Quick and Easy Tips for Using Sensory in the Classroom

When you first think about starting sensory in the classroom, it can be overwhelming. I am sure many questions instantly run through your mind about where to begin and what to use. Let’s break it down so you can see how simple using sensory in the classroom can be and the benefits it will have.

Why is Sensory Play Important?

Every person has senses. The ones we often teach our students and focus on are touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. When students use these senses during an activity or lesson, it is a sensory activity.

Sensory activities are important because they benefit children in many ways. When students participate in sensory activities, it helps to stimulate the brain. Sensory in the classroom also encourages exploration and invokes curiosity. While participating in sensory activities, students also focus on social skills, problem-solving, and coordination.

Setting up Sensory in the Classroom

There are many different ways to integrate sensory in the classroom. To begin using sensory in the classroom, you need to choose some type of container, a filler, and the purpose of the sensory activity.

What to Use for Sensory in the Classroom?

Sensory bins, tubs, and tables are all different container options. First, ask yourself a few questions to help determine what will work best for you.

How much space do I have or want to use for sensory activities?
How many students do I want to use a sensory activity at once?
Do I need to be able to store the sensory activity when it is not in use?

With limited space, a sensory bin or sensory tub is a better option. Plus, if you are like me, you definitely have a variety of containers already within your classroom. Any medium to large size container will work for creating a sensory bin. I prefer Sterilite Large Clip Boxes because they have a lid and are easy to store. On the other hand, if you have an area you want to use for sensory centers consistently, a sensory table may be what you are looking for. My favorite sensory table is the Ikea Flisat. This table is affordable, a decent size, can hold two sensory bins, and also serve as a regular table when not in use.

What to Use in Sensory Bins for Kindergarten?

Once you have determined what will hold the sensory materials, you are ready for sensory bin filler ideas! There are many different options for sensory fillers. Best of all, many of these sensory bin materials may already be lying around your home or classroom. Here are a few of my favorite sensory bin fillers:

Rice
Beans
Chickpeas/Garbanzo Beans
Aquarium Rocks
Pom Poms
Sand/Salt
Shredded Paper
Corn Kernels
Water Beads
Pasta

Sensory bin filler ideas for sensory in the classroom.

Mix and match to change things up. Choose a base such as rice, and then add pom poms and feathers for different textures. You could also throw in some classroom manipulatives, small toys, etc. Even better is with liquid watercolor or acrylic paint, you can change the color of many sensory bin fillers, making them easy to reuse.

Sensory in the Classroom Activities

Sensory activities are also a great way to integrate play and learning for students. I like to use themed sensory bins in my classroom. During center time, I just want students to play and explore the bin. In sensory center activities, I place items that would encourage conversation, build vocabulary, and fuse with what we may be learning in science or social studies.

I also love to integrate sensory activities for kindergarten into our kindergarten literacy centers and kindergarten math centers. Each week one of my academic centers is always a sensory bin activity. First, create a sensory bin with the sensory filler of your choice. Then mix in cards focusing on skills you are learning and want your students to practice to create math sensory bins or literacy sensory bins.

Monthly math and literacy sensory bins for kindergarten.

If you want to start with sensory in the classroom immediately but don’t want to take the time to create sensory center activities, I have done the work for you. Check out these monthly sensory bins activities focusing on kindergarten and first grade standards. Choose your sensory filler, add the printed cards, and your students are ready to play and learn!

10 Engaging and Fun Hands-on Sight Word Activities for Kindergarten

In the classroom, it is clear that kids love to play. So anyway, you can make learning fun is a plus. Often, with hands-on learning activities, kids think they’re are playing instead of learning. These hands-on sight word activities will have your students begging to use them.

What is Hands-on Learning?

Students learn in a variety of ways. Hands-on learning is interactive, and it gets learners involved. Students do not just sit and listen. Nor do they complete worksheets. Instead, hands-on learning gives students time to practice and engages them in active learning. With hands-on learning, they learn by doing.

Benefits of Hands-on Sight Word Activities

More engaging way to learn
Can lead to increased retention
Result in a physical product
They allow students to be creative
Build fine motor skills

What are Some Hands-on Sight Word Activities?

