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Learning Activities for Kids

Pumpkin Pie Fractions Activity

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My nine-year-old learned about fractions with pizza. That’s such a yummy idea.

But now that Thanksgiving is coming soon, I needed to come up with another – but equally yummy – idea for fractions.

I thought round and I thought delicious. I thought pumpkin pie. Pumpkin Pie Fractions.

Yum.

Learn all about fractions with this fun Thanksgiving math activity - Pumpkin Pie Fractions. There are so many different ways to play with this math tool.

This Pumpkin Pie Fractions activity is so easy to create. Once you have it made, it will hold up for hours of hands-on math fun.

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.

Supplies Needed:

4 paper plates
Orange craft paint
Light brown craft paint
Black permanent marker
Ruler
Scissors

How to make your pie fractions:

Start with the paint. Use your light brown paint to paint the ridged edges of your paper plates. This is your crust.

Next, paint the middle section of your paper plates with orange paint. Don’t worry about making sure your lines are straight. Remember, pies never look perfect!

Once your paint is dry, use your ruler to divide the pie into fractions. One pie will be divided into half. Divide the second pie into thirds, the third pie into fourths, and the fourth pie into eights. Trace your lines with your black permanent marker.

Label each of the pies with the corresponding fraction using your permanent marker.

Finally, cut each pie along the dividing lines.

Your pumpkin pies are ready!

How can you play with your Pumpkin Pie Fractions?

Use them as puzzles.

Give your kids a pile of mixed up pie pieces and have them put each pie together. They’ll have to match the type of fraction and then make a whole pie. This is a great way to easily see how many of each fraction makes a whole.

Make equal pie wedges (make equivalent fractions).

How many quarter pieces do you need to make a half piece. Use the bigger wedge as a guide to fill in with smaller pieces.

Make a mixed up fraction pie.

Can you make a whole pie using different sized fractions? Let you kids experiment to find different combinations.

Build other fractions with your pie pieces.

Make a 3/8 wedge by putting together three 1/8 wedges. Or make 3/4 with three of the quarter pieces. What other sizes can you make?

Learn all about fractions with this fun Thanksgiving math activity - Pumpkin Pie Fractions. There are so many different ways to play with this math tool.

Let their homework be the guide.

What is your child working on in class? Use your pie as a hands-on tool to supplement their learning at home. If you need more pie sizes (maybe divided into fifths, sixths, or sevenths), just grab a few more paper plates.

Let your kids lead the way.

My girls set up a pie shop and sold all their different wedges. They had no idea how much they were learning along the way! I just sat back and let them have some fun.

How would you use these Pumpkin Pie Fractions?

More Thanksgiving Activities to Try:

Tell Time with a Turkey Clock

12 Turkey Crafts for Thanksgiving

Printable Thanksgiving Word Searches for Kids

Thanksgiving Math Activities for Kids

Turkey Craft using Pattern Block Shapes at Buggy & Buddy

Learn all about fractions with this fun Thanksgiving math activity - Pumpkin Pin Fractions. There are so many different ways to play with this math tool.

My Must-Have Math Resources:

Sometimes, as much as you want to prep a fun hands-on math activity, you just don’t have the time. That why I love having a few math games on hand.

Here are some great options. Your kids will have so much fun that they won’t realize how much they’re learning.

Autumn Scavenger Hunts for Kids

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I don’t know about you, but I always want to get outside on a beautiful fall day to look at the colors and enjoy the crisp cool air.

These fun autumn scavenger hunts are the perfect family activity to get you and your kids outside.

Fun autumn scavenger hunts for kids

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.

Autumn Scavenger Hunts for Kids

Are you ready to have some fun?

These scavenger hunt ideas are all so much fun! You can hunt for the makings of a nature sensory bin or look at all the colors around you.

All of these ideas are perfect for exploring fall treasures and will get your family outside, exercising, and having fun.

Autumn Scavenger Hunts for Kids

Get outside and explore this fall with this fun selection of autumn scavenger hunts for kids.

Neighborhood Halloween Scavenger Hunt

Explore the Halloween decorations in your neighborhood with this fun scavenger hunt.

Thanksgiving Game: Photo Scavenger Hunt on Your Smartphone

Photo Credit: www.kcedventures.com

Use this free printable Thanksgiving scavenger hunt to take photos of things you are thankful for.

