ELEMENTARY TEACHING, LITERACY, SEASONAL IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Seasonal Activity Packets for Elementary Teachers in 2024

Do you want to do something fun with your students, but also academic? Do you need quick print-and-go activities to have on hand? If so, these seasonal activity packets are great resources to have prepped and ready on your desk for whenever you need some engaging activities.

The activity packets are filled with fun and engaging activities students love! Use these activities for centers, homework, fast finisher tasks, filler activities, or indoor recess activities. Learn more about what’s included and why teachers love these activity packets below!

What are the Seasonal Activity Packets?

The seasonal activity packets are a collection of printable worksheets. Each set is based on a specific topic. For example, one of the topics is apples. All of the activities within the apple packet are related to apples (e.g. apple vocabulary). The activity packets shown below are currently available.

What is Included in the Activity Packets?

The activity packets include the activities listed below.

ABC Order

In this activity, students sort the list of ten given words in alphabetical order next to the numbers in the box. Then, they’ll write a sentence using as many of the words as they can on the lines at the bottom of the page.

Knowing how to alphabetize words is a skill students will use throughout life. You use it to organize files (both paper and on a computer), when using the index in a book to find information, and for tasks like finding your seat at a stadium or a book at a store.

When alphabetizing words, students are:

practicing phonetic principal
applying word study and manipulation
improving spelling skills
developing executive functioning abilities

Scrambled Words

Oh no! The 10 words on the page are all mixed up. Students need to unscramble the letters and then write each word correctly. Then, they write a sentence that includes at least 2 of the words.

When a child unscrambles letters to spell a word, they are utilizing critical thinking skills. They are also learning to process information quickly which is a necessary skill for becoming an efficient test taker.

Other benefits of word scrambles include building perseverance and training their brains to see patterns in words.

Making Words

Students use the letters at the bottom of the page to create words. Then, they write the words on the lines.

Building different words from a group of letters helps a child learn to break words down into smaller components. Knowing how to see the patterns and smaller parts within a word is key to being able to decode unknown words.

When building words, students are:

discovering that letter combinations aren’t always pronounced the same way
growing an understanding of word families
applying knowledge of onsets and rimes

Doodle Story

Students turn the “doodle” in the box into a detailed drawing. Then, they write a paragraph about what is happening in the picture.

Doodling helps to spur creative insight. It stimulates different areas of the brain which normally remain dormant when just in linguistic mode. Doodling before writing sparks ideas that opens the mind for written expression.

When completing a doodle story, students are:

utilizing autonomy in selecting a writing topic
learning to translate ideas and concepts
developing big picture thinking

Word Search

The grid has hidden words in it. Students circle or highlight the words as they find them.

Word searches are a fun activity with many benefits. You may want to provide a piece of dark paper, and instruct them to use it as a guide to view one row or column at a time. This provides support for those who require modifications and helps all students to maximize the advantages of doing a word search.

Word search puzzles, students support:

improving vocabulary
developing the ability to notice patterns
applying problem-solving skills
focusing on the spelling of words
bettering mental health using mindfulness

Secret Codes

In this activity, students use an alphabet code chart to help figure out the secret message.

Visual processing refers to the ability to discern differences between items. It goes beyond vision and isn’t related to just the eyes themselves. The brain function of visual discrimination is one of the aspects of visual processing and is a critical skill needed for reading and math.

Other benefits of solving a secret code include strengthening working memory and increasing the ability to use the relationship of decoding, predicting, and confirming accuracy using context of text.

Word Sort

Students copy each word into the correct box to show if it is a noun, a verb, or an adjective. Next, they write each word in the correct column at the bottom to show the number of syllables. Finally, they brainstorm more words based on the theme and sort and write those words in the correct spaces too.

Word sorting is the process of grouping words into specific categories. The activity in this packet is a closed sort. You can also engage students in an open sort by having them create their own categories for sorting the word list.

Other benefits of word sorting include:

improving comprehension by learning to compare & contrast words
understanding words may have multiple meanings
developing analytical skills

Directed Drawing

Students follow the steps to draw a character in the box and then add a detailed background scene.

Directed drawing is a step-by-step process through which students illustrate something with guidance.

Other advantages of directed drawing include:

boosting students’ self-confidence
improves the ability to follow directions
creates a hands-on understanding of the benefits of breaking a task down into small, manageable steps which is an important executive function skill

Writing Stationery

Students can put together a writing piece based on the topic using this paper, which looks great when displayed on a bulletin board.

Writing is a skill formally taught at every grade level. However, it is important to incorporate opportunities for students to appreciate how writing, and specifically writing by hand as opposed to digitally, improves their learning.

Other benefits of writing about a topic include:

concretizing abstract ideas to connect the dots in their knowledge
strengthening comprehension of concepts
revealing gaps or misconceptions in the understanding of a topic

Can Have Are Chart

Students fill out a can, have, are chart based on what they know or learn about.

Having students complete a graphic organizer by brainstorming and recording thoughts gets them thinking about what something can do or be and identifying characteristics of the topic. This strengthens understanding and helps with idea generation for writing.

Can/have/are activities can also helps with:

providing practice using syntax
activating schema and recording learning
assessing knowledge of a specific topic

Crossword Puzzle

In this activity, students complete the crossword puzzle by writing the missing word from each sentence in the correct boxes.

Crossword puzzles require active learning which engages students more than passive learning does, because they are actively involved in a task. They also strengthen vocabulary. With every crossword puzzle a child does, they are bound to learn the meaning of a new word or two.

Other benefits of solving a crossword puzzle include:

develops reasoning skills
enhances mindfulness skills
improves spelling

Why Teachers Love These Activity Packets

Some of the reasons teachers love the activities include:

The activities require no prep – just print and go!
Students love these types of activities and will be highly engaged when working on them.
They are great filler and fast finisher activities, so you’ll be covered in a pinch.
They complement a larger unit nicely.
Many of the activities are open-ended so they can be used across grade levels, which means you can continue to use them even if you switch grade levels in the future.

How to Implement the Activity Packets in Your Classroom

Consider printing the packet in its entirety and copy and staple a class set of booklets. By giving the students an entire booklet, they can work at their own pace and learn independence right from day one. Alternatively, you could print select pages and use them individually. Decide what works best for you and your students!