I WANT YOUR VOTE!

Election Day is next Tuesday, November 3rd. It's a great time to introduce children to a privilege that we have in our country. Explain that we are lucky to live in a democracy where every person gets to vote – and every vote matters! Tell the children they must be 18 to register as a voter, but you are going to have a “mock” (pretend) election in your classroom.

1st – Children must register to vote before the election. Let them sign their name on a sheet of paper and fill out a voter registration card.

2nd – Let children help you decorate a voting booth and a ballot box. Remind them about the importance of a “secret ballot” so nobody knows how you voted and nobody can tell you what to do.

*A cardboard box set up on a table with one side cut off makes a perfect voting booth. A shoebox or cardboard box with a slit cut in the top will do for the ballot box.



3rd – Prepare a ballot with classroom activities children can vote on. You could have two books, two games, two songs, two art projects, etc. (Picture clues will help younger children with their selection.) Demonstrate how to mark their choice with an "X."

4th – On Tuesday choose three children at a time to “work” the polls. One child crosses off names on the voter registration sheet. One child stands at the voting booth and hands out ballots. A third child presides over the ballot box.

After children have voted, let them make an “I Voted” badge from red, white, and blue paper.

5th – Count the votes and then read the book, sing the song, or play the game that won the most votes.

Voting Sticks 

Here's another super simple idea that you can use throughout the year to empower children with making choices. First, each child will need to decorate a jumbo craft stick with their name. Second, you will need two cups or cans to hold the sticks when the children vote. Write options on index cards and tape them to the cups. (For example, if they were voting on a book you could write the names of the books and tape them ample, if they were voting on a book you could write the names of the books and tape them on the cups. If they were voting on a game they'd like to play you could write the names of the games on the cards.) One at a time children make their selection and place their stick in the cup. Which one do you think got the most votes? How can we tell for sure? Use a tally to record votes. Write the numerals under the tally marks. Introduce the inequality sign to show which is greater or less. I think I see some math standards here!!!

One of the only things I remember from my history of education class was that the purpose of schools in the United States was to “educate to perpetuate a democratic citizenry.” You can plant the seeds in your classroom every day by providing children with the opportunity to vote!

CANDY WRAPPER HOMEWORK

BOO!

For homework this weekend ask your students to save all their candy wrappers and bring them to school on Friday. Here are some learning activities that will taste “yummy” to your class!

Counting - Count the wrappers. Tally how many in the whole class.

Sets - Make sets with the wrappers.

Sorting - Sort the wrappers. What’s the sorting rule? Can they regroup them?

Graphing - Use the wrappers to graph their favorite candy bar.

Nutrition - Look at the food value on each wrapper. How many calories? How much sugar? Rank the candies by calories.

Vocabulary - Find descriptive words on the wrappers. Make a list of the words and use them in sentences.

Writing - Fold 2 sheets of paper in half and staple to make a book. Children write “I like…” at the top of each page and glue a candy wrapper underneath. This is a book every child in your room can read! Older children could write descriptive sentences about each candy.

Alphabet Letters - Use the wrappers to make a class book called “The Sweet ABC’s.” Write alphabet letters on 26 sheets of paper. Children glue their wrappers to the appropriate letter. Bind pages together to make a book.

Hint! If you don’t have a wrapper for each letter, let children suggest “sweet” words for the page.

Money - Glue candy wrappers to a file folder. Write a coin value by each wrapper. Children count out the appropriate amount and place it on the wrapper.

Hint! For young children, price the candies from 1 cent to 10 cents and give them pennies. Make the amounts higher for older students.

Art - Let children use wrappers to make a collage.

Finally, take advantage of this “teachable moment” by discussing why sugar is not good for their bodies. What happens if you eat too much sugar? Make a list of healthy snacks that would be better food choices.

TEDDY BEAR

HOW ABOUT SOMETHING FUN TODAY?

TEDDY BEAR, TEDDY BEAR

(Have the children stand and follow along as you model these movements.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn around. (Turn around.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Touch the ground. (Touch ground.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Read the news. (Pretend to read.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Tie your shoes. (Bend down to shoes.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Go upstairs. (Climb stairs.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Say your prayers. (Fold hands.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Turn off the light. (Pretend to switch.)
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear,
Say, “Good night.” (Place head on hands and close eyes.)

*You can change, “Say your prayers,” to “Comb your hair” if you wish.


Puppet 

Give children a bear to color and cut out. Attach it to a straw or craft stick to make a puppet. Use it to repeat the rhyme.

