Days of the Week for Kindergarten: Names, Order, Activities and Fun Exercises

Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Sunday. 

Seven days. Seven names. And for a kindergarten child, learning all of them, in the right order, is one of the first big vocabulary achievements in English. 

The days of the week are some of the most useful words in the English language. They appear in conversations every single day. ‘What day is it today?’ ‘School is on Monday.’ ‘We are going to the park on Saturday.’ Understanding and using these words gives young children a real sense of time, routine, and the week ahead.

This article covers everything needed to teach and learn the days of the week for kindergarten children: the names, the order, what each day means, fun activities to make them stick, and practice exercises that feel more like play than study. The content is written to be used by both children and the adults helping them learn.

Table of Contents

• The Seven Days of the Week: Names and Order
• Weekdays and the Weekend
• Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
• What Happens on Each Day? Connecting Days to Routines
• How to Remember the Days of the Week
• Practice Exercises

The Seven Days of the Week: Names and Order

There are seven days in a week. They always follow the same order, and the week starts on Monday in most countries.

The seven days in order:

 

Number	Day	Pronunciation
1	Monday	MUN-day
2	Tuesday	TYOOZ-day
3	Wednesday	WENZ-day
4	Thursday	THURZ-day
5	Friday	FRY-day
6	Saturday	SAT-er-day
7	Sunday	SUN-day

 

Important things to know about the days of the week:

The names of the days of the week are always written with a capital letter at the start. This is a rule in English that never changes.

• Correct: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

• Incorrect: monday, tuesday, wednesday

The days always follow the same order. After Sunday, the week starts again with Monday. Each day has a short form used in calendars and timetables:

 

Day	Short Form
Monday	Mon
Tuesday	Tue
Wednesday	Wed
Thursday	Thu
Friday	Fri
Saturday	Sat
Sunday	Sun

 

A fun way to learn the order:

Think of the days as a circle, not a line. After Sunday ends, Monday begins again. The week never stops; it just keeps going around and around like a wheel.

Weekdays and the Weekend

The seven days of the week are divided into two groups: weekdays and the weekend.

Weekdays

Weekdays are the five days when most children go to school and most adults go to work. The five weekdays are:

• Monday
• Tuesday
• Wednesday
• Thursday
• Friday

These days are sometimes called ‘school days’ by young children because they are the days when school happens.

The Weekend

The weekend is made up of the last two days of the week. Most children do not go to school on weekend days. Many families use these days for rest, outings, and spending time together. The two weekend days are:

• Saturday
• Sunday

Easy way to remember:

• Weekdays = Monday to Friday = school days
• Weekend = Saturday and Sunday = fun and rest days

In sentences:

• I go to school on weekdays.

• We go to the park on the weekend.

• Saturday and Sunday are my favourite days because there is no school.

• On weekdays, I wake up early. On weekends, I sleep a little longer.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Once children know the names of the days, the next step is learning how to talk about time using three important words: yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

 

Day	Meaning	Example 1	Example 2
Today	The current day: the day that is happening right now	Today is Wednesday.	What are we having for lunch today?
Yesterday	The day that came just before today: one day in the past	Yesterday was Tuesday.	Yesterday, we painted pictures at school.
Tomorrow	The day that comes just after today; one day in the future	Tomorrow is Thursday.	Tomorrow, we are going to visit grandma.

 

How they work together:

1. If today is Wednesday:

• Yesterday was Tuesday
• Tomorrow will be Thursday

2. If today is Friday:

• Yesterday was Thursday
• Tomorrow will be Saturday

3. If today is Sunday:

• Yesterday was Saturday
• Tomorrow will be Monday

A simple pattern to practise:

Say today’s day out loud.

Then say: Yesterday was __________.

Then say: Tomorrow will be __________.

This simple exercise, done every morning, is one of the most effective ways to help kindergarten children internalise the order of the days.

In sentences:

• Today is Monday. Yesterday was Sunday. Tomorrow will be Tuesday.

• My birthday was yesterday; it was on Saturday.

• Tomorrow is Friday, the last school day of the week.

What Happens on Each Day? Connecting Days to Routines

Young children learn best when new words are connected to real experiences and routines. Connecting each day of the week to something that actually happens in the child’s life makes the names meaningful and memorable.

Monday

Monday is the first day of the school week. After the weekend, Monday is the day of fresh starts: new lunches packed, new lessons beginning, and the week stretching ahead. 

Things that often happen on Monday:

• First day back at school after the weekend
• Morning assemblies in many schools
• A new week of learning begins

Examples:

• On Monday, I go back to school after the weekend.

• Monday is the first day of the week.

Tuesday

Tuesday is the second weekday. By Tuesday, the week has found its rhythm, and school feels familiar again after Monday’s fresh start. 

Things that often happen on Tuesday:

• Regular school classes
• Sports practice for many children
• Library visits in some schools

Examples:

• On Tuesday, we have our library period.

• Tuesday comes after Monday.

Wednesday

Wednesday is the middle of the week, the third weekday. It is sometimes called ‘hump day’ because it sits right in the middle of the working week, like the top of a hill. 

Things that often happen on Wednesday:

• Art class in many schools
• Mid-week activities and clubs
• The halfway point of the school week

Examples:

• Wednesday is the middle of the week.

• We have art class on Wednesday.

Thursday

Thursday is the fourth weekday. By Thursday, the weekend is almost in sight. It is one of the busiest days of the school week for many children. 

