Creative Family Fun

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Learning Activities for Kids

Sidewalk Chalk Spelling Words

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Can I make a confession? I almost didn’t post this sidewalk chalk spelling idea because I thought it was too simple.

But, then I realized that we’re all looking for simple ideas. And, when we’re practicing spelling words, we really don’t need to get too complicated.

So, if you’ve got beautiful weather and your kids just want to be outside, have them spend a few minutes writing their spelling words with sidewalk chalk.

Sidewalk Chalk Spelling Words

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Set Up Your Sidewalk Chalk Spelling Activity

All you need to do for this activity is to make sure you have sidewalk chalk and some concrete to write on. That’s it. No prep needed.

You can use your driveway, the sidewalk, a back patio, or even a brick wall!

Our driveway is usually quite colorful when the weather is nice because of all the learning activities, games, and artwork we do!

Go outside to practice spelling words with this simple outdoor learning activity: sidewalk chalk spelling words. It's easy and fun!

Write Your Sidewalk Chalk Spelling Words

To do this simple outdoor learning activity, have your child write out all their spelling words with chalk.

They can write them big or small, all one color or in every color in the box.

They can get creative and add swirls and other embellishments or write the words in block letters. Anything goes!

You can even do a practice spelling test ouside!

(And if they write them big, they can always walk their spelling words too!)

Remember, it doesn’t have to be complicated to have fun with your spelling words. You can simply just get out the sidewalk chalk and write some sidewalk chalk spelling words.

Go outside to practice spelling words with this simple outdoor learning activity: sidewalk chalk spelling words. It's easy and fun!

You May Also Like One of These Fun Ways to Practice Spelling Words:

Rainbow Writing Spelling Words

Make Spelling Words with Scrabble Tiles

Pinprick Spelling Words

Cloud Themed Spelling Word Game With ABC Beads at The Educators’ Spin On It

Shop our list of spelling homework station supplies here.

Flower Name Recognition Activity for Toddlers

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Is your child interested in learning letters?

It’s always fun to start with the letters in their names. Our flower name recognition activity for toddlers is the perfect way to practice learning the letters in a name. Use the idea to work on learning the alphabet or matching uppercase and lowercase letters, too.

Help your child learn their name with this fun spring activity for toddlers - Flower Name Recognition Activity. It's so easy and so much fun!

Flower Name Recognition Activity for Toddlers

Supplies Needed for the Name Activity

  • Craft foam sheets
  • Permanent makers
  • Scissors
  • Large dry erase board
  • Spray bottle filled with water

How to Set Up the Flower Themed Name Game

Since this activity involves spraying water, it’s a good idea to take it outside. Or at least have some towels handy and your floor protected. The spray bottle adds in some bonus hand strengthening. See my alternative materials for other options.

Use a permanent marker to write your child’s name on a large dry erase board. (Permanent markers will erase from a dry erase board with rubbing alcohol. Or scribble over the permanent marker with a dry erase marker and then wipe clean.) I used the dry erase board side of our easel. This makes for an easy set up. A piece of tile board from the hardware store is also a good option for a large, inexpensive dry erase board.

Cut out flowers from the craft foam that will cover the letters on your dry erase board. I drew the flowers on the board as well. Use a permanent marker to write the letters on the foam flowers.

Place the foam flowers and the spray bottle next to the white board. Have your child spray each letter on the board with water. Talk about the letters. What do the letters spell?

Next, encourage him to match the letters in his name. Find the foam flower that matches the letters on the board. The water will allow the foam to stick to the board.

Talk about the letters as your child is matching them. Help her turn the flowers so that the letters are facing the correct way.

Help your child learn their name with this fun spring activity for toddlers - Flower Name Recognition Activity. It's so easy and so much fun!

Alternative Materials to Use for the Flower Name Recognition Game

You could try this same activity in the bath tub. The foam will stick to the walls when wet. Use bath crayons to write your child’s name.

Instead of using a spray bottle, use a wet wash cloth to get the white board wet.

Instead of using foam, use magnetic sheets to create your flowers. (Small magnets shouldn’t be used around toddlers and children who like to put things in their mouths.) Build the flower name on a magnetic surface like a magnetic dry erase board, a metal drip pan, or a magnetic cookie sheet.