In the classroom, students need to take high-frequency words and make them into sight words. Yes, there is a difference between sights words vs. high-frequency words. This transfer requires exposure and practice. Sight word practice is easy, but how to make sight words fun is the real question. Here are 10 hands-on sight word activities to try.

1. Shaving Cream

Shaving cream is messy but fun. Grab a can and spray it on the tables or desks. Let students spread it out and write. This tactile experience lets them practice high-frequency words and cleans the tables!

2. Stamps

Use stamps to spell high-frequency words. There are many types of stamps and ink to keep this activity new and engaging. Give students word cards, and this is an easy and independent activity.

3. Building Materials

There are so many different materials students can build with. Most of these items are already in a classroom! Popsicle sticks, pattern blocks, pom poms, and building blocks are perfect for making words.

4. Games

Games are great for high-frequency word activities. What’s great is you can turn common games into high-frequency word games. For example, take Jenga and add sight words to the blocks. Write a sight word instead of an X or an O when playing Tic-Tac-Toe. Write a sight word on each cup. Students will read the word before stacking it. Keep going and see how high you can build a tower! Even better, get out those wiggles with Movement Games: Pre-Primer or Movement Games: Primer.

5. Sand & Salt

Grab some sand from the beach or salt at the store. Use a tray or a small bin to hold the sand or salt. Students will use their fingers or a fun tool to write their high-frequency words.

6. Magnets

All you need is the side of a filing cabinet or a Dollar Store cookie sheet and some magnet letters. Use the magnet letters to spell the sight words. Then, after read them to a friend or the teacher.

7. Sensory

Make. a sensory bin with rice, beans, shredded paper, or pasta. Hide letters or word cards for students to find. If they find a word, they can practice reading it. They can also collect the letters and use them to build and spell sight words. You can add your own words to these editable sensory activities for kindergarten.

8. Letter Tiles

Take the letter tiles from Scrabble or Bananagrams. You can also make your own letter tiles using rocks, wooden pieces, and more! Students will then use the letter tiles in a high-frequency word activity to build and spell their words.

9. Erasers & Manipulatives

Dollar Spot erasers, large Perler beads, or beans are just a few items that would work to make letters with. Place the different items in bowls or a tray and let your students’ creativity shine.

10. Play Dough

Build fine motor skills using playdough as a high-frequency word activity. Make the playdough with your students before using it to add even more interest! Students can roll snakes or balls to build the letters in their sight words. Add dough stampers, and you have a whole new twist to play dough.

When Can You Use Hands-on Sight Word Activities?

Students can use these fun sight word activities anytime. Start your day off by having them available at arrival. These are great instead of morning work to ease your students into their day. Guided reading would be a great time to use sight word activities with support. Once students have built independence, these hands-on sight word activities would be perfect for word work and sight word literacy centers.

What are some of your favorite hands-on sight word activities to use in your classroom?

14 Fun and Easy Classroom Minute to Win It Games

Looking for a quick, easy, and affordable way to have fun with your students? Classroom Minute to Win It Games are a great way to do this. These Minute to Win It classroom challenges will add excitement in a short amount of time.

teacher standing at interactive whiteboard explaining classroom minute to win it games to onlooking students

How to Play Minute to Win It in a Classroom

Minute to Win it Games get their name because they take 1 minute to play. You need to decide several things before you are ready to play.

Things to Decide Before Playing

Number of games you will play
How students will be grouped
The way you will explain the games

The number of games you will play depends on the amount of time you have. For example, do you want to play some in the morning and some in the afternoon? Do you want to play one between each of the day’s activities? or Do you want to fill a set amount of time? Once you know when and how many games you will be playing, decide how students will play. Students can play individually, in pairs, or in teams. After grouping students, it’s time to explain the games. Explain the games verbally, using a printed-out picture example, or on a screen using slides such as these.

interactive whiteboard showing a minute to win it classroom challenge called Stack Attack

Minute to Win It kid games can also be scored in several ways. It is easiest to see who can complete the task within the minute in the younger grades. You can use this same method with everyone or add a math component using points. For example, pretend your class played a game; the first student to finish within the minute might get 3 points while all other students who finished within the minute earn 1 point. You earn no points for that game if you do not complete the task in a minute. After playing all the games, add the total, and the player/team with the most points is the overall winner.

