In kindergarten, we’re focused on learning the basics. Shapes, letters, numbers, and of course – colors! Recently, I’ve been using colors as the inspiration for our writing activities and it’s been so much fun! We dive into exploring a new color every few weeks with tracing activities, engaging prompts, and more! Not only has this made writing more fun, but it has also allowed us to explore each color in depth.
Multi-Tasking Writing Activities
As a kindergarten teacher, my plate is full. We’ve got LOTS to cover in a very short amount of time, which means I’ve got to make the most of the time I have. My favorite way to make good use of my time is to choose lessons and activities that work on multiple skills. This way, we can hit a few important topics in one class period and sneak a little multi-tasking practice in.
One place that I’ve recently started doing this with excellent results is in my writing activities. Writing is something we work on in some form every day. My students are working at different levels, so some might be focused on letter formation, while others are writing sentences. But regardless, it’s important that we practice writing every day and continue to improve!
Colors are a great topic to use for writing practice. They’re familiar, easy to understand, and great for introducing new vocabulary words. Plus, the kiddos really enjoy focusing on a specific color at a time as a whole group!
My Favorite Writing Activities to Explore Colors
So are you wondering what these color-based writing activities look like? So glad you asked! Each one of my Color Writing Center Packs is filled with engaging activities that focus on a specific color. Students will work through the activities to explore the color with 15 different activities in each resource. Let’s take a closer look at each one.
Vocabulary Activities
The great thing about each of these color writing centers is that students will explore a list of vocabulary words that relate to the focus color. I love this because it helps to expand their knowledge and inspires their writing activities throughout the month!
1. Vocabulary Posters
First up, the students will explore a mini-poster that includes a list of words and pictures that match that color. This is fun to talk through as a class and call on students to name the words they see. I love this activity because it gets kids thinking about other things that are also this color.
2. Picture Cards
Next up, a printable card version of the posters. These cards can be printed, laminated, and cut out for use all month long as you explore the color. Each card has a word and a picture on it. I like to put these on a binder ring to store in the writing center. Students use them throughout the month to write lists, sentences, and stories.
3. Write the Room
Write the Room is played by hanging or “hiding” the picture cards around the room. Students are then given a clipboard and recording sheet. They will walk around the room and write down each word they find on their list. They also have a space to draw the picture, which my kids love! You can also have students play this as a seated center activity by drawing one card at a time and writing it down.
Tracing Activities
In kindergarten, we’ve got a wide variety of skill levels. Tracing activities are great for everyone, even just as a warm-up!
4. Word Tracing Cards
Some of my students aren’t quite ready to write words on their own yet, which is when these tracing cards come in handy! These each feature a picture and word to trace. I like to print, cut, and laminate these so that students can use dry-erase markers to practice during center time. These are the same words featured on the picture cards, so no matter what writing level each student is at, we’re all working on the same vocabulary words!
5. Line Tracing Cards
Do your littles need even more practice with fine motor skills and controlling those pencil strokes? Try the line-tracing cards instead! These cards were designed to help students gain control of their hand muscles and learn proper pencil formation. They will love carefully following each path to connect two colorful objects. This is a great independent warm-up activity for your morning tubs!
6. Letter Formation Cards
We’re working on letter formation all year long! After all, we have a lot to learn! I love to laminate these cards and use them throughout the month to encourage proper letter formation. They include both uppercase and lowercase and can be used in so many ways. I like to keep a set on a ring and use it alongside a sand tray. Students can use a paintbrush or their fingers to practice drawing the letters in the sand after first tracing them on the card. This multi-sensory activity is always a hit and helps students remember how to form each letter.
Writing Prompts
Inside this resource, you’ll find tons of writing prompts that work well for a variety of skill levels. Many of the pages come in multiple options to allow for even more differentiation among your group!
7. You Pick!
This is a fun picture writing prompt that shows two different pictures to choose from. Students will select a picture and then write a sentence about it. The pictures reflect the focus color and allow students to be fully creative with what they want to write about!
8. Label and Write
Labeling is a fun way to get your students writing! Inside these writing resources, I have included pages that include pictures with label boxes for students to fill in. There are two options – one with words to trace and one with blank boxes. Having both options makes it super simple and easy to differentiate by skill level. Students will fill in the boxes and then write a sentence or two about the picture. Finally, they get to color!
9. Finish & Write
This next one is a student favorite that always sparks some major creativity! Students will choose a picture prompt and complete the picture. Each one features a picture of one of our focus vocabulary words. They can choose what details to add to the picture and then write a story about it.
10. Write a Story
This classic writing prompt includes a word bank with some of our vocabulary words, space to write, and a place to draw a picture. The children can use all of the words, or just a few. I like to give the kids some creative freedom here as it usually produces some pretty fun stories!
11. Sight Word Sentences
Remember how I mentioned that I love multi-tasking activities? This is another one! In this activity, students will write sentences using both color words and sight words! This activity features pages with common sight words to start the sentence. Students will then choose some of the vocabulary words we’ve been using to complete the sentences and draw a picture. I like to have the picture cards handy for this activity so that they can refresh their memories of the words we’ve been exploring.
12. Make a List
List-making is a fun way to practice writing in the primary classroom! For this activity, students will take a writing page and choose some of the color vocabulary words to list out on their paper. They also get to draw a picture of each one. You can ask the students to find and list specific words or allow them to choose.
Bonus Blank Writing Pages
Some students just need extra space to write! For this purpose, I’ve also included some blank pages in these writing activities to be used as you see fit in your classroom.
Extra Fun Writing Activities
These next writing activities use fun materials, hands-on learning, or silly prompts to keep students interested in writing practice all year long!
13. Spin a Silly Story
For this activity, you’ll need a paperclip and a pencil to make a spinner. Students will spin each spinner to get two words. Then, they write a story incorporating both of the words. These can get pretty silly, and are always fun to read!
14. Draw and Write
Everyone loves directed drawing in my room. Some students think they won’t be able to draw the picture as shown, but once they see the simple steps listed on their paper, they are always pleasantly surprised! To use, students will follow the directions to draw the picture. Then, they get to writing about what they drew!
15. Build and Write
I saved the best for last! This activity uses playdough – my students’ favorite! They will build the picture using playdough and then practice writing the word. I like to laminate these pages and have students use dry-erase markers. This way, they can be used again and again during center time!
Color Writing Activities for the Whole Year
Aren’t these writing activities fun?! I love the wide variety of options available in each color pack. Since there are pages for letter formation, tracing, beginning writing, and even more advanced writing – it’s easy to make these activities work for my whole class. I will often use these activities during center time and assign them by skill level. They are also great as independent learning stations and even as a starting point for whole-group writing lessons as well! No matter how you choose to use them, these are sure to be a hit in your room.
If you’re looking for a way to keep your writing activities feeling fresh, be sure to check out the Color Writing Centers Bundle. Inside you get 11 different resources. Each one focuses on a specific color and features the activities listed above. You’ll love exploring a new color each month, or every couple of weeks with your students. As you introduce new color sets, they will learn new vocabulary words as well – which is such a great addition to your lessons! Check out the bundle here to grab a whole year’s worth of writing activities!
Looking for More Kindergarten Writing Activities?
Be sure to read 5 Benefits of Having a Classroom Writing Center next to learn how you can set up an effective writing center in your room! This post also features seasonal writing center activities if you’d prefer to use holiday themes in your room.
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