As we step into a new month and settle into the school year, I’ve got some exciting goodies for you! This post features 25 free October-themed downloads that are perfect for keeping your kindergartners engaged all month long. Whether you’re leading whole-class activities, small groups, or independent learning stations, these hands-on resources are just what you need. From interactive centers, digital slides, to decodable books and fun printables, these activities will make your October full of learning fun and seasonal excitement!
Decodable October Books
Start October with a seasonal literacy boost using these four free and engaging October-themed decodable books! Perfect for early readers, these stories focus on phonetically controlled CVC words, helping build reading confidence.
The fiction books supports letter recognition and beginning sounds, making it ideal for small groups or independent practice. These books are a fantastic way to reinforce key reading skills and set your students up for success as the school year unfolds.
This themed free download provides you with (2) beginning sounds-based books and (2) cvc-based decodable book. You will have fiction and nonfiction decodable books. Students will be able to read from the standard fold and flip decodable books, MINI decodables, and all-in-one passages. Access this free download HERE.
Engaging October-Themed Centers for Phonics and Math
In October, bring the vibrant spirit of fall into your classroom with these interactive, hands-on centers! Filled with free resources that focus on math, literacy, and fine motor skills, these activities are perfect for keeping your young learners engaged throughout the month. Fun and versatile, they’ll add an exciting seasonal touch to your lessons and keep your classroom buzzing with energy!
Hands-On Centers
Explore a variety of engaging, hands-on math and phonics centers, all designed with the cozy feel of October in mind! These centers are perfect for keeping your classroom filled with interactive learning activities throughout the month, offering weeks of fun and skill-building that your students will love.
We will start with a collection of math centers. These centers will build number sense with numbers through 20. Students can build, solve, roll, and search. Click on the images to download.
This free download offers math counting sequence puzzlers. These puzzlers are offered for varying number sets. The free download includes puzzlers for numbers 1-10 and numbers 11-20 Access the free download HERE.
These October-themed subitizing sheets are a hit with both teachers and students. Now refreshed with a fun October twist, you can grab this free set of autumn-inspired number sense sheets to bring seasonal excitement to your math lessons.
This is a fun and engaging pumpkin "build-it" center for numbers 1-20. Along with the center mats, you also get "I can" cards and response sheets. You can also access this free set of count and compare October themed printables.
Access the free October-themed math Chip + Swipe mats for a fun and engaging center along with an engaging set of October-themed numbers 1-10 math centers. This is an exciting sampler preview download with spin + trace mats, match-ups, write the room, and more!
Hands-On and Engaging October Free Downloads (Centers Continued)
Up next, get ready for some exciting, October-themed free downloads that target key skills in a fun and engaging way! First, dive into a playful approach to boosting number sense with interactive activities. You’ll also love the creative sensory bin ideas perfect for October, complete with themed cards and recording sheets. Plus, students can master phoneme-grapheme connections with word mapping activities using fall-themed mats for CVC words, digraphs, blends, and CVCE words. And the best part? Additional resources are also available in a DIGITAL format for added flexibility!
This free download includes two math centers. Center 1 includes number order strips. Center 2 is a count and build the set. Both sets include “I can” cards and recording sheets. Access the free download HERE!
Number Sense Write + Build Mats
Access this engaging positional words free download. Use a pumpkin or a manipulative of your choice to complete this center. Students will spin and move the manipulative to match the positional word.
Let your students dive into number fun with these free October-themed ten frame cards! They’ll read the number and then build the matching set, showing off their understanding in the most hands-on and engaging way possible. Access the free download HERE!
Science of Reading Aligned October-Themed Phonics Centers
Do you incorporate phoneme-to-grapheme connections through word mapping in your classroom? These free October-themed all-in-one phonics mats are perfect for engaging your students in saying, tapping, mapping, and writing phonics skill words, making learning both interactive and fun!
This free download has multiple uses. First off, it’s completely DIGITAL. You can use these October-themed slides to build fluency in skill-based words. You can also print the resource and use it for flashcards. I also include blank versions for generic mapping mats. Access the free resource HERE!
Access this free set of alphabet and high frequency words digital slides. The slides are apple-themed and great for a quick review! They are offered on Google Slides and as a PDF display file. Access the free download HERE.
Grab a set of October-themed magnetic mats. These are great for small-group time. Use them for 1:1 letter matching and word building. You can also snag this free set of October-themed generic mapping mats.
DOWNLOAD HERE
Students will love these engaging October-themed letter build mats. While they are designed for use with candy corn, you can use any manipulative you have on hand, or even dough. The sentence sort activity allows students to organize sentence strips to build pumpkins.
October-Themed Letter Mats
October-Themed Phonics Sorts
Are you focusing on letter and/or sound recognition? This October-themed center includes sorting cards and multiple sort mats to fit your needs.
DOWNLOAD HERE
This free download offers you a hands-on and engaging sensory bin that is phonics-based. The free download covers beginning sounds, cvc words, digraphs, and cvce words. Access the free download HERE.
Alphabet Magnet Match Mats
October-Themed Word Strips
October-Themed Printables for Phonics and Math Skills
Engaging Printables
Managing a busy classroom can be tough, but this collection of October-themed printables is here to make things easier! Filled with fun and engaging activities for both math and phonics, these resources are perfect for reinforcing key skills. Whether used for group activities or independent practice, these versatile worksheets are a must-have addition to your October classroom toolkit.
This free download offers you beginning sound “scenes” for the students to label. This is another teacher and kid favorite. Students will label the items with the matching beginning sound/CVC word and then play “match it” along the side of the page. Access the free download HERE!
Access INSTANT printable handwriting practice for both letters and numbers below.
Pip the Pup is a classroom favorite. Enjoy this free set of seasonal Pip the Pup coloring sheets. Students will get to enjoy seeing Pip throughout the seasons and exploring fun topics. Access the free download HERE!
BONUS October Free Downloads!
Free Halloween Pip Costume
The October pumpkin-theme continues with this free directed drawing. This directed drawing is phonics-based if needed. You will have a variety of writing sheets and styles to choose from. This pumpkin would make a great October bulletin board display. ACCESS THE FREE FILE HERE!
October-Themed Free Downloads
Thanks a ton for swinging by to check out the 25 awesome October-themed freebies for your kindergarten classroom! I hope these resources bring some extra fun and seasonal excitement to your October activities. Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting, free downloads every month—there’s so much more to come, and I can’t wait to share it with you! Don’t forget to bookmark the blog so you won’t miss a single batch of themed goodies. Keep up the amazing work, and see you next time! Happy teaching!
Thanks so much for downloading the October themed free resources. Reach out with any questions.
Tara West – Little Minds at Work
littlemindsatworkLLC(at)gmail.com