When to Use Classroom Minute to Win It Games

The beauty of Minute to Win It in the classroom is that teachers can use the games anytime. There are no rules! Use them as a back-to-school activity to build classroom community or an end-of-the-year activity to celebrate and come together. They would also work great for a classroom reward or party. Each game is quick, making them easy to spread throughout the day or use several to fill a chunk of time.

a boy and a girl cheering with excitement after playing minute to win it in the classroom

Where Do I Get Things for Classroom Minute to Win It Games?

Since you can choose the games you play, you also control what you need. You can use things already in your home or classroom for many classroom Minute to Win It Games. Dollar Tree is my favorite place to grab things for Minute to Win It in the classroom when I don’t have what I am looking for. I don’t break the bank this way, but I’m also not limited to only the stuff I have lying around. I don’t mind spending a few dollars because I can use most of the stuff I purchase again.

students hugging their teacher with joy after playing minute to win it kid games

What Are Some Minute to Win It Classroom Challenges

1. Stack Attack

Materials: 10 cups per player/team

How to Play: Race to stack and unstack the 10 cups in one minute

2. Penny Hose

Materials: A pair of pantyhose and 2 pennies per play/team

How to Play: Place a penny in each toe of every pair of pantyhose. Students have one minute to get the pennies out of the pantyhose.

3. Post-it Note Cover Up

Materials: Post-it Notes

How to Play: Race to place a set amount of post-its on another person’s face in one minute.

4. Stack it Up

Materials: Pennies

How to Play: Players use one hand to stack a set amount of pennies in one minute.

5. Defying Gravity

Materials: Balloons

How to Play: Players attempt to keep a balloon in the air without touching the ground for the whole minute.

6. Cookie Face

Materials: Oreos or another cookie

How to Play: Place the cookie on your forehead. Players can only move their faces as they try to move the cookie from their forehead to their mouth.

7. Ball Drop

Materials: Ping Pong Balls and a cups

How to Play: Students stand on the ground or a chair and drop ping pong balls into a cup on the ground.

8. Junk in the Trunk

Materials: Tissue boxes, ping pong balls, and a belt or tie

How to Play: Attach the tissue box filled with ping pong balls around the player’s waist. Players will shake their bodies and move to try and get all of the ping pong balls out of the box in one minute.

9. Ball Bounce

Materials: Ping-pong balls and cups

How to Play: Place 1-3 cups at the end of tables. Players stand at the opposite ends of the table and try to bounce the balls into the cups. Try to get 3 balls into the cups in one minute.

10. Ping Pong Pass

Materials: Ping-pong balls, bowls, and spoons

How to Play: Players use a spoon to move ping pong balls from one bowl to another in one minute.

11. Nutstacker

Materials: Nuts and tweezers or chopsticks

How to Play: Players race to stack a set amount of nuts in one minute using tweezers or a chopstick.

12. Pom Pom Pass

Materials: Pom poms, bowls, and spoons

How to Play: Players use a spoon to move pom poms from one bowl to another in one minute.

13. Flip It

Materials: Cups

How to Play: Line up a set amount of cups top down along the table’s edge. Players will race to use their fingers and flip the cups back upright in one minute.

14. Wrap It Up

Materials: Streamers or toilet paper

How to Play: Race to wrap up another player in one minute.

Classroom Minute to Win It games can be used year-round. Change them up slightly and use themed materials, and you can play Valentine Minute to Win It Games, Halloween Minute to Win It Games, St. Patrick’s Day Minute to Win It Games, and more!

Read more about classroom minute to win it games here:

The Top 11 Minute to Win It Games for Classrooms

25 Minute to Win It Class Party Games

Minute to Win It Games in the Classroom

10 Sight Word Literacy Centers That are Hands-on and Fun!

Sight word literacy centers are a must in kindergarten! Whether you use Pre Primer Dolch sight words, Primer Dolch sight words, Fry words, or another list, the ultimate goal is to read the words by sight. When learning new high-frequency words, it can take 17 exposures to make the word a sight word. These exposures can occur through whole group lessons, books, phonics practice, and sight word literacy centers.

