Back to School Centers for Kindergarten

by misskindergarten | Jul 28, 2013 | Back to School, Literacy Centers, Math, Math Centers

Sooo I don’t go back to school until September {hate me now…but you’ll be laughing come May!} but I’ve had several requests for my Back to School centers so I figured I’d post them now! These centers are great for whole group, small group or independent work! There are 5 math centers, 6 literacy centers and a fun little alphabet craft {that will be posted soon!} Here’s a peak at each center:

Counting cookies- matching the cookies on the cookie sheets to the numbers on the ovens.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cooking-Up-a-Great-Year-Back-to-School-Centers-794816

Roll & Write- practicing writing numbers 1-6. You can use a numbered die instead of a dotted die {is that what they’re called!?} so your students can copy if they don’t quite know how to write their numbers yet.

How Many Meatballs?- fine motor practice while matching “meatballs” to the numbers on the bowls. I found the fun little tongs in the Target dollar spot and the “meatballs” are pom poms!

Getting in Shape! After eating all of those cookies, you gotta get in shape 😉 The kids will roll the shape cube and color in the corresponding shape.

Scoop & Sort- have your students scoop up tiny manipulatives {pom poms, unifix cubes, buttons, etc.} and sort them on the color mat.

Oven Mitt Matching- this fun game will help your students match uppercase and lowercase letters. I stuck all the uppercase letters inside of the oven mitt and have my students pick out one letter at a time. Then they color the matching lowercase letter.

Mix it Up! Practice sorting letters from numbers.

Baggin’ Up Beginning Sounds- flip the cookie from the cookie sheet into the correct bag by matching the picture with its beginning sound. My students love to pretend they’re really baking! This center focuses on m, r, s, and t since those are the letters we start with.

Who Stole the Cookie? This is a fun whole group game to practice identifying letter names. Hide the cookie behind one of the letters and ask your students, “Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?” When they guess a letter, they pull it out of the pocket chart to see if they’re right!

Scrumptious Sight Words- this is a fun way to introduce sight words. Laminate each card so your students can trace with dry-erase markers!

Make a Match- Make a PB & J sandwich by matching the picture to the correct beginning sound.

The little sandwich container was 44 cents at Michaels! Score!

My blogging friend Heather came up with the cutest little song to go with this center!

{to the tune of “The Wheels on the Bus”}

The
A on the peanut butter says /a/ /a/ /a/, /a/ /a/ /a/, /a/ /a/ /a/, The a
on the peanut butter says /a/ /a/ /a/ -It loves the alligator jelly.

Finally, I have an *adorable* little alphabet soup craft that I will put up as a bulletin board! I will share it as soon as it’s finished!!

You can find these fun and engaging centers in my TpT store!

83 Comments

First Grade Buddies on July 28, 2013 at 4:42 pm

Your back to school centers look so cute! Love the cooking theme!

🙂 Tamra and Sarah
First Grade Buddies
Kate on July 28, 2013 at 5:11 pm

Your back to school centers look like a lot of fun!
Kate
Fun in ECSE
jlovette on July 28, 2013 at 6:05 pm

So cute! After teaching 5th grade last year, I'm teaching a k/1 split class for the first time this year. I'd love to win these for our back to school centers.

Jodi
jodilovette@gmail.com
Khoge on July 28, 2013 at 6:08 pm

ADORABLE!!! I love the little sandwich box too! I think when you link an idea with a really cute tool, that is what makes a K teacher's day. Now it makes our year if the kids use the center correctly! ps If I don't win I am going to buy it. Just don't tell my husband!
Karli Walker on July 28, 2013 at 6:08 pm

Just looking at all your fun filled centers is making me super excited for school! Can't wait to try your ideas with my firsties! 🙂
Jen Kroske on July 28, 2013 at 6:09 pm

I love this packet! Would be a great review for my first graders! jkroske@gmai.com
Kathy Burnette on July 28, 2013 at 6:09 pm

Such cute centers to use in my Kindergarten classroom. Great ideas.
Brittany Phillips on July 28, 2013 at 6:10 pm

I would love to get this pack! I am a first year teacher. 🙂

sierraphillips724@gmail.com
Elizabeth Carole on July 28, 2013 at 6:13 pm

Love these centers! Would love to win them and use them with my K class 🙂
Kristin on July 28, 2013 at 6:15 pm

And the TPT wish list gets longer…lol Super cute centers! I love that you included math and ELA. The kids will love to use the real life kitchen utensils. Makes it so much fun!

kmarino67@hotmail.com
lorena on July 28, 2013 at 6:15 pm

How great are these centers?!? LOVE the cooking theme! 🙂 lorepuckett at verizon dot net
Anonymous on July 28, 2013 at 6:17 pm

Would love to win for our centers!
Ashley Kiebler on July 28, 2013 at 6:17 pm

Awesome packet with tons of amazing ideas! Love your work…would love to win!!! :).
CJ Morris on July 28, 2013 at 6:18 pm

Very cute! Many of these would work well in my preschool classroom as we work on kindergarten readiness skills too!
Vonda Mellott on July 28, 2013 at 6:19 pm

Your centers look fantastic. The kids will be so excited to play and learn!
Mollie on July 28, 2013 at 6:20 pm

Oh my word! I am obsessed with these cuties!!!

