Kindergarten Readiness Activity
and Play Guide

A Culturally Grounded Path to School Readiness
The Kindergarten Readiness Summer Play Guide offers families a fun, flexible way to prepare children for school while staying connected to the land, culture, and seasonal activities of Alaska. Designed for the weeks between May and August, the guide provides one themed activity for each week—rooted in Dena’ina and Yup’ik month names, subsistence harvesting, and local knowledge of plants, animals, and the environment.

Flexible, Family-Friendly Learning
Activities can be done one per day, combined into a single day, or spread out over several days—giving families the freedom to follow their own pace and seasonal rhythms. Each week connects to early learning goals used in the Alaska Developmental Profile, helping children build skills in social-emotional development, language, literacy, motor skills, and problem-solving.

Created in Partnership with Community
Developed in partnership with elders, cultural knowledge bearers, and community members, the guide blends storytelling, traditional values, and hands-on exploration. Whether harvesting plants, creating seasonal art, or practicing early literacy skills through play, families can adapt activities to their own traditions and environments—making each experience meaningful, culturally relevant, and full of joy.