Ages 5–6 — Start your learning adventure!
Discover numbers, shapes, and more!
Explore the living world!
Learn to read and write!
Learn to count higher and higher!
Counting means saying numbers in order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on. When you count, you are putting a number on each thing you see.
When you count, touch each thing as you say the number. One dot — say "one." Next dot — say "two." Next dot — say "three." This is called one-to-one correspondence. It means each number matches one thing.
The last number you say tells you "how many" there are. If you count to 5, you have 5 things.
Counting helps you know how many toys you have, how many snacks are left, or how many friends are playing. It is very useful in everyday life!
Skip counting means counting by the same number each time. You skip over some numbers to count faster!
Counting by 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12... Skip counting by 2s is like counting: 1 pair, 2 pairs, 3 pairs. We say 2, 4, 6!
Counting by 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25... Counting by 5s is fast! It helps us count coins and fingers.
Counting by 10s: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50... When you count by 10s, you are counting tens (groups of 10). This helps us count to 100 faster!
Odd and Even: Some numbers end in 2, 4, 6, 8, 0 — these are even. Some numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 — these are odd. Example: 2, 4, 6 are even. 1, 3, 5 are odd.
Here is a number line. It helps you count from 1 to 20:
Exercise 1: Count the stars. How many stars do you see? Touch each one and count.
Exercise 2: Missing Number. What number comes next? 1, 2, ___, 4. Look at the number line if you need help!
Exercise 3: Counting in Groups. Count these dots in groups of 2. How many groups? How many dots total?
Game 1: Finger Counting. Hold up your fingers one at a time. Count: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10! How many fingers do you have on both hands?
Game 2: Step Counting. Walk and count your steps out loud. Start at 1. Keep going until you reach 20! Did you make it?
Game 3: Counting Backwards. This is counting the other way! Start at 10 and count down: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ZERO! Blast off!
Game 4: "What Comes Next?" Someone says a number. You say the next number. Example: I say "5," you say "6!" Try it!
Game 5: The Hundred Chart. A hundred chart is a big grid with numbers 1 to 100. You can use it to find numbers, skip count, and see patterns. Can you find number 50 on the hundred chart?
Challenge 1: Count the Coins. Ask an adult for some coins. Count them: 1 penny, 2 pennies, 3 pennies. How many coins do you have?
Challenge 2: Count Steps to the Kitchen. Walk from your room to the kitchen. Count each step out loud. How many steps did it take? Try it again. Is it the same number?
Challenge 3: Counting Song. Many songs help you count. Search for "Count to 100 song" online and sing along! It makes counting super fun and helps you remember the numbers.
Challenge 4: Count Items at Home. Count the chairs in your kitchen. Count the windows in your bedroom. Count the toys in your toy box. How many of each do you have?
Put together and take away!
Adding means putting groups together. When you add, you find how many you have altogether.
Putting Together: If you have 2 apples and your friend gives you 1 apple, you put them together. 2 + 1 = 3. Now you have 3 apples!
Counting On: Another way to add is to start with the bigger number and count on. For 2 + 3, say "2" (the bigger number is 3, but start where the smaller one is). Then count: "3, 4, 5." You have 5!
Doubles: Doubles are fun! When you add the same number twice: 1 + 1 = 2, 2 + 2 = 4, 3 + 3 = 6. Try it!
Commutative Property (Order doesn't matter): You can add in any order! 2 + 3 = 5 AND 3 + 2 = 5. Same answer! Try it with dots.
Subtracting means taking away. When you subtract, you find how many are left.
Taking Away: If you have 5 crayons and you lose 2, you subtract. 5 − 2 = 3. Now you have 3 crayons left.
Counting Back: You can subtract by counting backwards. For 5 − 2, start at 5 and count back 2 steps: "5... 4, 3." You get 3! Using a number line helps.
Cross Out: Draw 5 circles. Cross out 2. Count what is left. That's your answer!
Comparison Subtraction (How many more?): Sometimes we subtract to compare. If you have 7 stickers and your friend has 4 stickers, how many MORE do you have? 7 − 4 = 3. You have 3 more!
