Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.3, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Forward With Fun Hands-On Learning ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://forwardwithfun.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [The Alphabetic Principle and How to Teach It To Kids](https://forwardwithfun.com/the-alphabetic-principle-and-how-to-teach-it-to-kids/) - As young children embark on their journey into school, they encounter a crucial concept known as the alphabetic principle. What is the alphabetic principle? The alphabetic principle is the understanding that there are systematic and predictable relationships between letters and sounds in language. Basically, it is the idea that what we say and hear can - [Easter CVC Word Activity for Kindergarten: A Hands-On Phonics Favorite](https://forwardwithfun.com/easter-cvc-word-activity-worksheets/) - If you’re looking for a fun, hands-on Easter CVC word activity that gets your kindergarten students excited about phonics, this one is always a hit in my classroom! Combining plastic Easter eggs, magnetic letters, and our downloadable recording sheets, this activity gives students meaningful practice with CVC words while keeping learning playful and engaging. This - [CVC Words List – A Helpful Freebie for Beginning Readers!](https://forwardwithfun.com/cvc-words-list-freebie-for-beginning-readers/) - Download free printable CVC words list for short A, E, I, O, U -all real words that kids can practice spelling and reading. Use free PDF or copy/paste now! - [How to Teach CVC Words, 11 Fun Ways!](https://forwardwithfun.com/how-to-teach-cvc-words-the-fun-way/) - Wondering how to teach CVC words to beginning readers? Let's do it with 11 fun games. CVC words are consonant-vowel-consonant words. These phonetically spelled words are the building blocks of kindergarten reading and writing. *As an Amazon affiliate, I may get a small commission for purchases made through links in this post. Top tips for - [First Day of School Story Ideas to Ease Kindergarten Jitters](https://forwardwithfun.com/first-day-of-school-story-ideas-for-kindergarten/) - The "just right" list of first day of school story ideas is here! Created by a kindergarten teacher and mom, this list has a synopsis of each book. - [8 Games Like Rock Paper Scissors](https://forwardwithfun.com/8-games-like-rock-paper-scissors/) - If you're looking for screen-free games like Rock, Paper, Scissors (and other variations) then you've come to the right place! Games like these are simple and cooperative. Some of them work well with two people while others can be played by groups. These rock, paper, scissor alternatives are a great way to spend time with - [Chill Ways to Get Kids Started with Coding](https://forwardwithfun.com/chill-ways-to-teach-kids-coding/) - Want to teach kids coding but have no idea where to begin? Check out the different types of coding kids need to learn and how to teach it in a stress free way! - [30 Screen Free Games to Play at a Restaurant](https://forwardwithfun.com/30-screen-free-games-to-play-at-a-restaurant/) - Don't hate me for saying this, but I really hate seeing kids on their tablets at restaurants, which is why I'm sharing this huge list of FUN, screen-free games to play at a restaurant. I get it—restaurant waits can feel endless for little ones. But the good news is, mealtime can be fun and engaging - [Fizzy Colors Surprise: Free Preschool Science Lesson Plan](https://forwardwithfun.com/fizzy-colors-surprise-free-preschool-science-lesson-plan/) - Today, we're going to dive into a squeal worthy preschool science experiment known as Fizzy Colors Surprise, and it comes with a FREE downloadable preschool science lesson plan at the end of this post. With just a few household ingredients, you'll dazzle your preschoolers in the name of chemistry. Each time they add a dash - [CHAMPS Classroom Management: A Positive Approach to Better Behavior](https://forwardwithfun.com/champs-classroom-management-plan/) - CHAMPS classroom management transformed my teaching. I had WAY fewer behavior issues and kids were happier. Grab your K-2 CHAMPS visual icons - [20 Social Emotional Activities For Preschoolers That Make Life Better](https://forwardwithfun.com/20-social-emotional-activities-for-preschoolers-that-make-life-better/) - The big list of super fun, social emotional activities for preschoolers: including both sense of self AND social skills. My favorite is #14! - [Teach 1-10 in Five Ways with Free Number Mats](https://forwardwithfun.com/1-10-free-number-mats-printable/) - Build number sense and number identification skills with hands-on number mats from 1-10. It's 5 ways to master each number in one mat! - [Epic Kindergarten STEM Challenge -The Floor is Lava](https://forwardwithfun.com/epic-kindergarten-stem-challenge-the-floor-is-lava/) - The