Invite kindergartners to use pattern blocks for sorting games. Allow students to sort blocks by color, shape, size or numbers of sides in each shape. Have students graph how many blocks are in each category. Encourage kindergartners to use pattern blocks for patterning games. Have students create line patterns or patterns in the shape of snakes or flowers. Create shape puzzles where kindergartners use pattern blocks to fill in outlines of objects such as dogs, rabbits, turtles, houses and flowers.
Have on hand alphabet cards or letter tiles for letter recognition games. Invite kindergartners to make an alphabet train by placing letter cards in order on the floor in the shape of a long train. Invite pairs of students to play Memory using the letters in their names. Have on hand enough letters so students can take two matching letters for each letter in their name. Allow students to play Go Fish using the alphabet cards.
Create file folder matching games to reinforce science skills. When learning about animals and their homes, glue pictures of a bird's nest, anthill, bear den, deer's forest and fish bowl in a file folder. Provide corresponding animal pictures so students can match the animal to the correct home. When studying weather, glue four teddy bear pictures on a file folder. Glue weather conditions above each bear such as a bright sun, raindrops, snowflakes and a windy symbol. Allow students to use paper clothes to dress the bear for the correct weather.
Play games in which kindergartners get to move and shake their sillies out. Teach students "Dance Until You're Out." To learn colors, place colored cubes in a bag. Turn on a piece of music and have kindergartners dance and spin. When the music stops, have students freeze. Pull a cube out of the bag. If student are wearing that color on their clothes or shoes, they are safe. If not, have students take a seat. Keep playing until the bag of cubes is empty.