Countdown2K Activity Cards
50 daily activities for the countdown to kindergarten
How to Use These Cards
These 50 activity cards guide students through the countdown to kindergarten, building essential skills each day. Each card focuses on one of four key areas: Literacy, Math, Fine Motor, or Social-Emotional development.
My Kindergarten Dreams
Draw a picture of what you think kindergarten will be like. Talk about your hopes and any worries.
Name Writing Practice
Practice writing your first name. Trace it, then try writing it yourself. Decorate your name!
Counting to 10 Walk
Take a walk and find 10 things to count: rocks, flowers, cars. Touch each one as you count.
Scissor Snipping
Practice cutting straight lines, then try wavy lines. Make a fringe on paper strips.
Following Directions
Play "Simon Says" with 2-3 step directions. Take turns being Simon!
Letter Hunt: A-E
Find objects that start with A, B, C, D, and E. Say the letter sound for each.
Shape Detective
Hunt for circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles around the room. Make a tally chart.
Rhyming Riddles
Say pairs of words and decide if they rhyme: cat/hat, dog/sun. Make up silly rhymes!
Counting Collections
Collect 10-15 small items. Practice counting them, then sort by size, color, or type.
Playdough Letters
Roll playdough into snakes and form the letters in your name.
Taking Turns Game
Play a simple board game or card game. Practice waiting and taking turns.
Letter Hunt: F-J
Find objects that start with F, G, H, I, and J. Practice the letter sounds.
Pattern Party
Create patterns with objects: red-blue-red-blue or big-small-big-small.
Pencil Grip Practice
Practice holding a pencil correctly. Draw circles, lines, and zigzags.
My Family Story
Draw your family. Tell a story about something fun you did together.
Beginning Sounds
Look at pictures and say what sound each word starts with: /b/ for ball, /c/ for cat.
Number Match 1-10
Match number cards to groups of objects. "This says 5, let me count 5 blocks."
Cutting Curves
Practice cutting curved and wavy lines. Try cutting out a simple shape.
Asking for Help
Practice saying "Can you help me, please?" Role-play asking a teacher for help.
Letter Hunt: K-O
Find objects that start with K, L, M, N, and O. Practice writing one letter.
More and Less
Compare two groups of objects. Which has more? Which has fewer? How do you know?
Story Retelling
Read a short story together. Retell what happened: beginning, middle, end.
Counting Backwards
Practice counting backwards from 10 to 1. Try a "blast off" countdown!
Lacing Cards
Practice lacing through holes in a card or paper plate. Make patterns!
Feelings Charades
Act out different feelings (happy, sad, angry, scared). Guess each other's feelings.
Letter Hunt: P-T
Find objects that start with P, Q, R, S, and T. Which letter was hardest?
Number Writing 1-5
Practice writing numbers 1-5. Say each number as you write it.
Bead Stringing
String beads to make a pattern bracelet or necklace.
Making Friends
Practice introducing yourself: "Hi, my name is ___. What's your name?"
Syllable Clapping
Clap the syllables in words: wa-ter-mel-on (4 claps), cat (1 clap).
Number Writing 6-10
Practice writing numbers 6-10. Count objects and write how many.
Coloring Inside Lines
Color a picture, trying to stay inside the lines. Take your time!
Problem Solving
Talk about what to do if: someone takes your toy, you feel lonely, you need help.
Letter Hunt: U-Z
Find objects for U, V, W, X, Y, Z. These are tricky! Use a book if needed.
Adding One More
Put out 3 objects. Add one more. How many now? Try with different numbers.
Two Weeks to Go!
Make a countdown chain with 15 loops. Remove one each day until kindergarten!
Sound Blending
Blend sounds together: /c/-/a/-/t/ = cat. Try: sun, dog, map, red.
Teen Numbers
Practice counting 11-20. Find groups of objects and count them.
Tying Practice
Practice the first step of tying: making an X with the laces.
Calming Strategies
Learn 3 ways to calm down: deep breaths, count to 10, squeeze and relax.
Alphabet Sequence
Sing the alphabet song. Point to each letter. What letter comes after M?
Simple Addition
Use fingers or objects to solve: 2+1=?, 3+2=?, 1+4=?
One Week Away!
Visit the school if possible. Talk about the bus, classroom, and playground.
Writing First & Last Name
Practice writing your full name. Sound out each letter as you write.
Counting by 10s
Count by 10s to 100: 10, 20, 30... Use hand claps for each number!
Zipping & Buttoning
Practice zipping jackets, buttoning shirts, and snapping snaps.
Kindergarten Questions
Write down any questions about kindergarten. We'll find the answers together!
All the Letters
Go through the alphabet. Name each letter and its sound. You know so many!
Shapes Review
Draw and name: circle, square, triangle, rectangle, oval, diamond, heart, star.
Ready for Kindergarten!
Celebrate! You've worked so hard. Draw yourself as a kindergartner. You're ready!
Weekly Themes
Week 1 (Days 50-44): Getting Ready
Week 2 (Days 43-37): Building Skills
Week 3 (Days 36-30): Growing Confidence
Week 4 (Days 29-23): Learning Together
Week 5 (Days 22-16): Getting Stronger
Week 6 (Days 15-9): Almost Ready
Week 7 (Days 8-1): Final Countdown
Tips for Teachers
- • Circle Time: Introduce each day's activity during morning meeting
- • Centers: Set up materials at a dedicated Countdown2K center
- • Take Home: Send cards home for family practice
- • Differentiate: Adjust difficulty based on individual student needs
- • Celebrate: Mark progress on a classroom countdown display
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