For all of these preschool learning activities, you will need a set of shoes of varying sizes, a ruler, and a globe.
Shoe Games for Preschoolers
1. Ordering By Length
This activity is a math skill that requires preschoolers to put the shoes in order by biggest to smallest or smallest to biggest.
2. Measuring with Standard Units of Measurement
How long is a size 7 shoe? Grab a ruler and find out. When someone says, “It’s a foot long,” what size shoe does that really mean? Math is more meaningful when real life materials are used. What are you waiting for – see if you can find out how many inches your shoe is!
3. 1:1 Correspondence and Matching
One of the most basic early math skill is being able to match one object with another. Shoes lend well to 1:1 correspondence and matching because they come in pairs AND each foot needs a shoe.
4. Pretend Play
Children can pretend to own a shoe store. Encourage them to write signs for how much they are selling each pair of shoes for. Will there be any sales? They could write and draw an advertisement. This activity combines pretend play and creative thinking with math and writing skills. See how PreKinders class runs their pretend shoe store here.
5. Graphing and Data Analysis
If you have a group, then you can sort it! Use a shower curtain to sort and graph the group of shoes by different attribute. Labeling the graph connects literacy to this activity as well. See how PBS Kids Lab teacher does this activity with her preschoolers. Discuss the results of the graph.
6. Colors and Vocabulary
I like combining math, movement, and music to teach preschoolers. Simple songs will stick with them and you will hear them singing the tune everywhere. This one is adapted from a submission by Amy at Everything Preschool and made to review colors. At the end of the song, you can have the children help make a class list of the shoe colors they see in a group writing lesson.
7. Compare and Contrast
8. Rhythm and Rhyme
One, two,Buckle my shoe;Three, four,shut the door;Five, six,Pick up sticks;Seven, eight,Lay em straight:Nine, ten,A big, fat hen
Here are some articles on teaching kids to tie their shoes:
Learn to Tie Your Shoes in 5 Minutes from Life Skills
Learn to Tie Your Shoes with Peter Rabbit from Nick Jr.
List of Different Ways to Tie Your Shoes from About.com
For more Preschool Ideas here at the Educators’ Spin On It we recommend:
Are you looking to connect with like-minded families, find teacher support and extra resources on your preschool journey? I would love to have you join our community. For less than $1 a week, you will receive bonus learning activities, teacher support, weekly discussion questions, troubleshooting & advice, weekly teaching videos to watch with your child, and a place to share your child’s successes!
Leave a Reply