Word Families: Match-Up Mats

I'm sure we didn't get taught "Word Families" at school, and after doing some research it's amazing how much you learn all over again! I have found that getting the kids to do a combined game is a great way for us all to have fun together, which in turn, makes it a great positive experience that they will want to do over and over again.

We have found these Word Family games from "The Measured Mom" website which has some fantastic resources that you can print off and use.

I have printed and laminated the Word Family mats that helps you identify the word by looking at the picture, then finding the word, and placing it over the top. It was a great hit, and even Blake (4) became very good at getting the right answers too!

To download the Word Family mats, click here

Workshops on the Wharf - Story Cubes

Today it's a howling gale and lovely horizontal rain so what better things to do than to join the great team and make a story cube!  These are fabulous not only for story telling, but for using for spelling words, initial blends, final blends and could even be used for bingo word mats!

All you need is a template for a cube like this one here.

Print out the template - at least 3 copies per child.  Then decorate with your favourite stickers.

Once complete, cut out the template, tape together to form a cube.

Roll the first cube to start your story, then the 2nd to add to it, then the 3rd cube to add something different to your story and so on.  There are endless possibilities!

Enjoy your creativity in both making these funky and simple cubes, and watch your child's imagination grow!

Recycled Bread Tags - Maths

I knew there was a reason for collecting all the bread tags off all the loaves of bread we've been eating!  Not to mention the 'green' re-using of the tags, but that they are a great tool for our maths counting because not only do they come in all sorts of colours, but they can all be stored in a container and added to once more loaves of bread get eaten!

They are also great as they often come in PINK!

Book Swap, Te Wero Island

There are 3 shipping containers that are near us on Te Wero Island where we are currently moored in the Viaduct Harbour.  Over the summer one of them was used as a children's "stop in and play" area, where some board games, colouring books and cards were left for people to use.   Over the past two months it has been now transformed into a "Book Swap" which relies on people's honesty in either swapping or returning the books. So far it's been very successful!  Even the kids have a great time rummaging through the kids section!

1-20 Number Practice

Getting the numbers correct is something that we as adults see as quite simple, but for kids it can be quite confusing.  I have laminated these 1-20 number sheets so the kids can practice using a whiteboard pen and then rub it out when we finish ready for another time.

Lower & Uppercase Matching

Being able to match the lower case alphabet to uppercase alphabet is often confusing for some kids, and what I decided to do was to take the 'Apple Alphabet' and chop them down the middle.  This makes a lower case on one half and an uppercase on the other half.  I don't necessarily bring out ALL of them at once (having limited space on board), but maybe 10 so they are achievable before the children get bored.

As seen here, Blake then gets the white board marker and writes over the top of them to practice the letter! I didn't even ask him, so it was great that he chose to do it by himself.