An ice cream theme is such a fun theme for preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten students. Mainly because they love ice cream but also because it is colorful, fun, and easy to get ideas for. I like to do an ice cream theme in the summer, but it could work any time of the year.
Grab the Ice Cream Math & Literacy Centers, Ice Cream Shop Dramatic Play, and the Colors Science Unit.
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Ice Cream Activities for Literacy
Name Scoops! Make this cute ice cream-themed light table activity by writing your students’ names on tissue paper in scoop shapes. You can laminate them for durability or so that dry-erase markers can be used on them. Set them on your light table with some letter manipulatives and have students practice spelling and identifying letters. The letter manipulative pictured is water bottle lids with letters written on them.
Syllable Cones! Practice counting syllables with these cute ice cream cone picture cards. Each cone features a number and then students must identify the picture. Next, they count the number of syllables and place it on the matching cone.
Letter Banana Splits! Make letter banana splits with these cute printables! The set comes with uppercase and lowercase and can be differentiated for varying levels of students. They can match uppercase to uppercase, uppercase to lowercase, and lowercase to lowercase. You can also only put out certain letters to match your students’ abilities.
Sight Word Banana Splits! Use the ice cream letters to build sight word banana splits. Students could also build names or vocabulary words.
Frozen Treat Letter Sort! Help students identify letters and special things about them with this ice cream truck letter sort. Students can sort by types of lines, in their names, if they have holes or not, or other sorting categories. Put the letters in a sensory bin for even more fun! Keep reading for more ice cream activities.
Ice Cream Letters! Practice letter identification and formation with a butcher paper activity! I drew simple ice cream cones and wrote the capital and lowercase letters. Then, students matched letter manipulatives and used pony beads to form the letters. Students will be developing fine motor skills when sorting and manipulating the pony beads or letter manipulatives in a fun way.
Ice Cream Letter Find! Have students search for letters in their ice cream! I am having students pick letter cards from a sensory bin and then trace the letter on the worksheet. You could also hide the letter cards around the room. Then, give students a clipboard and worksheet to walk around the room and find the letters. This is a great way to incorporate movement into learning.
Cone Sight Word Spell! I got these cute bulletin board decorations from the dollar spot, and I wrote sight words on them. Then I wrote letters on a pop it. Students picked an ice cream cone and popped the letters to spell the word. This would work for any theme, not just ice cream theme activities!
Ice Cream Word Wall! Set up a word wall with an ice cream theme for your little learners. I like to include multiple kinds of writing utensils, themed paper, stickers, vocabulary word cards, name cards, and even a worksheet. Students are more likely to use this area if there are lots of choices and they can do what they please. I like to cut my stickers into little sheets and pull the back off if you have young children who still struggle with stickers.
Ice Cream Activities for Math
Ice Cream Truck Color Sort! Build fine motor muscles, hand-eye coordination, and practice colors with this adorable printable! Tape a pipe cleaner to the back of the color sorting card. Then students lace pony beads by color onto the pipe cleaners. Keep reading for more ice cream activities for small groups, arrival times, or centers.
Ice Cream Sorting Light Table! Set up a sorting board on your light table with an ice cream theme! I gathered some manipulatives (pom poms & wads of paper), ice cream scoops, bowls, and milkshake glasses. Then, I made sorting cards that matched my manipulatives. For the photo, I am having students sort by color, but you could also have them sort by size. You could also put numbers in the bowls and have students count the corresponding amount of ice cream scoops. Remember, not ALL your materials have to be translucent to work on the light table.
Mint Chip Counting Mats! I just love these mint chip ice cream counting boards for tons of math skills! Students practice number recognition, tracing the number, and then counting out that many manipulatives. I am using brown pom poms for chocolate chips. Throw some tweezers in for fine motor work. This game is easy to differentiate for your students; just use the boards that your students are ready for (1-5, 1-10, 11-20, etc.).
Counting Ice Cream Scoops! Use a little bowl (to-go dip containers) and put numbers inside. Then, have students use measuring spoons to scoop mini pom poms to match the number. Use numbers that your students can count to independently, and that may look different for each student. Avery may work on 11-20, while Bowen may be working on 1-10.
Cone Numbers! Build number ice cream cones for a fun math activity for students. This game is super simple to differentiate; just remove the ten frames and counting hands for an easy number-matching game for younger students.
Ice Cream Patterns! Use ice cream toys to have students create patterns or practice counting. You can put numbers on the cones, and students can count out that many scoop of ice cream. Or students can stack patterns with the ice cream scoops. My pack is from Lakeshore but I also like this set from Amazon.
Ice Cream Graph! These ice cream graphs are so cute and something your students will be excited to complete. Use the included spinner to make it a graphing game, or use the graph with your class. Students spin the spinner and graph the flavor it lands on. The game is over when one flavor fills the row. Be sure to talk about most, least, and equal to. You can have students use manipulatives or dot markers to complete their graphs.
