With the oldest at school during the day, I tend to spend a lot of time getting creative with the preschooler. But with Christmas break and an extra week off due to the weather, the kindergartner and I had plenty of time to really play with sight words. We had fun with these 2 simple ideas for sight word practice at home.
At the beginning of the year the teacher sent home a set of flashcards with the sight words written on them. But, honestly, flipping through sight words gets boring after 1-2 words. Plus, my daughter is a mover! So I wanted to incorporate movement in our sight word practice.
Our first activity involved sand.
I poured some sand into a large cake pan, making sure it was enough to cover the bottom completely. Then I gave her an unsharpened pencil to “write in the sand.” She practiced saying the sight word aloud and then writing it.
The novelty of having the sand to write in made it more fun than just using pencils or markers. Plus, it just feels different!
Our second activity is one we have done before, and it was a big hit! (Pun intended!)
I spread 5-6 sight word cards out on the floor at a time and then called out a word. She had fun trying to hit them as fast as she could.
After a while, I stopped calling out words and she took over, yelling out the words and smacking them! She was having so much fun that the preschooler came over and wanted a turn. (He did pretty good when I spelled the words I wanted him to hit!)
We will definitely be playing with sight words again! It was a great way to get some wiggles out and do some learning all at the same time this week!
Monica says
I have a post with all the sight words as free flash cards. I love these activities. OK with you to link to this list of activities from that post? You’ve got some great activities here.
Thanks!
Monica
rebecca at thisfineday says
Great ideas! I think my kindergartener would love both of these learning activities. Thanks for the post 🙂
OneMommy says
Oh, can’t wait to check yours out with the Mad Libs! 🙂
Lauralee Moss says
We write them on fun paper – hearts, Christmas trees, whatever. Then we hang them and practice saying them – after we write them.
OneMommy says
Different shaped paper is so fun for kids to write on! Mine love itty-bitty pieces! 🙂
Eva @ The Multitasking Mummy says
Sand is such an invaluable tool!
OneMommy says
It really is… So much more to do with it than just put it in the sandbox!
Rachel says
This looks like a lot of fun! My daughter would probably love this:) Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board!
karen says
sight word smack, love it. I know Dino would love to do that…thanks for sharing babe.
OneMommy says
My daughter is constantly moving… Activities like that really work for her. And, what kid doesn’t like hitting things with a fly swatter?
Jennifer says
You totally reminded me that we have those flyswatters and can use it with site words!!! Love it, visiting from HC Preschool and Kindergarten Linkup.
OneMommy says
Isn’t it great when you rediscover ideas?
Becky @ This Reading Mama says
I love your hands-on approach to sight words. Thank you for sharing at the Afterschool Link up!
OneMommy says
We definitely need to do more of these types of activities! She had fun and we worked on those sight words at the same time! Win-win!
Jill says
Sand can be used in so many fun and educational ways. I love this idea!!
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
OneMommy says
Never realized all the ways we could use sand when we first got the sandbox!
Makeovers & Motherhood says
Great idea having your daughter use a pencil to write out her site words! She is learning more than just words here! I am featuring this on the Makeovers & Motherhood’s Welcome Party Wednesday Link-Up this week! Thanks for sharing!
OneMommy says
Thank so much for featuring it!
Working on those writing skills and being able to spell the word as well as read it. 🙂
Stephanie Kay says
The flyswatter idea is brilliant! I know my 5 yr old would enjoy doing this for all kinds of skills beyond sight words. Thanks for sharing via Family Fun Friday.
OneMommy says
It definitely could be used many ways!