Small Groups
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Roll, Add & Build a Skyscraper City Math Game
We love to use dice games in math small groups with our Pre-K kiddos, and our Roll, Add & Build A Skyscraper City game is one of our favorites. We created it after a student noted how the side-by-side stacked cubes resembled New York City skyscrapers! Indeed they do.
You’ll need two dice per child, and a whole slew of linking cubes or small blocks that can be stacked. Then turn those kiddos loose to add, subitize, identify numerals, connect numerals to quantity and strengthen their one-to-one correspondence skills.
Ugh, isn’t it just like us teachers (and parents) to make everything fun a learning experience?
Get the free download below and let us know how your kiddos enjoy it!
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Cookie Jar Syllable Game
This Cookie Jar Syllable Sort game from Fairy Poppins for Playdough to Plato was a HUGE hit in our class! Our pre-k kiddos not only loved it, but many seemed to grasp the concept of syllables after one time playing.
The set features labeled “cookie jars” in which preschool kiddos sort the adorable cookies, which feature one-, two- or three-syllable images. This is a set you’ll want to laminate before you cut it out, because it will get some use!
We used this in small groups with about 3-4 kiddos at a time. We handed out one one-syllable cookie first to each child to get a feel for the game. For subsequent rounds we got a little harder with two- and three-syllable words, then we mixed them up randomly.
The kiddos turned it into a guessing game on their own, and that created anticipation as the rounds went by and kept their attention on what their peers were doing, The “oooh, what are you gonna get — one, two or three?” increased the appeal of this game beyond our expectations.
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Things That Go “Bump” In The Classroom
Ah, Bump, a true favorite in our class! Once Upon a Learning Adventure provides this version as part of a free four-pack of math small group games.
Bump is a fun counting game for working on one-to-one correspondence, numeral identification and connecting numeral to quantity.
Children play the game in pairs, so you will need one game sheet, two six-sided dice and 12 linking cubes in each of two colors for each twosome. (We recommend laminating several copies of the game sheet because this game will surely be popular!)
So many squeals of joy come out of this game — the kiddos love “bumping” each other off a number. Additionally, once they have the game’s directions mastered, kiddos can pair up and play it independently.
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Spring Has Sprung: Learning All About Plants
Spring is right around the corner, and we’ve banished all visions, mentions or even thoughts of winter from our classroom! We’re launching our “Nature All Around Us” unit and today’s free printable fits right in as it teaches all about plants.
We LOVE Pocket of Preschool’s topic investigations, and this freebie is a mini version that explores plant needs, plant parts and plant lifecycles. It also includes a cut-and-paste sequencing activity.
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Uh Oh! What Did Pete the Cat Step In?
Like most preschool teachers, we love us some Pete the Cat. Pete with his white shoes, Pete with a new friend, Pete losing his buttons … you name it. We love Pete. So, naturally, we also love this adorable printable color and matching activity from Prekinders. This printable is a fun way to extend learning after reading Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes.
In the story, Pete’s white shoes turn different colors as he steps in assorted items. This free activity, great for large or small group learning with 3s and older 2s, works on color identification and matching. In addition to the printable, Prekinders offers directions on multiple ways to play the game.
For preschool vocabulary and reading comprehension questions, visit our Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes book review.
