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Tag: kindergarten activities

10 Must-Haves for a Smooth First Week of Kindergarten

kindergarten survival, Teacher's Pay Teachers

The first week of kindergarten is exciting, busy, and—let’s be honest—a little chaotic. Between managing emotions (theirs and yours!), setting routines, and building classroom community, there’s a lot to juggle.

But with the right tools and mindset, that first week can be smooth, successful, and even fun.

kindergarten activities

Here are 10 must-haves to help you and your kinders start the year off right:

1. A Visual Schedule

Young learners thrive on routine. Having a simple visual schedule helps ease anxiety and allows students to anticipate what’s coming next, even if they can’t read yet.

Try this one!

2. Name Activities

Start the year with engaging name practice! Use name puzzles, tracing activities, or art projects that help students recognize and spell their own names.

Check out this option!

3. Plenty of Brain Breaks

The first week is not the time to expect long attention spans. Plan short, movement-based brain breaks every 15–20 minutes to help reset and refocus.

Check out these fun brain breaks!

4. Books That Build Classroom Community

Read-alouds like The Kissing Hand or Our Class is a Family are perfect for starting conversations about emotions, friendship, and working together.

5. Simple Routines Taught Step-by-Step

Whether it’s lining up, using glue sticks, or putting away backpacks, model, practice, and praise routines clearly and often.

6. Hands-On Centers

Introduce your center rotation system with low-pressure, hands-on activities like building blocks, puzzles, or playdough. Focus on getting the routine down before adding academic tasks.

7. Interactive Songs and Transitions

Use music to teach transitions, clean-up time, and circle time routines. Songs can turn chaos into calm when used consistently!

8. Kindness Activities

Kick off your classroom culture with lessons on being a kind friend. Anchor charts, role-play, and simple art projects help set the tone for the year.

9. Introductory Science Lessons

Yes, you can teach science the first week, and your students will love it! Try a simple, hands-on lesson from this Yearlong Kindergarten and First Grade Science Curriculum Bundle. It’s packed with easy-to-follow units that integrate literacy, vocabulary, and critical thinking, which is perfect for starting strong!

kindergarten science activities

10. A Whole Lot of Patience (and Snacks!)

Remember: this week is all about building trust, making connections, and learning how to be part of a classroom. Keep expectations clear but flexible and give yourself grace. You’re doing amazing work.

With a little planning and the right tools in your teacher toolbox, the first week of kindergarten can be a joyful beginning to an amazing year.🎉 Ready to make science part of your weekly routine? Grab the full year of K–1 science lessons here »

For more kindergarten success ideas, check out my post here!

3 Engaging Easter Activities for Your Classroom Easter Party

Craft Ideas, Teaching Tips, Writing


Easter is rapidly approaching and if you are looking for Easter activities for kids or Easter activities for elementary school, you’re in the right place! 

easter party

How do you make Easter exciting for kids? 

There are so many ways you can make Easter exciting for kids. With bunny or egg-themed Easter activities, Easter worksheets, Easter crafts, and Easter games for kids, the possibilities are endless. 

Additionally, you can have a small Easter party for your elementary students! This gives your kiddos something eggcellent and fun to look forward to and adds a much-needed break for fun and celebration during the day. 

How do you throw an Easter party for kids? 

Simply! Your party doesn’t have to be elaborate to be a blast for your students. Here are some simple but impactful ways to have a fun classroom Easter party. 

Include some Egg-citing Games:

Plan classic activities like an Easter egg hunt, bunny hop races, and “Pin the Tail on the Bunny.” These not only entertain but also promote teamwork and physical activity.

Create a Crafty Corner:

Set up a crafting station for decorating Easter eggs and making bunny masks. Let kids get creative, and display their masterpieces for everyone to enjoy.

Try some Tasty Treats:

Organize a cookie decorating station or a “Build Your Own Bunny Sandwich” corner. Make the preparation part of the fun, and consider healthier options like a fruit kabob station.

What activities do you do during Easter?

There are so many things you can do that your students will love and appreciate. If you’re looking for some easy Easter activities for kindergarten, first, second, or even third grade that are fun and educational, here are some spectacular ideas! 

Bunny Rabbit Mask and Headband Set

easter activities for kids

Looking for a simple and easy craft for your party? Try these Bunny Rabbit Mask & Headband crafts. There are two writing papers included too. (intermediate lined and primary)

  • 1 Bunny Mask
  • 1 Bunny Headband
  • 2 Spring Bunny Writing Papers

How to Catch the Easter Bunny Writing Activity

easter activities for kids

Need a good Easter writing activity?  I have you covered with these interactive, editable Google Slides to easily have students copy and paste movable parts to design their own Easter Bunny trap.  Then, they will write a narrative, persuasive, or opinion paper about how they plan to catch the bunny.

Bunny Craft Printables

easter crafts for kids

Need some engaging bunny crafts and writing activities? Try these printables to easily create different bunny crafts! They make great centers and bulletin boards too!

  • 5 Crafts with Photos
  • 4 Spring Writing Papers (Primary and Intermediate Lined
  • Make a Headband, Bunny Candy Bag, Writing Craftivity, or Letter Art

What are your favorite ways to celebrate Easter in elementary? Let me know in the comments! For more Easter fun, check out my post here.

Simple Strategies to Teach Alphabet Letter Writing In Elementary

Teaching Tips, Writing

As teachers to little learners, we know the crucial role that letter writing plays in developing strong literacy skills. Kindergarten is an exciting time for the kiddos to embark on their journey of reading and writing, and mastering the ABCs is a foundational step! 

If you’re wondering how to teach alphabet writing, you’re in the right place. 

letter writing activities

In this blog post, I’ll share some friendly tips and engaging activities that will help your kindergartners practice and perfect their alphabet letter writing skills. So, grab your favorite marker and let’s dive in!