Sight words built using building blocks, playdough, and pattern blocks as they would be during sight word literacy centers.

How to Make Learning Sight Words Fun

Learning sight words can be fun! First, find out your students’ interests and learning styles. Then, take what you learn to create high-frequency word activities that meet these needs. Kinesthetic sight word activities, hands-on sight word activities, high-frequency word games, virtual sight word games, and sight word literacy centers are great ways to do this.

Putting together sight word literacy centers is easy! All you need is a tub or bin, sight word cards, and building or writing materials. But, really, your students can use any manipulative in your classroom to make words. Pattern blocks, snap cubes, playdough, and pom poms are just a few examples.

a bin filled with popsicle sticks, building blocks, pattern blocks, and play dough to be used to make interactive sight word activities.

The interactive sight word activities you create could stay all year long, or you could rotate them. What’s great is consistent interactive sight word practice allows for student independence, leaving you available for enrichment and intervention or assessment.

Sight Word Literacy Centers for Kindergarten

Once you know the words your students need to focus on and practice, you’re ready to begin sight word literacy centers. Next, let’s look at 10 sight word literacy centers you could start using things you may already have in your classroom.

Pattern Blocks

A part of most kindergarten math programs is pattern blocks. This means you probably already have them in your classroom. What’s great is students can use pattern blocks for more than math! Students can also use pattern blocks to make letters. They can build letters and spell sight words making Pattern Block Sight Words an easy sight word literacy center.

pattern block word building for sight word literacy centers

Snap Cubes

We usually make patterns with snap cubes, but they are also great for building letters and words! A word template for students to look at and copy if needed is provided in Snap Cubes Sight Words.

Popsicle Sticks

Popsicle sticks are another affordable classroom item and are frequently used for kindergarten crafts. Throw some popsicle sticks in a tub with word cards, and you’re ready to go. Students can use the sticks to build letters and make Popsicle Stick Sight Words.

Mazes

Boost your brain and practice sight words with Maze Sight Words. Print on paper and solve each letter’s maze with a pencil or laminate and use over and over with a dry erase marker.

Playdough

Making high-frequency words with playdough also works on students’ fine motor skills. For example, students can roll snakes or balls to build each letter in the sight word during Playdough Sight Words.

Building Blocks

Legos have always been a favorite play center in my classroom. They love to use their imagination and create with these blocks, so why not let them create words too! Building Block Sight Words will have your students engaged and focused on the shape of each letter as they create their words.

Dots and Daubers

This one can be a little messy, but it is worth it! Students can dot the sight words with bingo daubers or makes dots with Q-tips and paint. For less mess with Dots and Daubers Sight Words, students could use dot stickers.

Crack the Code

Crack the Code Sight Words also focuses on letter sounds. Students look at each picture and write the beginning sound for the image. When they have written the beginning sound for every picture, they will create a sight word!

Coding

Help students learn how to code while practicing their sight words using Coding Sight Words. Students will follow the arrows and move to find a letter. Once all steps in the code have been followed, a sight word will be spelled out.

Find the Word

Find the Word Sight Words lets students be detectives. They will look at each card and search for the focus high-frequency word. Each time they find the high-frequency word, they can circle, highlight, or cover it.

When Can I Use Sight Word Literacy Centers?

All of these kindergarten high-frequency word activities will keep your students engaged in learning. The hands-on component to these high-frequency word centers will make learning fun and feel more like play. Use these sight word literacy centers during a designated time each day, or they could also be activities to grab as a time filler, after recess, or for early finishers.

2 students doing high frequency word activities for kindergarten in a classroom

Read more about sight word literacy centers at:

5 Mastering Sight Words Words Centers for Kindergarten

Sight Word Activities for Kinder Classrooms

How to Organize Your Sight Word Center in Kindergarten

Grab the free editable high-frequency word cards below to use in your sight word literacy centers now!

7 Awesome and Fun High-Frequency Word Games for Kindergarten

High-frequency word games for kindergarten have always been a favorite of mine! I try to use them in my classroom to support learning whenever possible. After learning the difference between sight words vs. high-frequency words, I knew I needed to provide my students with repeated exposure and practice. Playing high-frequency word games for kindergarten can help students turn high-frequency words into sight words.

