↑

Preschool Inspirations

Preschool Activities and Learning

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Disclosure Policy, Copyright Items, and Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • My Book
  • Shop
  • Music
  • Science
  • Literacy
  • Math
  • Fine Motor

20+ Pool Noodle Hacks & Learning Ideas

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate links from Amazon or other programs are used on this website. See my disclosure policy here.

May 30, 2019 by Editor Leave a Comment

Pool noodles are the perfect material to transform into a pool noodle hack for a summer themed activity or idea. The bonus is that they are available almost everywhere.

Normally, when we think of pool noodles, we picture them bobbing around the pool or watching kids have a pool noodle fight. But they have so many other uses as well!

Pool noodles are genius for chopping up and adding letters or numbers to help children master skills such as math, reading, and more. There are so many fun ideas, I had a hard time picking my favorites. These ideas take pool noodles and turn them into engaging and exciting activities for kids!

Pool Noodle Hacks & Learning Ideas

See our favorite pool noodle hacks that don’t involve a pool!

Book cover for the Best Preschool Learning Activities

Get the best learning activities for 3-5 year olds at your fingertips

See inside the book!

Pool noodle hacks for learning and summer themed activities for preschool or kindergarten.

Math Learning Ideas and Activities

Teach counting, fractions, greater than or less than, and more — all with these pool noodle hacks and ideas.
Exciting activities that include Pool Noodles but instead of the pool, they help children strengthen skills with engaging activities!

Pool Noodle Abacus from Happy Hooligans:
This DIY pool noodle abacus makes a fun way to practice math and counting, and there are lots of other creative ways to use it as well!

Binary Code from JDaniel4’s Mom:
Making patterns and coding is extra fun when you do it with pool noodles!

Pool Noodle Fractions from WeAreTeachers:
Often times, kids need to see fractions to really understand them. This pool noodle learning hack is an incredible way to help children visually understand simple fractions!

Build A Base Ten from The Educator’s Spin On It:
Building base ten is a great way for kids to grasp more complicated math concepts. We love this pool noodle game and appreciate her suggestion on how often to use it!

Equation Game from WeAreTeachers:
While this activity is explained with multiplication, the same concept can be used for addition and subtraction facts. A simple way to help children with math facts on the go!

Create Patterns from Pocket Of Preschool:
Make fun floating pattern towers! This is a great math center or small group teamwork activity for preschoolers.

Pool Noodle Math Activity from Planning Playtime:
Understanding “greater than” and “less than” is an important math skill. Using pool noodles makes this easy to practice and learn.

Pool Noodle Tally Marks from Planning Playtime:
I enjoyed learning tally marks and teaching my kids about tally marks too. This is a SUPER fun way to practice.

Alphabet Learning Ideas and Activities

Help children learn important literacy skills and work on learning the alphabet with pool noodles by transforming them into pool noodle letters.
Exciting activities that include Pool Noodles but instead of the pool, they help children strengthen skills with engaging activities!

Pool Noodle Name Activity from Preschool Inspirations:
Names are the first word that children typically learn how to spell, read and write. Pool noodles are the perfect hands-on way to help children learn how to spell their name!

Pool Noodle Name Recognition

 

Pool Noodle CVC Words from Planning Playtime:
I love how this activity separates vowels and consonants! Use pool noodles to make real and nonsense words.

How To Use Pool Noodle Letters from Simply Kinder:
5 fun ways to use pool noodle letters, including simple instructions on how to make them.

Sight Word Boat Races from The Educator’s Spin On It:
Race your sight word boat to the finish line!

Pool Noodle Pencil from Laly Mom:
Turn a pool noodle into a giant pencil! This would be a perfect back to school decoration too.

ABC Basket from The Educator’s Spin On It:
Set out a basket of pool noodle letters and let the creativity begin!

 

STEM & Other Fun Activities

Pool noodles are also easy to turn into STEM activities for a preschool theme.

Exciting activities that include Pool Noodles but instead of the pool, they help children strengthen skills with engaging activities!

Indoor Tower Building from Little Bins for Little Hands:
How tall can you make your pool noodle and toothpick tower?? This activity incorporates creativity, fine motor skills, engineering, and fun!

Pool Noodle Fine Motor Skill Activity from My Mundane and Miraculous Life:
Strengthen fine motor skills with these fun and simple pool noodle activities.

Pool Noodle Card Holder from Little Bins for Little Hands:
What a brilliant idea to use pool noodles to help little kids hold cards while playing a game! This is great for bigger kids too.

Pool Noodle Monster from Create.Craft.Love:
This is a fun way to use old (or new) pool noodles. Let kids be creative and create their own little monsters!

Threading With Pool Noodles from Mrs Plemon’s Kindergarten:
If you scroll about halfway through the post, you’ll see an idea for threading with pool noodles. Kids can make banners, giant necklaces, and so much more!

Pool Noodle Race Car Track from Ramblings From Utopia:
Racing cars has never been so fun! Kids can race and play with the tracks and cars, with or without water!

Poking Bin from Busy Toddler:
Toddlers like to tinker. Using pool noodles as the base for this poking bin is a safe and fun way to play! Kids can explore and learn in a controlled space.

 

Exciting activities that include Pool Noodles but instead of the pool, they help children strengthen skills with engaging activities!

With all of those great pool noodle ideas and learning hacks, we hope you find a bunch of genius ways to use your pool noodles too!

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Editor
Editor
This was made by the combined efforts of the Preschool Inspirations team!
Editor
Latest posts by Editor (see all)
  • November Preschool Themes You’re Going to Love! - October 12, 2024
  • Valentine’s Day Letter Formation Mats - February 4, 2024
  • January Preschool Themes You’re Going to Love! - January 1, 2024
930 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Gross Motor, Literacy, Name Writing, Play Matters, STEAM, Summer, Writing Center Tagged With: gross motor, literacy, math, summer theme

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

I'm Katie, and I'm a veteran preschool teacher, child development research junkie, and mom of three who lives on little sleep and turns my kitchen into an art and science laboratory.

Come on in! I'm sharing my best play recipes, teacher tips, & learning activities with a sprinkling of real life!

My New Book!

Book cover for the Best Preschool Learning Activities

Peaceful Potty Training

cover image for potty training visual schedule

Graduation Certificates

cover image for graduation certificates

search

categories

archives

Copyright ©2025, Preschool Inspirations. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs
930 shares