Fun Early Finisher Activities for Kindergarten & 1st Free File
- By Deedee Wills
- Updated on April 26
- 22 Comments
Table of Contents
Early finisher activities for kindergarten and first grade don’t have to feel like busy work. These fun, meaningful activities keep fast finishers learning once centers are complete or whenever you find yourself with a little extra time in the day.
MEANINGFUL EARLY FINISHER ACTIVITIES
Wouldn’t it be amazing if all of your students finished their work at THE. EXACT. SAME. TIME? Yeah… that’s not reality. If you use any of my literacy or math activities, you already know that some of them are never-ending. They’re designed that way. Students can keep practicing and growing without a hard stop. But other center activities do have a clear beginning, middle, and end. And that’s where early finisher activities come in.
Early finisher tasks keep learning going for students who finish before their classmates. Instead of wandering or waiting, students jump right into something meaningful while others are still engaged in those never-ending centers. Calm classroom. Purposeful work. Everyone wins.
FAST FINISHER ACTIVITIES … AKA… DESSERT TUBS
A while back, I started creating what I call Dessert Tubs. The name came from my very clever friend Cara Carroll and once I heard it, it stuck. Because let’s be honest… I DO love dessert.
These tubs are filled with fun, engaging activities that students can choose from once they finish their main task. They feel like a treat, but they’re still packed with learning. And that makes them perfect for fast finishers.
When students finish an activity during literacy centers or anytime throughout the day, they simply grab a Dessert Tub. Easy. Calm. Purposeful. This one routine cut way down on the wandering, visiting, and gypsy-style roaming that can sneak into a busy classroom. Of course, students always had the option to read a book quietly at their desk too. That good choice mattered.
One expectation was always clear. Dessert tubs were only available after students had done their very best work on the independent task. No rushing. No skipping steps. Because of that, I had GREAT success using dessert tubs in my classroom. They felt like a reward, but they were still packed with learning. And I’ve got a few ideas to share with you!
WHAT GOES IN AN FAST FINISHER BIN?
Early finisher bins can hold a variety of activities, but I followed three simple guidelines when choosing early finisher tasks:
Activities had to be self-explanatory and already familiar. I didn’t want students interrupting my small-group time to ask for directions.
Activities needed to be paperless. Students might only be there for a few minutes, and I did NOT want more paper in my life. Save the trees!
Most importantly, activities had to provide meaningful learning in a fun way.
Teacher Tip: Reuse some of the activities you previously used in your small group lessons or center activities. Students will be familiar with the tasks and you will be confident they are practicing skills they need!
EARLY FINISHER ACTIVITIES FOR KINDERGARTEN
Here’s a list of low-prep early finisher printable activities that can be used all year long.
Early Finisher Fine Motor Activities
Having a collection of hands-on activities that also strengthen fine motor muscles are always welcome.
Handwriting Practice: Numeral and Letter Formation
Playdough Mats for Fast Finishers
Dough is a great choice for early finishers! Dough mats are great for independent work and are often a popular free choice pick for students.
I have blogged about dough mats before and they are a great way to strengthen fine motor skills. I also like to sneak in a little letter formation.
Clip it! Clothespin Activities
These early finisher task cards are great for fine motor skills as well.
I introduced this activity as part of our small group warm up practice. Having multiple skills on hand is a great way to ensure you will have a task that is just right for your learner.
Simple Card Games
I might have a million of these little letter and phonics games. And honestly? That’s because they work. They’re quick to set up, fun to play, and perfect for early finisher time.
Students can play with a partner, or they can “play” with Dexter, my dog. Who was absolutely not in the classroom.
That idea always got a giggle and made the activity feel extra fun. Same learning. Big smiles.
Phonics Board Games for Fast Finishers
Clean Sweep
This game is not only meaningful, students also have to be strategic! They take turns rolling the die and moving on the game board and completing the phonics task. The task may be beginning sounds, letter identification, vowel sounds… really any skill your students are practicing.
As they move, they collect tokens along the way. You can use small erasers or a math manipulative, but if you want to see students motivated, add goldfish crackers or some other small treat!
Teacher Tip: Teach this game in your small groups before placing it in your early finisher activity pins.
Sequence ELA Board Games
Sequence is one of those games my students never got tired of. They loved playing it during free time, and I loved how much learning was happening without it feeling like work. Students spin the spinner and then look for a picture that starts with the same sound.
