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Sizzling Summer Morning Work Ideas Motivate and Engage Learners in the Sun

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Summer is just around the corner, and I am happy send my little ones off with some summer fun themed Morning Work Stations these last few weeks of school.  In case you still have some weeks left like I do, or if you’re just looking for summer fun, you can check out all the activities included in my Summer Morning Work Stations sets below.  If you would like to know where I secured all the goodies that go along with these fun, engaging stations, just click HERE.  It will take you to my materials list.  Scroll down to the very end where you will find Summer’s.

Summer Morning Work

This post does contain some affiliate links for your shopping convenience.  I do receive a small commission when someone purchases an item after clicking on a link.  These commissions help with the cost of maintaining this blog and allow me to continue bringing you valuable content, activities, and ideas.

SUMMER MORNING WORK IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES

1.Fun at the Beach Sight Word Links

Students use shell letter cards and editable sight word cards to practice their sight words by linking them together with plastic links.

  • Editable Sight Word Cards
  • Seashell Letter Cards
  • Plastic Clips or Clothespins

2.Fun at the Beach CVC Self-Correcting

Using the same kind of idea, students look at the picture on the bucket card and use the letter cards and links to create the word and then write it on the mat.

Then they simply open the self-correcting card toes if they did it correctly.

  • Plastic links or clothespins
  • Shell letter cards or real shells with letters written on them or beads with letters
  • Self-correcting beach bucket cards
  • Response sheet (Included in this set and optional)

If you want to make it even more engaging, grab some shells and write the letters on them.  Students can line them up in order to spell the word.

3. Fun at the Beach Summer Morning Work Links for Numbers and Quantities

Using those same plastic links, student link together numbers with quantities, ten frames and tally marks.  These numbers are easily differentiated when you limit the number of cards offered.  This set has numbers 0-20 available along with their corresponding quantity, ten frames and tally marks.

  • Plastic links
  • Fun At The Beach Themed Number Cards and Quantity Cards printed on cardstock and laminated for durability (Included in this set)
  • Sensory bin with thematic items

4.Fishy Fishy Sand Tray Sight Words Trays

These editable sight word cards allow you to offer sight word practice at all students levels.  Simple differentiate by printing off different lists on different colored card stock.  Students can use their fingers or a pencil to practice writing the words.

  • Fishy Fishy Sight Word Cards (available in this set)
  • Small cake pan or cookie sheet
  • Thematic fishy pencil
  • Blue colored sand or salt
  • Fun Fish Sprinkles or confetti (optional)

5.Melon Playdoh Counting Math Mats

Play-doh is always a great fine motor tool.  This way students can get a little fine motor work incorporated with number recognition and counting.

  • Laminated number mats printed on cardstock for durability
  • Dough for making number and melon seeds.

6.Melon Playdoh Ten Frame

If your students are working with ten frames, this set might be more appropriate.

  • Laminated number mats
  • Dough for making the number (and representing the quantity in a ten frame)
  • Optional: manipulatives for showing the quantity instead of playdoh

7. Melon Playdoh How Many More To Make Ten

And if you have students who are ready to figure out how many more to make ten, this set is probably perfect.

  • Dough Laminated number mats on cardstock for durability
  • Dough Dry erase markers
  • Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for erasing (optional)
  • Manipulatives (Optional if you wish to use something other than dough: pompoms, buttons or seasonal manipulatives.)

8.Summer Morning Work Playdoh Fill the Fish Tank Mat, Set the Table, and Build a Cone Mats

I also love to offer some more open-ended type play-doh fun.  With these mats, students complete the pictures by adding fish to a fish bowl, picnic items to a picnic table or build an ice cream cone.

9.Summer Morning Work Fun Playdoh Items (Ice cream, watermelon, sun, sunglasses, sand castle, lemonade)

These mats give students a bit more guidance with creating summery items.  There are many mats your students can use to make their play-doh creations.

  • Various colors of dough
  • Summer item cards laminated for durability

10.Summer Morning Work Fun  Q-tip Painting (beach ball, sun, bucket/shovel, flip-flop, sunglasses)

Always a favorite of my students, q-tip painting this in this set include a beach ball, sun, bucket/shovel, flip-flop, sunglasses and, of course, ice cream.

