TIPS FOR 2024 LESSON PLANS!

WORKING ON LESSON PLANS TODAY?

Ring in the New Year
(Tune: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”)
Let’s all do a little ringing, (Shake hands as if ringing bells.)
Let’s all do a little ringing,
Let’s all do a little ringing
It’s a Happy New Year!

Let’s all do a little clapping… (Clap hands.)
Let’s all do a little dancing… (Dance around.)
Let’s all do a little smiling… (Smile.)

When is your birthday?
When is your birthday?
When is your birthday?
Stand up and cheer.

(Say months of the year.)
January, February, March…(Children stand up on their birthday month.)

Let’s all be a little kinder… (Pat friends on the back.)
For a Happy New Year!


Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Make a brochure by folding a piece of paper into thirds. Label the sections “Yesterday”…”Today…”Tomorrow…” Children draw what they were like when they were little (babies or toddlers), what they look like now, and what they will be like when they are grown-up.
*You could also let children make a time line of their lives. (Writing Standard W.3)




Soaring in 2024

Let children draw (or write) goals for the New Year on a blank sheet of paper. Fold the paper into an airplane. Children state their goal and then fly their plane across the room (or outside).

What I Didn't Get for Christmas! 

Here's a novel writing topic to discourage children from bragging about what they "got"!

Step into 2024
You'll need is some funky duct tape for this project. Each day write some information you want to reinforce on a sheet of heavy paper and tape it to the floor with the funky tape by the classroom door. Children repeat the information each time as they go in and out the door. For example:
Letters - children say the letter and something that starts with the sound
Math facts - children say the answer
Sight words - children read the word
*Hint! You could also make letters, numbers, or shapes on the floor with the duct tape.

Home Learning Adventures

You'll want to involve families in 2024 with these tips from Laura Pearson!

Home Learning Adventures for Parents and Children

 

Photo by Freepik

 

In today's fast-paced world, parents often search for meaningful ways to connect and engage with their children. While the importance of formal education is undeniable, the role of home in a child's learning journey is equally significant. It's here, within the familiar walls of the home, that parents can create enriching, interactive educational experiences that not only impart knowledge but also strengthen bonds. This article, shared by Dr. Jean and Friends, explores a myriad of creative ideas that parents can easily implement at home, turning everyday activities into exciting learning opportunities.

Experiment with Household Wonders

Imagine the sparkle in your child's eyes when they witness the eruption of a homemade volcano or the creation of a rainbow in a glass of water. Simple, safe scientific experiments using household items are not only fascinating but also immensely educational. Parents can guide their children through experiments like making a baking soda and vinegar volcano, exploring density with oil and water, or even creating a homemade compass. These activities teach basic scientific principles, encourage curiosity, and develop a love for learning.

Cooking Up Knowledge

Cooking is another excellent way to blend education with fun. In the kitchen, children can learn about measurements, fractions, and the importance of following instructions. Baking a cake, for example, can become a lesson in measuringingredients accurately or doubling a recipe, which involves simple multiplication of fractions. These activities also improve fine motor skills and introduce children to the concept of chemical reactions in cooking, like yeast causing dough to rise.

The Magic of Gardening

Creating a small garden or even a window box garden offers numerous educational benefits. Gardening teaches children about plant biology, the importance of environmental care, and the responsibility of nurturing living things. It's a hands-on experience in science, an opportunity to discuss nutrition, and a perfect way to connect with nature. Even in urban settings, a small container garden can be a source of wonder and learning.

Artistic Explorations

Art projects are a fantastic way to encourage creativity and self-expression. Engaging in activities such as painting, crafting, or sculpting allows children to explore different mediums, understand colors, shapes, and textures, and express their emotions and ideas visually. Parents can participate by providing materials, suggesting themes, or even joining in the creation process, making it a collaborative and bonding experience.

Writing and Imagination

Collaboratively writing stories or creating a family journal is an excellent way to develop language skills, creativity, and imagination. Parents and children can take turns writing sentences or paragraphs, building a story together. This activity enhances vocabulary, encourages creative thinking, and can become a cherished family memory if documented in a journal.

Mathematics Made Fun

Using games to make math fun is an effective educational strategy. Board games, card games, or even simple games like hopscotch can be tailored to include mathematical challenges. Counting, addition, subtraction, and even more complex operations like multiplication can be taught through these playful methods. It makes learning math less intimidating and more engaging for children.