best kind of kindergarten STEM challenge is one that has children working together to find a solution to a fun, engaging problem using simple supplies that don't take lots of prep time. Enter The Floor is Lava STEM activity for kindergarteners. It's so simple, you can do it with preschoolers too! Don't forget to - [35 Delightful One To One Correspondence Activities Your Kids Will Love](https://forwardwithfun.com/35-one-to-one-correspondence-activities/) - Looking for creative ways to teach one to one correspondence to your little learners? You're in the right place! In this post, we'll explore what one-to-one correspondence is and how you can make learning this beginning math skill both fun and effective with 35 low prep and ridiculously fun activities. Plus, I unintentionally included SO - [Teaching kids your phone number in 10 easy ways](https://forwardwithfun.com/10-easiest-phone-number-activities/) - A big safety skill is for preschoolers is learning their phone number! But how do you teach your child your phone number and know that it will really stick? These phone number activities will definitely imprint on your child's memory, and you can feel a lot safer about sending them on that field trip! (But - [5 Simple Domino Math Activities for Preschool](https://forwardwithfun.com/5-simple-domino-math-activities-for-preschool/) - Those dominoes you played with as a kid are the perfect toy to use in endless math activities for preschool! Have a set of dominoes yet? If you don't, try these. *As an Amazon affiliate, I may get a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.. Each of these preschool math activities - [Teach 1 to 1 Correspondence with a simple DIY Board Game](https://forwardwithfun.com/diy-board-game-to-teach-1-to-1-correspondence/) - Make a DIY Board Game in one minute and teach the essential preschool counting skill called 1 to 1 correspondence. Does your child have it? - [44 Free Sight Word Playdough Mats](https://forwardwithfun.com/44-free-sight-word-playdough-mats/) - These 44 FREE sight word playdough mats include tactile, sensory, reading, and writing for kids to master sight words in a FUN hands-on way. - [12 Quick and Easy Fine Motor Skills Activities for Preschoolers](https://forwardwithfun.com/12-playful-fine-motor-skills-activities-for-preschoolers/) - Discover 12 fine motor skills activities for preschoolers that you can do with little to no prep using items found in your home! - [11 Genius Sticky Wall Activities Kids Love](https://forwardwithfun.com/10-creative-ways-to-use-your-sticky-wall/) - A sticky wall is a must have for any home with toddlers and preschoolers. Try 11 sensory wall activities, sure to keep your little one busy! - [Free Place Value Chart Printable: Flip from decimals to millions!](https://forwardwithfun.com/free-place-value-chart-printable-flip-from-decimals-to-millions/) - Our free place value chart flip book style printable is an engaging, hands-on way to help your students understand place value—from millions all the way down to decimal hundredths! Perfect for classrooms and home learning, this resource helps young learners build, read, and understand large and small numbers with ease. Whether you're a teacher searching - [20 Ultra Fun Place Value Game Printables You Can Play Right Now](https://forwardwithfun.com/place-value-game-printables/) - If you're looking for place value game printables, you've come to the right place! Place value is a foundational math concept that helps students understand how numbers work, and making it fun through games can significantly enhance comprehension and retention. All of these games will be base ten activities perfect for kindergarten and first grade - [First Grade's Favorite Base Ten Activities: Place Value Stacking Cups](https://forwardwithfun.com/base-ten-activities-place-value-stacking-cups/) - First graders beg to play these Stacking Cup base ten activities that teach them place value, number sense, concentration, and STEM skills. Low Prep, High Fun! - [Counting Collections - Count to 100](https://forwardwithfun.com/count-to-100-counting-collections/) - For the 100th day of our Covid-19 quarantine kindergarten, my kids and I created counting collections of 100 items. As part of kindergarten standard K.CC.A.1 in the US kids must count to 100 by ones and tens. The 100th day of school is the perfect time to practice counting to 100 and to create student - [Principal Appreciation Day: The Best Ideas and Free Download](https://forwardwithfun.com/principal-appreciation-day-ideas/) - Principal Appreciation Day ideas for staff, parents, and students to show their gratitude, plus a freebie to use for some heartwarming notes! Be ready for May 1 - [How to Separate Laundry for kids!](https://forwardwithfun.com/how-to-separate-laundry/) - There is a major math skill