Three children playing high-frequency word games for kindergarten at a table.

Benefits of High-Frequency Word Games for Kindergarten

Why use games for high-frequency words in the classroom? High-frequency word games for kindergarten help students learn while having fun. Simply saying the word game adds instant excitement. Sight word practice games also provide an opportunity to reinforce learning. In addition, when playing games, students may have the opportunity to practice teamwork and problem-solving.

sight word practice game using Candy Land and high-frequency words written on the cards

What Are Some High-Frequency Word Games for Kindergarten?

Many games you already have will work great in the classroom. However, if you don’t have any games lying around, you can often find old board games to transform at yard sales, garage sales, or Goodwill. Add high-frequency words to the cards or pieces, and you have created high-frequency word games for kindergarten. These 7 games are also perfect for hands-on sight word activities and sight word literacy centers.

3 sight word practice games to be used in the kindergarten classroom

Jenga

Jenga is a well-loved game. Turn this game into a high-frequency word game by writing a high-frequency word on each block. Then, when students pull out a block, they must read the word aloud before placing it on top of the tower.

Tic-Tac-Toe

When playing Tic-Tac-Toe, players typically mark X or O. Instead, have students choose a sight word to write on their turns. The first to get three in a row with their sight word wins.

Hangman

Hangman is already a word game. Instead of picking any word, pick a high-frequency word to play with. Players will take turns guessing letters to spell the high-frequency word before an entire person is drawn. You can also play this game digitally and project it on an interactive whiteboard. Build a House and Food Builder are examples of digital sight word games.

Movement Games

Games and movement are a great combo. Movement Games: Pre-Primer Words and Movement Game: Primer Words allow students to exercise and read simultaneously. Use the programmed boards or enter your own sight words.

Board Games

Candy Land and Connect 4 are just a few examples of board games that can become high-frequency word games. Write words on the Candy Land cards and have students read them before moving to the color. Use yard sale stickers to add sight words to the Connect 4 chips. Read the words before making a play.

Zap

Popsicle sticks and a cup are all that are needed to play Zap. First, write a sight word on each stick. Next, write ZAP on several sticks. Finally, place all of the sticks into the cup. Students take turns pulling out sticks and reading the sight word. If they pull a Zap! they return all of their sticks to the cup.

Memory

Choose the high-frequency words you wish to play with. Write each word on 2 cards. Flip the cards over. To play, students take turns flipping over 2 cards to try and make a match.

When Can I Use High-Frequency Word Games for Kindergarten?

High-frequency word games for Kindergarten can be used in the classroom at various times during the school day. After they have been introduced, they would be a great way to ease into school and start the day! These fun sight word practice games would also be a great way to practice and review during your phonics block. They would also work well during word work, guided reading, or sight word literacy centers. Since your students feel like they are playing and not learning, they may even want to play them during free-choice.

a fishing game that can be used as a sight word literacy center

Research shows it can take 17 exposures to learn a new word. Therefore, high-frequency word activities for kindergarten, such as high-frequency word games for kindergarten, will provide exposure and help students turn high-frequency words into sight words.

Check out these other sites to learn more about high-frequency word games for kindergarten:

What are some of your favorite high-frequency word games to play with your students?

Sight Words vs. High-Frequency Words

In teaching, you frequently hear both the terms sight words and high-frequency words used interchangeably. I’ll admit whenever I heard either one, I thought they were the same thing. But, recently, as I was learning more about the science of reading, I realized I was wrong. So let’s look at sight words and high-frequency words a little closer.

What is the Difference Between High-Frequency Words and Sight Words?

Words most commonly used in written texts are high-frequency words. Research shows that 13 of the most commonly used words make up 25% of the things we read. Other studies show the 100 most common words make up about 50% of the things we read. Examples of high-frequency words include “the”, “like”, “is”, and “to”. Dolch and Fry provide lists of the most common high-frequency words.

When a reader can look at a work and read it instantly, it is a sight word. Readers don’t have to make an effort to read sight words; you know them upon seeing them. For many adults and fluent readers, most words are sight words.

