Use manipulatives to teach kindergarten students. Manipulatives are small objects that students can handle and move, and they provide students with concrete examples of different skills and topics, enabling them to gain a greater understanding of different skills and concepts. For example, in math, use small candies and toys to teach one-to-one correspondence, addition, subtraction, sorting, pattering, graphing and other topics related to kindergarten math. In language arts instruction, have children sort through objects based on the sounds the begin with or provide them with magnetic letters to use for forming words. Not only will children gain great educational benefits when they use manipulatives, they will also have fun.
Incorporate games into instruction as a fun way to teach kindergarten students. Games offer children a number of both academic and social benefits. Through games, children learn good sportsmanship, how to take turns, how to play fairly, how to follow directions and how to use their words -- important social skills that they can apply to all areas of their lives, both inside and outside of school. Games can be used to teach and reinforce skills and concepts associated with academics. For instance, when teaching letter sounds, sending children on a scavenger hunt to locate items that begin with a specific sound will help to reinforce the sounds that different letters make. Play a game of Simon Says to build vocabulary words and reinforce listening skills.
Most children enjoy creating things and using art materials, and the educational and social benefits associated with arts and crafts are many. Students build their confidence, are able to express their creativity, learn how to express their feelings and develop an appreciation for the varied opinions of others. Additionally, arts and crafts promote the development of fine motor skills, which is essential in kindergarten-aged children, as controlling the small muscles in the hands is a necessary pre-requisite skill for writing. When teaching about different cultures, have children make craft projects associated with the given culture. Have children make collages of pictures that begin with specific sounds. Use arts and crafts to teach different colors and shapes.
Field trips are fun and provide kindergarten-aged children with several benefits. They provide students with a break from the normal daily routine at school, which can become monotonous. Through field trips, children are able to apply what they have learned in the classroom to the real world. Children also see topics they have learned in school in a different light when they go on field trips. For instance, while students undoubtedly gain knowledge about dental health in school, they are far more likely to gain a greater understanding of the importance of caring for their teeth when the take a field trip to the dentist.