Positional Words 

Give the children directions for placing their bear on their head, under their chin, behind their back, etc.
*Let them place their bear somewhere in the classroom and then use descriptive words as to the bear’s position.

Skill Game 

Cut out bears and shirts. Write uppercase letters on the bears and lowercase letters on the shirts. Children match bears and shirts with clothespins.

*Make similar games for sets and numerals, color words, and so forth.

HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, LINES, CURVES

Let's have a little geometry today. We'll sing, develop small motor skills, and have a dose of creativity!

What’s a line? What’s a curve?
Start by finding out what children know about lines and curves. Let them take turns drawing lines and curves on the board. Can they walk around the room and touch a line? Can they touch a curve? As you walk down the hall have them silently point to lines and curves. Can they find lines and curves in nature on the playground?


Play Dough
Draw lines and curves with a permanent marker on placemats or plastic plates. Let children roll the dough and place it on top of the lines and curves.

Horizontal, Vertical (Carrie O’Bara and Terri Miller)
(Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
Horizontal, horizontal,
(Forearms held up horizontally in front of chest.)
Vertical, vertical.
(Forearms bent at elbows to form right angles.)
Horizontal, horizontal,
Vertical, vertical.

    

Then diagonal, then diagonal.
(Right arm slants in front and then left.)
Add a curve. Add a curve.
(Make a “c” with right hand and then left.)
Then diagonal, then diagonal.
Add a curve. Add a curve.


Skinny Books
This is a super idea to help children learn to track from left to right and practice pre-writing strokes. Lay 4 sheets of paper on top of each other and staple four times along the left side. Cut horizontal lines to make four skinny books. Children practice drawing horizontal lines, vertical lines, curves, and diagonal lines on each page.

        

Letter Sort
What letters are made from lines? Curves? Lines and curves? Let children sort magnetic letters on the board or for a center activity.

Artsy
Prepare sheets of paper ahead of time with random curves and lines made with a black marker. Children choose a sheet of paper and try and create a design or object from the lines and curves on their page. *Encourage them to fill in the whole page.

WHAT'S A VOICE BOX?

A “voice box” can be used to capitalize on children’s natural interest in dramatizing. They can all be actors and actresses as they practice reading, counting, sight words, math facts, and other skills. Children can use these creative "voices" virtually or in person.

Download the cards, cut them apart, and place them in a small box or gift bag.

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2006/01_Jan/booksJan/FluencyCards.pdf


Here’s a video where you can watch me demonstrate the different styles and strategies. The more dramatic you are, the more your students will get involved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNuuNBzgDWw&feature=youtu.be


Three Bears
Speak papa bear style (with a deep voice), mama bear style (with a prissy voice), and baby bear style (with a wee voice).


Underwater
Put your index finger between your lips and vibrate as you talk.

With a Cold
Children hold their nose and read like their nose is stuffed.

Lip Sinc
Mouth the words.

Emotions
Read text with different emotions, such as happy, sad, angry, sleepy, etc. Which one fits the text best?


Pirate
Talk out of the side of your mouth. Grrr, matie!

News
Talk like a news reporter “on the street.”

Rock and Roll
Pretend to hold guitar and dance and sing.


Opera
Extend arms and sing words dramatically.

More!
Let children come up with their own creative voices.

LET'S CANCEL SCHOOL THIS WEEK!

As much as children look forward to October 31st, teachers get the heebie jeebies just thinking about it! If I were in charge of the world I would cancel school this week. My advice is don't make yourself crazy trying to do too much the next few days. Shut your door, play outside, review skills, play games, sing songs, make a book, and take a deep breath!

Here’s an “Emergency Kit” for this week (or any day when things get crazy)!

Calm Down Lotion 

You know that drawer full of body lotion you've received as gifts. Take the label off one and print a new one that says "Calm Down Lotion." Give each child a little squirt to rub on their hands and arms to help them relax.

Tony Chestnut – Have children sing "Tony Chestnut" (one of my free youTube videos). As you sing each verse lower your voice until you are whispering.

Click to view Tony Chestnut

*Sing other songs using a whisper voice. You'll be amazed at how it calms down the class.

Turn off the Lights – Something as simple as turning off the lights can reduce stress and energy. You could also play some quiet music as children enter the classroom.

Take a Deep Breath - Have children pretend to breath in hot chocolate as you slowly count to 8. Blow out the birthday candles as you slowly count to 8. Continue counting slowly as children breath in and out.