Irregular and Regular Words

You can split high-frequency words into two groups: regular and irregular. Regular words are words that follow regular phonics patterns and are decodable. Readers can sound out decodable words. “In,” “can,” “big,” and “not” are examples of regular high-frequency words.

Irregular high-frequency words are words that do not follow regular phonics patterns. Therefore, a reader trying to use the typical letter-sound correspondences will not be able to read these words. For example, words such as “was,” “of,” and “the” are examples of irregular high-frequency words.

Sight Words vs. High-Frequency in the Classroom

When looking at sight words vs. high-frequency words in the classroom, you need to teach high-frequency words to help them become sight words. The list of words you use doesn’t matter. The way you teach them is what matters.

Why Should We Teach Sight Words?

When students are first learning to read, decoding words can take effort and be frustrating. Young children can become disheartened trying to sound out every word, especially when it doesn’t always work! By helping students turn high-frequency words into sight words, they can instantly recognize the word. When students know some words “by sight,” they no longer need to try and sound out every word. Readers can focus on less familiar words instead of every word.

How to Teach Sight Words for Kindergarten

Phonics lessons, including high-frequency word lessons, should be explicit and systematic. Lessons on blending will help students as they learn to read decodable high-frequency words. When reading, they will try to sound out and blend and be to read these words. Sunding out will not work when a student tries to read an irregular word. Luckily we can help them make these words sight words!

In Kindergarten, letters and sounds are a large focus. They learn only a few phonics rules. Because they learn so few rules, there are more irregular words for them than students in upper grades. Most of these words are temporary irregular words. Down the road, as students learn more rules, they will be able to decode them. Before learning the rules, teachers can help them with the heart word method. Using this method, students look at the parts of a word they can decode and the parts they need to learn “by heart.” After teaching a word, students need practice and exposure. Hands-on sight word activities and digital sight word games are great ways to do this!

You can learn more about sight words vs. high-frequency words using the following links:

Grab my editable cards for free and start making high-frequency words into sight words!

3 Little Pigs STEM Challenge and More!

Each year I read different versions of The Three Little Pigs for fun. We use these fairy tales to work on comprehension skills too but that’s about it. Until this year when the idea for the 3 Little Pigs STEM challenge was born!

I love activities that are cross-curricular. In science, we use the FOSS Kits. One of the kits teaches about types of wood and paper. During a read-aloud, I realized we could build houses just like the pigs, using wood and paper.

I wanted the 3 little pigs STEM challenge to focus on teamwork and only have a few guidelines. Firstly, I made groups of 2-3 students. Secondly, groups received a paper plate with 3 pigs attached to it. I explained that they could use any of the materials provided and as much as they wanted but the 3 pigs had to fit inside their house. Students got to browse the materials and then worked to make a plan. Once their plan was in place it was time to start building.

It is fascinating watching this process. I loved seeing the different group dynamics and how everyone had unique ideas. There were definitely disagreements and plans that fail but that is all part of the experience.

The timeline is up to you. For example, we built houses one day and tested them the next. The goal was to build a house that would remain standing against the wolf’s huffing and puffing. We used a fan as the wolf. I held the fan up to each house and students recorded the results.

Endless Possibilities

There are so many possibilities with the three little pigs STEM activity. Little changes with materials, time, and groupings can all make a difference. It really is all up to you and can change each time you do it.

3 Little Pigs STEM Materials

You don’t have to use wood and paper. In other words, you can grab anything you have available! Even better allow students to find their own materials. Here are possible things to build with.

cardboard
cardstock
popsicle sticks
toothpicks
tongue depressors
play dough
candy (dots, gumdrops)
blocks
sticks
straws

3 Little Pigs STEM Guidelines

I kept it really simple. You can increase difficulty with little tweaks and changes. For example, specify how many materials or how much of each material can be used. You could also set a time limit for completion of the house. Instead of a fan try testing it out with a blow dryer. Lastly, provide musts such as the house needs to have a door.