The example shown focuses on ending sounds, BUT (of course) there are lots of versions. From letter identification to more advanced phonics skills, this game grows right along with your students. It also makes a fantastic warm-up for small groups. Easy to use. High engagement. Always a hit.
If you’re looking to save colored ink, check out the printable pack! You can colored chips OR an ultimate kindergarten favorite… daubers!
Climb and Slide Board Game
Another fun board game to practice alphabet and phonics skills. The seasonal board games are great resources to use during the entire school year.
Students who are familiar with Chutes and Ladders will enjoy this game format. It is perfect for kindergarten and first grade learners.
Editable Games for Fast Finishers
The beauty of editable games is you can tailor the skill to your students. It is not uncommon for me to see students who are still learning their letters in the spring alongside students who are reading multi-syllabic words.
With a few taps on your keyboard, you can customize these games in seconds… really… and we all need QUICK wins.
Time Me ELA Fluency Games
Time Me! is one of my favorite fun activities for building fluency. It’s easy to introduce and grows right along with your students. You can start the year with alphabet cards, then transition to sight words when they’re ready. Same routine. New challenge.
You can create multiple sets of cards to easily differentiate the activity. SIMPLE! And yes… there’s a free sample waiting for you at the end of this post so you can try it out in your classroom right away.
Students can also choose to work with a partner, which helps them keep track of time and double-check accuracy. Built-in accountability. Built-in collaboration. And learning that still feels fun.
Roll, Say, Keep Editable Game
Another card game that has a TON of different versions for fun practice all year long.
This fast finisher activity is great because we are the special cards help ensure there is NEVER a winner. When students get those special cards, their card pile goes back into the draw pile and the game continues.
No meltdowns. No tears.
Because Roll, Say, Keep is editable to can get REALLY specific with the letters, phonics, or high-frequency words you want students to practice.
Additional Reading and Writing Practice for Fast Finishers
Here are a few more ideas that you can rotate into your early finisher activities.
Remember, you can reuse previously used small group activities or center tasks.
BUMP Games
I love having students play Bump in our center time and also during small group warm up time. Students are hyper-focused on the ______ they are trying to land on. It might be a color, phonics skill or even a math skill. It just depends on the version they are playing.
As you know, nothing helps student behavior better than student engagement. When students want to play, they stay engaged.
BUMP Games are perfect for dessert tubs because they’re predictable and cover a wide range of math and literacy skills. Students already know how to play, which means they can jump right in without needing directions. That’s always a win. If you’d like to learn more about how I use BUMP games, you can check out this blog post for all details.
Word Building Task Cards
Your fast finishers will stay engaged in learning with these hands-on spelling activities.
I purchased the letter snap cubes from Amazon. You can read more about this word building activity and find the link for the snap cubes in this blog post.
Partner Play Readers Theater
This next activity is a newer resource that provides a pair of students with a great opportunity to practice reading fluency.
It works well with younger children because the number of “readers” are just two! Once students are done reading it one time through, they can swap parts and read it again.
Students love doing the voices, so they don’t even notice that they have reread the same passage multiple time! WIN!
Decodable Words, Nonsense Words, and Letter Practice
Quickly recognizing the text in front of your student, frees up their working memory for harder things. This fluency practice is perfect for those students who are working on automaticity.
There are numerous sets that students can select for a one minute timing. They can select from:
- Letters: Uppercase and lowercase
- CVC words
- Blends
- CVCe Words
Having students exposed to nonsense words in these spelling patterns are a great way to informally assess the phonics skills and patterns they have mastered.
Teacher Tip: Use this activity as a quick way to gather data on your learner!
EARLY FINISHER MATH ACTIVITIES
Just like the letters and words version, this is also an editable math game. This allows you to focus on specific skills (think doubles facts, or doubles plus one.)
Within this set, kindergarten and first grade students can practice:
- counting
- subitizing
- shapes
- addition
- subtraction
Eraser Sort (FREE FILE #1)
I get way too excited about new erasers in the dollar bin at Target. Anyone else? This eraser sort is such a fun activity to add to your dessert tubs any time of the year.
The best part is how easy it is to switch up. Just swap out the erasers to match the season and you’ve got a fresh activity without any extra prep. Simple. Fun. And always a hit with students!
Digital Choice Boards (FREE FILE #2)
If you’re looking to go completely paperless, a digital choice board is such a great option. No printing. No prep. Just meaningful activities students can jump right into. Perfect for early finishers who are ready for a little extra practice.