The Quiet Game – One child is selected to be “it.” “It” stands in front of the room and says, “Mousie, mousie, how quiet can you be? When I clap my hands 1, 2, 3 (slowly clap 3 times), we shall see!” “It” chooses the classmate who is being the quietest and then that child comes to the front of the room and is the new “it.” (My class LOVED this game. It was a great way to develop self-regulation and calm them down.)

Give Your Mouth a Vacation – Challenge children to “give their mouths a vacation” and practice breathing through their noses.

Use Your Imagination – Ask the children to close their eyes as you read a story. Challenge them to make “pictures in their brains.” Give them a sheet of paper to illustrate the story.

Enjoy the day with them! They have one chance in a lifetime to be a child and many, many years to be a grown-up!

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LIST OF LISTS

Children love to make lists like grownups do. Making lists will also nurture the executive function (task initiation and task completion) and encourage children to THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Homemade Clipboard

Each child will need a 9” x 12” piece of corrugated cardboard. Attach a butterfly clip, insert paper, and let the writing begin!

Lists
And here's a LIST of lists children can make on clipboards.

List of what they are thankful for.

List of their favorite books, songs.

List of their favorite foods.

List of their favorite subjects at school.

List of their favorite animals/pets.

List of their favorite sports or games.

List of what they can do if they finish their work early.

List of things that make them happy.

List of how to be a buddy/friend.

List of “cheers” and “goals.” 

You can also use the clipboards for some of the activities on the "list" below.

BOLOGNA DAY

October 24th National Bologna Day

My bologna has a first name,

It’s O – S – C – A – R.

My bologna has a second name,

It’s M - A – Y – E – R.

Oh, I love to eat it every day,

And if you’ll ask me why I’ll say,

Cause Oscar Mayer has a way

With B – A – L – O – G – N – A.

*Here’s the original 1973 video some of you might remember:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmPRHJd3uHI

Many years ago on Balogna Day, K.J.’s third grade teacher (Mr. D) taught them this song from the 70’s. K.J. sang it to his mother and she got a kick out of remembering the song as they sang it together. Those are the kind of experiences and bridges that are not in your curriculum that children will remember.

Sometimes you just have to shut your door and do something silly like National Bologna Day. And, although I don’t have a bologna song, I do have a sandwich book that’s perfect for descriptive writing.You'll need two cheap paper plates to make this book. Fold both plates in half. Cut in 1 ½” from the rim on both sides as shown. Cut off the folded edge between the rim on the second plate. Roll up the first plate and insert it in the hole in the second plate. Unroll and you’ll have a book.

*Let children write about their favorite sandwich.
*Have children write a “how to” make a sandwich.
*Invite children to be chefs and create a new sandwich.

HANDY RHYMES

The ability to rhyme is a key to phonological awareness and learning to read. Children don't learn to rhyme in a day, but here are some ACTIVE ideas to engage them whenever you have a few extra minutes


Handy Rhymes
Have children extend their arms as they sing a pairs of words that rhyme. Sing to the tune of “Skip to My Lou.”
Top (hold out right hand)
Mop (hold out left hand
Those words rhyme.
Sun (hold out right hand)
Fun (hold out left hand)
Those words rhyme.
Kitten (hold out right hand)
Mitten (hold out left hand)
Those words rhyme.
Now, let’s rhyme some more…(Roll arms around.)

Rhyme Ball
You will need a ball, beanbag, or other object to toss for this game. Children sit or stand in a circle. The teacher says a word and then tosses the ball to a child. As the child catches the ball, she must say a word that rhymes.


Rhyme Detectives
Tell the children that they will get to be detectives and listen for words that rhyme. You say a word, and they put their pinkies up if they hear a word that rhymes with it. Pinkies down if the words don’t rhyme.
Cat - hat (pinkies up)
run - dog (pinkies down)

Rhyming Puzzles
Glue rhyming pictures on opposite sides of a 3” x 5” index cards. Cut a puzzle shape between pictures. Mix up and have children put rhymes together.


*Make games with socks, mittens, shoes, etc. where children use clothes pins to put the rhyming pictures together.



*Mr. Google has some great free printables with rhyming pictures.

Name Rhymes
Children love silly nonsense words, so make up rhymes with their names. Jason – bason – mason – pason
Mia – bia – ria – chia


Rhyme Bag Homework

Give each child a paper bag and ask them to bring in two objects that rhyme. (You could even make the bag into a backpack.)

Repeat this chant below as children share their items:
We’re going on a rhyming hunt and we know what to do.
We need to listen carefully and rhyme some words with you.
Say the words several times. Can children think of other words that rhyme?

*As a follow up activity ask children to draw pictures of things their friends shared that rhyme.

HUNTER'S MOON

I see the moon

And the moon sees me...

