4 Things You Need for October for Your Little Learners

October is the perfect time to bring a little seasonal fun into your classroom while still focusing on purposeful, skill-based learning. Whether you’re teaching Pre-K, Kindergarten, or 1st grade, having engaging and hands-on resources makes a huge difference in keeping your little learners excited about literacy and math. Here are 4 must-have October activities that are teacher-tested and student-approved!

1. Flashlight & Lightbox Activities

Make practicing skills magical with Flashlight Lightbox October Activities! With numbers, ending sounds, and even a bat life cycle, these “Light Me Up” activities are perfect for keeping your students engaged. All you need is a flashlight or lightbox and this downloadable resource. They’re portable, easy to prep, and fun for your little learners—plus they don’t take up much space!

Skills Covered: Numbers 1–20, Ending Sounds, Bat Life Cycle, and Make a Jack-o-Lantern

@kindergarten_chaos

🔦Have you ever tried having a light box in your classroom? A few months ago I purchased this light box off of Amazon and not only is it easy to use, it works perfectly for my Light Me Up activities. What’s that? You want more details? Of course! Light Me Up activities are skill-based cards that come with a cover and recording sheet. First, print out. Next, glue the cover sheets onto the cards and cut them out. This makes it so the skill is hidden and can only be revealed by the light. Little Learners will then place the skill card on the light box or use a flashlight 🔦 to shine and reveal the hidden piece. Student will then identify and find it on the recording sheet and mark it. You could also laminate and use a dry erase marker. 🤗These activities are so much fun and I have created one for each month. Who wants to try this? Link in bio/profile #kindergartenchaos #kindergarten #lightbox#GlowUpCetaphil

♬ Dance You Outta My Head – Cat Janice

2. October File Folder Activities

If you love low-prep and organized centers, October File Folder Activities are a must. Just print, glue the covers to file folders, and your students are ready to go. These literacy and math activities are hands-on, reusable, and easy to differentiate.

Skills Covered: Pumpkin Upper & Lowercase Letter Match, Witch’s Brew Rhyming, Spider Shape Match, Candy Corn Counting

3. October Literacy & Math Worksheets and Centers

Looking for printable activities that are simple but effective? This October Activities Bundle has 14 engaging activities for your centers, morning tubs, or small groups. From syllable sorts to number order cut-and-paste, these resources make it easy to blend seasonal fun with standards-based learning.

Skills Covered: Beginning Sounds, Letter Matching, Syllables, Sequencing, Number Order, Real-Life Shapes, and More

4. Pumpkin Seed Counting to 30

No October classroom is complete without a pumpkin-themed math station! The Count and Match Pumpkin Seeds helps your little learners practice one-to-one correspondence and matching numerals to quantities. With mats for numbers 1–30, plus addition practice, this activity can be used independently, with a partner, or in small groups. Just print, laminate, and you’re ready to go.

Skills Covered: Counting, Number Recognition, Addition, One-to-One Correspondence

Why These October Activities Work

October is full of excitement, and keeping little learners focused can be tricky. These activities are hands-on, engaging, and purposeful, giving your kindergartners plenty of opportunities to practice literacy and math skills while still having fun. Whether you’re prepping file folders, shining a flashlight on hidden skills, or counting pumpkin seeds, these resources will save you time and help your students master key concepts.

Check out these previous posts for more ideas and resources for the month of October. “October Candy Activities For Little Learners” and “October Activities For Kindergarten“.

---