Fact Families: Addition and subtraction are family! If 2 + 3 = 5, then 5 − 3 = 2 and 5 − 2 = 3. They are connected!
Word problems tell a story with numbers. You need to figure out if you add or subtract.
Story 1 (Joining - Adding): Mia had 3 toy cars. Her mom gave her 2 more. How many toy cars does she have now? We put together, so we add: 3 + 2 = 5 toy cars!
Story 2 (Separating - Subtracting): Sam had 6 cookies. He ate 2. How many cookies are left? We take away, so we subtract: 6 − 2 = 4 cookies left.
Story 3 (Comparing - Subtracting): There are 8 red balloons and 5 blue balloons. How many more red balloons are there? We compare with subtraction: 8 − 5 = 3 more red balloons.
Story 4 (Joining - Adding): In the morning, there were 4 birds in the tree. In the afternoon, 3 more birds came. How many birds are in the tree now? 4 + 3 = 7 birds.
Story 5 (Separating - Subtracting): Leo had 9 crayons. He lost 3. How many crayons does he have now? 9 − 3 = 6 crayons left.
Key Words to Look For: "put together" or "altogether" means add. "take away," "left," or "ate" means subtract. "How many more?" means subtract to compare.
Add Within 5: Practice adding when your answer is 5 or less.
Add Within 10: Now practice adding when your answer is 10 or less.
Subtract Within 5: Practice taking away from numbers 5 or less.
Subtract Within 10: Practice taking away from numbers 10 or less.
Game 1: Dice Addition. Roll two dice. Add the numbers together. For example, if you roll a 4 and a 3, add them: 4 + 3 = 7. Keep rolling!
Game 2: Domino Addition. Find dominoes at home. Each side has dots. Add the dots on both sides together. Example: 3 dots + 5 dots = 8 dots!
Game 3: Making 10. Use toys, blocks, or buttons. Can you make 10 by combining two groups? Try 6 + 4. Try 7 + 3. Try 8 + 2!
Game 4: Snack Sharing (Subtraction). You have 10 crackers. You give 3 to your friend. How many do you have left? 10 − 3 = 7!
Real-World Examples: Count crayons in different colors and add them up. Add the number of chairs and tables at dinner. Take away toys as you clean up and count what's left!
Flat and solid shapes all around!
Flat shapes are shapes you can draw on paper. They are completely flat with no thickness.
Circle: A circle is round like a ball. It has no corners and no straight sides. It is perfectly round all the way around. A circle has 0 sides and 0 corners.
Square: A square has 4 equal sides. All sides are the same length! It has 4 corners. Squares look like boxes when you draw them. A square has 4 sides and 4 corners.
Triangle: A triangle has 3 sides and 3 corners. The three sides connect at the corners. Triangles are pointy! Look for triangles on road signs.
Rectangle: A rectangle looks like a square's cousin. It has 4 sides and 4 corners, but the sides are not all equal. Two sides are longer, and two sides are shorter. A rectangle has 4 sides and 4 corners.
Hexagon: A hexagon has 6 sides and 6 corners. It looks like a stop sign (but stop signs are octagons with 8 sides!). Beehives are made of hexagons!
Solid shapes are 3D (three-dimensional). You can hold them in your hand! They have height, width, and depth.
Sphere: A sphere is like a ball. It is round and smooth. A basketball, soccer ball, or orange is a sphere. It has no flat sides and no corners. A sphere can roll!
Cube: A cube is like a box. It has 6 faces (flat sides), and all the faces are squares. A dice is a cube. It has 8 corners and 12 edges. You can stack cubes!
Cylinder: A cylinder looks like a can or a tube. It has 2 circle faces on top and bottom, and 1 curved side. A soup can or a paper towel roll is a cylinder. It can roll!
Cone: A cone looks like an ice cream cone or a traffic cone. It has 1 circle face and comes to a point at the top. A cone is pointy at the end!
