Creative Family Fun

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Learning Activities for Kids

Find and Tally Sight Words Activity

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Since my youngest daughter is heading into first grade in the fall, we’ve been focusing a lot on ways to learn sight words.

She’s got a great handle on some, but as you know, there are many to learn.

We’re trying to keep up the practice over the summer, but I definitely want to keep things simple.

That’s where this fun Find and Tally Sight Words activity comes in. It’s easy to prep. Simple to do. And, it’s fun.

Learn sight words with this fun reading game that adds a little math in with your reading practice with this Find and Tally Sight Words activity.

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 set up your Find and Tally Sight Words activity

This activity was so easy to set up.

I started by making a list of sight words that my daughter needs to learn. I chose only six because I didn’t want her to be overwhelmed by too many.

Next, I made it into a pretty chart to make the activity all the more appealing. But, this is not at all necessary, you can just grab some paper and jot down a few sight words leaving room for your sight words.

Now it’s time to tally sight words!

Now, it’s time for the fun. Let’s practice our sight words!

Give your child the chart and a book. They need to go through the book and make a tally mark each time they find one of the words.

It can be slow going and they may not get through the whole book. We didn’t. Our focus was on sight word identification and not reading, so we just did a few pages. We’ll read the book together later.

At the end, add up the tally marks. Which word did you find the most often? The least?

Learn sight words with this fun reading game that adds a little math in with your reading practice. Sight Word Tallies is easy to set up and fun to play for your beginning readers.

Can I give you a quick word of advice?

I made the mistake of not comparing my list of sight words to the book when I did this with my oldest. Oops. It was a lesson in frustration. Page after page and no sight word in sight.

Take the time to make sure the sight words are actually in the book you’re using. The activity is so much more fun when you can actually find the words!

I loved this sight word activity because it was easy to prep and fun to do. Plus, it added in a bit of sneaky math practice with the tally marks.

We’ll do this fun Find and Tally Sight Words activity over and over again for a fun way to practice our sight words.

Learn sight words with this fun reading game that adds a little math in with your reading practice. Sight Word Tallies is easy to set up and fun to play for your beginning readers.

You may also like one of these sight word activities:

Sight Word Islands – get outside and practice your sight words on the driveway.

Sight Word Pick and Spell – a fun game that is similar to bingo

3 Easy Ways to Practice Sight Words – the easiest ideas ever!

Practice writing your sight words in a Dragon Sensory Writing Tray from Inspiration Laboratories.

Choose a great book for this activity:

We found success using a book that my child was already familiar with. I’d suggest you turn to your own library of books for inspiration.

You’ll want a book with several instances of the sight words you’re working on. Do check to make sure the sight words you need are in the book!

Here are some great options:

Panda Reading Pointer Craft

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A reading pointer is a great tool for beginning readers. It helps them track the words on a page and trains the eyes to follow along.

You can grab any sort of reading pointer, but if you’ve got a kid that loves animals, they’re going to definitely love this fun panda reading pointer.

Use a craft stick to make this simple panda reading pointer for kids. It's a fun tool for beginning readers and animal lovers!

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.

Also, CraftProjectIdeas.com sent me some of the supplies used on this project. All ideas are my own.

Supplies needed for your panda reading pointer

Jumbo craft stick
White craft paint
Black craft paint
Black felt
Glue
Small googly eyes

How to make your panda bear reading pointer

First, paint the entire front and back of your craft stick with white paint. Allow it to dry completely.

While your paint is drying, cut two small circles from your black felt to use as your ears.

Once your white paint is dry, add your details with the black craft paint. Add two ovals for the eyes and a small circles underneath for the nose. Draw your simple mouth details. Finally, add two half circles under your face for your paws. Let all your black paint dry.

If you need something to do while your waiting for paint to dry, read a great book about pandas! Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim is a fun choice. It’s a Chinese American retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

After your paint is dry, glue your felt ears to the back of the top of your craft stick.

Attach your googly eyes on your eye ovals. I found that using self-sticking googly eyes made this step really easy!

Once your glue is dry, your reading pointer is ready to use! Let this cute panda help your child practice reading.

Make this simple panda bear reading pointer for your beginning readers.
Yield: 1 Reading Pointer

Panda Reading Pointer

Panda Reading Pointer

Make this simple panda reading pointer out of a craft stick. It's a great tool for your beginning reader.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Difficulty Easy
Estimated Cost Under $5 (depending on the supplies you already have on hand)

Materials

Tools

Instructions

  1. Paint your entire craft stick with the white paint. Let dry.
  2. While your paint dries, cut two small circles out of your black felt for your panda's ears.
  3. Once the paint is dry, add details with your black paint. Add two ovals for your eyes and a small circle for the nose. Add a simple mouth and two half circles for your paws. Let dry.
  4. Once your black paint is dry. Glue your two ears to the back of the craft stick at the top.
  5. Add your two small eyes to the black ovals.

