Learning
Literacy & ABCs
Move & Learn
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This simple, low-prep literacy activity from Erin gets kids racing to practice color words!
My daughter has declared that her favorite color is coral. Sadly, that word is not among the kindergarten sight word lists.
Unless, perhaps, HGTV has a sight word list hidden somewhere. In which case I’d expect to also see words such as “ombre” and “minimalist.”
This imagined HGTV sight word list, of course, would be for children whose wall art of choice is NOT blueberry yogurt and all 108 pages from a Disney princess coloring book.
Easy Low Prep Preschool Race to Practice Color Words
Other than “coral,” we’re also still working on learning our basic colors. Which means I’m always looking for ways to practice color words with my daughter.
To teach your kids their basic, non-sophisticated color words in a fun, hands-on way, try this race activity!
To hold your own color words race, you’ll need:
- index cards or paper strips
- markers
- colorful objects that match your color words
- music
- tape (optional)
First, lay out written color cards for each sight word. We placed ours on a big pillow, but you can put yours out anywhere – coffee table, carpet, whatever.
Then, pick out some fun music. Pick something your kids will enjoy and really move to.
My kids love the first part of “The Incredits” from the Incredibles soundtrack. I love that it is not “Baby Shark.”
Before the song is over, the kids had to race around the house and find objects that matched up with each color sight word.
I made a rule that the objects had to fit on the ottoman. I did not make a rule that you had to wear your pajamas to participate.
Add a Challenge to Your Colorful Word Race
I purposely kept the words black and white so that my daughter had to rely on the letters to figure out what each one said.
This move and learn race to practice color words activity can be modified in at least three ways:
- Write the words in color to give kids a visual cue.
- For younger children, make it just about color matching, no words involved at all. Use pieces of colored paper instead of written color words.
- Practice number sight words by having kids race to find the number of small objects that correspond with the written number. LEGOs, dog food, M&Ms that they can spend the next hour lobbying to eat. The possibilities are endless!
- Give your kids tape and have them tape the words to bigger objects. You might need a few copies of each color word.
Looking for other move-and-learn activities? Check out this jump and grab sight word game and this sight word game for the stairs!
What are your favorite active ways to practice sight words? Share your ideas with us!
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Sarah says
I love this idea and will plan to try it tomorrow with my 6yr old and 3.5 year old! Thank you for sharing!
I would also love to know the brand of your beautiful ottoman! I’ve been looking for something almost identical to that, and haven’t struck gold yet! Thank you :-)
Tammy says
I like this idea :)