that shows up when teaching kids how to separate laundry...SORTING! Sorting helps our little ones discern differences and similarities, learn how to create categories, and begin to problem solve. Imagine how helpful sorting is in your everyday life. You sort silverware, clothing, and toys all to create organized systems - [Free AR Word List and More!](https://forwardwithfun.com/ar-word-list-and-worksheets/) - Download a free AR Word list and Bossy R worksheets to teach the AR word family. Kids will understand the AR phonics rule in no time. - [Rote Counting: Everything you need to know](https://forwardwithfun.com/rote-counting-activities/) - You have probably been rote counting with your child since they were an infant! By practicing this important skill, you have already helped even the tiniest baby be prepared to learn math! But what is Rote counting? Why do we need this skill? How can you teach it in a fun way? In this article - [44 Last Minute Leprechaun Tricks For Kids](https://forwardwithfun.com/44-last-minute-leprechaun-tricks-for-kids/) - Did you procrastinate and need some last minute leprechaun tricks to wow the kids? Me too, so you're in the right place for fun pranks that the kids will remember for years to come. Most of these silly leprechaun tricks can be done with almost no prep. Some others do require items that are really - [Games Like Hot Potato: Fun Alternatives to the Classic Game](https://forwardwithfun.com/games-like-hot-potato/) - The 20 games like Hot Potato are perfect for parties, indoor recess, and classroom culture building. You'll find a mix of classics and some brand new games! - [Easy Captain Cook Crossword For Kids](https://forwardwithfun.com/easy-captain-cook-crossword-for-kids/) - Looking for a free Captain Cook Crossword to help make learning history more fun? Look no further. This simple crossword is easy to download, requires no subscription, and it's totally free. Why? I love to make education more accessible for all and help other teachers out. Who knew that Captain Cook crosswords for kids were - [Silly Silent E Games - First Grade Cup Stacking Challenges](https://forwardwithfun.com/silent-e-games-first-grade-cup-stacking-challenges/) - Kid favorite: Silent E Games you can print and play! First graders stack cups with silent e words to match the pictures in each challenge. - [Cup Stacking Consonant Blends Activities for a First Grade Frenzy](https://forwardwithfun.com/cup-stacking-consonant-blends-activities-for-a-first-grade-frenzy/) - While teaching first grade intervention, I had a hard time finding engaging consonant blends activities that would capture my struggling readers' attention! So I took our wildly popular kindergarten cup stacking challenge and developed a version that incorporates all the blends my first graders needed to learn. Print and begin stacking cups to match the - [Make Word Segmenting a Blast with Sound Parking Lots](https://forwardwithfun.com/make-word-segmenting-a-blast-with-sound-parking-lots/) - Have you ever heard of word segmenting? This essential skill helps kids encode (aka spell) words. Word segmenting means breaking up words into their parts/sounds. An example would be taking the word CAT and "chopping up the word" to say "/c/ /a/ /t/." This post will include 3 kinds of sound parking lots that my - [8 Ending Sound Activities That Make It Finally Click For Kids!](https://forwardwithfun.com/ending-sounds-activities-that-finally-click/) - When it comes to introducing ending sound activities, kids may feel a little out of their element. For so long, they've been taught phonics with a focus on beginning sounds. "B is for ball!" Now we start telling them that there is an "l" in ball, and they get all discombobulated. Here are the tips, - [Free Alphabet Playdough Mats That Teach Letters In 4 Ways](https://forwardwithfun.com/alphabet-playdough-mats/) - Teach your preschooler their letters in 4 unique ways with this giant packet of alphabet playdough mats! No email subscription required. Just print and play! *As an Amazon Associate I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase from my links. Thank you. What makes these printable alphabet playdough mats so much better - [7 Silly Ways to Teach 3D Shapes in Kindergarten](https://forwardwithfun.com/teaching-3d-shapes-in-kindergarten/) - Teaching 3D shapes in kindergarten? Or wanting to build your child's spatial intelligence and math vocabulary? These 9 simple games can be played with kids 3+ and are the perfect centers activities for teaching 3D shapes in kindergarten! *As an Amazon affiliate, I may get a small commission for purchases made through links in this - [Capturing Family Trip Memories With A Free Vacation Worksheet](https://forwardwithfun.com/kids-trip-review-free-vacation-worksheet/) - A wonderful way to capture the magic of family trips