Patterns are shapes (or colors) that repeat in order. When you know the pattern, you can guess what comes next!
AB Pattern: This pattern has 2 shapes that repeat. Circle, Square, Circle, Square, Circle, Square... The next shape is a Circle!
ABC Pattern: This pattern has 3 shapes that repeat. Circle, Square, Triangle, Circle, Square, Triangle... The next shape is a Circle!
Shape and Color Patterns: Patterns can use color too! Red Circle, Blue Circle, Red Circle, Blue Circle... The pattern changes color!
Growing Patterns: Some patterns grow bigger. 1 circle, 2 circles, 3 circles, 4 circles. The number increases!
Shapes are everywhere! You can find them in nature and all around your home.
Circles: The sun is a circle. Plates are circles. Wheels on a car are circles. Pizza is a circle. Clocks are circles. Buttons are small circles!
Squares and Rectangles: Windows are rectangles. Door frames are rectangles. Books are rectangles. Tiles on the floor are squares. Picture frames are rectangles!
Triangles: Roofs on houses are triangles. Slices of pizza are triangles. Some road signs are triangles. Camping tents make a triangle shape!
Shapes in Your House: Doors are rectangles. Tables are rectangles or squares. Lamps are cylinders. A tissue box is a cube. Your bed is a rectangle!
Shapes Outside: Trees have a trunk (cylinder) and leaves (circle at the top). Flowers have petals. Stones are spheres. Clouds have no shape — they change!
Symmetry: Some shapes are symmetrical. This means they look the same on both sides. A butterfly is symmetrical — the left side looks like the right side! Fold a piece of paper and cut a shape. When you open it, both sides match!
Activity 1: Drawing Challenge. Can you draw a circle? A square? A triangle? Try drawing different shapes on paper. Start with big shapes, then try smaller ones!
Activity 2: Building with Shapes. Use blocks, boxes, or everyday items to build. Make a tower with cubes. Make a circle with blocks. Can you build a house shape?
Activity 3: Tangram Puzzle. A tangram is a puzzle made from 7 shapes. You rearrange them to make different pictures. It's like magic! Look for tangram puzzles online or in toy stores.
Activity 4: "I Spy" Shapes Game. Say "I spy with my little eye, a shape that is a circle!" Your friend looks around and finds circles in the room. Then it's their turn!
Activity 5: Shape Collage. Cut out pictures of circles, squares, triangles, and other shapes from magazines. Glue them on paper to make a collage. You now have a shape poster!
Length, weight, and time!
Length tells us how long or tall something is. We compare lengths by looking at things side by side.
Comparing Lengths: Is your pencil longer or shorter than your finger? Is your bed longer or shorter than your doorway? We can say "longer," "shorter," or "the same length."
Non-Standard Measuring: Before we learn inches and centimeters, we can measure with things we have! Use paper clips to measure. Count: "This pencil is 7 paper clips long!" Use hand spans. Count: "My desk is 6 hand spans wide!" Use blocks or steps.
Standard Units: Inches and centimeters are standard units. Everyone agrees on how long an inch is and how long a centimeter is. We use rulers to measure in inches and centimeters.
Using a Ruler: Line up the 0 on the ruler with the start of the object. See where it ends. That's the length! A pencil might be 7 inches long. Your hand span might be 4 inches wide.
Estimation: Before you measure, guess! Is the pencil longer or shorter than your hand? When you guess before measuring, it's called estimation. Then check with a ruler!
Weight tells us how heavy something is. Some things are light (like feathers), and some things are heavy (like rocks).
Comparing Weights: Is a book heavier or lighter than a pencil? Pick them both up and feel! Is a watermelon heavier or lighter than an apple? We can say "heavier," "lighter," or "about the same weight."
Balance Scale: A balance scale has two sides. Put one object on each side. If one side goes down, that object is heavier! A feather is very light, so that side stays up. A book is heavier, so that side goes down.
Non-Standard Weighing: You can weigh things using blocks or other objects! "This toy weighs 5 blocks" means if you stack 5 blocks, they weigh the same as the toy!
