Explore math, reading, writing, fine motor skills, and large motor skills to help individuals and groups improve kindergarten readiness skills.
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Interested in running a kindergarten readiness class for preschoolers? Or are you looking for ways to prepare your preschooler at home? Here are some fun, realistic activities to get your preschooler(s) ready for kindergarten.
Find fun and educational activities for individual and group preparation for preschoolers starting kindergarten. Explore math, reading, writing, fine motor skills, and large motor skills.
Kindergarten Readiness Program Plan
As we went through the class, we focused on using a large group activity to demonstrate a skill, and then we moved into an individual activity that caregivers and children can work on together to reinforce that skill. (These individual activities are also helpful for parents to gain insight on new ways to teach their children.)
MATH
Large Group Activity
Before the class, I taped a makeshift graph on the wall. I printed out the colors and numbers using Microsoft Publisher and then laminated them. I put them on a large, open wall – numbers on the left (vertical axis) and colors on the bottom (horizontal axis).
Kids chose their favorite color dragon, and we taped them on the correct part of the graph.
Once our graph was completed, I asked the kids questions about the graph we made:
- Which line is the longest? The shortest?
- (Without counting) What color did we like the best? The least?
- Can we count how many dragons there are in each color? How many dragons total?
- What color dragons are in the middle? (Not the most but not the least.)
- What does all of this mean? (We like pink the best, nobody’s favorite is yellow, etc.)
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Individual Activity
After this group activity, the kids sat by their caregivers where they graphed on their own. Using the chart I made using Microsoft Word, they graphed blocks (I got these from Wal-Mart).
This activity not only reinforced graphing skills, but it also introduced 3-D shapes (an often overlooked part of learning shapes before kindergarten).
READ
Large Group Activity
*This idea came from Pre-K and K Sharing. I told the story of Jack and the Beanstalk using a felt board and clipart I printed, cut out, and laminated. I lined up the pictures in a vertical line so the felt board told the story in order.
Individual Activity
I then had the kids sit by their parents. They worked together to put the story in the right order: identifying the beginning of the story, the middle of the story, and the end of the story. As shared by Pre-K and K Sharing, from Sparkle Box, we made the sequencing cards with the same clip-art pictures from our large group activity.
WRITE
Large Group Activity
We then explored letters and the alphabet. We started off by singing the ABC’s. Some kids knew it really well and other struggled to follow along. I then handed out the laminated pieces from our homemade alphabet poster. To make our alphabet poster, I used two identical alphabet posters. I cut the letters of one out, laminated and stuck Velcro on the backs. I then laminated the original poster and put Velcro on the front by all of the letters. The kids were able to stick the letters onto the poster, making a match. They LOVED to see the different animals on the poster and come up to make their matches. For each letter, we said the letter sounds out loud, as well as the animal name.
Individual Activity
I gave the kids and their caregivers Play-Doh, letter-shaped cookie cutters, and laminated letter papers to practice forming letters. I asked them to make letters that aren’t in their first names. (They tend to know those letters really well.) And then I asked them to spell their first names, first letter of last names, the first letters of family member’s names, etc.
TALK
Large Group Activity
I read four or five nursery rhymes I found in a Mother Goose nursery rhyme book. While reading, I shook a shaker egg, and I had the kids shake shaker eggs while I read as well. Rhythm instruments help children hear the natural rhythm of spoken language.
Individual Activity
The kids made their own shaker eggs to take home. They picked their favorite color plastic Easter egg, filled it with dried beans, and then used patterned Washi tape to decorate their eggs. I instructed the adults to let their children scoop the beans and try to snap the egg closed. I also had the kids rip the Washi tape on their own. This is a wonderful fine motor skills activity, as well as rhythm activity.
Check out more preschool activities:
Group Process Art Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Art Books With Craft Ideas for Kids
Unconventional Picture Books About Food