  • Q-tip picture sheets printed on white paper.
  • Q-tips
  • Washable tempera paint

11.Star Spangled Sort and Count Items

Therapy putty offers such a great fine motor tool for your students.  By hiding a few thematic items in the putty, you can make it a great fine motor and math activity. And you can differentiate it very easily.  Using this set, they are just sorting by color . . .

12. Star Spangled Color Find and Sort

. . . this option allows students to sort and graph . . .

13.Star Spangled Color Sort, Graph and Count

. . . and finally, with this one, you can sort, graph and count!

14. Summer Morning Work Count Your Ice Cubes

By using engaging manipulative like these, your students have fun while counting.  If you don’t have these specific plastic cubes, you can use flat clear marbles, buttons or beads.

Summer Morning Work

Once students place the number of cubes on the mat that corresponds with the card, they then just simply open the self-correcting card to see if they did it correctly.

  • Count Your Ice Cubes self-correcting cards printed on cardstock, laminated, and secured with clothespins.
  • Count Your Ice Cubes playing mat printed on cardstock and laminated for durability. (One for each student. )
  • Tongs (optional)
  • Plastic ice cubes, white buttons, pompoms or marshmallows to represent ice cubes.

15. Summer Morning Work One More Ice Cube

This station can be used for other skills as well.  In this station, you are working on adding ‘one more.’  Students complete the equation by using the tongs to move the ‘ice’ and then write the equation on the bottom.

When it is completed, they simply open the card to confirm they did it correctly.

  • Self-correcting cards printed on cardstock, laminated and secured with a clothespin.
  • Playing mat printed on cardstock and laminated for durability. Tongs (optional)
  • Plastic ice cubes, white buttons, pompoms or marshmallows to represent ice cubes.
  • Dry erase marker

16. Summer Morning Work One Less Ice Cube

This same idea is used for ‘one less’ and subtraction.  Students use the tongs to move the ice to the lemonade glass and then complete the subtraction problem.

Open the card to see if it was done correctly.

  • Self-correcting cards printed on cardstock, laminated and secured with a clothespin.
  • Playing mat printed on cardstock and laminated for durability.
  • Plastic ice cubes, white buttons, pompoms or marshmallows to represent ice cubes.
  • Dry erase marker

17.Under The Sea for Numbers Spin To Win

I found these sweet oceans themed rubber toys (much like rubber ducks) at the Dollar Tree.  I knew they would be perfect for a morning workstation.  I mean just look at how fun they are.  I simply wrote numbers on the bottom. Students take turn using tongs to select an ocean critter, read the number on the bottom and then spin the spinner to see if the greater or less than number wins both critters. The student with the most critters, in the end, is the winner.

Summer Morning Work

  • Mini toy sea creatures with numbers written in permanent marker on the bottom.
  • Tongs
  • Spinner card
  • Optional: small sand bucket or container
  • Optional: cd case and transparent spinner

18. Summer Morning Work Counting On Ants

By using little plastic ants, students at this station will work at counting on.  Don’t worry if you don’t have plastic ants, you can always use black buttons or beads for the same effect.  Students use tongs to move the number on the card and then write that number and the numbers that come after on the mat.

After the mat is complete, they open the self-correcting card to check their work.

  • Self-correcting cards printed on cardstock, laminated and secured with a clothespin.
  • Playing mat printed on cardstock and laminated for durability. (One for each student.)
  • Tongs
  • Plastic mini ants or little ants painted on flat white marbles (or you could use black pompoms, buttons or beads)
  • Dry erase marker

19. Summer Morning Work Counting Back Ants

This counting back mat has the same idea in mind, but students count back.

They complete the mat and open the card to assure they did it correctly.

  • Self-correcting cards printed on cardstock, laminated and secured with a clothespin.
  • Playing mat printed on cardstock and laminated for durability. (One for each student.)
  • Tongs
  • Plastic mini ants or little ants painted on flat white marbles (or you could use black pompoms, buttons or beads)
  • Dry erase marker

20. She Sells Sea Shells Missing Addend Self-Correcting Fun

Missing addends are tricky business, so I like to make sure my students get LOTS of practice. This missing addend set is fun and it gives them that practice.  Students use the shells and number bond mat to complete the equation on the self-correcting card.  Once they have completed the equation on the mat . . .

they open the card to see if they were successful.  Self-correcting cards make things so independent and that makes me feel better knowing they are getting the feedback they need.

