1st and 2nd Grade English Language Arts Activities

Try your hand at writing jump rope rhymes by organizing your ideas first, then composing your creation like a poem.

Craft a paper rocket in this hands-on activity inspired by the life of Mae Jemison!

Thanksgiving dinner can be filled with fun and memorable interactions between family members. This holiday, why not memorialize some of those details and events with a family poem? You can create a lasting memory in the form of a poem with contributions f

Children will learn why and how to compost as they help with the process of filling their compost, turning it, and observing the changes that occur.

In this design thinking activity, your child will choose an animal to research, learn about the animal’s habitat, and then replicate the animal's habitat using household items.

Children research and make a timeline of an inspiring woman in this biography activity.

Try this simple activity to stimulate some very complex thinking with your first grader to develop those all-important reading and comprehension skills.

Spark your kids' interest in writing by helping them write a mini-book about their favorite subject: themselves!

Use the appeal of the common road sign to your advantage by creating a game with hidden learning opportunities.

Build your child's social studies skills by making a map together.

Inspire a love for the written word by creating an illustrated nature poetry book with your kids.

Help your first grade child figure out contractions and their original two words by playing this simple game, Contraction Concentration!

Help your preschooler learn the Four Questions prior to the big night with a homemade book, complete with words and illustrations!

Your child will love making this adorable clover clock that will help him learn how to tell time.

Play loteria, a Mexican board game! Help your child make this fun and festive game to help her build her vocabulary and have a blast while she's at it.

Make a wanted poster of a villain from a favorite book or fairy tale in this fun reading comprehension activity!

What happens after the prince and the princess get married? This writing activity allows your child to answer that question for herself.

By incorporating natural materials and the powers of observation, your child will become a backyard naturalist while building early writing and drawing skills!

Greek mythology offers up some of the most epic tales ever. This Greek mythology tree activity introduces him to some of the main characters in Greek mythology.

Research shows that when we focus on things we are grateful for, we literally rewire our brains to focus on the positive. Help kids experience the joy of gratitude by creating trees that give thanks.

Boost those first grade reading and writing skills with this sweet Mother's Day poem idea.

Help your first grade reader become an expert in "sh," "ch," and "th" words with this fun, homemade game.

Help Mother's Day feel special for weeks and months ahead, while giving your child some good writing practice, too.

Here is a fun holiday exercise to reinforce your grade-schooler's understanding of adjectives from adverbs while she's away on winter break!

Those second grade spelling lists may be getting serious, but that's no reason to stop having fun. Here's a high-energy hopscotch game to try.

Practice reading with this fun game, where your first grader will "hunt" for hidden words around the house.

Help your first grade reader master those letter blends like "ch" and "sh" with this memorable and hilarious beanbag toss game.

Guide your first grader through a map drawing project inspired by her favorite fairy tale. Its masked as a fun art activity, but it also packs learning punch!

Here's a writing activity that helps young learners explore an ant's perspective...and practice writing, too!

This bookmark is a helpful tool to use during and after reading to remind your child of "good reader" strategies that she can use on her own.