Hands On Sight Word Activities
After years of teaching Preps, and one not so enthusiastic son going through Prep, I have found some fun activities to motivate kids to learn sight words!
The key to motivating kids to learn anything is to make it hands on and FUN!
SAND
Use Sand, Seeds, or rice to fill a small shallow container. Use a finger to trace words in the sand. This helps form letter and word order, memory and develop writing and fine motor skills. Get those fingers moving!
FINGER TRACING
These cards are fantastic and great for tactile learners. Each letter is grooved out of the card, ready for little fingers to trace over them. There are three packs that vary in difficulty.
PLAY DOH
Playdough!!!!! Easy, cheap and often at home already! Exercise those hands, fingers and wrists to form letters then words.
MAGNETS
Magnetic letters are easy to find in toy shops, discount stores and large department stores. Use on a cheap baking tray and you have a word building magnetic activity.
PARKING LOT
Using a large piece of cardboard draw up a sight words parking lot. Call out the word and let your child drive their car (a small matchbox car will do) to the correct parking spot
MAGIC WRITING
A craft activity teachers have been calling upon for ever, MAGIC WRITING! Also known as Wax resist, use a crayon or candle to write the word “invisibly” Ten paint over with watered dwon paint and your word “magically” reappears!
BUBBLE WRAP
Using a piece of bubble wrap (with the large bubbles works best) write a sight word on each bubble. As you call out a sight word, your child pops the bubble with their fingers!
SHAVING CREAM
This activity can even be done in the bath tub or shower! Spray out some shaving cream and use your fingers to wipe out the words. When you are done use your hand to mix the shaving cream to start again!
MAGNETIC FISHING
Cut out some cardboard fish, attach a paperclip (this will act as your magnet end) use a piece of dowel (or even a pencil do) with a piece of string and a small magnet on the end as your fishing rod. You can buy magnetic tape to attach to your rod or even hot glue on some cut up old fridge magnets.
FLY SWAT
Always a class favourite, the fly swat game. Simply put out your words (on a wall or on the floor) call out a word and SWAT IT! This works great in pairs as a racing game! Who can swat the word first!
Sight words are an integral pert of the early writing and reading process. The more exposure your child has to learn these words the quicker they will grasp them. By making the learning opportunities hands on and super fun they will begging you to practice!