Something old...something new...I bet you'll find another idea or two!
Pass the Letters! (Danielle Montage)
(Tune: “Muffin Man”)
Oh, look who has the letter
bag,
The letter bag, the letter
bag.
Oh, look who has the letter
bag.
Now please take a letter!
*Fill a bag with
letters. When the song stops, have
the child holding the bag pull out a letter and identify it.
Letter Shop (Chrissy Johnston)
(Tune: “Five Little Ducks “)
Down around the corner at
the “S” shop. (Insert
letter you are studying.)
There were all kinds of
letters just waiting to be bought.
Along came (child’s name)
with a penny in her hand.
She bought a (name object)
and away she ran.
*Place objects that begin
with the sound in your “store” on a table. Before singing describe an object that begins with the sound
for the students to buy.
Alphabet Monster Game (Danielle Montage)
Decorate a coffee can or
Pringles can with construction paper and decorate to look like the “Alphabet
Monster.” Cut a hole for the
mouth. Lay all the letters (shapes,
colors…) on the carpet/table. Say
a letter in a silly/goofy monster voice.
Have the child search for it, and then feed it to the monster by placing
it in his mouth. CHOMP!!
Name Song
(Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
All: Where
is Sam?
Where
is Kim?
Sam and Kim sing: Here
we are. Here we are.
All: How
are you today?
Sam and Kim: Very
well, we thank you.
All: Run
around, then switch spots.
(Sam
and Kim run in a circle and switch seats.)
Gift Bag Battleship (Donna)
This game is good for oral
language and following directions.
You will need a gift bag that is the same on both sides, as well as
counters. (Erasers from the dollar
store work well.) Two students
take a bag and face each other.
Put a file folder as a barrier between them. One student is the teacher and gives directions for covering
up objects on the bag. When all
the markers are placed on the bags the folders goes down and the students look
to see if both sides match.
*This helps students
understand the importance of positional words and the need to be specific with
directions. In the beginning you
can do this with partners or as a fishbowl for everyone to see.
Peace and Quiet (Maria Bell)
To focus children’s
attention say “peace” as you make the peace signal with your two fingers in the
air and “quiet” as you put your index finger from the other hand over your
lips.
Question of the Day
(Maria Bell)
Use a five frame or tens
frame to answer the question of the day.
As children place their picture in the frame it will help their
understanding of tens and ones.
Flip Book (Linda Thomas)
These flip books can be
useful for developing oral language, vocabulary, math (sequence, ordinals), and
science (life cycle, procedure).
Take construction paper and make a hotdog. Cut from the edge to the fold to make equal flaps. Glue items under the flaps in “correct”
order. Have children describe
their flip books in front of the class.
*The teacher who shared this
activity taught in a French immersion school. She said this was a great tool for engaging her students in
oral conversation.
Light and Write
(Caroline, Tina, Megan)
Use small finger lights from
the dollar store to read and write around the room.
Beanie Baby Reading
Strategies (Caroline, Tina, Megan)
You can google this to get
ideas for helping children decode words using Beanie Babies as clues. “Stretchy Snake” reminds them to
stretch out words. “Chunky Money”
tells them to look for smaller chunks they can read…
Zap It (Mary Katherine Leighton)
Place sight words on the end
of craft sticks. Have a few that
say, “Zap it!” Students pull
sticks out of the can with friends and say the word. If they get “Zap It!” they have to put all their sticks back
in the can. Keep a tally of the
score. The fifth stroke is the
seatbelt.
*Use for numerals, letters,
colors, shapes, etc.
Counting Game (Ellen Raymond)
Children stand in a
circle. Determine how to count –
1’s, 2’s, 5’s, 10’s - and pick an ending number. Go around the circle and each child says the next number. The student who says the ending number
must sit down. Continue until only
one person is left standing.
*Cheer for the winner and
for the first person who sits down.
Writing Center (Sarah Risk)
Use a small science board
(available at dollar stores) with Velcro dots attached. This way you can easily exchange the
word cards based on the subject you are studying. The science board stands easily on a table and gives
everyone the opportunity to see the words.
Jazzy Word (Caroline, Tina, Megan)
Decorate two lanyard
nametags with stickers and jewels.
Insert sight words. The
teacher and helper wear the word as you sing and spell to “BINGO”:
There was a jazzy word of
the day
and like was the
word-o.
L-i-k-e, l-i-k-e, l-i-k-e,
Like was the word-o.
Super Cleaner Necklaces
(Sarah)
Make 6 necklaces with “Super
Cleaner” medals. During clean up
time, hand out the necklaces to the students who are “caught” doing a super job
leaning up. Have them come to the
front of the room and give them a group cheer.