Let’s talk no prep fall activities for Kindergarten…and some fun low prep games too!
If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you know that I love anything seasonal or holiday related. One of my favorite past-times is running to different craft stores, dollar stores, and dollar sections to find fun and cute seasonal items. {While my husband often tags along, this is definitely not one of his favorite past times! But he’s such a good helper!} I love to use the treasures I find to make fun learning activities with a seasonal or holiday twist!
That’s where today’s post comes into play – no prep fall activities for Kindergarten!
Students are often so excited about upcoming holidays or seasons, so I love using that enthusiasm to get them excited about learning. Today I’m going to share with you some fun ideas for bringing fall in to your classroom with some no prep fall activities for Kindergarten.
But first…what is just as awesome as no prep fall activities for Kindergarten? Creating TWO low prep games with one set of materials. Since you’re prepping once and making two games, that makes one of the games no prep, right?!?! Haha!!
Below I am going to show you two quick games that can be played two ways.
First up is this cute pumpkin game to practice numbers to 10. I found these pumpkin trays at the Dollar Tree. I was so thrilled to see that there was exactly ten cut outs on this tray. They must have known teachers would be using them to teach numbers to 10! The pom-poms (or “pumpkin seeds”) and dot cubes I already had.
For this activity I have students sit side by side so that they can easily see the other player’s board. Students will each need their own ten frame mat and pair of dot cubes. I also give students a container with snap cubes (7-10 cubes per player).
Students independently roll their set of dot cubes, count the number, and make that number on their ten frame. Students then compare their ten frame with their partners to see which number is greater. The student with the greater number takes one snap cube.They continue to play until one player has 10 snap cubes (or however many snap cubes you decide to use). Use less snap cubes as the target if you have less time.
Variations: You could also have students play by looking for the number that is less.
You could also have students use tweezers to pick up the pom-poms and put them on the tray for a little fine motor practice.
You could also have students use tweezers to pick up the pom-poms and put them on the tray for a little fine motor practice.
Since a pair of dot cubes could potentially roll a 12 and we are only working on numbers to 10, I put a plain round sticker on the 6 side. Students use this as the number 0, now the highest number they can roll is a 10.
Here’s another way to use these materials:
This game is played similar to “Roll and Cover”. I used stickers to write numbers 1-10 in each space on the game mat. This wasn’t one of my better ideas though! The sticker didn’t stick too well, oops! So after I took a picture I used a Sharpie to write the numbers directly on the pumpkin mat.
For this game, students need a game mat, pom-poms, and they will share a set of dot cubes. Make sure the 6 side is covered on the dot cubes.
Students roll the dot cubes, count the dots, and put a seed in that space on their pumpkin mat. Students continue to take turns rolling the dot cubes and covering the numbers on their mat. If a students roll a number that they have already covered, they lose a turn. The first player to cover all of their numbers is the winner.
Here’s another prep once, play twice activity. This time for literacy centers. {Aren’t you just loving all of these no prep fall activities for Kindergarten?!}
I found these pumpkin cut outs and letter cut outs at the craft store. You can use a dab of rubber cement or hot glue to adhere the letters to the pumpkins. Or could can write the letters on using a Sharpie marker. I included a pair of tweezers for a little fine motor practice.
Students pick the gems (aka pumpkin seeds) up using tweezers and form the letter using the “pumpkin seeds”. You could have students say the letter sound each time they pick up a seed.
Here’s another way to use these same materials:
We took our pumpkin cut outs and turned them face down on the table. I put one to two seeds on the back of the pumpkins. For a little twist and motivation, I add two seeds to some of the letters. This might be letters that the group is having trouble with or letters that we have just learned.
To play a student selects a pumpkin, turns it over, and says the letter name. If they get it right, they keep the pumpkin seed(s). If they don’t, they turn the pumpkin back over, the seed(s) goes back on top, and it is the next players turn. We continue playing until time is up or all of the pumpkins have been played. The player with the most pumpkin seeds is the winner. After students have played this in a small group, it gets move to an independent partner activity.
You could also play by having students say the letter sound or a word that starts with that letter.
Now for some no prep fall activities for Kindergarten! These activities come from the packet A Dab of Learning {No Prep Printables}: Fall Edition. I love this no prep series because it’s a great way for teachers to provide students with fun activities that don’t require a ton of prep.
You can read this blog post for ideas on introducing bingo dabbers in your classroom. I really love using Do-A-Dot bingo dabbers with students. They last a long time and don’t bleed through the paper. But don’t worry, if dabbers aren’t used in your classroom, students can complete these activities using crayons as well.
You can use my affiliate link to get your dabbers here.
This no prep fall activities for Kindergarten packet includes 37 no prep pages of skills that are appropriate during the fall months in Kindergarten. There’s lots of fall themes included like acorns, scarecrows, leaves, apples, etc. There is no Halloween clip art included in this fall packet.
Beginning Sounds: Students dab the beginning sound and then record it on the line.
Students use two different colors to sort uppercase and lowercase letters. Then they record the letters in the spaces provided.
Ending sound practice. Directions are just like the beginning sounds so students will already know what to do.
Here’s an uppercase and lowercase matching activity. Students use two colors of bingo dabbers and dab the uppercase and lowercase letter the same color. Then they write the matching pairs in the spaces provided.
This is a great activity for concepts of print. Students count the number of words in the sentence and then dab that many pumpkins.
Students read the series of numbers to determine which number is out of place. They dab that number and then write the numbers correctly on the line. There’s a number line at the top of the for additional support.
Students use two bingo dabbers to dab the numbers that are less than 5 one color and numbers that are more than 5 a different color.
Students count each set of objects to determine how many there are. They dab the number and the set of objects the same color.
You can click the picture below to check out this packet in my TpT shop. Or click HERE to check out the Year Long BUNDLE and save 20%.
Thanks so much for reading about these no prep fall activities for Kindergarten!
I was looking to buy a fall bundle from you on the office computer. I googled fall reading centers and some many great things came up through Pinterest. I did not have my wallet and when I returned to my class and tried to located it again, I could not find it :(. I see another great one but it did not have all the wonderful things I saw before. I was able to get a free spider counting sheet from the sight and the idea for writing uppercase letters so the students could use the stones to make the letters. These pumpkins were written with a sharpie. If you know what I’m talking about please let me know.
Hi Sharntasha,
Your description was great, I know exactly which post you are describing. Here’s the TpT link to the resource you are referring to:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fall-Activities-Math-Literacy-for-Kindergarten-2116568
Thanks so much for asking! 🙂
-Melissa
Thanks for the fun ideas! I can't wait to use them in my kinder class:)