Fall Scavenger Hunt

Photo Credit: organized31.com

This fall nature scavenger hunt is fun for kids of all ages, but the pictures on the printables makes it perfect for preschoolers.

Pumpkin Patch Scavenger Hunt

Photo Credit: www.reallifeathome.com

Go on a scavenger hunt at the pumpkin patch with this fun scavenger hunt idea.

We're Going on a Leaf Hunt

Photo Credit: www.craftymomsshare.com

Go on a leaf scavenger hunt with this fun idea based on the book We're Going on a Leaf Hunt.

Autumn Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Photo Credit: blissfuldomestication.com

Hunt for items in nature with this fun scavenger hunt which included photos on the printable to help you identify everything.

Printable Fall Scavenger Hunt

Photo Credit: wondermomwannabe.com

This fall scavenger hunt has 33 items which makes it perfect for a group activity.

Scarecrow Hunt with FREE Printable

Photo Credit: capriplus3.com

Hide the pieces of a scarecrow around the house and let your kids find them to put together with this great idea for a scavenger hunt craft.

Forest Scavenger Hunt

Photo Credit: www.kcedventures.com

Go on a scavenger hunt on a hike in the forest with this fun idea.

Nature Color Wheel Printable Scavenger Hunt

Photo Credit: mothernatured.com

Explore the colors of fall with this fun nature color wheel scavenger hunt.

Signs of Autumn Fall Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com

Search for the signs of autumn with this fun scavenger hunt.

Fall Scavenger Hunt List

Photo Credit: www.kcedventures.com

Go on a simple fall scavenger hunt with this list that would be perfect for a trip to the park or nature center.

Search for Autumn Printable for Kids

Photo Credit: www.kitchencounterchronicle.com

Search for autumn and sketch your finds in this fun printable mini booklet.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

Photo Credit: www.messylittlemonster.com

This simple fall nature scavenger hunt is perfect for your toddler or preschooler.

Nature Hunt Cardboard Hearts

Photo Credit: www.learningandexploringthroughplay.com

Make your own nature hunt on these fun cardboard hearts.

Nature Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Photo Credit: rhythmsofplay.com

Collect items on a nature hunt to make your own sensory bin with this fun idea.

Fall Camping Scavenger Hunt

Photo Credit: www.lookwerelearning.com

Go on a fall scavenger hunt at the campground with this fun idea!

Which one is your favorite? I can’t decide, they’re all so awesome!

Enjoy the outdoors this fall with one of these fun Autumn Scavenger Hunts for kids. Your family will have so much fun exploring fall treasures.

More Family Outdoor Activities

10 Fun Family Exercise Ideas

Discover a New Playground for Outdoor Family Fun

10 Fun Walk Ideas for Families

Tips for Hiking with Toddlers

Find More Outdoor Family Ideas in One of These Books

We’ve got a small library of books at home to help inspire us to get outside together. Here are some recommendations you may want to add to your home library.

Do you want to do more activities with your family?

Join our fun Facebook community, Creative Family Fun for Busy Families, for daily activities that are great for kids and families. We’ll chat, share, and have fun. It’s a safe and private place to share ideas for family and kids activities.

I’d love for you to join me! Just click the link below, request to join, and answer the questions (they’re easy, I promise). Come join the fun! Join the Creative Family Fun for Busy Families community here.

Spider Toss Number Game for Toddlers

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Spiders are a fun learning theme that’s popular around Halloween. Try our spider toss number game for toddlers to practice number recognition.

Practice number recognition with your toddlers when you play this fun Spider Toss Number Game. It's so much fun to play and learn!

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.

Spider Toss Number Game for Toddlers

What You’ll Need for the Number Game

Painter’s tape
Cardstock or paper (recycled paper would be great for this)
Marker
Scissors or paper cutter
Spider (made from 5 bump chenille stems)

How to Setup the Spider Themed Number Game

Use your painter’s tape to create a spider web. I like to start with a + and an x. Then connect the lines to make the web. [Painter’s tape should be fine on most surfaces but I don’t recommend leaving it on for long periods of time. Use a large piece of cardboard, posterboard, foamboard, or something similar if you’re wanting to play longer.]

Cut up cardstock or a piece of paper into small squares. Write a number on each square. I used the numbers 1-10. Work on higher numbers if your child is ready. You could even work on number words with older children.

Place the numbers around the spider web.

