Use these books as a springboard for informative writing.
W.K.2. Use a combination of drawing,
dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they
name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
Journals –
Each child will need a spiral notebook or pocket folder for this activity. Provide children with markers and
stickers to decorate the front of their journals. Explain that each day they will receive a “secret code” to
write at the top of their page.
The secret code will be the date.
For example, October 3, 2012, would be 10-3-12. Provide them with a quiet time each day
to write or draw in their journals.
Offer to be their “secretary” if they choose to add labels or a sentence.
*This would be a
perfect activity as they arrive at school each morning. At morning meeting several children
could be selected to share their journal entries.
Science
Journals – Hunt on the playground for sticks that are about 7” long.
Fold several sheets
of paper in half. Punch two holes
near the fold as shown.
Insert a rubber
band in one hole and loop it around the top of the stick. Stretch the rubber band through the
other hole and loop it around the bottom of the stick. Use to record science observations,
nature walks, experiments, etc.
Rule Book
– Have a class discussion about why rules are important. Give each child a sheet of paper to
draw a rule that they think would be good for the class. Let them write or dictate a sentence
about the rule. Put their rules
together to make a class book.
When children are behaving inappropriately, get the rule book and point
to a page in the book as you say, “Look, it says in the book what you need to
be doing.”
Look! Look! Book – Make binoculars out of toilet paper rolls. (Tape two rolls together and then punch
holes and tie on a piece of string.)
Go outside on a nature walk.
When you return to the room give each child a sheet of paper with two
large circles as shown. Children
draw what they saw through their binoculars and then fill in this
sentence: “I saw_________.”
Field Trip
Brochure – Fold a sheet of paper into thirds as shown to make a
brochure. After a field trip
children can make a brochure about where they went. You could also let them make a brochure of some place they
would like to visit.
Postcard –
Make postcards by cutting cardstock into 4” x 6” rectangles. Children can draw pictures of their
school, friends, or activities they enjoy. Next, let them write or dictate on the postcard and mail it
to a relative.