Reading Game: Great Day for Up

Fill in the blank.  It’s a great day for _____.  Did you say playing with the kids?  Well then, I have a super fun reading game for you to try.  Inspired by Dr. Seuss’ Great Day for Up, we are having a little indoor moving fun with balloons.

My 5 year-old is ready to start reading cvc words.  Emergent readers need lots of practice decoding words and this reading activity fits the bill.

Great Day for Up Book and Reading Game

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The Book

A Great Day for Up is full of rhyming “up” words.  The text is sparse and simple which makes it a good book for new readers.

The Game

Materials Needed: a handful of balloons and a permanent marker

1.  Blow up the balloons.
2.  Write an “up” word on each balloon.  Nonsense words can be included. We used up, cup, sup, rup and pup.
3.   Set the balloons on the floor in a large open space.

There are lots of ways to play with the word balloons.  Here are a few ways we had fun with them.

#1  Up Balloons Up

For this version, have your child pick up a balloon.  He should read the word and then toss the balloon up into the air. Catch the balloon and read the word again.  Find another balloon on the floor and repeat.

#2 Capture the Balloon

My boys invented this version.  Lay a small blanket or towel on the floor.  Find a balloon (my boys pretended they were cows) and read the word.  Place the balloon on the blanket.  Wrap it up and pretend that it has been caught.  It sounds easy, but it’s tough to contain a balloon!

#3  Read and Kick

Pick up a balloon.  Read the word and then kick the balloon across the room.  We wore our socks on the carpet for this game.

#4  Rest and Catch (great for a large group)

Have the kids lie down on the floor.  Throw the balloons in the air.  The kids should catch any balloon that floats down to them.  Read the word and toss it back in the air for someone else to catch.  This is a nice way to play in larger groups so that the kids don’t collide with each other while moving.

It was amazing to see how long my boys could be entertained by a few balloons.  Lots of indoor moving fun and learning occurred.

Interested in reading books about balloons?  Check out our balloon book list.

This week’s Early Childhood Education Team theme is indoor movement. Visit the links below for more great early childhood activities related to the indoor movement theme.

But before you explore…

 

Beginning Sound Movement Game from Mom Inspired Life

Beginning Letter Sounds Tunnel Gross Motor Game from Capri +3

Move Like an Insect Gross Motor Activity from Life Over C’s

Walkin’ In The Jungle Gross Motor and Sequencing for Preschool! from The Preschool Toolbox

Bug Shapes (Bugs Fun Kids Math Games) from Learning 2 Walk

UNO Movement Game for Kids from Still Playing School