is by having your children write reviews of their family adventures; so take along this vacation worksheet on your next trip. I thought of this idea while on a recent family trip to Great Wolf Lodge with my family, wondering if my children would remember - [Addition Cups Stack: STEM Building Challenge](https://forwardwithfun.com/addition-cups-stack-stem-challenge/) - The Addition Cup Stack builds fact fluency to 6, 10, and 20 through hands-on fun that no child can resist. Just print the 20 differentiated addition challenges for students of all abilities and grab your cups. *As an amazon affiliate I may receive a teensy commission if you buy something from one of the links - [Epic Subtraction Fact Fluency Cup Stacking Challenge](https://forwardwithfun.com/subtraction-fact-fluency-cup-stacking-challenge/) - Build your cup tower, while practicing subtraction fact fluency in kindergarten and first grade! Print and play for fun, differentiated subtraction practice. - [Teaching Coding To Kids: How To Make It Easy and Accessible](https://forwardwithfun.com/teaching-coding-to-young-children/) - If you think about it, the apps and websites our kids visit today all run on code. And as we strive for a technological future, teaching coding to young children is essential. But knowing how complex it is to code, how can you make it accessible and easy to learn for them? This blog will - [Beginning Sounds STOMP Game](https://forwardwithfun.com/beginning-sounds-game-stomp/) - Searching for beginning sounds worksheets? You won't find those here. My goal in creating Forward with Fun is all about using play to create unique and memorable learning. Kids are more likely to engage and remember new skills when they are actively participating in experience, especially if it's a game! That's the secret to getting - [Trace Numbers to 20 with Cars- Free Road Mats](https://forwardwithfun.com/trace-numbers-to-20-with-cars-free-road-mats/) - Why trace numbers to 20 with pencils, when you can use kid-approved vehicles to teach tricky numbers in a hands-on approach? Find fabulous tips and tricks to teaching kids number formation and download number tracing mats at the end of this post for absolutely free! *As an Amazon Affiliate, I may make a small commission - [Kindergarten Winter Writing Freebie: WANTED Gingerbread Poster](https://forwardwithfun.com/gingerbread-kindergarten-winter-writing/) - It's a no brainer to use this adorable WANTED poster for your kindergarten winter writing project. Gingerbread decorating is a common winter theme, along with the exploration of Gingerbread related stories, so let's keep with the theme and create our own WANTED poster. *As an Amazon affiliate, I may get a small commission for purchases - [Free Letter V Worksheets- Phonics + Writing](https://forwardwithfun.com/letter-v-worksheets/) - You've found the treasure trove of Letter V worksheets, here in this most unusual place. Why is it unusual? Well, I'm not the biggest fan of worksheets for teaching new information, but I also know that worksheets work really well to reinforce skills like letter writing and allow kids to practice skills like letter sound - [What is Phonetic Spelling? And Why You Should NOT Correct It](https://forwardwithfun.com/what-is-phonetic-spelling/) - Phonetic spelling is an essential developmental milestone for any child learning the English language. Often adults overcorrect children’s “misspellings” without understanding the role that phonetic spelling plays. This post includes a parent letter freebie for you to share with families, in order for them to understand how vital it is for children to use phonetic - [AT Word Family Worksheets and Activities](https://forwardwithfun.com/at-word-family-worksheets-and-activities/) - The AT word family is one of the first sets of words young children learn to read, usually in kindergarten. These words are practiced as part of a word family. What is a word family? A word family is a set of words with the same ending. The words in a word family always rhyme. - [What to Expect at your Kindergarten Entrance Exam](https://forwardwithfun.com/what-to-expect-at-your-kindergarten-entrance-exam/) - Signing up for the kindergarten entrance exam sounds so official and intimidating, even for teachers!Here are the details on the why's and how's of the entrance exam so you and your child can feel more relaxed about it and even know a couple teacher secrets as to how it's used. What is a kindergarten entrance - [Environmental Print, Reading the World Around You](https://forwardwithfun.com/environmental-print-reading-the-world-around-you/) - Environmental print is all around us and a part of our everyday life. When you read the traffic signs as you drive, that's environmental print. As you open the fridge and read the label on the milk, that too is environmental print. Even