  • Self-correcting missing addend cards
  • Bucket missing addend playing mats (one for each player)
  • Tongs
  • Shells

21. Summer Morning Work Fun Sticker Count (ice cream cone, fish, sand bucket, star)

Who knew stickers could be such a great hit?  Any kindergarten teacher that’s who.  I collect stickers when I see they are on sale or when I find interesting ones.  I wanted to find some really great ones for a more summery theme as my year winds down, and these seemed perfect.  There are several different response sheet options and pictures available in this set.  Students count the stickers they use and record their answer.

  • Sticker recording sheet printed on paper. One for each child. (There are two to choose from.)
  • One sheet allows students to trace and total up all the stickers used.
  • One sheet allows you to place a specific sticker next to a box. Students use those three types to outline the template and then count up the individual stickers of each type and record the number next to the sticker in the box.
  • Small thematic stickers or any small stickers you can find.

22. Fishy Addition Printable Book

Because my insect addition book was such a hit with my students in the May Set of Morning Work Stations, I decided to add this Fishy Addition version.  Students use stamp pads to make fish for the fishbowl to represent the equation on the page.

23. Summer Morning Work Yummy Gel Bead Sort

Water gel beads are slippery and hard to grasp and perfect fine motor tools.  This summer set will be a perfect send off for your student.  In this activity students simple sort by color . . .

24. Summer Morning Work Yummy Gel Bead Roll and Win

. . .  with this option, they roll a die and try to be the first to fill the bottom of their cookie cutter. If you want to make it more difficult, change up the dice you use. This one is a dice in dice.

Light Table (optional)

25. Summer Morning Work  Lego Challenge:  ice cream, fish, sun

Lego cards give students a little bit extra guidance when creating.  In this morning work set, I give examples of how to make a fish, ice cream cone and sun . . . all perfect for a summery theme.

  • Small Lego bases
  • Lego Creation Cards
    • Ice cream
    • fish
    • sun
  • Legos in various colors

26.Star Spangled Constructing Letters and Words

I found these transparent star table scatter pieces at Hobby Lobby but you can use any red and blue manipulative that you can find to complete this station.  Red, white and blue buttons, beads or flat glass marbles would all work great.  Students simply use the manipulative to make the letters on their Star Spangled Letter Cards.

For students who are working on sight words, these editable word cards will allow them to practice the words they still need to master.

28. Summer Morning Work Fishy Container Count

Grab some Dollar Tree mini containers and paint a fish on the top.  Find some cute erasers, buttons or fish beads and place different quantities in each container.  Label the containers with a number on the bottom and hand your students a response sheet to record how many they find in each container.  I make a little more challenging by making this a ‘no hands’ station.  Students have to use tongs to take the items out of the container and to move them to sort them.

29. Summer Morning WorkFishy Container Addition

Need a bigger challenge?  Use two different colored fish and have students complete the equation to show how many of each fish they found in the container and what sum of the two types are next to the corresponding containers’ number.  Because I realize that you may not have fishes lying around, I also have response sheets for stars and ice cream/popsicle manipulatives.

30. Summer Morning Work Watermelon Lowercase/Capital Matching Puzzles

My students love puzzles and when you hide the pieces in a thematic sensory bin, it makes it even more fun and engaging.  It’s also super simple to differentiate this station . . . there are four different options, just print the watermelon slices on different colored cardstock to help organize the different skills.  There’s one for lowercase to capital matching . . .

  • Small sensory bin with fun thematic filler and polypropylene beads
  • Capital/Lowercase Letter puzzles printed  on one color of cardstock, laminated and cut apart

31. Summer Morning Work Watermelon Letter Sounds Matching Puzzles

. . . this one is for initial sounds and letters . . .

  • Small sensory bin with fun thematic filler and polypropylene beads
  • Lowercase/Beginning Letter Sounds puzzles printed on one color of cardstock, laminated and cut apart.

32. Summer Morning Work Watermelon CVC Words Matching Puzzles

. . . simple cvc words . . .

  • Small sensory bin with thematic filler and polypropylene beads
  • CVC/Picture puzzle pieces printed on cardstock and laminated for durability.