Ordering by Weight: Line up three objects. Put them in order from lightest to heaviest. Example: a feather is lightest, a block is heavier, a book is heaviest!
Estimation: Before you weigh something, guess! Is a pillow heavier or lighter than a dictionary? Then weigh them and check!
An analog clock is a round clock with numbers and hands that move. Let's learn to read it step by step!
A clock has a round face with the numbers 1 through 12 arranged in a circle. The number 12 is always at the very top, and 6 is at the bottom. The numbers go clockwise — that means they go in the same direction the hands move.
A clock has two important hands that point to the numbers:
The short, thick hand is the hour hand. It tells us what hour it is. It moves slowly — it takes a whole hour to move from one number to the next!
The long, thin hand is the minute hand. It tells us the minutes. It moves faster — it goes all the way around the clock in one hour (60 minutes).
The easiest times to read! When the long minute hand points straight up to 12, it's "something o'clock." Just look at where the short hour hand is pointing — that's the hour!
When the long minute hand points straight down to 6, it has gone halfway around the clock. That's 30 minutes — we call it "half past." The hour hand will be between two numbers because it's moved halfway to the next hour.
The clock face can be split into four quarters, just like cutting a pizza into 4 slices:
Quarter past = the minute hand points to 3 (15 minutes past the hour).
Quarter to = the minute hand points to 9 (15 minutes before the next hour).
Here's something that confuses a lot of people: the hour hand doesn't stay on a number the whole hour. It slowly creeps toward the next number as the minutes tick by.
Look at this example: at 4:55, the minute hand is almost at 12 (just one tick away), and the short hour hand is very close to the 5. But the time is still 4 o'clock something — not 5! Why? Because the hour hand hasn't reached 5 yet. It's still in "4 territory."
Think of it like a race: the hour hand is running from 4 toward 5. At 4:55 it's almost at the finish line (5), but it hasn't crossed it yet — so we still say "4 something." Only when the minute hand hits 12 and a brand new hour starts does the hour hand officially land on 5, and we say "5 o'clock."
Let's see how well you can read clocks! Answer each question below.
Days of the Week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday — that's 7 days in a week! School days are Monday to Friday. Weekend is Saturday and Sunday.
Months of the Year: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December — that's 12 months, just like the 12 numbers on a clock!
Morning is when the sun rises and you wake up. Afternoon comes after lunchtime. Evening is when it starts to get darker. Night is when the stars come out and you sleep. We do different activities at different times of day!
We can compare two or more objects by their measurements. We use special words to describe differences.
Comparing Length: "Longer" means more length. "Shorter" means less length. "Taller" means the height is greater. Example: A giraffe is taller than a person. A pencil is shorter than a yardstick.
Comparing Weight: "Heavier" means it weighs more. "Lighter" means it weighs less. Example: A book is heavier than a feather. A feather is lighter than a pencil.
Comparing More and Less: "More" means a greater amount. "Less" means a smaller amount. Example: 10 apples is more than 5 apples. 3 toys is less than 8 toys.
Comparing Capacity (How Much Fits): "Full" means all the way to the top. "Half full" means filled to the middle. "Empty" means nothing is in it. A full cup holds more liquid than a half-full cup!
Ordering Three Objects: Put three things in order from shortest to tallest, or lightest to heaviest. Example: pencil (shortest), crayon (middle), stick (tallest).
Activity 1: Measurement Scavenger Hunt. Find 5 things that are about 6 inches long. Find 3 things that are very heavy. Find 2 things that are empty. Can you find them?
Activity 2: Measure Your Room. Use a ruler or a measuring tape. Measure the width of your bedroom door. How many inches? Measure your bed. How many of your hand spans does your bed equal?
Activity 3: Body Measurement. Your body is a ruler! Measure things using hand spans (how wide your hand is spread out). Measure things using foot lengths. How many hand spans is your desk? How many foot lengths is your room?
Activity 4: Time Diary. What time do you wake up? When do you eat breakfast? When do you go to school or play? When do you eat lunch? Keep track of the times you do things during the day!