the ever recognizable Disney Logo is environmental print. What is environmental print? - [AN Word Family Printables and Activities](https://forwardwithfun.com/an-word-family-printables-and-activities/) - The AN word family words are perfect for practicing with your kindergartner as they begin to sound out words. What are word families? Word Families are sets of words that have the same ending and rhyme. The ending of words in a word family is commonly referred to as the "root." Children have more success - [Feelings Faces Activity | Social Emotional Learning](https://forwardwithfun.com/social-emotional-learning-with-feelings-faces/) - In this activity children will create feelings faces to explore different feelings to build their emotional intelligence... Did you know that including social emotional learning activities when teaching can lead to better academic performance? For so long, schools focused only on teaching academics, but with more and more research, people are understanding the value in - [Uncovering Hidden Passions with Vision Boards for Kids](https://forwardwithfun.com/vision-boards-for-kids-uncover-passions/) - When my girlfriends and I sat down on New Years Day to make our vision boards together, I thought, "Gosh, why don't we ever make vision boards for kids?" What I thought was a cute little craft ended up revealing a lot more about me than I expected. So the next day, my daughter and - [Pom Pom Stick and Count - Numbers 1-10](https://forwardwithfun.com/pom-pom-stick-and-counting-numbers-1-10/) - Pom Pom Stick and Count is the BEST activity to practice reading and even writing numbers 1-10. Forget those counting to 10 worksheets and have fun counting with us. *As an Amazon affiliate, I may get a small commission for purchases made through links in this post. Let's Play to learn numbers 1-10: Grab some - [Salt Dough Foot Print Ornaments](https://forwardwithfun.com/salt-dough-foot-print-ornaments-for-christmas/) - There's nothing better than creating keepsakes for Christmas your family will cherish for years to come, and these DIY Foot Print ornaments do not disappoint! Either make the ornament completely from scratch or design your own ornament ball. Both end up lovely and capture your child's sweet little foot like a moment in time. Salt - [The Ultimate List of Sensory Bin Fillers - Free Printable](https://forwardwithfun.com/the-ultimate-list-of-sensory-bin-fillers-free-printable/) - If you're looking to switch up your sensory bin, check out the 50+ list of sensory bin fillers and how to use them. Sensory play provides so many benefits to young children, and most of all it's fun so kids can play to their hearts content while you can sit back and relax. As you - [Rainbow Relaxation Bottles: Water Bead Crafts](https://forwardwithfun.com/rainbow-relaxation-bottles-water-bead-crafts/) - Water beads lend themselves to that zen sensory play that keeps kids entertained and creative. This craft had my kids concentrating quietly as they learned about the rainbow of colors while practicing their pincer grip for some fine motor fun. Create a beautiful recycled relaxation bottle with water beads for a craft that's packed with - [Writing Numbers Excavation](https://forwardwithfun.com/writing-numbers-excavation/) - I'm so over using worksheets for writing numbers. I've never seen a child have an "aha moment" after doing a worksheet. As a mom and a kindergarten teacher, I love to cater to active learners who learn best with hands-on learning, aka learning by doing. With this number writing activity kids are practicing writing numbers - [Alphabet Glow Up! Easter Activity for Preschool](https://forwardwithfun.com/alphabet-glow-up-easter-activity-for-preschool/) - I can still remember the Easter activities we did in preschool from when I was 3 and 4. My family didn't celebrate Easter and I was completely enthralled by the magical activity of hunting for eggs all around the preschool campus. As a teacher, I got my hands on those magical Easter Eggs, because they're - [5 Kid-Approved Non Standard Measurement Activities](https://forwardwithfun.com/non-standard-measurement/) - When introducing the concept of measurement to children, we always start with non standard measurement. At the ages of 4-6, children understand the concept of short, long, taller, etc but they usually have no understanding of centimeters and inches, making those standard units of measurements too abstract for them. So in preschool and kindergarten we - [Independent Reading Activities for Kindergarten To Try Right Now](https://forwardwithfun.com/independent-reading-activities/) - I bust out the kids' favorite independent reading activities for a minimum stress, maximum fun phonics time. These can be used one on one, as kindergarten reading station activities, or be done with a whole classroom of kids. All 