The Path to Educational Leadership

For parents who find themselves deeply invested and passionate about teaching and learning at home, there's a broader horizon to explore. The world of education and educators is vast and ever-evolving. There are numerous opportunities for shaping change in educational systems and methodologies. By pursuing further education in this field, such as obtaining a relevant degree, parents can dig into the offering of transitioning from home educators to professional roles that impact a wider audience. This path not only allows for personal growth but also contributes to shaping the future of education for more children.

 

 

 

The home offers a plethora of opportunities for educational engagement between parents and children. Through simple, yet creative activities, parents can instill a love for learning, foster curiosity, and strengthen familial bonds. These educational experiences at home lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning and may even inspire parents to delve deeper into the world of education. Ultimately, it's about making learning an enjoyable and integral part of everyday life, thus preparing children for a future where they view the world with wonder and knowledge.

MITTEN WEATHER

Mittens can keep your hands warm, but they can also 

make some fun games for your classroom.

Mitten Weather
Thumbs in the thumb place (Stick out thumbs.)
Fingers all together. (Put fingers together.)
This is the song
We sing in mitten weather. (Wiggle palms left and right.)
When it is cold (Wrap arms around self and shiver.)
It does not matter whether (Shake head.)
Mittens are wool (Hold out right hand.)
Or made of finest leather. (Hold out left hand.)


Mitten Applause
This is a quiet way to teach the children to applaud. Thumbs up and palms open facing each other. Pretend to clap stopping about 2" from each palm as if wearing mittens.


Mitten Games
The three little kittens may have lost their mittens, but here's a pattern so you can make your own mittens for these games.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljeFdMMzBGdTc0Qjg/view?usp=sharing

Visual Matching
Cut mittens out of a wallpaper book or wrapping paper. Cut two out of each pattern and then mix them up. Give children clothespins to clip the matching ones together. Introduce vocabulary to describe various patterns, such as “stripes,” “checked,” “plaid,” “solid,” “polka dots,” “animal print,” etc.

*Make mitten matching games with upper and lowercase letters or with pictures and beginning sounds.
*Make mitten matching games with antonyms or snynonyms.
*How about a matching game with math facts and answers?

Hint! Hang a piece of string between two chairs so the children can hang up their matching mittens.


Kitten Game
One person is “Mama” or “Papa” cat. “Mama” or “Papa” go out in the hall while the teacher selects 3-5 students to be their kittens. All students put their heads on their desks. The students who are kittens begin make quiet “meowing” noises. “Mama” or “Papa” cat must walk around the room and try to identify their kittens. When a kitten is found that student puts her hand in the air. The last kitten to be found becomes the new “Mama” or “Papa” cat.


Mitten Art
Let children trace around mitten patterns and cut out two. Can they decorate the mittens with crayons or markers so they look exactly the same? Hole punch around the sides of the mittens and sew with yarn.
Hint! Wrap the end of the yarn with tape to make it easier to sew.



The Mitten
Select several different versions of “The Mitten” and read them to your class. Compare and contrast stories and illustrations. Let the children vote on their favorite.
*This is also a delightful tale to dramatize. A blanket on the floor works just fine as a mitten.

BUILD A SNOWMAN

This was one of the cutest ideas I ever heard about to make a winter day FUN! Peg Caines (Greensboro, NC) shared it with me several years ago. Peg did it with her children, but I think it'd also be fun for teens or adults. What a perfect way to encourage children to cooperate, collaborate, and problem solve!

Build a Snowman
Peg said she gave each group a snowman kit with a construction paper hat, nose, buttons, and mittens. There was also a crepe paper scarf, a roll of masking tape, and a roll of toilet paper. (It took them awhile to figure out what to do with the toilet paper.)

Snowman’s Mystery Word
Draw a snowman on the board. Think of a word or phrase and put blanks for each letter. Children guess letters (similar to Hangman). The teacher writes the letters on the appropriate spaces. If a letter that is not in the word/phrase the teacher erases part of the snowman and puts the letter in the “trash pile.” Can they decode the word before the snowman is erased?



Disappearing Snowman
Draw a snowman on the board. If children are noisy or are not following directions explain that you will erase part of the snowman. Erase one part of the snowman throughout the day as a reminder. It won't take long before all you have to do is pick up the eraser and they'll be quiet!!!