Notes

If you don't have any black felt you can use craft foam or black card stock instead.

Recommended Products

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© Terri Thompson
Project Type: reading pointer / Category: Crafts

You may also like one of these animal crafts

Cardboard Tube Panda Craft

Arctic Fox Camouflage Craft

Panda Mini Notebook Craft

The Cutest Panda Crafts for Kids

Panda Corner Bookmark at Red Ted Art

Use a craft stick to make this simple panda reading pointer for kids. It's a fun tool for beginning readers and animal lovers!

Use your panda bear reading pointer with one of these great books:

It would be so much fun to use your new reading pointer with a great book about pandas.

For nonfiction, try National Geographic Readers – Level 2: Pandas by Anne Schreiber.

Or, if you’re up to chapter books, try Magic Treehouse: A Perfect Time for Pandas by Mary Pope Osborne.

Here are some other books you may like:

Marshmallow STEM Activities

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a stale bag of marshmallows in your cupboard.

It’s wasteful to just throw them away, but nobody wants to eat them. So, what can you do?

Try some STEM projects, of course! Here are 12 fun marshmallow STEM activities that will use up all of those stale marshmallows.

Build, learn, and explore with these fun marshmallow STEM activities 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.

STEM Activities with Marshmallows

Grab that bag of stale marshmallows and a few addition supplies. Pick out one of these fun marshmallow STEM activities, and get started learning with your kids. These activities are all fun and easy to do. And, you probably already have all the supplies you need.

Marshmallow STEM Activities

Build, create, and learn with these fun STEM activities with marshmallows.

Marshmallow Engineering STEAM Building Challenge

Use toothpicks and marshmallows to create some fun STEM building challenges.

Giant Marshmallows and Glow Stick Structures

Photo Credit: www.3princessesand1dude.co.uk

Take your marshmallow building up a notch by using glow sticks and giant marshmallows!

Easter Bunny Launcher: A Peeps STEM Experiment

Photo Credit: team-cartwright.com

Build a fun launcher for you Peeps! And, don't worry, you don't have to wait until Easter to build this. You can find Peeps for any holiday, or just use large marshmallows in your launcher.

Easy Marshmallow Catapult Activity

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Build a catapult with your marshmallows to launch even more marshmallows. So much fun!

How To Make Edible Marshmallow Slime Recipe (Strawberry)

Photo Credit: littlebinsforlittlehands.com

Use your marshmallows as the main ingredient in this edible slime recipe.

Building Shapes with Marshmallows and Toothpicks

Photo Credit: homeschoolpreschool.net

Combine math and engineering to build 2-D and 3-D shapes with toothpicks and marshmallows.

Marshmallow Shooter Kids Activity

Photo Credit: www.123homeschool4me.com

Build a shooter for your mini marshmallows.

Marshmallow Science Experiment-Color Change

Photo Credit: www.fantasticfunandlearning.com

What happens when marshmallows dissolve? Find out with this fun marshmallow science experiment.

Marshmallow Science Experiment

Photo Credit: www.fantasticfunandlearning.com

Use different liquids to see if it makes a difference in how marshmallows dissolve.

Hot Chocolate Marshmallow Science

Photo Credit: www.adabofgluewilldo.com

Does the temperature of hot chocolate affect that rate at which a marshmallow dissolves. Find out with this fun experiment.

PEEPS Parachute STEM Challenge

Photo Credit: thepreschooltoolboxblog.com

Create parachutes for your Peeps (or jumbo marshmallows) and experiment with gravity.

Marshmallow Star Constellations for Kids

Photo Credit: www.kcedventures.com

Use your marshmallows and toothpicks to build and learn about star constellations.

Fun Marshmallow STEM Activities for Kids

More STEM Activities for Kids

Hot Chocolate Science Experiment

Balloon STEM Activities for Kids

Spinning Tops Color Mixing STEM Activity

Winter STEM Projects for Kids

Get STEM Projects Through the Mail

Every month, we get a fun STEM box through the mail. Our Green Kid Crafts boxes that we get every month have been so much fun. We’ve explored bubbles, the human body, slime, and more fun stuff.

Each box comes with 3-4 fun STEM activities based around a certain theme. You can do like we do and subscribe to a monthly box. You can also buy single boxes based on specific themes.

Check out all the Green Kid Crafts boxes here.

Subscribe to get Family STEM Challenges delivered to your inbox

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.



Spelling Word BINGO

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BINGO has always been fun to play and it’s incredibly versatile.

You can use it to learn all sorts of things: numbers, letters, math facts, and sight words, and even spelling words!

And, that’s how we’re going to practice spelling words today. We’re going to turn our spelling word list into a fun game of BINGO. Get ready to have some fun while we play Spelling Word BINGO.

Turn your spelling homework into a fun game when you use this printable template to make your own Spelling Word BINGO game.