3 of these independent reading activities have many ways to differentiate to meet the needs of - [Coding In Kindergarten: Candy Corn STEM Challenge (Free)](https://forwardwithfun.com/coding-in-kindergarten-candy-corn-stem-challenge/) - Teach coding in kindergarten with this free to print candy corn stem challenge. It’s so simple, you can do this with your whole class- all you need is a bag of candy corn! Let’s go. Before you print, you’ll need to understand how to teach coding in kindergarten and why on earth we’re going to - [Characteristics of Great Books for Kindergarteners](https://forwardwithfun.com/characteristics-great-books-for-kindergarteners/) - For kindergarteners, books offer excellent opportunities for learning about the world. Besides nourishing their imaginations, books help kids develop critical thinking skills, expand their vocabulary, and expose them to other cultures and practices. Above anything else, reading aloud to your children is the number one thing we teachers recommend for kids ages 0-5. Children get - [Your Complete Guide To Text Features in Kindergarten](https://forwardwithfun.com/text-features-in-kindergarten/) - Text features are all the parts of a text that are not the main text itself. They include title, headings, captions, pictures, diagrams, table of contents, glossary, and more. You can find text features in both fiction and nonfiction texts but are more common in nonfiction text. The main text features in kindergarten: Title On - [Concepts of Print - The Earliest Reading Skill](https://forwardwithfun.com/concepts-of-print-the-earliest-reading-skill/) - Concepts of print, sometimes called print awareness, is a person's understanding of how writing works. Without understanding these very basic concepts, one would not be able to read. Imagine a child walking into a classroom who has never seen a book before. They might have no idea how to hold a book, where to start - [Best Open Ended Toys for Preschoolers](https://forwardwithfun.com/best-open-ended-toys-for-preschoolers/) - Whether it's a birthday party or the holidays that are coming up, here is a guide to the 10 best open ended toys for your little one. These are the items that my children continue to love over the years. No, they are not all wooden or bougie Montessori toys that cost a fortune. They're - [Positive Self Talk for Kids: Confidence Cookies](https://forwardwithfun.com/positive-self-talk-for-kids-confidence-cookies/) - Did you grow up learning about positive self talk? I didn't. As little girls in the 80's and 90's, we were not taught to be empowered and confident. Adults focused on teaching us to be humble, not to take up too much space, and not to brag. Awareness and teaching of positive self talk for - [Kids Love Learning Letters and Sounds with 14 Hands-on Games](https://forwardwithfun.com/learning-letters-and-sounds-with-11-hands-on-games/) - Learning letters is the first step in learning to read. Children in preschool and kindergarten largely focus on letter identification and letter sounds. While some kids are naturally inclined to learn letters from a young age, others take longer and that's okay. My mission is to making learning letters and how to read fun and - [The Cheerio Method for Tying Shoes](https://forwardwithfun.com/how-to-tie-shoes-the-cheerio-way/) - I used to cringe the first week of kindergarten when all the kids would come in their new, lace up shoes. If only I had learned the Cheerio Method of tying shoes earlier! In those first weeks of kindergarten, I knew I'd be spending lots of time tying laces on cute little sneakers, feeling trapped! - [Teaching CVC Words Made Simple with A Muffin Pan!](https://forwardwithfun.com/teaching-cvc-words-in-kindergarten/) - Teachers begin teaching CVC words in kindergarten, once children have learned their letters and sounds. CVC stands for consonant vowel consonant. These words are the simplest words to sound out aka decode. Here are four CVC word games for kindergarten from least to most difficult. All of them use a muffin pan and CVC words - [Easy Phoneme Isolation Activities](https://forwardwithfun.com/easy-phoneme-isolation-activities/) - What is phoneme isolation and why is it SO important for early readers? Phonemes are sounds. Phoneme isolation is the act of picking out sounds at the beginning, middle, and end of words. This set of skills most commonly refers to picking out sounds in CVC words, aka consonant vowel consonant words and is taught - [6 Dazzling Hanukkah Activities for Preschoolers](https://forwardwithfun.com/5-dazzling-hanukkah-activities-for-preschoolers/) - To teach my little ones about Hanukkah, I gathered up the simplest and most fun Hanukkah activities for preschoolers that touch on all the most important themes and items in Hanukkah: the menorah, dreidels, and the Star of David to