A while back, I created a digital versions choice board template that gives students choice using different activities they can access on a tablet. It’s an quick way to add technology without overcomplicating your routine. You can grab the free template and see different ways to use digital tools for extra practice in this blog post.
Early Finisher Activity Bin Labels (FREE FILE #3)
If you’re going to have dessert tubs, you definitely need dessert tub labels! These labels make everything easy to organize and even easier for students to manage independently. Simple systems really do make all the difference.
Time Me Fluency Practice (FREE FILE #4)
I hope you’re able to use some of these favorite early finisher activities in your dessert tubs! They’re such an easy way to keep learning going while keeping your classroom calm and focused. And don’t forget to grab the last free file below!
Deedee Wills
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22 Responses
Thank you for the sequence game. I'm always looking for something new.
Thanks Deedee! I have a similar system – we call them Sponge Activities – they are a bit more open-ended for exploration but I like some of the games you shared! They become more interested in those as the year goes on and they are more confident in their abilities. I also like how you designate what each table does – do you feel like that cuts down on "rushers"? How do you handle friends that rush to get to that dessert?
Shoot! I thought I had responded to this already… sorry! I have a few habitual rushers. So I ask them to drop their response paper by my desk. I also talk to the masses about what quality work looks like.
My desserts are engaging, but not really THE most exciting thing in my classroom, so we have not had a problem…yet 😉
I love the idea of these tubs!! I cant wait to take some of the products I already have to make some simple changes to start this this coming January!!
What do you mean when you say you pull the numbers off and move them down. (I totally get that concept, but then what does that mean for students that finish early) Table rectangle finishes early they can only pick bucket 3?
Thanks so much!!
Sarah
shetrick@gmail.com
Hello,
I am also a kindergarten teacher and am looking for a new behavior chart. I found on pinterest your behavior chart. It has two kids faces on each color and starts off at amazing and goes to Oh-dear! It is so cute! I have tried to find it on your website as well as on teacherpayteacher, but I haven’t been able to come across it. Do you still have it? Is it a free download?
Thanks!
Hi there! Yes, you can find it in my Facebook Fan FREE file. Just go to my Facebook page (you can find the link on my blog by the social media buttons). You click on the folder and it is in there. NOTE: You can NOT see the folder if you are on a mobile or tablet. So look for it when you can be on your computer. 🙂
How do you keep your kids who are in stations from coming up to your table while you are doing small group activities? I have tried everything! Also, Do you get to every child every day in your small group?
After watching the “Mastering Centers Like a Boss” webinar, it referred to the math bundle for the number formation on dessert bin in early finishers blog. I own the small group math bundle that you and Deanna Jump made and I also bought the neat handwriting so I have the letter formations, but am looking for the number formation cards. I am unable to find the number formation cards in the bundle I bought. Any suggestions?
They are in the Guiding Kinders Math Curriculum.
Hi Deedee,
I love your idea for early finishers and how you have it set up in your classroom. I would love to get it set up in my kindergarten classroom this year. I wonder if you have this ideas as a packet on your teachers pay teachers site? I would love to have my room mom set this up for me before school starts this year. I just don’t know where to begin, or how to instruct her. Can you help me out? I like to change things up for my kiddos and I think this would be great for them. I’ll be looking for your reply. Thank you! Have a great rest of your summer!
Hi Carmen!
I’m sorry I missed your question earlier. I don’t have the idea of early finishers on TpT, but the blog post will link you to the resources you may want to consider putting in your early finisher bins. Does that help?
Do you allow more than one students to work together on these tub activities or are they to take it back to their seat and work individually? I love the idea.
No, the students share the bins, so there could conceivably be 4 students working at their early finisher bin at one time.
Hi DeeDee. I love this idea of Dessert Tubs. Im trying to print them out, but I only see one icecream cone and it already has a green shape. There are no other pages. Can you send me them all or just a blank icecream cone and I’ll make my own shapes?? Thanks.
If you download the free file that is in the blog post, they are all there for you to edit. 🙂
Thank you for sharing these early finisher activities for kindergarten! It’s wonderful to have engaging resources that keep our little learners motivated and entertained. The fact that these files are free is an added bonus! I can’t wait to try them out with my kindergarten class. Your generosity is truly appreciated.
You are so welcome!
Thank you for sharing this valuable resource. Your blog never disappoints in its commitment to student-centered education!
Thank you so much