"Ooookkkaaalllahhhoommmaaaa!!!" 2011
Every child needs a partner and touches body parts as the teacher calls out:
back to back (touch backs)
shoulder to shoulder (touch shoulders)
elbow to elbow
knee to knee
head to head
wrist to wrist
feet to feet
hip to hip
Continue calling out vaious body parts...
End with "bottom to chair" as children sit down!
Can You Dig It? (Rachel Lawrence)
Hide magnetic numerals in a sand table. Each student is given a sheet with math facts appropriate to their level. During math centers they have to do their facts and then dig out the answers (magnetic letters) in the sand.
*You can also hide letters and have children spell words.
Spelling Trays (Rachel Lawrence)
Prepare "spelling trays" in plastic drawers. Children choose a tray and then take it to their desk and spell words using one of the materials below:
*Wikki sticks
*magnetic letters
*puzzle letters
*black light pens (security pen with black light key chain)
*alphabet stickers
*alphabet blocks
*dry erase board
Let’s Look Important! (Diane Ringer)
Use this idea instead of criss cross applesauce.
Would you like to know how to look important? Put your right hand over your heart like this. (Demonstrate)
Put your left hand across your chest and fold your arms like this. (Demonstrate)
Lift up your chin and smile importantly. Now look at all my important people!
Song Requests (Heather Cline)
Make a box for song requests. Children write their favorite song on a sheet of paper and put it in the box. Pull requests each morning and sing.
End of Day Chant (Linda Wood)
Sit in a circle criss cross applesauce and start the chant with this rhythm:
Slap knees two times
Clap two times
Snap two times
Clap two times
“Linda, Linda, what do you say?
What did you like at school today?”
The child has to tell what they liked best that day. It’s a good way to remember what they learned as you reinforce oral language.
A Fuzzy Little Caterpillar (Leanne Hutchison)
(Tune: "I Had a Little Turtle")
A fuzzy little caterpillar wiggled right by me. (Wiggle index finger.)
He wiggled long. (Wiggle finger away.)
He wiggled short. (Wiggle finger close.)
He wiggled right at me. (Wiggle finger at your face.)
I put him in a box. (Cup hands.)
"Don't go away I said!" (Point finger.)
But when I opened up the box
There was a butterfly instead! (Clasp thumbs and wiggle fingers like a butterfly.)
*You can adapt this song for "I had a little tadpole...I put him in a jar... Don't go away I said. . But when I opened up the jar a frog hopped out instead!"
Surprise Can (Julie Wiegman & Anne Greer)
Each week place a different letter on top of a paint can. (You can purchase an empty paint can at Lowe's or Home Depot.) Select one child each night to take home the surprise can. Ask parents to assist their child in finding four items at home that begin with the letter. Put the four itmes in the can along with clues about each object. At school the next day, the child (with help from the teacher) gives clues as classmates try to guess what the objects are. Example: This is something that is a fruit. This is round and red. It grows on a tree. A-Apple!