October 25th is a full moon and it's also called a HUNTER'S MOON because it lights up the sky.

From the time children are toddlers, most of them are fascinated with the moon. The moon is FREE and it belongs to EVERYONE! Wouldn’t it be interesting to have children look at the moon every night for a month with their parents and draw a picture of what the moon looks like? What a meaningful way for families to do a little science together.

Facts for kids about the moon:

The moon goes around the earth.

The moon has no light, but it reflects the sun’s light.

The light of sun on the moon creates the different phases of the moon.

That’s why it looks different to us throughout the month.

It’s called a new moon when you can’t see it.

When the moon gets a little larger at night it’s called waxing.

A full moon is when it looks like a circle.

As the moon gets smaller it’s called waning.

The moon is always up in the sky, but during the day when the sun is bright you can’t see it.

Here’s a neat website where you can get a calendar of the moon’s phases and other learning activities:
http://stardate.org/nightsky/moon.



*Let one child pretend to be the earth and stand in the middle of the room. Let another child pretend to be the moon and circle the earth.

*What other things can you see in the sky? Take children outside and let them draw pictures of the things they see.

*Is there really a man in the moon? The moon has craters that make it look like a face.
Give children uncolored play dough and let them make a moon/pancake. Have them make craters in their moon with a pencil eraser or the end of a marker.

Here’s a book from Scholastic with the phases of the moon:
http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/free-printable/science-printables/minibook-moon-phases



Don’t forget to read two of my favorite books GOOD NIGHT, MOON, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOON.

ADDITION POKEY

Addition Pokey
Put 1 finger in. (Hold up finger on right hand.)
Put 1 finger more. (Hold up 1 finger on left hand.)
Shake them altogether (Roll around.)
And then lay them on the floor. (Place on floor or table.)
Add them both together, (Bring hands together.)
And you don’t want to stall.
Now you have 2 in all.

2 fingers…3 fingers…4 fingers…5 fingers

*Do “Addition Pokey” with other facts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry-VVkLKKIE&index=1&list=PL7bsHC8DZJxh3UuXWDyOXZ1c_dGBUdxOA


Hands Up Math
Trace around the children's fingers and cut out. Glue the palms to a sheet of paper. Do not glue the fingers because you want to be able to move them up and down to demonstrate addition and subtraction.

Hint! You might want to make this with one hand for the younger children.

Math Mat
You will need heavy paper cut in a 10" square. (I used a file folder.) Draw a line horizontally down the middle and then divide the top section in half as shown. Children make sets in the upper sections and then bring them together in the bottom. I tell the children the horizontal line in the middle is like the "=" sign. What's on top has to equal what's on the bottom.

MATH SIGNS

A math specialist one told me how important it was to have the children look at the signs when they are doing math. Most children know how to work the problems, but they often forget to look at the sign first. Here’s a little rap to make it more fun.

Stop, look, and think,
Before you add or subtract.
Pay attention to the signs
When you do your math!

Plus sign, plus sign,
What do you say?
Put them together.
Join sets, I say!

Minus sign, minus sign,
What do you say?
Subtract a set.
Take it away!

Equal sign, equal sign,
What is your game?
The amount on either side
Is always the same.

Look at the signs before you begin,
And your answer will always win!

Hint! Here is a tool that can help children solve word problems. Fold a sheet of paper into fourths. Open and fold in half. Cut half way up one creased line as shown. Make a “+” on the right and a “-“ on the left. Lift flaps and write key words for adding and subtracting. For example:

Addition: plus, in all, altogether, how many, sum

Subtraction: less, minus, left, take away, fewer, difference

MATH FACTS Musical Chairs
Place chairs in a circle and PUT A MATH FLASHCARD ON EACH CHAIR.  Play some music for the children to march around. When the music stops they have to identify the ANSWER TO THE EQUATION where they are standing.

*Make the game more difficult by putting several coins for the children to count.


MATH MATS
Math mats are a “hands on” way to give children concrete experiences with addition and subtraction. Trim a file folder to make a 12” square. Draw a line down the middle of the square as shown. Draw a line down the middle of the top section. Explain that the line in the middle is like the equal sign in an equation. What is on the top has to equal (be the same as) what is on the bottom.

Note! Poker chips, small toys, natural items, small erasers, and other objects can be used with the math mat. You can also make smaller math mats from an 8" square.

Addition
Demonstrate how to use counters to make a set in the top left section and a set in the top right section. Count. Pull down the objects into the bottom section and count how many altogether.

Subtraction
Use counters to demonstrate subtraction.