represent the Macabees. Growing up, I always felt left out of Christmas and it seemed - [Halloween Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten](https://forwardwithfun.com/halloween-activities-for-preschool-and-kindergarten/) - When trick or treating was cancelled due to Covid-19 in Los Angeles, I knew I needed to create an October full of Halloween activities for preschool and kindergarten in my home. Halloween themed learning activities help me teach my kiddos with fun hands-on ways while also theming it up for my favorite holiday. *As an - [Rainbow Writing Makes Spelling Fun](https://forwardwithfun.com/rainbow-writing-makes-spelling-fun/) - Rainbow Writing makes spelling practice a lot more fun. Write your spelling word multiple times in crayon or colored pencil to make it rainbow writing with differentiated ways to decorate. Kids (and adults) love rainbows, so add some pizzazz to spelling practice. - [One to One Correspondence with Punch Math](https://forwardwithfun.com/punch-math-snacktivity-one-to-one-correspondence-game/) - Teachers of young children talk about one to one correspondence, but what is it? One to one correspondence is counting one object for every number said.Without one to one correspondence, one will not be able to count objects accurately. When a child is able to count one object per each number said, they also understand - [Life Size Portraits - Talking about Skin Color](https://forwardwithfun.com/life-size-portraits/) - In an overseas visit to my family, I noticed that my aunt had life size portraits of her grandchildren hanging in her bedroom. I loved how each child decorated their own portrait differently, with no influence from an adult. In an effort to unite my children with their cousins around the world, I ordered some - [Kindergarten Readiness Checklist and Assessment](https://forwardwithfun.com/kindergarten-readiness-checklist-and-assessment/) - As a transitional kindergarten and kindergarten teacher, I've been the person many parents ask, "How do I know if my child is ready for kindergarten?" So I've created a kindergarten readiness checklist and assessment to give you all the info you want, but before you go on, please note... There is no one size fits - [Sight Word Matching Game: Post-it Search](https://forwardwithfun.com/sight-word-matching-game/) - Kids will be moving and reading in this sight word matching game! Exposure, exposure, exposure! That’s the key to learning sight words! Sight words are the most common words we come across when reading, but often they don't make sense when "decoded." To decode, in terms of reading, means to sound out. Kids trip up - [Tape Shapes Fun - Attributes of Shapes](https://forwardwithfun.com/tape-attributes-of-shapes-games/) - One simple setup is all you need to teach your young child attributes of shapes and their names. Play to learn all about shapes! - [How to Dye Rice in Two Easy Steps](https://forwardwithfun.com/how-to-dye-rice-in-two-steps/) - I asked my teacher bestie how to dye rice for a Valentine's Day Activity I planned to make for my kids. She said it was easy, but I really doubted that. It looked like a headache to me. Turns out she was right! I did a little instagram story on "how to dye rice for - [Hands On Reading with Pom Pom Toss & Read](https://forwardwithfun.com/hands-on-reading-pom-pom-toss/) - Get ready to ditch worksheets and flashcards in favor of hands on reading games. Why hands on reading? Lots of what kids learning in the first few years of school is about memorization: letters, letter sounds, sight words, shapes, colors, numbers, etc. Traditionally these types of things are taught with repetition through worksheets and flashcards. - [Sorting Shapes Sticky Wall + More](https://forwardwithfun.com/sorting-shapes-activities/) - One of the best ways to practice shape identification is through sorting shapes. Using contact paper to make a sticky wall, you'll have the perfect shape sorting setup! If you're wondering how to make a sticky wall, you'll want to watch the quick timelapse on this post: Sticky Wall Activities Invitation to Play: Sorting Shapes - [Mess Free Painting: Painting With Toddlers](https://forwardwithfun.com/mess-free-painting-painting-with-toddlers/) - Wouldn't it be great if mess free painting really existed? What if there was a world where I could let my 2 year old paint to her heart's content without it getting ALL over her hands, clothes, and then the couch, walls, and every other surface in the house? When my Big Sis was two, - [Magnet Letter Tray- Making Words Activity](https://forwardwithfun.com/making-words-activity-magnet-letters/) - In a hands-on making words activity, kids will explore letters and work on phonemic awareness and phonics skills. Much better than a worksheet, grab a baking tray and some magnetic alphabet letters and find the right