Create a sticky wall using contact paper. Tape the contact paper sticky side out to the wall (or table). Use paper or foam flowers to build your names.

Help your child learn their name with this fun spring activity for toddlers - Flower Name Recognition Activity. It's so easy and so much fun!

More Flower Themed Name Recognition Activities to Try

Stir the Wonder used foam flowers and alphabet stickers to make spring flower names on the window.

Get kids moving with these 2 spring themed name recognition games from Toddler Approved. Go on a flower name hunt and play a water the flowers game.

Use the printable from Totschooling to make a name recognition flower garden.

More Name Recognition Activities for Toddlers

Make a Name Recognition Sensory Bin

Try these Farm Themed Name Recognition Activities

Play a Name Practice Water Game

Chemical Reaction Science Experiments for Kids

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What comes to mind when you think about chemical reaction science experiments?

I think of science labs, safety equipment, and sometimes dangerous chemical combinations. Not something I’d want to do with my kids.

Luckily, it doesn’t have to be that way! We’re going to dial it back with these fun, safe, kid-friendly chemistry experiments. 

Have fun learning with this fun selection of chemical reaction science experiments for kids that are safe, exciting, and fun.

We’ll explore chemical reactions in a fun way using items you probably already have at home. 

Are you ready to get started? I am. Let’s start learning!

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

Fun Chemical Reaction Science Experiments

Have fun learning with this fun selection of chemical reaction science experiments for kids that are safe, exciting, and fun.

Find out how pennies react to different substances with our fun Chemical Reactions with Pennies experiment.

A simple chemical reaction with vinegar will help you identify rocks with this Rock Testing experiment at Rainy Day Mum.

It’s so easy to see the reaction when you make a lava lamp like this idea from Fun Learning for Kids.

Use red cabbage as a pH indicator with this fun Cabbage Science project from Little Bins for Little Hands.

It takes a chemical reaction to make slime and you can try it out with this simple slime science from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Or make a fun batch of Rainbow Fizzy Cloud Dough like this from Powerful Mothering for another sensory experiment.

Grow your own crystals with this fun experiment from NurtureStore.

Create invisible ink with this fun spy science project from Share It! Science News.

This Fizzing Seashell science experiment from Teaching Without Chairs is a fun ocean science project.

Learn why leaves change colors with this simple experiment from How Wee Learn.

Chemical Reaction Science Experiments with Baking Soda

Have fun learning with this fun selection of chemical reaction science experiments for kids that are safe, exciting, and fun.

Create a gas to fill a balloon with our fun Grow the Grinch’s Heart science experiment.

Learn about history and make a simple volcano with our fun Erupting Mount Vesuvius project.

Use science to make art with this fun Baking Soda Art project from Mosswood Connections.

Do the classic Exploding Baggies science experiment like this from Buggy & Buddy.

Make a simple lemon volcano like this fun idea from Sixth Bloom.

You May Also Like One of These Science Activities:

Fun Popcorn Science Experiments

Hockey Science Experiment

Kitchen Science Experiments for Kids

Jack Be Nimble Science Activity

My Must-Have Resources for Science Fun

I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have time to prep a fun science project. That’s why I love Green Kid Crafts Discovery boxes. The boxes are packed full of projects that are fun and inviting. You can choose to get a subscription or a one-off box based off of a specific theme. Any one you choose would be a lot of fun!

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

Get a monthly subscription.

Kitchen Science Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

STEAM Family Activities

Wouldn’t it be so much fun to get STEAM family activities delivered to your inbox? I think so! That’s why I’ve created this fun series, STEAM Family Fun, to be delivered to your inbox. After going through all the letters in STEAM each week with a fun activity devoted to each, you’ll start receiving a fun STEAM activity once a month. (And I’ll also pop up in your inbox occasionally if I’ve got other fun things to share.)

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.



STEAM Family Fun Email List Sign Up

Dot Marker Spelling Words

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Have you ever used dot markers?

We used them most often when my girls were preschoolers. In fact, you can find tons of great ways to use them for toddlers and preschoolers.

But, you don’t have to pack these away once your kids reach kindergarten. In fact, we got our out recently to practice our spelling words when we made Dot Marker Spelling Words.

