Family photo word puzzles for names and sight words

I’ve been friends with the authors Kim Vij and Amanda Boyarshinov since we all started blogging together years ago. I’m so happy that after sharing so many super ideas on their website The Educators’ Spin On It, today their first book is published. It’s called 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids.

>>> Get your copy of 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids here!

100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids covers a wide range of topics including reading, writing, math, science, music, art, and social studies, with a focus on fun, hands-on activities. Happy and hands-on is really the best way for children to learn things and the book has so many ideas for games and projects you can try.

Here’s one of the ideas: using photos to make personalised word puzzles for your child, to help them learn to spell their name and other important words.

Family Photo Word Puzzles

Family names are often the first words our children learn to say, read and write. Use your digital images in a new way by creating fun, hands-on family photo puzzles your child will love. As they piece together the pictures of family members, they will begin to practice word recognition of their names, too.

Focus Skill: word recognition

 

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Great For: on-the-go learning

Materials needed

• Camera
• 6 to 10 printed 4″ x 6″ (10 x 15-cm) photographs of family members
• 6 to 10 squares of 6″ x 6″ (15 x 15-cm) construction paper
• Scissors
• Ziplock bag

How to make your family photo words puzzles

1. Encourage your child to take photos of family members.
2. Select photos of each family member to print.
3. Glue each photo onto a piece of construction paper, leaving a 2-inch (5-cm) space below the photo.
4. Write family members’ names or key words below the photos, making sure to leave space between each letter.
5. Cut each image into vertical puzzle pieces, with one letter on each piece.

How to play with your family photo word puzzles

1. Place the photo pieces with letters into the bag.
2. Take turns drawing puzzle pieces from the bag. As your child removes the piece they will arrange pieces into the proper letter order to create the word.
3. Once assembled, encourage your child to practice naming the words and letters in the family members’ names.

Game Variations

• Create additional photo word cards for household objects or favorite animals.
• Create letter puzzles by taking photos to represent each letter of the alphabet.
• Write a sentence under each picture.

How to get your copy of 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids

100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids by Kim Vij and Amanda Boyarshinov is published by Page Street Publishing.

You can get your copy from all good bookstores and from Amazon.

The book is great for parents, teachers and anyone working with children aged 3 to 7. It makes a super end-of-year thank you gift for your child’s teacher, and a lovely starting school gift too.

This activity has been reprinted with permission from the publisher from the book 100 Fun & Easy Learning Games for Kids.