Activity 5: Height Chart. Stand against a wall. Have an adult mark how tall you are. Do this every few months. Are you growing taller? Keep track and see!
Groups, sharing, and arrays!
Multiplication means making equal groups of things. Let's see how it works!
What is a Group? A group is a bunch of the same things put together. When we have 2 groups of 3 apples, that means we have 6 apples altogether!
Division means sharing things equally. When you divide, everyone gets the same amount!
How to Share: If you have 12 cookies and want to share them equally with 3 friends, each friend gets 4 cookies. 12 ÷ 3 = 4!
An array is a way to arrange objects in rows and columns. It helps us see multiplication!
How to Count an Array: Count the rows (3) and columns (4). Then multiply: 3 × 4 = 12!
Exercise 1: If you have 2 bags with 5 pencils in each, how many pencils do you have altogether?
Exercise 2: Share 9 stickers equally among 3 friends. How many does each friend get?
Exercise 3: Make an array with 2 rows and 3 columns using dots. How many dots are there?
Challenge 1: How many legs do 2 cats have? (Remember: 1 cat = 4 legs)
Challenge 2: You have 15 marbles to share with 5 friends. How many does each friend get?
Challenge 3: Make arrays with household items: buttons, coins, pasta shapes, or rocks!
Halves and quarters!
A half means dividing something into 2 equal parts. Each part is called "one half" or "1/2".
A quarter means dividing something into 4 equal parts. Each part is called "one quarter" or "1/4".
For fractions to work, the parts must be EQUAL - the same size!
Exercise 1: Draw a circle and divide it in half. Color one half.
Exercise 2: Draw a rectangle and divide it into 4 equal parts (quarters). Color one quarter.
Exercise 3: Take a piece of paper and fold it in half. Now fold it again. How many parts do you have?
Challenge 1: Find things at home you can divide: string, paper, chocolate bars. Can you divide them into equal parts?
Challenge 2: Draw your favorite shape (star, heart, hexagon) and divide it into halves or quarters.
Challenge 3: Make a fraction snack! Share a cookie or cracker with friends and talk about the pieces!
Left, right, up, down, and turns!
We use special words to describe where things are. These help us find things and give directions!
A turn means rotating or spinning. We can turn in different amounts: quarter turn, half turn, three-quarter turn, and full turn!
Left and right help us know which way to go. Everyone has a left hand and a right hand!
Exercise 1: Give someone directions using above, below, left, right, and next to.
Exercise 2: Make quarter turns and say which direction you're facing (north, south, east, west).
Exercise 3: Draw a map of your bedroom using position words to describe where things are.
Simon Says Turns: Play Simon Says with turns: "Simon says make a quarter turn left!"
Follow the Instructions: Give someone instructions to find a hidden object using position words.
Dance and Turn: Dance and practice making different amounts of turns!
Coins and counting money!
We use coins to pay for things! Let's learn about the different coins and how much they're worth.
To count coins, start with the biggest coins and work your way to the smallest ones.
We can use different coins to make the same amount of money. For example, 10 pennies = 1 dime = 2 nickels!
Exercise 1: Count this pile of coins: 3 quarters, 2 dimes, 1 nickel. How much is it?
Exercise 2: If you have 50 cents, show different ways to make that amount.
Exercise 3: You have 30 cents. If candy costs 25 cents, how much money will you have left?
Coin Store: Set up a pretend store and use real or fake coins to "buy" and "sell" things.
Coin Sorting: Collect real coins and sort them by type and value.
Money Jar: Save coins in a jar and count them to see how much you have!
Roots, stems, leaves, and flowers!
Every plant has special parts that help it grow and stay alive. Let's learn what each part does!
Plants go through amazing changes as they grow! Watch the journey from tiny seed to beautiful flower:
The plant starts as a tiny seed, sprouts roots and a little green shoot, grows into a seedling with leaves, becomes a full plant, flowers beautifully, and then makes new seeds!
Plants need four important things to stay healthy and grow big and strong:
Plants need sunlight to make their own food. Light makes the leaves green!
