practice letters to more advanced reading skills, we've got you covered! Use the selector on the right to narrow your search by grade.
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!
Play Mood Charades!
Not only is this game a fun family activity, it also helps with identifying emotion-- a very important skill when it comes to reading comprehension!
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:
Race for Spelling Patterns!
In this high energy, interactive game, third graders are challenged to a race involving spelling patterns in words. This is one race your child will want to run again and again! And it will do wonders for her reading fluency.
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!
Play Letter-Sound Hopscotch!
Hopscotch is classic fun for little kids. You probably remember playing it with numbers from one to ten, and that's great; but as your child prepares for first grade, try getting creative with letters, too. Here are two variations of letter-sound hopscotch that can build your child's phonics ...
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.
Illustrate a Famous Book!
In the best picture books, the illustrations bring as much meaning to the story as the words themselves. But what if your child couldn't see the pictures? In this activity, she'll listen to a story without looking at it, and create her own images.
String Story Necklaces
Tell your kid you're going to spend the afternoon working on comprehension and you're sure to get a yawn. This activity delivers the goods with a fun art project that will also teach kids to look for a story's beginning, middle, and end.
Make a Story in a Bag
Ask a first grader to tell a story, and often the result will be hilarious because it's all mixed up. As fun as it is to listen to the tomato that went to sleep, ate dinner, and then put on his pajamas and went for a swim, teaching kids that stories have an order is important. Want to give your ...
