Sharks with crayons for Kindergarten ELLs.

 This resource is included at Sea Unit for Kindergarten-Holistic English Series #29 clicking on this link: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sea-Unit-for-Kindergarten-Holistic-English-Series-29-8348964

The sharks holding crayons make learning color words clear and memorable. Young learners easily connect the color name to the object through visual context, helping them retain vocabulary faster.

Flashcards show a clear image of the shark and the crayon. With flashcards, students can practice speaking in full sentences:
“The shark has a pink crayon.” This builds confidence in using English aloud.

Crayon Hunt: Show a flashcard (the shark with yellow crayon”) and have students find a crayon that matches the color.

Flash a card quickly—students must shout the color or say the full sentence:
“The shark has a brown crayon!”

Take a look!

Beanbag Toss – I made my beanbag using an old sock and beans.  Lay the numbers flashcards around on the floor. Learners toss a bean bag towards the card and say the number.

Small cards. I created puzzles using the shark and crayon cards. Cut the color word. Students must match the image to the correct color word, promoting reading readiness, while having fun.

Students can sort the small cards into French fry containers, each labeled with a colorful paint splotch. This activity develops categorizing and sorting skills. As students drop a card in the fry container, they must say the sentence: “The shark has a red crayon.”

Worksheets and activities involving coloring or matching can develop both listening comprehension (“Color the shark with the orange crayon”) and fine motor skills.

Build color word recognition through matching, tracing, and reading with these 3 worksheets.

Students read the word and color the crayon the correct color. Then, as an added activity, they can cut the path.

You can just have the students listen and color the parts of the face on the shark.

Say the part of the body and the color: Color the shark’s head green! Trace the body word and cut them to later glue to label the shark. Review the parts of the body that are common to a person and the ones that are particular to the shark.

Students will listen and color each number that the sharks have. Then, they cut out small cards of sharks. Find a show box lid and fill it with crepe paper and the cards. Say a number and have them find the shark.

Teacher: Number three!!

Students: The shark has a red number three.

Provide mats with color labels. Students sort the words onto the right color mat.

Students assemble the two parts of the puzzle at their own pace, then say the sentence: “A shark with a red crayon.”

Then, mix the pieces face down. Students flip over one of each type and try to make a match!

This colorful board game helps young English language learners recognize, say, and remember the color words.

Assemble the marker pieces available. Each player chooses a shark with a number to be tehri marker. Players take turns rolling a die and moving forward that many spaces. When a player lands on a shark holding a crayon, they must say the color out loud. For extra practice, they can say the sentence: “A shark with a blue crayon.”

Optional: use the puzzle piece, they can show it to earn a bonus turn!

First player to reach the “FINISH” wins!

Use colorful letter tiles to build the color words. You can use the small cards as a reference. This tactile activity supports early literacy and vocabulary development.

Have the students choose a shark flashcard showing a shark holding a crayon. They say the color word out loud together (e.g., “purple”). The, use the letter tiles to build the color word below or next to the card.

Shark Number Matching Mat (Numeral to Word 1–10).

This activity features sharks holding number (1–10) that students match with corresponding number words. It builds number recognition and connects numeric symbols with their written form

Tabletop Sentence Building Cards. Print the pocket chart cards that feature sharks and phrase. It’s a great way for young learners—especially ELLs—to practice color vocabulary, and strengthen word order awareness.

Feed the Shark! This activity features a shark with an open mouth, ready to be “fed” by students using any cards or manipulatives from this resource set—color cards, puzzle pieces, numbers, or word tiles!

Place the “Feed Me Shark” on a container with a cut-out mouth. Provide a set of target items (e.g., flashcards, color word tiles, puzzle pieces, number words, etc.). Call out or show an item (e.g., “A shark with a black crayon!”). Students find the matching item and “feed” it to the shark by placing it in the mouth.

The Printable book is a repetitive, and effective way for kindergarten English language learners to engage with color vocabulary and sentence structures. Have students read the book aloud to a partner, their teacher, or at home for fluency practice.

Visit my blog for teaching tips, creative ideas, and classroom resources:

👉 EFL Elementary Resources

You’ll find play-based strategies, printable activities, and tons of inspiration for teaching English to primary learners—whether you're in a mainstream or EFL classroom!