Learning the months of the year is an important skill for young students to acquire, but it can often be a challenge to hold their attention and ensure they retain the information. However, incorporating fun and interactive activities can make the learning process more enjoyable and effective. Here are some activities you can use to teach students the months of the year.
1. Calendar Time
Begin each day with a calendar time where students recite the days of the week and the months of the year. Use a large wall calendar or a small individual calendar for each student to follow along. Encourage students to make connections to upcoming events or holidays associated with certain months as well.
2. Singing Songs
Use songs that focus on the months of the year to help students learn them in an enjoyable and memorable fashion. One example is the popular song “January, February, March (Calendar Song)” where the lyrics go, “January, February, March, April, May // June, July, August, September, October, November, December” sung to the tune of “Ten Little Indians.”
3. Seasonal Art Activities
Use seasonal art activities to reinforce the months of the year. For instance, have students color a calendar with each month corresponding to a different season. Encourage students to discuss how the weather and holidays change for each season.
4. Birthdays
Give attention to each student’s birthdays by making a special display of the months and adding each child’s birthday to it. Use this as an opportunity to teach students the order of the months they celebrate their birthdays and lead discussions with students about how different months can be used for birthday party themes.
5. Matching Games
Create a matching game that includes the names of each month on one card and an image associated with that month on the other. For instance, a snowman for January or a pumpkin for October. Have students match the cards together to further practice and solidify the months.
6. Reading Books
Reading books about the months of the year will help students learn the names of the months and the different events and holidays associated with them. Examples of good books for this include “The Year At Maple Hill Farm” by Alice and Martin Provensen or “The Month By Month Flip-Flap Book” by Loreen Leedy.
In conclusion, there are a variety of fun and interactive activities that you can incorporate into your teaching methods to help students learn the months of the year. Using a combination of activities that appeal to different learning styles will help ensure that all students are able to retain the information. Don’t forget to celebrate each student’s successes along the way and remember that it may take some time for everyone to fully learn and understand the months of the year.