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 Spelling Word BINGO Game

Before you begin, you’ll need to gather a few simple supplies.

You will need a printable BINGO template, spelling list, and small items to use as markers. I used flat glass marbles, but you could also use mini erasers, milk jug caps, rocks, pennies, or whatever else you can find.

Using your child’s spelling word list, you will need write one word in each of the squares of your BINGO board.

Tip: You can reusue your BINGO board if you laminate it! Just write your words on the laminated board with a dry-erase or washable marker. We love this laminator for home use.

Now it’s time to play. You can play this game with one or more kids. Print out a BINGO board for each kid and make sure the words you list are in a different order on each board.

Turn your spelling homework into a fun game when you use this printable template to make your own Spelling Word BINGO game.

Special note: To make things easier for you, I created a simple 4×4 printable BINGO board. You can click on the link below to download and print.

DOWNLOAD your Spelling BINGO template here.

How to play Spelling Word BINGO

One person will need to be the caller. (This is a great job for a parent!). The caller need to use the spelling list to call out words one at a time.

The player(s) put a marker over the word when you hear it. The first person to get a line across, down, or diagonal wins the game.

If you’re playing with only one child, you can challenge them to cover every word on the board.

Have fun learning while playing Spelling Word BINGO.

Make your own spelling word BINGO game for fun at-home spelling practice.

You may also like one of these spelling ideas:

LEGO Spelling Words

Writing Spelling Words with Paint in a Bag

Rainbow Writing Spelling Words

Little Spelling Boxes at Teach Me Mommy

Turn your spelling homework into a fun game when you use this printable template to make your own Spelling Word BINGO game. #spelling #education #CreativeFamilyFun

My Must-Have Resource for Spelling Word Practice Ideas

I’ve gathered all of my spelling practice ideas into a simple, printable ebook.

You can purchase a printable form of this book for $7.50 The book is designed to print and turn into a half-page size booklet. It’s perfect to keep at your homework station. Your kids can flip through and find a fun way to practice their spelling words.

The ideas will be convenient and ready to use. No need to turn on the computer every day for ideas.

Most activities require little to no prep time. And, if you make sure you have all the supplies on the Master Supply List (included in the book) on hand, you’ll be able to do any of these fun spelling word ideas any time.

Click here for my sales page where you can purchase a copy of the ebook.

Spelling practice printable ebook

Write Spelling Words with Paint in a Bag

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I don’t remember where I first saw the concept of paint in a bag. It’s brilliant, isn’t it?

I’ve seen it offered to kids from toddler age through preschool. It’s often a fun sensory experience and a no-mess way for kids to play with paint.

Having older kids, I’ve discovered that the fun shouldn’t end in preschool. We used our Paint in a Bag to practice our spelling words.

A child is using their finger to write words on a baggy filled with orange paint. The words "writing with paint in a bag" is on the image.

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 Paint In a Bag

You’ll need a plastic food storage bag, paint, and some packing tape (or duct tape). I chose a freezer bag because the plastic is thicker and sturdier.

Pour paint in the bag while it’s laying flat. Squish it around a bit until you’ve filled the bag with a good layer of paint.

Carefully close the bag, trying to remove as much air as you can. Use the tape to seal the zipper top so that the bag won’t easily open.

A child is using their finger to write the word cat using a baggie filled with orange paint

Write Your Spelling Words With Paint In a Bag

Once your bag is ready, let your child use it to write their spelling words with their finger.

You can “erase” the word by flattening the bag with the palm of your hand. It’s fun to use this to write the words over and over.

Tip: My daughter loves to hold the bag up to the window on a sunny day. The light shining through gives it a fun glow.

I haven’t tested it out fully, but your paint in a bag will last for quite awhile, especially if you were able to get all the air out. Store your paint in a bag flat in a safe place and you can use it over and over again. If the paint starts drying out, just toss it and make a new one.

Your kids will jump at the chance to practice their spelling words if they get to write with paint in a bag.

Square image of a bag filled with orange paint held up to a window while a child uses their finger to write words

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

Make Scrabble Tile Spelling Words

Fun Spelling Practice with Dry Beans

Create Play Dough Spelling Words

My Must-Have Resource For Practicing Spelling Words

I’ve gathered all of my spelling practice ideas into a simple, printable ebook.

You can purchase a printable form of this book for $7.50 The book is designed to print and turn into a half-page size booklet. It’s perfect to keep at your homework station. Your kids can flip through and find a fun way to practice their spelling words.

The ideas will be convenient and ready to use. No need to turn on the computer every day for ideas.

Most activities require little to no prep time. And, if you make sure you have all the supplies on the Master Supply List (included in the book) on hand, you’ll be able to do any of these fun spelling word ideas any time.

Click here for my sales page where you can purchase a copy of the ebook.

Spelling practice printable ebook fanned out on a green background.