When I started Growing Little Leaves in 2014, my kids were (obviously) younger than they are today. If you search through my blog posts, you will see an evolution in activities, from basic, preschool-focused ideas to the more recent activities, which involve reading and writing. Well, it's time to get back to activities that engage and educate younger children.
In previous posts, I've talked about the importance of teaching young children family relationship vocabulary words before discussing more in-depth family history concepts. So, I created family relationship vocabulary cards using a cute little penguin graphic I found recently on openclipart.org. (Why penguins? Kids are in love with penguins! And they are just so cute.)
In previous posts, I've talked about the importance of teaching young children family relationship vocabulary words before discussing more in-depth family history concepts. So, I created family relationship vocabulary cards using a cute little penguin graphic I found recently on openclipart.org. (Why penguins? Kids are in love with penguins! And they are just so cute.)
Click on image to download PDF (five pages)
If you notice, some of the words, such as cousin and sibling, are repeated on both a male and female penguin. I did this intentionally, so children would realize that these words can refer to either a male or female family member. (Click on image above to download five-page PDF.)
There are several ways in which you can use these cards:
1.) Play a memory matching game: Cut each card out individually. Shuffle, flip all of them over face-down, and take turns trying to find matching cards.
2.) Play a bingo game: On each sheet, cut off the two left-side and two right-side cards. You will be left with a bingo 'card' with four spaces and four different words (see photo below). Shuffle the cards you cut off and use them to call out words one-by-one. (With emerging readers, you will probably have to either walk around and show each child the card, or write the word on a larger whiteboard or poster for everyone to see.) Make sure you have something to use as markers. When someone fills all the spaces on their card, they have a Bingo!
3.) Independent matching: On each sheet, cut off the two left-side and two right-side cards, the same as you did for the bingo game. You will be left with the larger four-space cards, each with four different words. This time, though, give the individual cards you cut off to the child, and ask him or her to independently match the correct card to the proper space on the one of four larger cards. This variation is a great 'busy-bag' type activity that you can have children do on their own.
There are several ways in which you can use these cards:
1.) Play a memory matching game: Cut each card out individually. Shuffle, flip all of them over face-down, and take turns trying to find matching cards.
2.) Play a bingo game: On each sheet, cut off the two left-side and two right-side cards. You will be left with a bingo 'card' with four spaces and four different words (see photo below). Shuffle the cards you cut off and use them to call out words one-by-one. (With emerging readers, you will probably have to either walk around and show each child the card, or write the word on a larger whiteboard or poster for everyone to see.) Make sure you have something to use as markers. When someone fills all the spaces on their card, they have a Bingo!
3.) Independent matching: On each sheet, cut off the two left-side and two right-side cards, the same as you did for the bingo game. You will be left with the larger four-space cards, each with four different words. This time, though, give the individual cards you cut off to the child, and ask him or her to independently match the correct card to the proper space on the one of four larger cards. This variation is a great 'busy-bag' type activity that you can have children do on their own.
Cut off cards on each side to make a four-space bingo card.
These activities can help emerging readers learn to recognize and read some of the most basic family relationship vocabulary words. Once they learn these words, you can move onto other family tree projects, such as the Visualizing Family Relationships activity that I developed last year using popsicle sticks.
For durability, I recommend laminating or printing out on a heavier cardstock. Enjoy!
For durability, I recommend laminating or printing out on a heavier cardstock. Enjoy!
©2017 Emily Kowalski Schroeder
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