3 Little Pigs Literacy

To tie it all together we did literacy activities too. After reading The Three Little Pigs students sequenced pictures to show the events in order. Once we read two versions we used a double bubble map to compare and contrast. Subsequently, we used story maps to discuss the characters, setting, and details for each story we read.

If you want to try out any of these activities with your own students you can grab them on my site here or on Teacher Pay Teachers here. You can also check out this freebie to help integrate The 3 Little Pigs into your write-the-room activities!

Valentine Minute to Win it Games

Minute to Win It Games are one of my favorite activities to use during classroom parties for several reasons. First, these games can be played alone or in groups. You can spread them throughout the day or play them all at once. Additionally, minute to win it games are fast, affordable, and easy to set up. Last, using the word games brings instant excitement and engagement. Read on to give Valentine Minute to Win It Games a try in your classroom.

Ring Around the Roses

Fake roses in a vase or weighted balloon holder from Dollar Tree work perfectly for these Valentine minute to win it games. Grab some glow stick necklaces or pipe cleaners to make rings, and you’re ready to play. Students race to toss three rings around the roses before the minute ends.

Heart-a-Stack

All this game requires is some candy hearts! When the game starts, students will work independently or together to stack them and build towers. When time is up, the play/group with the tallest tower wins.

Soaring Hearts

Foam hearts and cups make perfect supplies for Valentine’s Day minute to win it games. Place the cup at one of the tables or have a student hold the cup while another student tosses the hearts. Set a number of hearts to be caught in the minute, and you’re ready to play!

Broken Hearts

Each player or team is given a set of heart pieces to play. These pieces can be made from construction paper, cardstock, or foam. Grab some scissors and start cutting! The goal of this game is to fix all of the broken hearts before the minute is up.

Heart Transplant

Heart Transplant needs candy hearts, plates/bowls/cups, and tweezers. Students will use the tweezers to move the hearts from one bowl to another. Who can move all of their hearts before the time is up?

Wrapped Up in Love

This game is guaranteed to bring on the giggles. Give each team a roll of streamers. Set a time for one minute and race to see who can wrap their teammate, using all of their streamers before time is up!

Conversation Heart Stand-Up

This game is easy and for all ages. Candy hearts are the only thing needed to play. Set the timer to one minute, and then players rush to stand up candy hearts on their sides. Add a challenge by only allowing them to use one hand.

Straight To My Heart

Grab a box with a heart opening, or cut a heart to make your own. Create paper airplanes or use Q-tips or popsicle sticks to make arrows. Throw the planes/arrows and try to get them through the hole.

Bouncing Hearts

Grab a heart-shaped bowl and bouncy balls to play! In one minute, race to see who can bounce the most balls into the bowls. This game can also be played using a box with a heart cut out.

Fill My Heart

Valentine-themed minute-to-win-it games are an excellent opportunity to integrate math and practice subitizing. Grab these heart dice strips for free below. Roll a die and use candy hearts or another Valentine-themed manipulative to cover each space. Try to cover each space before the minute is up.

Candy Corn Stick-Up

Played similarly to Heart Stand Up, students work to balance the candy corn on their bottoms and stick up.

Heart Toss

Grab this bean bag toss game or make your own to play Heart Toss. Put together paper hearts or use Valentine-colored plates with different values for a do-it-yourself game. Toss beanbags or make Cupid’s arrows to toss. Keep track of points earned during the minute and add them up to see who has the highest score to win.

Hearts Afloat

Balloons are a class favorite. Students will work as a team during Hearts Afloat. Each pair or triad gets one balloon. The game’s goal is to keep the balloon afloat and not let it touch the ground.

Heart Drop

A cup, jar, or frosting container will work to play Heart Drop. In one minute, race to see who can drop the most candy hearts or Valentine-themed manipulatives into the container.

Let’s Play!

To help run Valentine Minute to Win It Games in your classroom, I have created a slideshow. Use PowerPoint or Google Slides to display the slide for each game. A timer is built-in, allowing you to enjoy the games and keep things running smoothly.

I look forward to our minute-to-win-it games each year, and Valentine Minute to Win It Games are no exception. I am always looking for new ideas and changing things up. What is your favorite Valentine Minute to Win It game?

