Kindergarten Activities for Kids
In this set of activities adaptable for grades K-3, parents and educators will find ideas for teaching about starting kindergarten. These activities are designed to complement the BrainPOP Jr. Kindergarten topic page, which includes a movie, quizzes, online games, printable activities, and more.
Classroom Activities for Teaching About Kindergarten
School Tour
To get your children accustomed to school, take them on a tour of the campus or building. Show them important areas such as the bathroom, library, computer lab, gym, and cafeteria. Discuss what happens in each place and the rules that apply. Then have students make a map of their school or draw different pictures of important places in school.
School Day
Explain to students that a schedule is a chart that tells the time when events happen during a day. Create a class schedule together, including the time or order for recess, lunch, reading, etc. Talk about how kindergarten will be like pre-k (both have arts and crafts, poems, stories) and how it will be different (there may not be nap time or the school day may be longer.) Discuss children’s favorite parts of the school day. Then have students draw a picture or mime their favorite part of the school day and have volunteers guess.
Staying Calm
Some students may feel anxious about starting school. Together discuss ways to stay calm and positive about school. Brainstorm different tips to stay calm and focused, such as thinking of a happy memory, closing your eyes and breathing deeply, or thinking of a fun event that will happen later in the day. Invite students to share their feelings with each other. You may want to make up a silly song or hold a puppet show for your students about school.
Family and Homeschool Activities for Teaching About Kindergarten
Playing School
Prepare your child for kindergarten by playing school with him or her. You can act as the teacher and teach a lesson that will help your child prepare for school, such as reviewing key class rules or discussing different subjects that your child will learn in class. As you act as a teacher, make sure your child sits up nice and straight, remains quiet as you talk, and assign “homework.” You can then switch roles with your child and play the student or have your child play the teacher for dolls or stuffed animals.
Life is a Classroom
Read everything together; signs, ads, and cereal boxes! Count, point out shapes and colors, sort and classify! Problem solve ordinary dilemmas out loud for your child and model how you look for solutions. Point out examples of teamwork, sharing, or acts of kindness. Build endurance for listening to stories and encourage creativity with art projects or composing their own song lyrics. Your child will be ready for kindergarten before you know it!
