Christmas Literacy Games

December is a great time of year to introduce hands on activities that kids can play independently in literacy centers. Here are a few of our favorite games for kindergarten and first grade kids.

Roll a Word

To play this game:

• Invite the kids to place a cube or other marker at the bottom of each row of pictures.
• Roll a dice and move the first marker up the column that many spaces.
• Repeat for columns two and three.
• Give each child a worksheet, recording page, "Roll a Word".
• Next, the kids write the three letters, where the markers landed, on the paper.
• Lastly, write the three letters together and read the word!

Roll, Say, Keep

To play this game:

• Invite the kids to place one of the cards in each of the 6 boxes on the game board.
• Roll a dice.
• Look on the game board and find the box with the dots that match the dice.
• Invite the child to read the card.
• If they can, keep the card.
• Replace the card with a new card.
• If they can't, leave the card on the game board.

Spin a Word

Here's how to play this game:

• Invite the kids to spin the consonant spinner. 
• Find the tree box with the letter on which the spinner landed.
• Next, spin the vowel spinner.
• Find the tree box with the letter on which the spinner landed.
• Repeat on the consonant spinner.

• As you spin and collect the letters, place them on the tree game board.

• Record the words on the recording page.

Syllable Sorting

Here's how to play this game:

• Invite the kids to select one of the presents.
• Name the picture.
• Count the syllables.
• Place the pictures under the correct tree.

• Record the words on the recording page.

All of these games are from this literacy game pack: Christmas Literacy Game Pack