Melt a Snowman Science Experiment
This is such an easy science experiment, but your kids will get a kick out of it.
Give each child a clear cup with an ice cube in it. Ask them to draw a picture of what it looks like. Have them predict how many minutes it will take their ice cube to melt. Encourage them to draw what it looks like after five minute intervals. Whose ice cube melted the fastest? Whose lasted the longest?

SNOWMAN'S STORY

Whether you live in Alaska or Florida, everybody loves snowmen!  If you've ever told my "Scat the Cat" story or "Timmy Turkey" you'll be excited to make this one about a snowman.

Snowman’s Story
Once there was a beautiful snowman made of white snow. Along came a red bird one day and the bird said,
Ha, ha, ha,
He, he, he,
You’re the funniest snowman I ever did see.
The snowman said,
Oh, dear, oh, dear,
Oh, me, oh, me!
Why am I the funniest snowman you ever did see?
Well, said the bird, you should be red like me. Red is such a bright, happy color.
So that night the snowman got some red dye and turned himself red. 
                                                       
The next day along came a yellow duck.
Ha, ha, ha….(The story continues as the snowman dyes himself yellow.)
The next day along came a green frog…
The next day along came blue bug…
            

The next day the snowman was feeling rather sad. Just then along came a little girl. She said, “Why are you so sad?” The snowman said, “I’ve dyed myself red and yellow and green and blue and I just don’t feel like myself.” The little girl said, “You are wonderful just the way you are! Always be yourself!” 
So the snowman blinked his eyes and he was once again the color of snow. From then on he was happy just being himself. And that’s why you always see snowmen with happy smiles on their faces.

*Cut a snowman shape out of the front of a file folder. Insert white, red, yellow, green, blue, and white paper. Glue the words to the story on the back. As you tell the story remove the paper to correspond with the story.
Hint! I painted snow on the file folder with White Out.
 
Five Little Snowmen Finger Play
Five little snowmen fat. (Hold up five fingers.)
Each wore a different hat.
Along came the sun and melted one. (Bend down one finger.)
Now, what do you think about that?

Four little snowmen fat… (Hold up four fingers.)
Three…Two…One
                                              
 
Cut snowmen out of felt as shown. Place a different colored hat on each one. Remove one snowman as each verse is said. 
*Place the flannel board and snowmen in a center so children can practice saying the rhyme and make sets.
*Make a simple flannel board by gluing a piece of felt to the front of a file folder. Staple the sides. Store pieces inside and glue a copy of the poem to the back.

Snowman Puppet
Cut a snowman out of heavy paper and decorate with markers. Cut a circle for the nose the width of your index finger. Cut another circle the size of your index finger out of a cup. Match up holes and tape the snowman in place. Put your hand in the cup and stick your index finger through the hole as you repeat the rhyme below.
A chubby little snowman
Had a carrot for a nose.
Along came a bunny
And what do you suppose?
That hungry little bunny
Looking for some lunch
Ate that little snowman’s nose
Nibble, nibble, crunch! (Slowly pull your finger back into the cup.)

LET IT SNOW!

Didn't your winter break just start and here you are thinking about your January lesson plans?
You'll find great ideas every day this week on my blog.

Let It Snow!
You will need jumbo craft sticks and an empty plastic cup for this game. Write simple sentences, sight words, letters, math facts, etc. on the sticks with a permanent marker. Glue a snowflake to the end of 2 sticks. Place the sticks in the can with the snowflakes on the bottom. Children pass the cup around, choose a stick, and read the information. If they choose the snowflake they sing, "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" and put all their sticks back.

Ice Skating
Give each child 2 paper plates. Demonstrate how to place these on the floor and put one foot on each plate. Slide your feet as if skating. Put on some waltz music and let the children skate, twist, and turn. Play “freeze.” When you stop the music children must “freeze” in their positions. When the music begins again they may continue to skate.

Add a little learning! Write letters, words, math facts, etc. on the plates. When the music stops the children have to exchange plates with a friend and identify the information on the new plates.

Snowballs
Give children scrap paper and have them write sight words, letters, math facts, or other skills on them. Divide the class into two teams and have them stand on opposite sides of the room. Wad up the paper to make snowballs. When the teacher says, "Let it snow!" the children begin throwing the snowballs at the opposite team. They must quickly find a snowball, open it, and identify the information before throwing it back at the other team.

Icebergs
Fill plastic containers with water. Add food coloring and freeze. Place these in your water table and tell the children they are icebergs. Add walruses, polar bears, and other plastic arctic animals.

