Interest Inventory
In addition to saving writing samples and self portraits in a “portfolio” each month, have children complete an “interest inventory” by filling in sentences similar to the ones below:
I am good at______.
I like to _____.
I want to work on _____.
My favorite book is _____.
I wish _____.
Hint! Younger children could just dictate their responses to an adult.
*Wouldn't this be good to share at parent conferences? It would also be a good springboard for student led conferences.
Criss Cross Nursery Rhymes
This activity combines two of my favorite things – nursery rhymes and crossing the midline. Wouldn’t this be a great brain break for any age?
You can adapt all nursery rhymes can to these movements:
Jack (extend right arm)
And Jill (extend left arm)
Went up (right hand on left shoulder)
A hill (left hand on right shoulder)
To fetch (right hand on right hip)
A pail (left hand on left him)
Of Wa- (right hand on left knee)
Ter (left hand on right knee)
(Clap Hands!)
Jack (extend right arm)
Fell down (extend left arm)
And broke (right hand on left shoulder)
His crown (left hand on right shoulder)
And Jill (right hand on right hip)
Came (left hand on left hip)
Tumbling (right hand on left knee)
After (left hand on right knee)
YEAH! (Thumbs up!)
Touch and Count
Touch different body parts as you count by tens. For example, touch your head as you count 1-9. Touch your shoulders as you count 10-19. Then touch your knees as you count 20-29, and so forth.
Vinny Vertical and Harry Horizontal (Amy Freund)
Can you tell which one is Vinny Vertical and which one is Harry Horizontal?
Money Signs
Reinforce coin value by adapting “high five.”
Jack (extend right arm)
Fell down (extend left arm)
And broke (right hand on left shoulder)
His crown (left hand on right shoulder)
And Jill (right hand on right hip)
Came (left hand on left hip)
Tumbling (right hand on left knee)
After (left hand on right knee)
YEAH! (Thumbs up!)
Touch and Count
Touch different body parts as you count by tens. For example, touch your head as you count 1-9. Touch your shoulders as you count 10-19. Then touch your knees as you count 20-29, and so forth.
Vinny Vertical and Harry Horizontal (Amy Freund)
Can you tell which one is Vinny Vertical and which one is Harry Horizontal?
Money SignsReinforce coin value by adapting “high five.”
“high penny” – children touch pointer fingers in air
“high five” – children open palms and touch five fingers
“high dime” – children open both hands and touch ten fingers with their partner
Sticky Notes
Use sticky notes to encourage writing and reinforce functional print. “Get a sticky note and write it down so you don’t forget.” “Put a sticky note on your desk about riding home with your aunt.” “Put a sticky note in the book when you find the solution.” Hint! Many
times doctors or dentists have sticky notes from pharmaceutical companies that they will be glad to share with you.
Serious Science
Add a silly pair of glasses (Groucho Marx with a mustache or seasonal glasses available at dollar stores) to your science center. When children do experiments they get to put on the glasses.
Dialog Bubbles
The speech bubbles used in cartoons are interesting for children to write in. Ask children to draw their picture and make bubbles saying their favorite word or phrase. You can also cut giant bubbles out of poster board and laminate them. Children can write on these with an erasable marker.
Row with Vowels
Sing the vowels to the tune of “Row Your Boat.”
A E I O U
A E I O U
A E I O U
A E I O U – and sometimes “Y”. (Put hands in the air and shake.)
“high five” – children open palms and touch five fingers
“high dime” – children open both hands and touch ten fingers with their partner
Sticky Notes
Use sticky notes to encourage writing and reinforce functional print. “Get a sticky note and write it down so you don’t forget.” “Put a sticky note on your desk about riding home with your aunt.” “Put a sticky note in the book when you find the solution.” Hint! Many
times doctors or dentists have sticky notes from pharmaceutical companies that they will be glad to share with you.
Serious Science
Add a silly pair of glasses (Groucho Marx with a mustache or seasonal glasses available at dollar stores) to your science center. When children do experiments they get to put on the glasses.
Dialog Bubbles
The speech bubbles used in cartoons are interesting for children to write in. Ask children to draw their picture and make bubbles saying their favorite word or phrase. You can also cut giant bubbles out of poster board and laminate them. Children can write on these with an erasable marker.
Row with Vowels
Sing the vowels to the tune of “Row Your Boat.”
A E I O U
A E I O U
A E I O U
A E I O U – and sometimes “Y”. (Put hands in the air and shake.)