Classroom Activities for Kindergarten & First Grade

Learning activities can be engaging for young students.

Planning creative and engaging activities for kindergarten and first grade students will ensure the kids aren't just learning, they're enjoying what they're learning. You can mix lessons on reading, math, geography and history with exciting activities that challenge young students and make them look forward to their lessons every day.

Reading

Reading hour is a common enough activity in kindergarten and first grade, and you can switch it up by letting the kids dress up as the characters from a particular book you've been reading. The kids can act out a scene from the book using their memory of the plot, which encourages reading comprehension.

Math

Basic math lessons can help little ones get prepared for higher level classes. You can teach simple addition and subtraction by making a game of blocks. Start with three blocks, the add one, and let the kids count how many blocks there now are. Then, remove two and ask how many blocks there are after the subtraction.

Geography

Geography may seem like a more mature concept, but even the youngest students can begin learning about the 50 states of the US. A large map or a puzzle can help illustrate the states, and you can begin by showing the little ones the state they live in. Learn one state a week, and have kids think of things that come out of that state, like oranges from Florida or potatoes from Idaho.

Alphabet

The alphabet is one of the most important skills kindergarteners and first graders will learn and use. You can teach the Alphabet Song to students, and then take the lesson further by encouraging students to think of objects and animals that start with each letter. The kids can then draw those images on construction paper, and write in the letter that matches the picture.

References

• Education: Kindergarten Math Activities
• Education: Kindergarten Reading Activities