Add a little learning! Have children predict how long it will take the "icebergs" to melt. Who guessed the closest time?

HERE COMES JANUARY!

So, what do you want to do today? Do you want to clean up all the holiday mess or do you want to work on lesson plans? No and No? Well, save these ideas for when you do want to work on January plans. These activities don't have "rigor," but they'll add a some fun to a cold day.

Snow Dough
You can use any play dough recipe for snow dough. Simply omit the food coloring and let the children knead in iridescent glitter to make it sparkle. (My favorite dough is: 2 cups flour, 2 cup salt, 2 TB. cream of tartar, 2 TB. vegetable oil, and 2 cups water. Mix ingredients together in a pan until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture forms a ball and sticks to the spoon. Cool and knead. Store in airtight containers.)
Note! Make sure children wash hands before and after playing with dough.

Add a little learning! Have children make objects that reinforce language skills, such as things that rhyme or objects that start with the same sound.
*Have children use play dough to show different ways to make a number.
*Let them make two and three dimensional shapes with the dough.


Snow Flakes
Let children fold coffee filters in half, then fourths, and eighths. Cut little “bites” out of the folded edges. Open. You can make colorful snowflakes by coloring the coffee filters with water soluble markers before cutting them.

*You can also use tissue paper or newspaper to make snowflakes.

Add a little learning! Give children copy paper cut in circles and challenge them to fill the page with sight words, letters, vocabulary words, or any skill you want to reinforce. Now, let them fold the paper and make a snowflake out of it. Can they still identify the words and letters they wrote?




Snow Prints
Invite children to draw winter scenes on blue construction paper with crayons. Give them white paint and a sponge or Q-tip to “make it snow.”

Add a little learning! Write winter vocabulary words or stories and then make it snow. 

CAROLYN KISLOSKI'S SNOWFLAKE POST 

3 Words... Target. Dollar. Spot. These are the kids' new magic "winter reading glasses!" $1! They had Santas and Reindeer, too, but I liked these because they work all winter.



They will be great for our Snow Sight Word Write. For some reason, special glasses really help them focus!



I used a big white bin for my "snow sight words." Here are some snow ideas you can use, shown in large bowls.



The children dig through the snow to find sight words and record them on their Snowy Sight Word Sheet. These are just some of the things I use for snow, you can use anything! The items work best when there are a LOT of whatever you use, in a big container. The more to "feel," the better!

(I had LOTS of these pearls left from my daughter's wedding. They came is a big container from Walmart.)


Rice

(This is just showing the sight words hidden in the rice.)


Snow Storm! I used packing peanuts, cotton balls, plastic snowflakes I had, beans, and rice. This makes a really fun sensory table in a big tub or bin!.


Cotton Balls


Plastic Snowflakes


Packing Peanuts


Beans are some of my favorites. If you put them in the freezer before center time, and they stay really cold! Plus, I can write the words right on the beans.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!

 

MY WISH...

I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in 

jars and open a jar of it every month. 
Harlan Miller

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.

Laura Ingalls Wilder



Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves.

Eric Sevareid


 

"Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.” “Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more!” 

The Grinch

My wish for you is that this day is full of wonderful blessings!  I hope all the love you give to  your students every day comes back to you and fills you with joy! 

                               

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

HAPPY, HAPPY, JOY, JOY!

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Norman Vincent Peale


Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. Mary Ellen Chase


What is Christmas? It is a tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may end in peace. Agnes M. Pharo


Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and the cards to be bought and given – when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes. Joan Winmill Brown


I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. Harlan Miller


The only blind person at Christmastime is he who has not Christmas in his heart. Helen Keller


Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone. Charles Schulz


God bless us, every one! Tiny Tim


And now I'm going to turn my computer off and start having some FUN! See you December 26th!

WELCOME, GOOD-BYE, WE MISSED YOU!

WELCOME TO A NEW FRIEND

Here's a little song to sing when a new child joins your classroom. It goes to the tune of “Good Night, Ladies.” 

Hello, (child’s name).
Hello, (child’s name).
Hello, (child’s name).
We're glad you're in our room.

This was a silly routine that my class used to introduce their names. We'd sit in a circle and I'd put a block in the middle. We'd go around the circle and one child at a time would stand and jump over the block as we sang their name to "Jack Be Nimble."

(Child's name) be nimble.
(Child's name) be quick.
(Child's name) jump over the candlestick.