Virtual Winter Activities for Distance Learning

In the classroom, I love to use themes to help keep my kids engaged and integrate subjects. Just because students are learning from home doesn’t mean this has to stop! Looking to integrate themes? Check out these virtual winter activities.

Virtual Winter Activities to Assign

Winter Boom Cards

Boom cards are a great addition to any classroom! Students love them because they feel like they are playing a game while they are practicing and reviewing important skills. Teachers love them because they are self-correcting and provide data. Filled with snow, snowmen, arctic animals, and more these Boom decks help bring winter into your learning.

The winter math decks practice a variety of kindergarten and first-grade math standards. Number sequencing 0-20, 2D shapes, non-standard measurement, place value, graphing, and counting on to add are a few options.

Literacy skills can also be practiced using Boom cards. Both phonemic awareness and phonics skills are covered within these winter literacy decks. Practice syllables, rhyming, CVC words, beginning and ending sounds, and sight word sentences.

Winter Google Slides

Google Slides are great for digital practice and assessment of skills during virtual learning. Shares the slides via a link or assign them in Google Classroom. Each set of slides is interactive and connected to a literacy or math standard.

Live Virtual Winter Activities

Snow Ball Fight

Everybody loves a good snowball fight! Bring this fun outdoor activity inside to your virtual classroom for oodles of fun. All students need is some paper and a pencil. Have students write letters, sight words, or equations on the paper and then crumple them into balls. Afterward, let students throw them at their computer and all around them for a designated period of time. Last, call students back to read or solve the problems.

Winter Hide & Seek

Hide & Seek is a fun game that will work in the classroom and during virtual learning. Cards displaying letters, words, or math problems are shown on the screen. Call on students to read or solve a problem. Then click the card to see if the hidden picture is behind it.

Winter Would You Rather

Winter Would You Rather uses winter-themed questions to get students up and moving while building classroom community. Display the slides by sharing your screen. Students look at real-life pictures and complete the movement to match their choice.

Snowman Melt

Played like Hangman, students race to guess the word before the snowman disappears. Snowman Melt contains a variety of slides for words with 2-6 letters. Choose the slide you wish to play. Then share your screen and allow students to guess letters. Correct guesses are written on the matching line. Incorrect guesses cause a part of the snowman to melt and disappear.

Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are a great way to get kids up and moving. Additionally, they provide a screen break! Share your screen and read the clue. Give students one minute to find something that matches the clue. Follow up with a quick share for everyone to hold up their finds You can try out a winter-themed scavenger hunt with your kiddos by downloading the freebie below!

What are your favorite virtual winter activities to keep your students engaged through the computer?

Virtual Sight Word Games For Kids

Sight words can be tricky for many students. When presented with a new word, students often try to sound it out. Unfortunately, this does not work with many sight words. Explicit instruction and repeated exposure are important in helping students master sight words. Another possible way to help is to use virtual sight word games.

How to Play & What’s Included

Have you ever played Hangman? The object of the game is to guess the word before building the image. Virtual sight word games are played the same way. To begin the screen is blank showing lines for how many letters are in the word. Students then take turns guessing letters. Correctly guessed letters are written on the matching lines using the pen tool. If the letter guessed is not in the word then part of the image will appear. If the students guess the word before building the whole image they win the round.

Each of the digital sight word games includes 4 different slide options. The first set contains no word bank. Then there are sets with pre-primer and primer word banks. When students see on the slide there are 3 letters in the word they can then look to the word bank for words with 3 letters to help them guess. Finally, there is a set with blank space and editable text boxes. This allows you to enter any list of words for support.

Wanting to practice words in science, math, or another subject? Virtual sight word games are versatile. Sight words are only one possibility. Use the slide set with no word bank or the editable slides to add your own word support. Now you can practice your personalized word list, spelling words, vocabulary words, and more!

Sight Word Games to Play on Zoom

Digital sight word games are created in PowerPoint. There is nothing to print and make, just open the file and you are ready to go. Even better, play them anywhere you choose! In the classroom, you can project the slides or show them on an interactive whiteboard. During distance learning, these are great sight words games to play on Zoom or Google Meet. Simply, share your screen and you can play virtually with your students.

What’s your favorite way to practice sight words?