Letters & reading
1st gradeReading Punctuation with Expression
Explore periods, question marks, and exclamation marks in short sentences, using meaning and punctuation to guide an expressive read-aloud.
17 min readFOR THE GROWN-UPS BEHIND THE LITTLE EXPLORERS
Early Learning Activities & Parent Guides · Page 2
Page 2. Practical activities for children ages 3–8: letters, counting, shapes, colors, science, and social learning, with examples and tips for parents.
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300 guides to explore
Letters & reading
2nd gradeDescribing a Character with Evidence
Describe a story character using a specific action, words, or illustration as evidence, while distinguishing observation from inference.
17 min readLetters & reading
1st gradeChoosing a Just-Right Shared Reading Challenge
Choose a shared-reading task by observing the text, the child's goals, and the support available, then adjust the task with concrete evidence.
17 min readLetters & reading
PreschoolReading Environmental Print on a Neighborhood Walk
Use familiar signs and labels on a neighborhood walk to explore what print communicates, who reads it, and how to check an interpretation.
17 min read
Letters & reading
2nd gradeTurning a Favorite Fact into a Two-Sentence Report
Help a beginning writer check one fact, choose two useful sentences, and make a short report that a reader can understand.
18 min readLetters & reading
KindergartenWordless Picture Books for Storytelling Practice
Use a wordless picture book to build and revise a story from visual evidence, sequence events, and distinguish observation from invention.
17 min read
Numbers & math
PreschoolOne-to-One Counting with Snack-Time Supplies
Count snack-time objects one at a time, connect the last number word to the total, and check skipped or repeated items.
17 min read
Numbers & math
PreschoolUnderstanding Zero with an Empty Basket
Explore zero as a count using an empty basket, visible changes to a collection, numeral cards, and comparisons with one and more.
17 min read
Numbers & math
PreschoolRecognizing Numerals through a Parking Game
Match numeral cards to parking spaces, connect each symbol with a quantity, and check common mix-ups with visible examples.
17 min read
Numbers & math
KindergartenComparing More and Fewer without Guessing by Size
Compare two collections by matching or counting their objects, even when one group uses larger pieces or takes up more space.
17 min read
Numbers & math
KindergartenMaking Five in Different Ways
Explore the parts of five with two groups of objects, record each combination, and check that the total remains five.
17 min readNumbers & math
KindergartenMaking Ten with a Homemade Ten-Frame
Build a ten-frame, fill it with counters, and explore the pairs of numbers that make ten using visual and written checks.
17 min read
Numbers & math
KindergartenAddition Stories with Toy Animals
Act out addition stories with toy animals, connect the groups and total to an equation, and check what changes when a story changes.
17 min readNumbers & math
KindergartenSubtraction as Taking Away with Paper Leaves
Model subtraction by removing paper leaves, counting what remains, and matching each part of the story to a number sentence.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeCounting On from a Known Number
Practice counting on from a known quantity when objects are added, with concrete checks, common errors, and variations.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeNumber Lines Made from Floor Tiles
Build a floor number line with evenly spaced labels, use steps to model small changes, and distinguish positions from intervals.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeSkip Counting by Twos with Paired Socks
Count pairs of socks by twos, connect each number to a complete pair, and check totals when a sock is left over.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeSkip Counting by Fives with Hand Outlines
Count groups of five with hand outlines, check each group, and distinguish the number of outlines from the number of represented fingers.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeTens and Ones with Bundled Paper Strips
Bundle ten paper strips as one ten, represent two-digit numbers with tens and ones, and exchange a bundle without changing the total.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeTeen Numbers as Ten and Some More
Build numbers from eleven to nineteen as ten and additional ones, connect the model to numerals, and check common mix-ups.
17 min readNumbers & math
KindergartenOrdering Numbers from Smallest to Largest
Order a small set of numbers from least to greatest using objects, a number line, and checks for common ordering errors.
17 min read
Numbers & math
KindergartenFinding a Missing Number in a Counting Path
Find and check a missing number in a counting path by identifying the step rule and comparing both neighboring positions.
17 min readNumbers & math
1st gradeEqual Sharing with Crayons
Share crayons equally among recipients, check each share, and explore what a leftover means under an explicit rule.
17 min readNumbers & math
2nd gradeFair Does Not Always Mean Equal: A Math Conversation
Compare equal counts with context-dependent ideas of fairness using concrete sharing examples and questions children can discuss.
17 min read