Create your spider with 5 bump chenille stems (pipe cleaners). I simply twisted the chenille stems together and then wrapped the stems around and around to create the spider body, 8 legs, and 2 pedipalps (short appendages by the spider’s head). I first made this spider for a sponsored post. You can watch a video or read step by step instructions on how to make the pipe cleaner spiders.

Feel free to use any toy spider you have around. Spider erasers or the plastic spiders found in the Halloween section would work well, too. Just be careful of the small size around toddlers who still like to put things in their mouths. A homemade cardboard tube spider would be great for this activity as well.

How to Play the Spider Toss Number Game

Have you child stand near the spider web and toss the spider onto it. What number does the spider land near?

Continue tossing and dropping the spider as long as your child is interested.

The goal is to talk about the numbers as much as possible. Are there certain numbers your child tends to struggle with?

As a second option, you can call out a number and have your child toss or place the spider on that number.

Say, “Where is the number 4? Can you take your spider to the number 4?”

Practice number recognition with your toddlers when you play this fun Spider Toss Number Game.

This is a super simple way for toddlers to practice naming numbers. The spider adds a bit of fun and interest.

If you want to practice counting from 1 to 10, have your child move the spider from number to number in the correct order.

Practice number recognition with your toddlers when you play this fun Spider Toss Number Game. It's so much fun to play and learn!

More Spider Web Games for Preschoolers

Spider Math Games – Work with a number line to practice counting and number recognition.

Fizzy Spider Web Art – Combine science and art to create colorful fizzy spider webs.

Sticky Spider Web Gross Motor Activity – Build a sticky web and see if your spider can catch what you throw.

Spider Web Walking Game – Can you balance on the spider’s web? Another great one for working on gross motor skills for toddlers.

Do you want to do more activities with your family?

Join our fun Facebook community, Creative Family Fun for Busy Families, for daily activities that are great for kids and families. We’ll chat, share, and have fun. It’s a safe and private place to share ideas for family and kids activities.

I’d love for you to join me! Just click the link below, request to join, and answer the questions (they’re easy, I promise). Come join the fun! Join the Creative Family Fun for Busy Families community here.

Bats in a Cave: Bat Sight Word Game

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We’ve been practicing sight words a lot lately. Have you? They’re so crucial to reading and a good knowledge of sight words can help your kids grow into strong readers.

Since it’s always my goal to help my girls have fun while learning at home, I came up with this fun Bat Sight Word Game that gets my girls moving, learning, and having fun. (I never want to recreate school at home! Do you?)

Have some fun practicing sight words with this Bat Sight Word Game by putting all your sleeping bats in the correct place in their sight word cave.

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.

How to make your bat sight word game

To create the game, I started out by making my bats. I wanted a bunch of sleeping bats hanging upside down so I drew a quick template on a piece of cardboard from my recycle bin. A cardboard template helps so much when you want to make several duplicate items.

The bat template was super-simple to draw and I promise you can do it even if you don’t think you have any artistic skills. Check out my template below – it’s so easy!

Start with a large teardrop shape for the body. Add a curvy triangle to the top overlapping the pointy end of the teardrop for the feet. Add a circle with a slightly pointed top for the head. Finally add two pointy ears. Cut around the outline.

Because I didn’t want to sit and cut out bats all day (and I know you don’t want to either), I folded a piece of black construction paper in half and then in thirds. I was able to trace one bat on the paper and cut out six at one time. So much easier!

I did this twice so I had 12 bats altogether. I put a piece of rolled up painter’s tape on the back of each bat.

Finally, I cut off a piece of brown wrapping paper and drew a simple cave opening.

I then wrote 12 different sight words on the paper and hung the wrapping paper on a door.

Choose your sight words

I chose words from a list of sight words my daughter’s teacher had sent home. Pick words that your child is having difficulty with or just hasn’t learned yet.

If you need some ideas, you can print off a list of all the Dolch sight words sorted by grade level here. I refer to this list all the time!

This game would also work with spelling words.

Hint: Lay the bats out on the paper before writing the words. You’ll know where you need to put each word and not have to worry about getting them too close together. 

Now it’s time to play your bat sight word game!

We played two different versions of a bat sight word game with this set up.

Game 1:

Call out a sight word and have your child find the word and cover it with a bat.

When they’re done, they’ll have a cave full of sleeping bats.

