It’s that time . . .time to start gathering up some goodies to engage and delight the kiddies during this Halloween season. So I quick took a few pictures to give you a quick ‘look see’ . . .
It’s amazing what you can find when you go through all the boxes of holiday ‘stuff’ you have squirrelled away from post season purchases. I have absolutely no idea when or where I acquired these colorful little spiders, but when I was reacquainted with them this year, I immediately knew what I wanted to do with them.
If you are familiar with my ABC parking lot activity, you know I do a similar activity to the one below with matchbox cars and a playing mat.
Well, I thought, why not write letters on the backs of these cute little spiders and use them the same way.
Of course, I needed to differentiate the activity a bit, so after students get their spiders all in the right web, they can use the beginning letter sound picture cards to match up pictures to letter webs, too.
And then, I found these little lovely buttons at JoAnne’s. I absolutely love to give kinders interesting and fun manipulatives to use for counting and math activities and these (as well as any cheap Dollar Store-type erasers or counters) can make any math station just that much more fun. I actually had to shoo my nine year old away from my math stuff. He wanted to work with the spider buttons.
I have a difficult time keeping my class away from play-doh. It’s so amazing to me how much it helps their find motor, and there so many kinders that just aren’t allowed to use it at home because it’s ‘messy.’ So even though my kinders are much father along with their number recognition and counting, I’m letting them work with play-doh to make higher numbers and by offering these fun manipulatives and a ten (or twenty) frame, they can work on representing numbers as well.
I love this clipart I found from Melonheadz with the Witches Laundry. It’s perfect for my sensory table (sorry, I didn’t take a picture of it yet). Numbers go in the sensory table and students pick three number cards randomly…then they use clothes pins to put the numbers in order on a string I have (the witch’s clothes line) from smallest to largest. When they have had the opportunity to work in the sensory table on this skills, they can use the mat below to practice the same skill and writing numbers that correspond.
Yatta! has become a class favorite so here is the Halloween version I just had to make to appease the kindergarten masses. There is a 1-5 and 1-10 version for differentiating.
More fun with my favorite spider buttons! I have self-correcting cards for patterning (it comes with spider cards in case you can’t locate my cute spider buttons) Some of my younger minders are still working on AB patterns but I also created some more complex pattern options for AABB, ABB, ABC, AAB and the like as well.
And of course, we always need practice writing numbers, so MaGill (my own home grown kinder) grabbed my Costume Parade Counting Book and did a little practicing on his own.
I will have some more pictures next week, but if you are interested in learning about any of the activities above, go ahead and click on the pictures for more information.
I saw your post on insta and I HAD to head over here!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your playdoh number mats! Maybe because the black playdoh is so intriguing?? Or maybe because I am IN LOVE with those colorful spiders?! We aren’t working on teen numbers yet, but I reallllly want to use those playdoh mats with my class!!
I hoard the black playdoh from when I purchase big boxes of playdoh and save them for Halloween time, but I did discover that I can actually buy single containers of play-doh in any color I want from my local store. 🙂 Bonus!
Marsha
I L~O~V~E those spider buttons! They would be perfect manipulatives for my preschoolers! Although my students are MUCH younger (3) I love to see what other teachers are doing so I can steer my little ones in the right direction and make later learning easier for them.
I found so many things to do with them. They really were a great find.
Marsha
Hi Marsha. I will be working on Differentiation as my S.M.A.R.T goal this year in Kinder. Do you have any resources that helped you get started? I had never really seen much about this in Kinder, until I saw your blog! Thank you for all you do! anne
Anything by Carol Tomlinson will get you on the right path.
Marsha
My kids LOVE playing yatta! Such a fun game and differentiated!! I will have to grab some of those Halloween items for really cheap after Halloween this year in preparation for next year!
Heather
The Land of I Can
My boys love Yatta! so I knew my kinders would like it too. So glad your own kinders enjoyed them as well.
Thanks
Marsha
Love all your games!! I bet your kiddos just love them!
April
Wolfelicious
Thanks April.
Marsha
Those spider buttons are too precious… gotta get them!
Mary
Sharing Kindergarten
So much fun!!! Seriously!! I want to be in your class!!!!!!!!!!!
I absolutely LOVE the playdoh with the ten frames. GENIUS!
I always love taking fun activities and making them seasonal and fun! I am in LOVE with those spider buttons! I must run immediately to JoAn and buy some! Too cute!
Erica
Growing Little Minds