Ice Cream Addition! Make a butcher paper game to practice addition skills! I drew cones with math problems in them. Then, students used pom poms to solve the addition problem and come up with the sum. Another option is to draw the whole ice cream cone and have students draw sprinkles to show the addition problem. If addition problems are too hard for your students, write a number in the cone, and students count that many instead. Keep reading for more ice cream activities.
Popsicle Addition! Another fun addition butcher paper idea! Draw popsicles and write a math problem in them. Then, write numbers on popsicle sticks (I cut mine so they were shorter and I would have more). Students place the popsicle stick answer with each math problem. Too hard? Just write numbers in the popsicles, and students match the number stick.
Shape Popsicles! Your students will love to build these shape popsicles. They match clip art images to the correct shape and build a popsicle. If having too many pieces is overwhelming, just set out a few shapes instead of the whole set.
Sundae Counting/Adding! Play a counting or adding game with a yummy sundae theme. Use one die for a counting game or 2 dice for an addition game. I used cut-up pipe cleaners (sprinkles) for my counting manipulative, but you could also use pom poms, buttons, beads, mini erasers, etc.
Ice Cream Activities for Art & Sensory
Cone Paint Prints! This open-ended art project is perfect for all ages! I put my paint into leftover ice cream containers from a birthday party. I, also used different colors that were like ice cream (pink, brown, pastel green, and cream). Students used cones to create a print masterpiece. You can use real cones or plastic ones. Your students will love creating these ice cream crafts, so be sure to add them to your lesson plans!
Sherbert Painting! Give students pastel colors like sherbert to create a piece of art. I had mine use Q-tips to paint with for pincer grasp development. I put my paint into plastic to-go containers and put a lid on them each night until we were done with this theme or all the paint was gone. I also like to place the containers in a muffin tin so they don’t move around or spill as easily.
Ice Cream Play-Dough Tray! Your students will adore this ice cream play dough tray! I have plastic cones, ice cream cups (that I kept and washed after a birthday party), mini erasers, pone beads (sprinkles), mini spoons (ask your ice cream shop for some), play dough, and different tools. My students had so much fun taking orders and creating ice cream cones. Make icing playdough for scented playdough!
Ice Cream Oobleck! Make oobleck using the recipe below. Throw in some bowls, scoops, and other tools, and let students play. This is one of the most perfect ice cream activities for little learners.
Oobleck Recipe
-2 part corn starch (ex: 1 cup)
-1 part water (ex: 1/2 cup)
-mix together in a large bowl, which can be tricky
-add in fun mix-ins like foam beads, sprinkles, and/or glitter one at a time, mixing each time after you add in something new
Letter Sundaes! Make oobleck and add in letter manipulatives. Students can practice identifying letters or spelling words while playing in an inviting sensory area!
Ice Cream Sensory! Create a sensory bin or table with cotton balls, pom poms, scoops, cones, bowls, and containers. Students can scoop, count, and manipulate the filler while having fun with their classmates. The ice cream sensory table was great for communication skills because my students didn’t stop talking. They were sharing about times they ate ice cream, taking each others’ orders, and more!
Whipped Cream Letters! Use shaving cream or whipped cream on a tray for students to practice writing or drawing. I had students practice writing their names, but you could also do sight words, letters, or numbers. Young children could also practice drawing shapes or types of lines in the shaving cream.
Ice cream Activities for Science & Dramatic Play
Color Science Unit! For your science area, set up a color study. Students can explore colors and how they mix to create new colors. You can also talk about shades of colors. I love to use droppers and tiny containers so students can experiment with mixing on their own.
Ice Cream Shop Dramatic Play! An ice cream shop is one of my favorite dramatic play areas for my students! They love it and have so much fun while learning. Students will be practicing math, literacy, and tons of social and communication skills while they take orders, make ice cream cones, and be the customers. See how I set everything up and use props from my classroom to make this fun, dramatic play area.
Sundae Steps Printable! Use these printable steps to help students make a sundae. This is perfect for the dramatic play center or for a real sundae treat! You can print it and use it as a guide for students or turn it into an interactive picture cue card with velcro or magnets.
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As you can see, an ice cream theme would be so fun in your preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten classroom! Finding manipulatives and props is pretty easy, and students have background knowledge and excitement about this theme. Keep scrolling for more blog posts and materials to make your ice cream activities a success! And don’t forget to bring in real ice cream so young learners can make their own ice cream sundae!
Don’t forget to grab the ice cream activities here. This pack has tons of ice cream worksheets to make hands-on activities for kids of all ages.
Get the ice cream printables to make the ice cream shop dramatic play area, which is fantastic fun for young learners!
Watch this video for more ice cream activities!
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I’m Jackie, your go-to girl for early childhood inspiration and research-based curriculum.