Sydsmommy09@aol.com
Mollie on July 28, 2013 at 6:20 pm

Oh my word! I am obsessed with these cuties!!!

Sydsmommy09@aol.com
Melissa Goudreau on July 28, 2013 at 6:21 pm

Absolutely adorable centers! My kindergarten students would love them! Thanks so much for sharing and for the chance to win them! That would be a great back to school surprise! 🙂
Elizabeth Olson on July 28, 2013 at 6:23 pm

I need centers for the beginning of school! This would be fabulous!!!

Acraftyqueen@gmail.com or mrseolson31@gmail.com
Sarah on July 28, 2013 at 6:24 pm

I love these! They are absolutely adorable! 🙂

Sarah
Scoatoam@gmail.com
Megan on July 28, 2013 at 6:25 pm

Very cute! Perfect for the beginning of the year K student.

mgnreynolds@yahoo.com
Anonymous on July 28, 2013 at 6:25 pm

I love all of the skills covered. A lot of assessment opportunities from observing the work in these.
Judith McKinstry on July 28, 2013 at 6:26 pm

Love this set of bts centers and the cooking theme. So clever and creative!
Unknown on July 28, 2013 at 6:26 pm

Everything looks so fun.
Stenslv on July 28, 2013 at 6:31 pm

Oh my! The sandwich container and the oven mitt put me over the top! Hilarious and educational! Not sure you can beat that combinations! vjstensland@comcast.net
Heather Shelton on July 28, 2013 at 6:39 pm

Looks fabulous! higgystyx@yahoo.com
Sherrie on July 28, 2013 at 6:43 pm

These are great! A must have for me to start the year off!
Raevers on July 28, 2013 at 6:49 pm

What a fun and uber-creative series of centers. I love the PBJ (that it was in the sandwich shaped container–PRICECLESS). Using the spatula, I mean, you are some kind of genius! Great ideas! thanks for sharing 🙂
Katie L on July 28, 2013 at 6:52 pm

These are super adorable!!! Perfect for back to school centers!! Amazing!

kwampfler@hotmail.com
Heather on July 28, 2013 at 6:57 pm

These are amazing and so cute! What a cute theme!

Heather (heathernnance@yahoo.com)
Shawna George on July 28, 2013 at 6:58 pm

OMGoodness! I LOVE this! Soo cute! You are so creative! I have to buy this!!!!

sbishop76@yahoo.com
Mary Kay on July 28, 2013 at 7:02 pm

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! What a great way to get the kiddos excited about a new school year!

kindergartentchr@yahoo.com
Shana Grooms on July 28, 2013 at 7:09 pm

This is the cutest EVER…I could just eat it up!! I would LOVE this center!!

Shana Grooms
teachreason@gmail.com
Deldreqka Scott on July 28, 2013 at 7:14 pm

I love these centers! They are very user friendly, and totally appropriate for the beginning of the year! You did a great job!
Deldreqka Scott on July 28, 2013 at 7:15 pm

Sorry…my email is deldreqka.scott@gmail.com
AshleyK on July 28, 2013 at 7:24 pm

These centers look fantastic. My kiddos would love using them during station and independent work time!

Ashley
ashley.kock@gmail.com
Marie Madden on July 28, 2013 at 7:28 pm

Love the cooking theme!! The creativity is astonishing!
Jennifer Hepworth on July 28, 2013 at 7:33 pm

Seriously so cute! Would be great to have!
Lslouka on July 28, 2013 at 7:45 pm

So creative! Adorable! Love them !
Lslouka@msn.com
Lslouka on July 28, 2013 at 7:45 pm

So creative! Adorable! Love them !
Lslouka@msn.com
creich on July 28, 2013 at 7:45 pm

I cannot wait to get a set of these!!! Perfect for all the skills I work on in the beginning of kindergarten! Thank you!!
creich on July 28, 2013 at 7:45 pm

I cannot wait to get a set of these!!! Perfect for all the skills I work on in the beginning of kindergarten! Thank you!!
Kristy on July 28, 2013 at 7:47 pm

Great job, thank you! Excited to implement them this fall:)
Ashley on July 28, 2013 at 7:50 pm

Perfect for the start of school!!
Ashley on July 28, 2013 at 7:50 pm

Perfect for the start of school!!
Allie on July 28, 2013 at 8:06 pm

These are adorable! Thank you for sharing!
Allie on July 28, 2013 at 8:06 pm

These are adorable! Thank you for sharing!
Louanne Jorgenson on July 28, 2013 at 8:28 pm

So cute, would love these for my kindergarten kids!! 🙂
My Kindergarten Kids
Kristen on July 28, 2013 at 8:35 pm

Love these! My kiddos will love to do these activities when we start back!
Cathy Irwin on July 28, 2013 at 8:52 pm

These look too cute! Adding to my wish list!