Good-Bye Book
Moving away or going to a new school is painful for children. We’ve all felt that sense of loss when we have moved or said good-bye to friends. This book would give children a meaningful way to let their friend know they will be missed. 

Directions:  Ask each child to draw a picture for their friend who is leaving. (They could write a sentence or dictate a sentence about that child.) Make a cover and staple the children's drawings to create a tangible memory.

*Hint! A class photo would make a great cover.

Autograph Shirt
Invite the child who is leaving to bring a large white T-shirt. Friends can sign their names and draw pictures with permanent markers.

We Missed You!

Isn’t it nice to be missed? If a child has been absent, they will feel special when they return to school and you sing this song to the tune of “The Bear Went over the Mountain.”

Welcome back (child’s name).
Welcome back (child’s name).
Welcome back (child’s name).
We’re glad you’re here today.

BAKE COOKIES DAY

BAKE COOKIES DAY might not be until December 18th, but it's fun to bake cookies any day of the year. Here’s what holidayinsights.com this special day:

'Ya gotta just love Bake Cookies Day......... 

..... Christmas is for Christians 

..... Hanukkah is just for Jews 
.
.... Ramadan is for those of Islamic descent 

..... Kwanzaa is for those of African origin 

..... Native American Day is for American Indians

But, Bake Cookies Day is for EVERYONE! 


Play Dough
Put cookie cutters and play dough on a cookie sheet. Add a rolling pin (cylinder block), scissors, and plastic utensils.

Paper Ornaments
Put some cookie cutters, scissors, glue, and the scrap box out on a table. Let children trace around the cookie cutters, cut out their paper cookies, and then decorate with stickers or glitter pens. Punch a hole, tie on a string, and decorate the tree. 



Graph
What’s your favorite kind of cookie? Do a bar graph and tally the results. 



Recipes
Let children write their own “how to make cookies” recipes. 



Descriptions
Give each child a cookie and ask them to draw what it looks like. Next, ask them to write 2-5 sentences describing their cookie. Finally, they get to eat the cookie! 



What else? Read books or sing songs about cookies…or, just wait until a boring January day to do these things!! 


ALL IS CALM?

Does it seem like the closer you get to the holidays, the more the noise escalates in your classroom? Here are a few tips teachers have shared that they use in their classrooms. 

QUIET Man (Candace Reed)
Make "quiet man" with your fingers by sticking up pinky and pointer and touching thumb, ring man, and tall man. When the teacher holds up "quiet man" the children respond by making "quiet man" and focusing on the teacher.

Magic Triangle (Cathy Crady)
Remind children that they all have a magic triangle in their pocket. (Place pointers and thumbs next to each other to form a triangle.) When the children need to calm down ask them to take out their magic triangle and hold it in front of their mouth. Tell them to take a deep breath in through their nose, and then slowly blow through the triangle.

Body Check
Explain that it's important to listen with your eyes, ears, and bodies.

*Teacher: Are your eyes looking at me?
Children: Check!
Teacher: Are your ears ready to listen?
Children: Check!
Teacher: Are your bodies sitting quietly?
Children: Check!
Teacher: Are you ready to learn?
Children: Check!

Breathe through Your Nose
Tell children to slowly breath in and out their noses. It’s surprising how this will calm them – and they won’t be able to talk!

Self Control (Becky Gilsdorf)
Use this visual cue to help children who are out of control.
Cross hands over your chest. (Self)
Slide both hands down the sides of your body. (Control)
As the child repeats the movements silently it will calm them down.

Popcorn Cheer (Kristen Reed)
The popcorn cheer is the perfect way to release wiggles before they explode. The teacher says, “Assume the position,” as all the children squat down on the floor. The teacher points quickly to each student and she/he jumps up and yells “POP” and then squats back down. After pointing to every child the teacher says, “EVERYBODY!” and they all jump up and say, “POP!”

Wiggles
With a wiggle wiggle here
And a wiggle wiggle there
I wiggle my fingers around in the air.
I wiggle my shoulders up and down
I wiggle my nose and smile like a clown.
I wiggle my legs both left and right
I wiggle my thumbs with all my might.
With a wiggle wiggle here
And a wiggle wiggle there
Then I wiggle right down
And sit in my chair!

* I love to learn new things.  I recently met Jo Proffitt and she taught me this great wiggle break.  Thank you, Jo!

LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

Although LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE isn't until December 21st, keeping optimistic is something that teachers struggle with every day - especially this time of year.

Many of you might have students who are a little like Eeyore. “Woe is me…nobody likes me…it’s going to be a bad day…” Unfortunately, some of these children get a lot of attention for their negative attitudes.

But, rather than focusing on a pessimistic outlook, I’m going to focus on being optimistic today. This Winnie the Pooh cartoon is one of my favorites because for some children, being with YOU every day is the best thing that can happen to them.



How can you help your students LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE?

First, have a class discussion about what it means to look on the bright side. Accept their responses without judging. Ask them for examples of what it means to be optimistic. What does it mean to be pessimistic? What kind of friends do you like to be around?
*Make a T-chart of optimistic and pessimistic behaviors.

Here are three simple behaviors that will encourage children to look on the bright side.

I CAN
Change I CAN’T to I CAN! We are AmeriCANS and so we always need to say I CAN! Teach children this little chant to say to themselves when they have a difficult task or are trying something new.

I Think I Can
(Tune: "If You're Happy and You Know It")
I think I can are words I like to say.
I think I can are words I like to say.
If I try with all my might, in time I'll get it right.
I think I can are words I like to say.


BE THANKFUL
Look around at all the things you have to be grateful for each day. Pencils, books, friends, trees, food, families... If you focus on what you do have then you won’t have time to worry about what you don’t have. Start each day by passing around a smiley face puppet and asking each child to name something that they are thankful for or happy about.


MISTAKES ARE O.K.
Making mistakes is an important part of the “hidden curriculum” that is not in your state standards. If children learn to experience failure in the classroom, they will be much better equipped to handle it in real life and the work force. Losing a game, missing a word when you read, or running down the hall are all opportunities where children can learn and be challenged to try something different the next time.

I make mistakes, you make mistakes, everybody makes mistakes, and that’s O.K.

*As a teacher, model making mistakes and then saying, “I’m sorry.” Model how to clean up your mistakes. Model how to say, “Next time I will….”

*Let children role play making mistakes.

*Read THE BEAUTIFUL OOPS! by Barney Saltzberg.

*Make a class booked called “Mistakes Are O.K.” where children write, draw, or dictate mistakes they make and how they can do better the next time.

It's O.K. to Make Mistakes
(Tune: “This Old Man”)
It’s O.K. to make mistakes
Mistakes are always O.K. to make.
You can say, “Ooops!” and try it again.
It will be fine in the end.

Moms and dads, teachers, too,
We all make mistakes, it’s true.
Say, “Oh, well!” and try something new.
Use mistakes to learn what to do.


*Note! These activities might be a great way to start 2019!

WINTER IS COMING!

WINTER is a WINNER for your science lesson this week. December 21st is known as the winter solstice or the first day of winter. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Help your students get ready for Old Man Winter with these ideas.

Science
Ask your students what causes winter. (Accept their answers without judging.) Have one child pretend to be the sun and stand in the middle of the circle. Use a globe to demonstrate how the earth rotates around the sun. It takes 365 days or one year for the earth to go all around the sun. Demonstrate how the earth tilts on its axis away from the sun to cause winter. Why? What happens when the earth tilts toward the sun?


Signs of Winter
Brainstorm signs of winter. What happens to the temperature in winter? What happens to the plants? What happens to animals?

Vocabulary

Make an attribute web of winter words. Include winter clothing, sports, holidays, etc.

Animals Adapt
How do animals adapt in the winter? What animals hibernate?
What animals migrate?



Habitats
Some habitats are very cold in the winter with ice and snow. Other habitats are warmer in the winter. Use a map of the United States and have children identify their state. Do they have ice and snow in the winter? Can they find a state where it’s warm and sunny in the winter? What do they think causes the difference?

Internet Search
Visit a weather site, such as weather.gov, to compare regional weather.

Nature Walk 

Go on a nature walk and look for signs of winter. Let each child take a digital photograph of a sign of winter. Put these together to make a class collage.



Trees
Explain that evergreen trees stay green all winter. Deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter. Can they find evergreen and deciduous trees on the playground? Can they find them in their yard at home?

Make a Book
Staple two sheets of paper and let children use descriptive writing to make a book called “Winter Is…”

Creative Writing
Invite children to write a story about “Old Man Winter.” I found this great writing paper free at www.teach-nology.com.

Wishing you happy winter days!!!