Water travels up through the roots. Plants drink water just like we do!
Soil feeds the plant with nutrients. Roots grow into soil to find food and water.
Plants breathe! They take in air through tiny holes in their leaves called stomata.
Plants come in many different shapes, sizes, and types. Here are some you might see every day:
Let's grow a bean plant! You can do this at home with your family.
Try these fun things with plants:
Different animals and their homes!
There are so many different animals in the world! Let's learn about the different groups:
Different animals live in different places called habitats. Each habitat gives animals the things they need to survive:
Squirrels, deer, bears, and many birds live in forests with lots of trees
Fish, whales, dolphins, and sea turtles live in the salty ocean water
Camels, snakes, and scorpions live in hot, dry places with little water
Polar bears, penguins, and seals live where it's icy and very cold
Animals also build special homes:
Different animals eat different kinds of food. We can group them by what they eat:
Eat only plants: grass, leaves, seeds, and fruits
Examples: Cows, rabbits, elephants, giraffes, horses
Eat only meat from other animals
Examples: Lions, eagles, snakes, penguins
Eat both plants AND meat
Examples: Humans, bears, pigs, chickens
Baby animals grow up in different ways. Some animals lay eggs, and some have live babies:
Look at each animal and decide - does it eat plants (herbivore) or meat (carnivore)? Click and drag to sort!
Try these fun things with animals:
Wood, plastic, metal, and more!
Everything around us is made of different materials. Let's explore what things are made of:
Materials have different properties - these are the characteristics that make them special. Here are some important ones:
Hard: Rock, metal, wood
Soft: Cloth, cotton, sponge
Transparent: Glass, clear plastic (you can see through)
Opaque: Wood, metal, brick (you can't see through)
Flexible: Cloth, rubber, plastic bag (bends easily)
Rigid: Wood, metal, ceramic (doesn't bend)
Waterproof: Plastic, rubber, metal (water doesn't soak in)
Absorbent: Paper, cloth, sponge (soaks up water)
Some materials come from nature, while others are made by people:
Come from nature and grown in the Earth
Made by people in factories
We use different materials for different jobs because each material has special properties that make it perfect for that job:
Look at each material and decide - is it from nature or made by people? Click and drag to sort!
Touch and explore different materials:
See, hear, touch, taste, and smell!
Our eyes are amazing! They help us see the beautiful world around us. Here's how sight works:
Our ears help us hear all kinds of sounds! Sound travels through the air in invisible waves:
Our skin is our largest sense organ! Every part of our body can feel things:
Our tongue has special taste buds that help us taste different flavors. We can taste five main types of tastes:
Our nose is amazing! It can smell thousands of different scents. Smell helps us enjoy food, find things, and stay safe:
Try these fun activities to explore your senses:
Spring, summer, autumn, and winter—the four seasons!
Spring is the season when nature wakes up after winter. The weather gets warmer, days get longer, and everything starts to grow again. Baby animals are born, and plants begin to bloom with beautiful flowers and leaves!
Summer is the warmest season of the year! It has the longest days, which means lots of sunshine and fun outdoor activities. Plants grow big and full, and gardens are filled with fruit and vegetables.
Autumn (also called fall) is when leaves on trees change color and fall to the ground. The weather gets cooler, days get shorter, and farmers harvest their crops. It's a season of change and preparation for winter.
Winter is the coldest season. Days are short and nights are long. In many places, it snows and the ground freezes. Some trees lose all their leaves, and animals prepare for the cold by finding shelter or migrating to warmer places.
Weather changes throughout the seasons. We can experience sunshine, rain, wind, snow, and fog. Learning about different types of weather helps us prepare and stay safe!
As Earth moves around the sun, the number of daylight hours changes. Summer has the longest days, winter has the shortest days, and spring and autumn are in between. This is why we wake up and go to bed at different times throughout the year!
Each season brings different activities and fun things to enjoy. What's your favorite seasonal activity?
Letters and their sounds!
