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Here's a week's amount of activities for My Family KG Homeschool Lessons: Morning Basket: Show and tell with a special item each day. Read A louds: Read books about family. "The Family Book" by Todd Parr "All Kinds of Families" by Mary Ann Hoberman "Who's in My Family?: All About Our Families" by Robie H. Harris "Me and My Family Tree" by Joan Sweeney "Love Makes a Family" by Sophie Beer "Home" by Carson Ellis Arts and Crafts: Create a family tree and self-portraits. Music and Movement: Dance to songs about family. Manipulatives: Count and sort family-themed objects. Science: Observe and discuss the shapes and colors of clouds. Introduce the 4 kinds of clouds using this poem: "Cloud Quartet" In the big, blue sky up high, Four types of clouds float by. Let's meet them all, come on, let's go, As through the skies, they gracefully flow. Cirrus clouds so high and thin, Like wispy feathers, they softly spin. Made of ice, in shapes so fine, They paint the sky with a delicate line. Cumulus clouds, puffy and round, Look like cotton balls, near the ground. They're fluffy and white, a joyful sight, Floating in the daytime's warm sunlight. Stratus clouds, low and gray, Cover the sky on a gloomy day. Like a blanket, they gently spread, Bringing drizzly rain as they overhead. Nimbus clouds bring the rain, Pouring down like a watery train. Dark and heavy, in the afternoon, They water the earth, like a monsoon. So next time you look up and see, Clouds dancing in the sky so free, Remember our friends, the cloud four, With different stories, they explore galore! Cloud Craft: Have the kids create their own clouds using cotton balls. You can use this activity to reinforce the different cloud types. For example, make a "cumulus cloud" by gluing cotton balls together in a fluffy, puffy shape. Extend the lesson using my All About Clouds Activity Pack and a Mini Lesson about clouds Phonics: Introduce letter “T” and "P" its sound. Play a game of naming objects that begin with /s/ and /a/. Go on a scavenger hunt to find things that begin with /t/ and /p/. You may use these coloring pages: Numeracy: Count to 10 using fingers and objects. Number Line Hop Materials Needed: Large sheets of paper, markers, and small toys or objects. How to Play: Create a number line on the floor or a wall using large sheets of paper and markers. Write numbers 1 to 10, spaced apart. Place small toys or objects on different numbers along the number line. Call out a number, and have the child hop or jump to that number on the number line. When they reach the number, they should pick up the object placed there. Repeat the game with different numbers. Skills Developed: Number Line Hop helps children with number recognition, counting, and gross motor skills as they move and hop to the correct number. Quiet Time: Listen to soothing music or an audiobook.

Here's a week's amount of activities for All About Me KG Homeschool Lessons: Morning Basket: Show and tell with a special item each day. One idea for a show and tell activity is to have your kindergartener bring in a favorite plush toy. It's a great way for them to connect with their emotions and express themselves. Another idea is to have them bring in a family photo that holds a special place in their heart. They can talk about why it's important to them and share the emotions it brings up. It's such a heartwarming activity that helps them understand the value of family and relationships. Another idea is to ask your kindergartener to bring in a self-portrait they've drawn or painted. It's a fantastic opportunity for them to express themselves through art and explore their emotions. They can explain their artwork, talk about the colors they chose, and share the emotions they were feeling while creating it. These activities are not only super fun, but they also help your kindergartener develop their artistic skills, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. It's a win-win! So why join in and take turns showing and telling. Include your older children and have family bonding moments at Morning Basket. Read Alouds: Read books about feelings and family. "The Way I Feel" by Janan Cain "When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry" by Molly Bang "The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings" by Anna Llenas "My Many Colored Days" by Dr. Seuss "Glad Monster, Sad Monster" by Ed Emberley and Anne Miranda "The Feelings Book" by Todd Parr (still relevant for this age group) "Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day" by Jamie Lee Curtis (still relevant for this age group) "The Pigeon Has Feelings, Too!" by Mo Willems "The Way I Act" by Steve Metzger "The Feelings Song" by Josh Selig and Christopher Moroney Arts and Crafts: Trace hands and Draw self-portraits. Hand Tracing Activity Parts of The Face Pasting Activity Music and Movement: Dance to songs about emotions. Manipulatives: Count and sort emoticons. Use these printables to count and sort emotions. Science: Observe and discuss the weather. Then talk about how the weather makes you feel. Draw happy suns and clouds or sad rain clouds and angry lightning to represent some emotions. Phonics: Introduce letter “S” and "A" and its sound. Play a game of naming objects that begin with /s/ and /a/. Go on a scavenger hunt to find things that begin with /s/ and /a/. You may use these coloring pages: Numeracy: Count to 10 using fingers and objects. Play a game of 'How Many Fingers Am I Holding Up?' Let your little one touch and count your fingers. Then let him/ her have a go too. Finger isolation will still be a challenge for some kindergarteners. So lend them yours while you play the game. Or you can trace your hands on a sheet of construction paper and paste them on another - different colored paper. Paste only the palms part and leave the fingers part lose so you can fold them up while counting. Quiet Time: Listen to soothing music or an audiobook.