Cathy I.
mrsirwinsclass@gmail.com
Bobbie on July 28, 2013 at 9:03 pm

Love them! I like the letter/number sort.
bagoings@gmail.com

xoxo-Bobbie
Jen Keeton on July 28, 2013 at 9:21 pm

Oh my gosh!! I love them all!!! I would be so excited to use these in my room and the kids would love them!!! Perfect starting centers!
Ordinary Everyday on July 28, 2013 at 9:29 pm

Sooo cute!
Regina Berns on July 28, 2013 at 9:34 pm

These are so adorable and perfect for the beginning of the year!! Thanks for sharing your ideas!

✿ Regina
Keepin It Krazy
Meredith on July 28, 2013 at 9:58 pm

Those turned out super cute! I like how they are nice and simple-perfect for beginning the year in kinder!
~Meredith
Keen on Kindergarten
Rachel Rosado on July 28, 2013 at 10:25 pm

I saw you post this BTS centers pack yesterday and I absolutely love it! I added it to my TpT wish list and I hope to purchase it by Tuesday:-) Thanks for creating a great resource!
Susan Peretic on July 28, 2013 at 10:26 pm

They're all so cute! My oldest is starting kindergarten this year and I'm homeschooling her so these would be so helpful!
Lisa Marshall on July 28, 2013 at 10:51 pm

Wow! Super cute! lmarshall1389@gmail.com
Kristin on July 28, 2013 at 11:49 pm

You are brilliant! Love the scoop and sort and who stole the cookie? SO FUN!!!!!!
teachmegrace on July 29, 2013 at 12:29 am

Love the way you included fine motor skills in these centers. gmartindale@ejesd.net
Betsy Herzog on July 29, 2013 at 12:32 am

Super duper cute center ideas!
Stephanie on July 29, 2013 at 12:54 am

I absolutely LOVED every single center idea you posted & that alphabet song with the pb & j is so cute. Thank you for sharing these ideas. I can't wait to see the Alphabet Soup bulletin board.

Stephanie
PolkaDotPalace
Tennisluvr4lyf in First Grade on July 29, 2013 at 1:36 am

They look adorable! I love the oven mitt idea! 🙂

tennisluvr4lyf@hotmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/Tennisluvr4lyfInFirstGrade
sarah on July 29, 2013 at 1:44 am

Just what I need!

smontano9@cox.net
Ashley Parent on July 29, 2013 at 1:47 am

Love This! They are cute and would be a great resource to my classroom. I added it to my Wish List!

Ashley
ashleymparent@gmail.com
Bobette Gore on July 29, 2013 at 2:14 am

So very adorable.
Bobette Gore on July 29, 2013 at 2:14 am

So very adorable.
Mikaela on July 29, 2013 at 2:14 am

These are perfect for the beginning of the year (even for some of my firsties)! The cooking theme is so fun. My favorite is the meatball number matching with the tongs- so many of my kids need fine motor practice! Adding these to my wishlist.
Mikaela
mmuntean619@gmail.com
Christy on July 29, 2013 at 2:22 am

These are great! I love the theme! On my Wish List for sure!
beagle2love on July 29, 2013 at 2:36 am

This looks so amazing! I have it in my cart, ready to buy before Tuesday. Your products make teaching so much easier for me!
Cathy
beagle2love@hotmail.com
Mrs. Nation on July 29, 2013 at 2:38 am

These look so cute! We go back in less than 3 weeks, but I just might have to change my back to school center plans now 🙂

mrsnationseducation@gmail.com
Kris and Lisa Goodwin on July 29, 2013 at 2:51 am

super cute! would love for my K centers!! great job
Shannon W on July 29, 2013 at 3:05 am

So cute and usable! I love them!
shannon.wyckoff@gmail.com
Kristine on July 29, 2013 at 3:21 am

Love these! Perfect for the beginning of the school year. My year starts TOMORROW, EEK!! kristine.harrison@mnps.org
Traci - Dragonflies in First on July 29, 2013 at 3:22 am

AH! CUTE!!!!!!
Love this!
ArkyArky on July 29, 2013 at 3:32 am

CUTE! 😀 I am teaching K4 for the first time this year, and these would be great in my classroom!
Melissa on July 29, 2013 at 3:57 am

Super cute! Can't wait to use these this year!
Creative Reality on July 29, 2013 at 3:57 am

These are great centers for the beginning of the year! Love them!
Giana on July 29, 2013 at 4:50 am

These look so fun!
Jean Haan on July 29, 2013 at 12:55 pm

These would be perfect for our summer school theme of cooking/baking!
Jennifer on July 29, 2013 at 1:21 pm

These centers are perfect for back to school time!
Annie Moffatt on August 2, 2013 at 8:52 pm

This is just precious!! I LOVE it!! Those cookies in the oven are my favorite!!
Kelly on August 7, 2013 at 10:49 pm

What sweet, fun centers! New to K so looking for great centers. Think I just found them!