childcareland.com - Early Learning Activities For Pre-K and Kindergarten

All Printables come in both black and white and color.

All images used are hand drawn originals!

All Printables come in both black and white and color.

All images used are hand drawn originals!

Early Learning Activities For Pre-K and Kindergarten

How To

Here are examples of "how to" play some of the printables activities on this site. I am a firm believer that children learn through play and repetition. You will find when you do these activities that the children will want to do them over and over again. We do these activities both as a part of both group and individual play.

Size Sequencing Match

This activitiy is quickly becoming a favorite in my pre-k program. Although the example says "bears" this can be done with any of the size sequencing match activities.

Child arranges one set of bears from largest to smallest (or smallest to largest).

Child matches second set of bears on top of the correct size bear.

File Folder Games

File Folder Games are easy to make and provide an excellent way for children to participate in "hands-on" learning! I have file folder games that children can chose from themselves (free choice and during learning centers are wonderful times for children to play file folder games) .... I also have "teacher" file folder games ... which are file folder games that I bring out to work on with the children.

You will need:

File Folders - Either Color or Manilla

Glue Sticks

Card Stock Paper (I get mine at Wal-Mart) and Regular Paper

Laminator (Wal-Mart has inexpensive ones)

Laminating Pouches - www.oregonlam.com
is where I get mine. I use the 5 mil. 9 x 11.5 size.

Zip-Lock Bags to store the loose game pieces in.

The first thing you need to do is print the file folder game you wish to make. I use normal ink jet paper for the the front cover and game pieces that are glued inside the file folder. I use a thicker paper called cardstock for the pieces that that will be laminated. Once the patterns for the game are printed cut out the pieces that go on the cover of the file folder and inside the file folder. You can arrange the pieces any way you want.

Next ... cut out the pieces that you printed on cardstock and lamintate. I use a heated laminator that uses pouches. There will be a pouch folder that you open up and then you place the laminating pouch inside the pouch folder and open it. Lay the pieces on one half of the pouch and cover with the other half of the pouch and pouch folder. Insert in the laminator. I run mine through twice.

Cut out the pieces that were laminated and place in a zip lock bag and place inside the file folder. I store my file folder games in a simple plastic container that has a lid. Do not put too many games in the container that the students choose file folder game from so that the students can easily choose the games.

To play the file folder games students match the pieces that are loose to the pieces that are inside the file folder. I do not put velcro or anything on the backs of the pieces but I know some people like to. File folder games can be played on the floor or on tables ... in groups or individually. Experiment and see what works best for your students.

Memory Match Game

For this game I printed the game pieces on cardstock and then cut them out (you will need to make two of everything)

I then glued the matching squares on the back of the balloons and laminated them.

To play the matching game place the balloons on the floor so the matching squares are face down..

Children turn over the balloons to find two that match. When they find two
that match those two pieces are removed from the game.

How To Make A Pocket Chart Stand

Here is what the finished pocket chart stand will look like:

You will need to purchase about 20' feet of 3/4 inch Schedule 40 PVC piping. You will need to use schedule 40 as that is the thicker and more durable kind. I got mine at Menards but any home improvement store should carry them. Call first to save yourself a trip. They come in long lengths but most places will cut them down so they will fit in your vehicle. Also when making a pocket chart stand it is important that you measure the width and height of your pocket chart as you do not want the stand to be too big or too small.

I built the stand first before measuring my pocket chart and wound up taking off six inches off the width of the stand as I do not have one of the full size pocket charts. The dimensions used in these instructions will be for the larger pocket charts ... so remember to measure yours and adjust the dimensions accordingly.

You will need to cut your pvc piping (a hack saw works great) into:

2 - 42" pieces
2- 36" pieces (mine are 30")
2 - 6'" pieces
4- 12" pieces

You will also need:

2 - 3/4" 90 Degree Joints
4 - 3/4" Caps
4 - 3/4" T Adapeters

For the pocket chart rings I used shower curtain hooks from Wal-Mart:

For the Spray Paint you can buy spray paint that is made for plastic:

If you do not have that kind of spay paint you can use a plastic primer and regular spray paint:

After you have measured your pocket chart and cut the pieces you can either assemble the chart first and then spray paint it ... or you can spray paint the individual pieces and then assemble it. If you paint first just be aware that the paint on the ends of the piping where you connect them together will scratch off.

You can put rubber cement inside the joints if you want the pocket chart stand to be permanent .... if you want to be able to take apart the pocket chart stand do not glue the pieces together.

When spary painting use short burst in an up and down motion or side to side motion. If you get to close and do not use short burts your paint will run and be gloppy. You will need to apply several coats (wait 15 minutes between coats) as the pvc piping has printing on it. I used a full can of spray paint for the pocket chart stand pictured above.

When you are done painting the pocket chart stand let it dry. When dry attach the shower curtain rings to the pocket chart and then to the pocket chart stand.

How To Make A Felt Board

Here is what the felt board will look like:

Felt boards are very easy and inexpensive to make. You will need a piece of foam board (30x20 inches) ... sold at Wal-Mart for about 3.00. They are located by the construction paper and sketch pads. You will also need a yard of felt (also sold at Wal-Mart for about 3.50) ... a hot glue gun and scissors.

Lay your felt on the floor and place the foam board on top of the felt.
Cut off extra felt leaving about a five inch boarder around the foam board.

Cut the felt on each corner as shown:

Using a hot glue gun glue the felt flaps onto the foam board.
Make sure you pull the felt tight on the board and use caution as the glue is hot.

The felt board can be used either on the floor or on a stand.

Because these felt boards are so economical to make you can make several for your classroom or child care home. You can even make smaller felt boards by cutting the foam board in half or in quarters. Children love to work with the felt board and should be provided opportunities to use them during choice times. These felt boards also work great for circle time and story telling.

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