When it comes to teaching phonics, especially with young learners, keeping it fun and interactive makes all the difference. Teaching phonics through play is essential for building early reading skills, as it engages children while reinforcing their learning and retention. I've found that using CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) short vowel clip cards brings a whole new level of excitement and effectiveness to phonics practice, whether in a classroom or a homeschool setting. These clip cards offer a hands-on approach to identifying short vowels, making it easier for little ones to grasp the sounds and develop confidence in their reading journey. teaching phonics through play Getting Started with Phonics Clip Cards Phonics can be overwhelming for early learners if presented in a strictly academic way, so I always try to incorporate games and play-based learning. The two sets of CVC Short Vowel Clip Cards I use offer something for everyone. The first set, with 40 colorful cards, introduces simple three-letter words with short vowel sounds, like "cat" or "log." Each card has a vibrant image and three possible letter options, so kids can clip the correct vowel to complete the word. The second set includes 12 real-life photo cards with 48 clip cards in total, each one focusing on a different short vowel sound. These real images are a fantastic way to make the learning experience more concrete for visual learners. Using Clip Cards in the Classroom and Homeschool Setting Both sets are incredibly versatile and easy to use in a variety of setups. For classroom use, I place these clip cards in a literacy center where kids can work independently or in pairs. They enjoy using clothespins to "clip" their answers—it feels like playtime, but they’re actually reinforcing essential reading skills. In a homeschool setting, we turn it into a game! We spread out the cards on the floor and take turns “clipping” the right vowel sound. Sometimes, I'll set a timer to see how many cards they can clip correctly within a minute, making it a fun phonics race! Why Clip Cards Work So Well for Phonics One reason I love these clip cards is that they require active participation. Kids aren't just sitting and listening; they’re physically moving and choosing, which boosts engagement and retention. Plus, CVC words are the building blocks of early reading, and this hands-on approach allows them to explore these sounds in a stress-free way. For visual learners, the real photo set with authentic images like a bug or log can make a big impact. Kids see real-life objects associated with each word, helping them connect sounds with familiar things. This kind of visual connection often strengthens recall, making it easier for them to remember each sound later. Tips for Extending Phonics Play with CVC Clip Cards Challenge Mode:  Once they’ve mastered clipping the correct vowel, I sometimes ask them to use each word in a sentence. This helps reinforce not just phonics but also vocabulary and comprehension. Memory Match:  For a twist, try matching two clip cards with the same vowel sound, like “cat” and “bag.” This can help kids begin to recognize patterns in spelling. Mix and Match:  Use both sets together! Start with the colorful clip cards to introduce a word and sound, then have them find the matching real photo clip card. This reinforces the same sound with different images, strengthening their understanding of CVC words. The Benefits of Play-Based Phonics Practice One of the best parts of using these clip cards is that it makes phonics accessible and enjoyable. Learning to read is such an important milestone, and when kids approach it with a sense of fun, they develop a more positive attitude toward reading. I've seen it with my students and with my own children: when learning feels like play, they’re far more likely to engage and retain what they've learned. If you're looking for a practical, engaging way to teach phonics, I can't recommend these CVC Short Vowel Clip Cards enough. They're easy to prepare—just print, cut, and they’re ready to go. Whether in a classroom, homeschool, or just for some extra reading practice at home, these clip cards have been a fantastic resource to build early literacy skills through play. Happy teaching, and happy clipping!