Dot Marker Spelling Words

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

Set Up Your Dot Marker Spelling Activity

The great thing about this activity is that set-up is a breeze. As long as you have the supplies on hand, it will only take a couple of minutes.

You’ll need some dot markers, blank paper, and your spelling list.

You can use plain white paper, lined paper, or even colorful construction paper. Feel free to make this activity fun and colorful!

Where To Buy Dot Markers

The most common types of dot markers that I see in kids activities are the Do-A-Dot brand. You can purchase these from Amazon and can also find them in some toy or craft supply stores.

As an alternative, you can use BINGO dabbers. I found a few in a dollar store for us to use. These come in fewer colors and are a bit sloppier. But, they’re not any sloppier than many other art supplies!

Once you have a set of markers, you can use them for many different activities!

Here's a fun way to practice spelling words, use a fun tool to write your words with this idea, Dot Marker Spelling Words.

Practice Your Dot Marker Spelling Words

Once you’re set up, have your child use the dot markers to create their spelling words using dots. You may need to demonstrate first, but it’s an easy concept to get.

Quite often, these words turn out big so you may go through several sheets of paper. You can conserve paper by using the front and back of each piece of paper or raiding a scrap paper pile.

It’s a fun challenge to make your words with dots and anything that makes spelling words fun is a winner in my book!

Here's a fun way to practice spelling words, use a fun tool to write your words with this idea, Dot Marker Spelling Words.

Fun Variations To This Dot Marker Spelling Word Activity

Turn your spelling word into dot art! Choose one word to concentrate on and use your dot markers to make word art.

Use your dot markers to mark your words while you play Spelling Word BINGO.

Use your dot markers to make a set of spelling word flash cards so you can practice throughout the week.

Shop our list of spelling homework station supplies here.

You May Also Like One of These Fun Ways to Practice Spelling Words

Finger Painting Spelling Words

Make Spelling Words with Letter Stamps

Salt Tray Spelling Words

Spelling Words Wall from Rainy Day Mum

Subtraction with Manipulatives Math Activity

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I’ve spent a lot of time tutoring kids in the lower elementary grades. We’ve worked on math a lot.

Time after time, I’ve seen understanding click as soon as I introduced math manipulatives. And, you’ll see it click as soon as you introduce subtraction with manipulatives.

Subtraction using buttons as manipulatives

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

Why You Should Use Math Manipulatives

Using math manipulatives is a great way to work on counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Your child’s fingers will work to move the items. Their eyes will see and make connections. Suddenly a math concept becomes much more clear.

Math manipulatives is a great hands-on way to learn math and understand the concepts.

subtraction with math manipulatives

How To Get Started With Subtraction Using Manipulatives

First, you’ll need some subtraction problems. Write them down on some index cards. You can write random problems or choose any group of subtraction facts that your child needs to work on.

Then, you’ll also need some math manipulatives. Choose something small like rocks, mini erasers, buttons, or even LEGO blocks. You just want to make sure you have enough loose parts to work each of your subtraction problems.

Subtraction loose parts math

Subtraction With Loose Parts

Using loose parts helps a child easily see and better understand how subtraction works.

Start with the first number in your subtraction problem and count out that many items. Next, remove the amount of your second number in your math problem. Count up the remaining items and you have the answer to your subtraction problem.

Work through all your subtraction problems using your math manipulatives.

Math Manipulatives used in subtraction

Other Way to Do Subtraction with Manipulatives:

*Use larger numbers. You don’t have to keep your subtraction problems under ten.

*When your child is more comfortable doing subtraction, have them find the answer in their head and then count out the correct number of loose parts for their answer.

*Use this method for doing subtraction on the go. Use rocks, sticks, acorns, or other natural items as your loose parts.

*Take this math activity outside and write your subtraction problems on the sidewalk with chalk. Have your child find the loose parts they need to solve each problem.

Subtraction with Manipulatives math activity

You may also like one of these math activities:

Build Numbers with a Fun Place Value Activity

Paper Plate Addition Game

Making 10 with Cars

LEGO Tower Subtraction Race at The Kindergarten Connection

Play Dough Subtraction Smash at Mama Papa Bubba

You’ll Love These Math Manipulatives

There is such a wealth of fine motor math manipulatives. Check out some of these options you can use for practicing math, subtraction, and more.