Game 2:

Have your child read each word out loud then cover that word with a bat.

Both games are fun and great ways to practice a group of sight words.

Note: This post was originally published on October 15, 2015. Updated and republished on September 14, 2018.

Be sure to check out all of the great Nocturnal Animal Posts from the 2nd Grade Blogging Team!

Bat Science Experiments: Echolocation Activities from Preschool Powol Packets

Nocturnal and Diurnal Animals Sorting Activity from Look! We’re Learning!

Creating Growing Patterns with Nocturnal Animals from Life Over C’s

Nocturnal Animal Report: Hedgehogs from Crafty Kids at Home

Nocturnal Animals Writing Tray and Word List from Lemon Lime Adventures

Have some fun practicing sight words with this Bat Sight Word Game by putting all your sleeping bats in the correct place in their sight word cave.

You may also like one of these other sight word games:

DIY Sight Word Memory Game

Sight Word Tallies

Sight Word Pick and Spell

Fall Sight Word Scavenger Hunt at Life over C’s

Multiplication Practice with Jelly Bean Arrays

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Have you ever worked with arrays? It’s a great way to visualize multiplication and these Jelly Bean Arrays are a fun way to learn.

So, today we’re grabbing our Easter candy and having some fun. Are you ready to learn?

Learn about and practice multiplication with Jelly Bean Arrays. This fun Easter math activity is a great way to practice multiplying and is so much fun.

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.

Arrays are a great way to describe a multiplication problem and help you “see”  how to get the answer.

It’s a great way to visualize multiplication. And it’s another one of those things I didn’t learn in school, but my children are. I’m glad they are!

Use jelly beans to practice multiplication arrays.

How Do You Use Arrays In Multiplication?

First of all, let’s define an array. Quite simply, it’s a visual representative of a multiplication problem (at least in our case) using objects arranged in rows and columns.

Take the multiplication problem, 2 x 4. The first number, two, represents the number of rows. The second number, four, represents the number of columns.

So, for 2 x 4, we would create two rows with four objects each.

Jelly Bean Arrays - a fun way to learn about multiplication

What Else Does the Array Show?

In the above photo, you’ve got three rows and four columns. It represents 3 x 4. Or, 4 + 4 + 4. Can you see that?

And the answer to both of those math problems is twelve.

Arrays can tell you a lot!

Jelly Bean Arrays

Now that we have an understanding of arrays, let’s grab our jelly beans and have some fun.

Our set-up was simple, I just used an index card to display my arrays and grabbed a pile of jelly beans.

Note: You can do this any time of the year. Just use M&Ms or Skittles instead of jelly beans.

The only other thing you need are some multiplication problems.

Let’s start solving!

Multiplication practice with jelly bean arrays

How do you solve 3 x 2?

You’d make 3 rows with 2 jelly beans in each row. Now let’s solve. Count up the jelly beans and you’ll find 6. 3 x 2 = 6

Let’s flip the problem around? Would 2 x 3 look the same as 3 x 2?

The answer is the same, but the array would look different. To make an array for 2 x 3, you’d have 2 rows with 3 jelly beans in each row.

Keep using jelly bean arrays to work on all your multiplication problems. I love how this helps you see exactly how to solve a multiplication problem.

This is such a great math tool!

Learn about and practice multiplication with Jelly Bean Arrays. This fun Easter math activity is a great way to practice multiplying and is so much fun.

More Fun Math Activities

Learn your multiplication facts with this fun and easy to make Paper Plate Multiplication Practice Activity

Visualize skip counting with this fun STEAM activity – Math Art: Skip Counting Pointillism

Hands-On Perimeter Activity: Perimeter Lab is a fun way to practice measuring and calculating perimeter using real objects.

These Patterned Multiplication Circles at Lemon Lime Adventures are another great way to visualize multiplication.

More Multiplication Resources

It can take a lot of work to memorize multiplication facts, so it’s great to have a variety of games and activities to help your kids.

Here are some fun ideas to consider:

Do More Activities With Your Family

Join our fun Facebook community, Creative Family Fun for Busy Families, for daily activities that are great for kids and families. We’ll chat, share, and have fun. It’s a safe and private place to share ideas for family and kids activities.

I’d love for you to join me! Just click the link below, request to join, and answer the questions (they’re easy, I promise). Come join the fun! Join the Creative Family Fun for Busy Families community here.