The alphabet is the set of 26 letters we use to write every word in English. Each letter has a capital (big) form and a lowercase (small) form. Let's see them all!
There are 5 vowels (A, E, I, O, U) and 21 consonants. Vowels are super important — every word needs at least one! Think of vowels as the "glue" that holds words together.
Every letter makes its own special sound. When we learn these sounds, we can read any word! This is called phonics.
Now the fun part! When you know each letter's sound, you can blend them together to read a word. Say each sound slowly, then say them faster and faster until they become a word.
How to blend: Say each sound separately first: /c/... /a/... /t/. Now say them a bit faster: /ca/... /t/. Even faster: "cat!" You did it!
Word families are groups of words that rhyme and share the same ending. Once you know one, you can read them all!
Sight words are common words that show up again and again in books. Some of them don't follow the normal phonics rules, so we learn to recognize them on sight — just by looking at them. The more sight words you know, the faster you can read!
Rhyming words sound the same at the end. If you can read "cat," you can read anything that rhymes with it — bat, hat, mat, sat, rat, fat! Rhyming is like a superpower for reading.
Activity 1: Rhyme Chain. Say "cat." Now think of a word that rhymes. "Bat!" Keep going — hat, mat, sat... How many can you get?
Activity 2: Odd One Out. Which word doesn't rhyme? "cat, hat, dog, bat." Dog doesn't rhyme! It doesn't end in -at.
Activity 3: Beginning Sound Sort. Sort these words by their first sound: sun, big, sit, ball, six, bat. S-words: sun, sit, six. B-words: big, ball, bat!
Words, sentences, and stories!
When you see a word you don't know, use your phonics skills! Look at each letter, say its sound, then blend the sounds together. Let's practice with CVC words (Consonant-Vowel-Consonant):
A sentence is a group of words that tells a complete thought. Every sentence follows rules:
Every sentence has three things: it starts with a capital letter, has spaces between words, and ends with a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!).
Stories have three parts: a beginning (who and where), a middle (what happens), and an end (how it turns out). Let's read a story together!
After you read a story, always ask yourself: Who is in the story? What happened? How did it end? This helps you understand and remember what you read!
Comprehension means understanding what you read. It's not enough to say the words — you need to know what they mean! Here are some strategies that good readers use:
Activity 1: Story Retell. After reading a story, tell it back in your own words. Use three fingers: "First..." (thumb), "Then..." (pointer), "At the end..." (middle finger).
Activity 2: Word Hunt. Pick a word like "the" or "and." How many times can you find it on one page of a book? Count them!
Activity 3: Read to a Stuffed Animal. Pick your favorite stuffed toy and read a book to it. Point to each word as you read. Your toy loves story time!
Activity 4: Make Predictions. Before you turn the page, guess what might happen next. Were you right? This makes reading exciting!
Activity 5: Act It Out. After reading a story, act it out! Pretend to be the characters. What do they say? What do they do?
Create your own words and stories!
Good handwriting starts with how you hold your pencil and form each letter. Let's learn the right way!
Write capital letters (big) and lowercase letters (small). Some letters look the same big and small (like O/o and S/s), while others look very different (like A/a and G/g). Practice writing each letter of the alphabet — both capital and lowercase!
When you want to write a word, stretch it out — say the word slowly and listen for each sound. Then write the letter for each sound you hear!
Don't worry about spelling every word perfectly — the important thing is to try! Write the sounds you hear. Over time, you'll learn the correct spellings. This is called "invented spelling" and it's a great way for young writers to get started.
A sentence is a group of words that makes a complete thought. To write a great sentence, remember these rules:
Three types of sentences end with different marks: a telling sentence ends with a period (.). A question ends with a question mark (?). An exciting sentence ends with an exclamation mark (!).
You can write your very own stories! A story has three parts, just like reading: a beginning, a middle, and an end. Here's how to plan one:
Writing tip: Draw a picture first! Sketching what happens in your story helps you think about what to write. Then write a sentence or two for each part — beginning, middle, and end.