Things that often happen on Thursday:

• Music or dance lessons in many schools
• Science experiments
• Almost the end of the school week

Examples:

• Thursday comes just before Friday.

• On Thursday, we have music class.

Friday

Friday is the last day of the school week. It is often a favourite day for children because the weekend is about to begin. Many schools have fun activities, assemblies, or special classes on Friday. 

Things that often happen on Friday:

• End-of-week assemblies
• Show and tell or class sharing activities
• Excitement about the coming weekend

Examples:

• Friday is the last day of the school week.

• On Friday, we have show and tell.

• Everyone is happy on Friday because the weekend is coming.

Saturday

Saturday is the first day of the weekend. It is usually a day for fun, family, and activities outside school. Many children look forward to Saturday all week. 

Things that often happen on Saturday:

• Family outings and picnics
• Sport and outdoor activities
• Shopping trips with parents
• Visiting grandparents or friends

Examples:

• Saturday is the first day of the weekend.

• On Saturday, my family goes to the park.

• I love Saturday because there is no school.

Sunday

Sunday is the last day of the week and the second day of the weekend. It is often a quieter, more restful day. By Sunday evening, many children begin to think about the week ahead and prepare for Monday.

Things that often happen on Sunday:

• Rest and relaxation at home
• Religious visits for many families
• Preparing school bags and uniforms for Monday
• Family meals together

Examples:

• Sunday is the last day of the week.

• On Sunday, our whole family eats together.

• After Sunday comes Monday, and the new week begins.

How to Remember the Days of the Week

Learning seven new words in the correct order is a real achievement for a kindergarten child. These strategies make it easier and more enjoyable.

Strategy 1: The Finger Method

Hold up one finger for each day while saying its name.

• Thumb: Monday
• Index finger: Tuesday
• Middle finger: Wednesday
• Ring finger: Thursday
• Little finger: Friday
• Thumb: Saturday
• Index finger: Sunday

This physical method connects the body to the learning, which helps young children remember much more effectively.

Strategy 2: The Story Method

Turn the days into a simple story that the child can retell.

Monday was the first day. Monday went to school. Tuesday came next and brought a blue pencil. Wednesday sat in the middle and painted a picture. Thursday came after and played the drum. Friday arrived last and shouted: the weekend is here! Saturday came running with a picnic basket. And Sunday arrived quietly, yawned, and went to sleep.

Stories with characters and actions are remembered far more easily than lists of words.

Strategy 3: The Colour Method

Assign a colour to each day of the week. Children who think visually find this extremely helpful. A simple suggestion:

• Monday: Blue (the calm start)

• Tuesday: Green (growing through the week)

• Wednesday: Yellow (the bright middle)

• Thursday: Orange (warming up toward the end)

• Friday: Red (exciting, the weekend is close!)

• Saturday: Purple (fun and special)

• Sunday: White (rest and peace)

Draw a rainbow or colour strip and label each colour with its day.

Strategy 4: The Calendar Method

Keep a simple weekly calendar on the wall at home or in the classroom. Every morning, the child points to the correct day and says its name out loud. They can cross off or tick each day as it passes. 

This builds both vocabulary and a practical sense of time and sequence.

Strategy 5: Daily Check-In

Every morning, ask the child three simple questions:

• What day is today?

• What day was yesterday?

• What day will tomorrow be?

This daily repetition, done consistently, is one of the most powerful learning tools available.

Practice Exercises

A. Write or say the missing day of the week in each sequence.

1. Monday, __________, Wednesday
2. Wednesday, Thursday, __________
3. __________, Saturday, Sunday
4. Tuesday, __________, Thursday
5. Friday, Saturday, __________
6. __________, Monday, Tuesday
7. Thursday, __________, Saturday

B. Read each clue and write or say the correct day.

1. It comes after Thursday and before Saturday. What day is it?
2. It is the first day of the week. What day is it?
3. It is the last day of the week. What day is it?
4. It comes after Saturday. What day is it?
5. It is right in the middle of the week; the third weekday. What day is it?
6. It comes before Tuesday. What day is it?
7. It is the second day of the weekend. What day is it?

C. Answer each question using the correct day of the week.

1. Today is Monday. What day was yesterday?
2. Today is Friday. What day is tomorrow?
3. Today is Wednesday. What day was yesterday?
4. Today is Sunday. What day is tomorrow?
5. Today is Thursday. What day was yesterday?
6. Yesterday was Saturday. What day is today?
7. Tomorrow is Tuesday. What day is today?

D. Read each day and write W for Weekday or WE for Weekend.

1. Monday:
2. Saturday:
3. Wednesday:
4. Sunday:
5. Friday:
6. Tuesday:
7. Thursday:

E. These days are mixed up. Write them in the correct order from first to last.

Friday, Monday, Wednesday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday

F. Complete each sentence with a real activity from the child’s own weekly routine.

1. On Monday, I __________.
2. On Tuesday, I __________.
3. On Wednesday, I __________.
4. On Thursday, I __________.
5. On Friday, I __________.
6. On Saturday, I __________.
7. On Sunday, I __________.

G. Read each sentence and write True or False.

1. Monday is the first day of the week.
2. Saturday is a weekday.
3. Sunday comes before Saturday.
4. Wednesday is the middle of the school week.
5. There are six days in a week.
6. Friday is the last weekday.
7. The weekend has two days.
8. Thursday comes before Wednesday.