Mardi Gras Word Wall Cards for Preschoolers
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Mardi Gras starts on January 6 and concludes on February 13; therefore, you’re not late if you haven’t introduced it to your preschoolers yet. These free Mardi Gras Word Wall Cards will help you teach them words related to this celebration, and the beginning sounds of each of those words.
This Mardi Gras Word Wall Card set includes four pages with four words each, for 16 words. The words are beads, mask, king, queen, crown, Fleur de lis, balloons, costume, hat, yellow, purple, green, confetti, happy, sand, and jester. You can find it at the end of this post.
During circle time or large group activity, you can use the word wall cards to introduce the new vocabulary words related to Mardi Gras. As you introduce each word, you can also introduce or review the beginning letter and its sound.
What is Mardi Gras
Even though this holiday has many names, it is celebrated in many parts of the world, including France, Germany, Russia, Brazil, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Poland, the UK, the United States, and other countries with carnivals full of partying and parades.
The phrase Mardi Gras comes from the French and means “Fat Tuesday”, meaning the practice of eating fatty richer foods before the Lent season begins for Christians.
The Lent season is 40 days that Christians use for forgiveness, prayer, fasting, and giving money to the poor which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, in preparation to celebrate Jesus’s resurrection on Easter.
Here in the United States, this iconic celebration started in 1699, and since then has been celebrated in Louisiana, including New Orleans. Every year hundreds of people visit Louisiana to enjoy the celebrations and have a good time.
Typically, three colors are used during this celebration, which are green, purple, and yellow. Green represents faith, purple represents justice, and yellow represents power.
How To Prepare And Use The Mardi Gras Word Wall Cards
This printable is practically ready for you to use. You just need a handful of materials, print out the cards using white cardstock, cut them out, and laminate them. That’s all.
Materials needed:
- The FREE Mardi Gras Word Wall cards set (found at the end of this post).
- Printer.
- White cardstock.
- Laminator machine.
- Laminator pouches.
- Scissors.
I will recommend placing these cards in your Word Wall, writing center, literacy center, housekeeping area, and quiet area, and even send them home. That way the children will have easy access to these words.
Other Suggested Activities
You don’t have to limit yourself and your preschoolers to just learning the words. You can extend the use of these cards in other centers as well. For example:
In the Writing Center have the children:
- Practice letter formation.
- Trace the words using dry-erase markers.
- Copy the words with pencils, crayons, or markers.
- Match the words with magnetic, foam, or wooden letters.
- Organize the words in alphabetical order.
- Choose a word and build a phrase with it (silly phrases are okay).
In the Literacy/Library Center:
- Find the word in storybooks, magazines, newspapers, etc.
- Choose one word and find other words that start with the same letter.
- Spell the words.
- Say the beginning sound of each word.
In the Reading and Quiet Areas:
Print out a set and divide the picture and the words. Place the separated sections in a basket and have the children put together the pictures with the matching words.
Mardi Gras Storybooks
Books are one of the most important literacy resources you can use. Good books will keep your children engaged and eager to use them; therefore, keep your library interesting and changing with the theme you are using.
Below are some books related to Madi Gras. You can find them at your local library and used bookstores, but if you want to expand your collection, just click on the names and it will take you directly to Amazon through my affiliate link, where you can purchase them.
- The Little Purple Mardi Gras Bead by Julie Rowley. The heartwarming tale offers opportunities for a discussion of bullying, self-worth, and inclusion with young readers. The delightful story and illustrations will charm the entire family and become a parade route favorite!
- 12 Days of Mardi Gras by Melisa Thibault. This book has colorful illustrations and uses repetition, alliteration, and visual humor abound in this Mardi Gras-themed riff on the iconic holiday song, perfect for emerging readers and early counters.
- Mimi’s First Mardi Gras by Alice Couvillon. Colorful illustrations of the rich cultural celebration re-create the look and mood of Carnival.
- Delphine Denise and the Mardi Gras Prize by Brittany Mazique. This joyful picture book explores the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the holiday. Full of vibrant and festive illustrations, this story reminds readers that winning isn’t everything, and the best way to let the good times roll is in the company of friends.
- Phoebe Cakes the Bulldog A Mardi Gras Tail by Michelle Dumont. The dynamic illustrations and clever rhyming verses in this story guide readers to discover the sights and sensations of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Pin It For Later
If you are in a rush and don’t have time to read the post and download the printable but want to save it for later, pin this to your Literacy, or Mardi Gras board on Pinterest.
Don’t forget to grab your FREE Mardi Gras Word Wall Cards printable by clicking on the link below!
I hope you and your children have fun with this printable, and help you teach your preschoolers some of the words for this very known celebration.
Be happy, safe, and creative. I wish you well.
Love,
P.S. Please let me know if this activity works for you, and if you would like to see an article or a printable about how to make something specific, please let me know and I will try my best to create it for you.