Activity 1: Label Your Room. Write the names of 10 things in your room on sticky notes. Stick them on the objects! Bed, lamp, door, book, toy...
Activity 2: Write a Letter. Write a short letter to someone you love. Start with "Dear ___," write what you want to say, and end with "Love, ___." You can even mail it or hand-deliver it!
Activity 3: My Favorite Things List. Write a list of your favorite things — favorite food, favorite animal, favorite game, favorite color, favorite person. Can you write a sentence about why you like each one?
Activity 4: Comic Strip. Fold a paper into 3 boxes. Draw a simple comic with a beginning, middle, and end. Write what the characters say in speech bubbles!
Activity 5: Daily Journal. Every night, write one sentence about your day. "Today I played with my friend." Over time, you'll have a whole book about YOUR life!
Learn new words every day!
Colors are some of the first describing words (adjectives) you'll learn. Describing words tell us more about a person, place, or thing.
Use describing words to make your sentences more interesting! Instead of "I see a dog," try "I see a big brown dog." Instead of "The ball is there," try "The small red ball is there."
A noun is a word for a person, place, animal, or thing. Everything around you has a name — and that name is a noun!
A verb is an action word — it tells us what someone or something does. Every sentence needs a verb! Without an action word, nothing happens.
Opposites (antonyms) are words with opposite meanings. Synonyms are words that mean the same thing. Learning both helps you pick the perfect word!
The more words you know, the better you can read, write, and talk! Here are fun ways to learn new words every day:
Activity 1: Word of the Day. Learn one new word each day. Say it, spell it, use it in a sentence, and draw a picture of it. By the end of the year, you'll know over 300 new words!
Activity 2: Category Sort. Pick a category like "food" and list as many words as you can: apple, pizza, milk, bread, rice, banana... Can you get to 10? 15? 20?
Activity 3: Context Clues. When you find a word you don't know in a book, look at the words around it for clues. If you read "The puppy was very tiny — it fit in my hand," you can guess "tiny" means very small!
Activity 4: Word Web. Write a word in the middle of a paper (like "dog"). Draw lines out and write related words: fur, bark, tail, paws, puppy, pet, walk, fetch. This builds connections between words!
Activity 5: Silly Sentences. Pick 3 random words and try to use all 3 in one sentence. "Purple," "jump," and "cake" — "The purple frog can jump over a cake!" The sillier, the better!
Learn to spell words correctly!
CVC words are simple three-letter words. They have a consonant at the beginning, a vowel in the middle, and a consonant at the end. These are some of the easiest words to read and spell!
A digraph is when two letters make just one sound. For example, "sh" in "ship" makes the /sh/ sound. Learning digraphs helps you spell many more words!
Some words don't follow the normal spelling rules. We call these sight words or tricky words. You need to learn them by heart because you can't sound them out!
Words that rhyme often have the same ending pattern. Learning word families helps you spell many words! If you know "cat," you can spell "bat," "mat," "sat," and "fat"!
The more you practice, the better you'll spell! Here are fun ways to practice spelling:
Say a word slowly, listening to each sound. Write each sound as a letter. Example: /c/ /a/ /t/ = cat
Try These: sit, run, pen, wet, box, ten
I say a word, you spell a rhyming word. If I say "cat," you might spell "bat" or "mat"!
Try These: dog → ___, sun → ___, pig → ___, sit → ___
Pick a word. Write it in different colors on paper: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple! Say each letter as you write.
Write letters in boxes to spell a word. Skip a box between words.
Trace words in a tray of sand, shaving cream, or flour with your finger. Feel the letter shapes!
British National Curriculum — Ages 5–6 — Subject-wide assessments
Common Core & NGSS — Ages 5–6 — Subject-wide assessments
British National Curriculum — Subject-Wide Standardised Test
British National Curriculum — Subject-Wide Standardised Test
British National Curriculum — Subject-Wide Standardised Test
Common Core Standards — Subject-Wide Standardized Test
Common Core Standards — Subject-Wide Standardized Test
NGSS Standards — Subject-Wide Standardized Test