activity for your child's level below. *As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. - [Learning Through Movement - Zig Zag Letter Balance](https://forwardwithfun.com/learning-through-movement-zig-zag/) - Learning through movement is a great way to get kids excited about learning the letters and sounds. Zig Zag Letter Balance is a two minute prep alphabet activity that kids totally love! Both toddler and preschooler loved hopping, tip toeing, running, and dancing in this game so much they didn't even realize it was a - [Swat-It! A Fly Swatter Game for Active Learners](https://forwardwithfun.com/fly-swatter-game-for-active-learners/) - "Swat It" is a high energy fly swatter game that kids ask to play again and again. Whatever you want to practice with your child, be it number recognition, number sense, math facts, letters, sight words, or reading skills you can do it with this game. All you need is a fly swatter and some - [Obstacle Course Sequencing Activity](https://forwardwithfun.com/sequencing-activity-obstacle-course/) - This is the perfect sequencing activity to introduce your little learner to the reading comprehension skill of sequencing events. As part of the kindergarten standards, children need to be able to retell a story including all major events. "CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.2With prompting and support, retell familiar stories, including key details." What comes first? Next? Then? and Last? - [Sight Words Are FUN with 16 Hands-on Activities](https://forwardwithfun.com/sight-words-are-fun-with-14-hands-on-activities/) - I used to hate teaching sight words with worksheets and flashcards. Students would be frustrated about having to memorize words that didn't follow phonetic "sounding out" rules. It got to the point where even I was saying "I know. Sight words are boring." So I had to do something about it. Instead of boring old - [Sight Word Sort Grocery Game](https://forwardwithfun.com/sight-word-sort-groceries/) - Imaginative play rolled into sight word sort activity: an unusually clever way to make what was once dull, suddenly burst with potential. One thing my kids really missed from our Pre-Covid life is grocery shopping. I never knew how much I'd miss taking them to the grocery store and all the sweet interactions we would - [DIY Dinosaur Eggs Recipe and Activities](https://forwardwithfun.com/diy-dinosaur-eggs-recipe-and-activities/) - I searched for the perfect DIY Dinosaur Eggs Recipe for ages before I decided to make my own! I don't know about you, but my little preschoolers are dinosaur lovers. Everything needs to be dinosaur themed: dino eggs, dinosaur chicken nuggets, dinosaur fossils, and Jurassic park theme songs rule my life. I knew I hit - [Lowercase Letters Soup: A Sensory Bin](https://forwardwithfun.com/lowercase-letters-soup/) - Sensory Lowercase Letters Soup is a game we play where the kids pretend to make soup, but I sneak in some learning. Learning is so much better when it's organically intertwined with kids' play because it's always fun and goes in new imaginative directions. Each time can be different! *As an Amazon affiliate I may - [Sight Words Ball Toss Game](https://forwardwithfun.com/sight-words-ball-toss-game/) - Gotta an active kid who won't sit still for learning time? They'll love learning to read sight words with this ball toss game! Sight words are a huge part of kindergarten reading that continues into first and second grade. I wouldn't stress about sight words unless your child is being assigned them by a teacher - [How to Make a Leprechaun Trap](https://forwardwithfun.com/how-to-make-a-leprechaun-trap-4/) - I think I traumatized one of my kindergarteners with my lesson plan on how to make a leprechaun trap.Even 10 years later, his mother and I recount how she had to convince him leprechauns were not real, but he swore that they came to school and messed up our classroom. I'm so sorry, Dude! Just - [Water Bead Sensory Play + Funnel: STEM](https://forwardwithfun.com/water-beads-and-funnel-stem-activity/) - If you haven't tried water bead sensory play with your preschooler, get ready for your new go-to summer activity. Water beads first got popular as a kids' toy when I was student teaching. The kids in my class would carry them in little containers, calling them their babies! I didn't even realize till much later - [Hands on Learning with Hidden Object Game](https://forwardwithfun.com/hidden-object-a-hands-on-learning-reading-game/) - Hands on learning is my secret to teaching reading so kids are never bored! I NEVER use workbooks or worksheets. When I say "hands on learning," I mean any kind of learning where your child is actively participating in creating new knowledge or solving a problem. This is also called learning by doing. 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