33.Seashell Digraph Word Match Puzzles

. . . and digraphs as well.  Use them all or just the ones your students need.

  • Small sensory bin with thematic filler and polypropylene beads
  • Digraph/Picture puzzles pieces printed on cardstock and laminated for durability.

34. Fishy  Patterns Self-correcting

I found these sweet little wooden fish beads and just knew they would be perfect for a patterning station.  The self-correcting cards make it super independent.

Students use the tongs to complete the pattern and then open the card to see if they did it correctly.

  • Colorful plastic fish, fish beads or buttons
  • Playing mat printed on cardstock and laminated
  • Self-correcting cards printed on cardstock, laminated and folded to hide the answer.
  • Clothespins (fun thematic foamy or item hot glued to clothespin optional)
  • Tongs or tweezers for moving items

35.Under The Sea Letter Match Up

Use more of the rubber sea creatures that I found at the Dollar Tree, or these sweet rubber fish or even seashells for this station.  You can write the letters that YOU need on the editable playing mat and then print the corresponding letters on the manipulatives.  Students take turns selecting a little fish with tongs and then read the letter on the bottom matching them to the mat.  The object is to be the first to cover your mat first.

  • Rubber fish (You can get these at Dollar Tree or there are some available thru Amazon.) or small toy fish that are programmed with sight words of your choice.
  • One editable playing mat per student at a station with your selected letters (Included in this set.)
  • Tongs
  • Sensory bin with seasonal items (optional)

36.Under The Sea Word Match Up

If your students need a little more challenge, type in the sight words that you need them to practice as a different option.

  • Rubber fish (You can get these at Dollar Tree or there are some available thru Amazon.) or small toy fish that are programmed with sight words of your choice.
  • One editable playing mat per student at a station with your selected sight words. (Included in this set.)
  • Tongs
  • Sensory bin with seasonal items (optional)

37.Feed Your Fish Math

Students complete worm equations and feed them to the fish with the matching sums.

  • Math equation flies (included in this set)
  • Sensory bin with thematic items.
  • Frog heads with numbers 0-10 on them. Cut these out and place them on bucket or box so students can feed the frog thru the mouth.)

38.Sea Shell Addition Self-correcting Cards

These colorful shells are perfect for practicing addition and subtraction.

Students move the shells with tongs to make a picture that represents the equation and confirm their answer when they open the self-correcting card.

  • Small seashells
  • Self-correcting addition  cards
  • Seashell Addition mats
  • Clothing pins

39.Sea Shell Subtraction Self-correcting Cards

There’s one for subtraction too.

  • Small seashells
  • Self-correcting subtraction cards
  • Seashell Subtraction mats
  • Clothing pins

40.Ice cream and Popsicle Addition to 10 Self-Correcting Cards and Mat

I found these sweet popsicle and ice cream cone erasers and thought they would be a fun addition station with a summery feel.

Students move the ice cream and popsicle with tongs to represent the equation shown on the card and then open the card to check their answer.

  • Small popsicle and ice cream erasers, beads or small flat marbles with ice cream cones and popsicle painted on the top. Self-correcting cards
  • Scooping up Addition Mats
  • Clothes Pins

41. Fish Bowl I Spy Editable Sight Words and Record

This editable I-Spy station has students seeking sight words and recording the ones that they find.  Students love using the magnifying glass to seek and you’ll love that its editable.

  • I-Spy Mats and recording sheets laminated for durability
  • Magnifying glasses
  • Dry erase markers

42. Star Spangled Straw Cut Up and Necklaces

I found festive red, white and blue straws at my local department store and knew my students would love cutting up straw beads and lacing them on a ribbon.  It’s such a simple idea and a great way to work those fine motor muscles.

  • Red, white and blue straws
    • I purchased plastic ones at a local department store in Michigan (Meijers) and the star ones from Hobby Lobby
  • Ribbon
  • Scissors

43.  Star Spangled Addition

A star-shaped paper hole-puncher, glue and red and blue paper are all you need.  Students punch out red and blue hearts and then glue them in their books to represent the equation.

And that’s all of the stations you’ll find in this Summer Morning Work pack.  If you’d like to find out more or grab a set for yourself, just click on the picture below.

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Marsha Moffit McGuire

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