Introduce Letter Writing Gradually

Begin by introducing the letters of the alphabet one by one, focusing on both uppercase and lowercase forms. Each week, dedicate time to a specific letter, allowing ample practice before moving on to the next. Encourage students to trace the letters using their fingers or with tactile materials, fostering familiarity with the shapes and strokes.

Multisensory Approach

Engage your students’ senses and make it FUN by incorporating a variety of activities to reinforce letter writing. Use playdough to shape letters, allowing them to experience the tactile sensation. Draw letters in sand or shaving cream for a sensory experience that reinforces muscle memory. This multisensory approach not only makes learning enjoyable but also supports their kinesthetic and visual learning styles.

Letter Formation Songs and Rhymes

What kiddo doesn’t love music and rhymes?! Use catchy tunes or create your own letter formation songs to help children remember the proper formation of each letter. Singing and dancing along to the songs not only makes learning fun but also helps reinforce the visual and auditory aspects of letter recognition and writing.

Letter Tracing Activities

Provide your students with tracing worksheets that guide them in forming letters correctly. Just make sure that the worksheets have large, clear letters, and ample space for practice. You can encourage them to use a variety of writing tools, such as markers, crayons, or colored pencils, to keep their interest high. You can also laminate the worksheets to create reusable surfaces, allowing for repetitive practice.

Hands-on Manipulatives

Incorporate hands-on manipulatives to make letter writing interactive. Use magnetic letters, foam letters, or letter tiles for children to arrange and build words. This not only reinforces letter recognition but also helps students associate sounds with symbols, building phonemic awareness alongside letter writing skills.

Letter Writing Crafts and Art Projects

Combine creativity with letter writing by incorporating alphabet crafts and art projects. Encourage children to create collages using magazine cut-outs of objects that begin with the letter they are learning. They can also form letters using various materials like pipe cleaners, yarn, or clay. You can even get some finger-paint out and allow them to create art by painting letters! These activities not only reinforce letter formation but also foster fine motor skills.

If you are looking for the perfect resource for alphabet letter writing or letter writing activities, I have you covered! 

Grab the Alphabet Writing Practice Pages, Tracing Worksheets & Crafts Bundle! 

letter writing activities

Letter recognition and sounds are so important for students to grasp quickly and what better way than to practice! Use these printables and crafts in centers, whole group, small group, or for homework. This is an A-Z bundle!

These provide hands-on options as well as worksheets to help with busy mornings. Students will learn how to work independently after the first couple of letter sets are used because every unit follows the same pattern. There are plenty of things to choose from for the week if you are doing a letter a week. Students will practice fine motor skills with writing, cutting, and tracing.

letter writing activities

What is the download?

  • Letter A (16 printables which includes 3 crafts, a spinning game, letter identification, forming letters, playdough letters, BINGO daubing, tracing letters (upper and lowercase), letter sounds, and beginning sounds of words.) 
  • Letter B (16 printables which includes 3 crafts, a spinning game, letter identification, forming letters, playdough letters, BINGO daubing, tracing letters, letter sounds, and beginning sounds of words.) See Previews
  • Letters C-Z (These will follow the same format as units for letters A & B, but with different crafts.) 
  • Over 450 Print & Go pages
letter writing practice

Want to try it out first? No problem! Grab the freebie here! 

letter activities

If you love these ideas, I share even more alphabet practice activities here! 

First Day Of Kindergarten Activities Your Students Will Love

Back to School, kindergarten survival, Teaching Tips

It’s time to start thinking about the new school year! If you are a kindergarten teacher, it can be especially exciting because you are preparing for a year with brand new students who have never been to school before! 

first day of kindergarten

You are probably exhilarated, and your kids are excited too and maybe a little scared but that’s okay! You are more than prepared for a fun learning experience with lesson plans and activities that will keep your little ones busy every step of the day, right? 

If you aren’t quite prepared yet, that’s okay! I’m here to help. Being well prepared for the first day of kindergarten (there will likely be tears!), will save you so much time in the long run. Your transition times will be kept to a minimum and it will save your sanity! 

Here are some tips for having a stellar first day of kindergarten with your students: 

  1. Make it fun! As mentioned above, a lot of kindergarten students have never experienced school before so, understandably, they will probably be pretty nervous about this new experience. Once they start having fun in the classroom, they will realize how great learning can be! Playing some get-to-know-you games is a great first day of school activity. 
  2. Read some fun books. Find a great story to read together and do a simple craft to go along with the story. You can encourage your students to share what the story was about with their caregivers at home. 
  3. Discuss rules. This one isn’t as fun but it is necessary to make sure expectations are set from the very first day. Make sure to cover classroom rules, recess rules, and lunchroom rules so they know what to expect all day long. 
  4. Review going home procedures. This is a very important piece of information to cover. Going over what each student will do at the end of the day will alleviate some of the stress that usually comes along with that part of the first day. 

To help your first day go off without a hitch, I created my First Day Of School Kindergarten Activities Resource. It includes a full lesson plan! 

first day of kindergarten

Included you’ll get: 

  •  33 first day of school printables (includes detailed lesson plans, links, planning checklists, Welcome to Kindergarten coloring sheet, directions for a fun name game, name crafts, photo frames, A Kissing Hand Home Connection activity, name tags, certificates, and more!)
  • Editable PowerPoint to easily add students names to certificates, crafts and edit your lesson plans
  • Classroom rules posters
  • Gingerbread Man hunt to find all the important locations at school
  • How I Get Home hats

first day of kindergarten

Everything you need for a fun and successful first day! 

first day of kindergarten

What are your favorite activities for the first day of school? Let me know in the comments!

Want some more kindergarten teaching tips? Check out these kindergarten homework ideas!