PUZZLE DAY

National Puzzle Day is January 29th, but I'm going to talk about puzzles in today's blog.

There have been numerous research studies that confirm the importance of puzzles in cognitive development. Other benefits of puzzles include:

Small motor skills
Eye-hand coordination
Task initiation and completion
Sense of accomplishment

Puzzles also provide the opportunity for children to collaborate and cooperate with a partner or small group.

Here are a few ideas to incorporate puzzles into your plans January 29th or any day.

Story Puzzles

Have children draw pictures and write stories on cardstock. Next, let them cut the paper into puzzle pieces. (I’ve found it best to give them a limit of 8-15 pieces or they’ll end up with confetti.) Put these in an envelope and exchange with friends. After putting the puzzles together they can read each other’s stories. 

Word Puzzles

Write vocabulary/spelling/sight words on sentence strips. Cut between the letters and place them in an envelope. Children put the letters together and read the word.


Hint! Write the word on the back of the envelope so they can self-check.
Ask them to write the words after they complete the puzzles.

Poem Puzzles
Make 2 copies of nursery rhymes or poems. Glue one to the front of a clasp envelope. Make a puzzle of the other rhyme by cutting between the lines or words. Store in the envelope. Children place the puzzle pieces on top of the original and then read.

Magazine Puzzles
Let children cut out favorite pictures from a magazine. (These could relate to a theme or unit.) Glue pictures to a piece of cardstock and then cut into puzzle pieces.

Cereal Box Puzzles 

Ask children to bring empty cereal boxes from home. Cut the front sections off the boxes and cut into puzzle pieces.
*For younger students it works best to use two boxes that are the same. One can be cut up and then they can place the pieces on the whole.

Greeting Card Puzzles
Ask parents to save old greeting cards. Child can cut off the front of the cards and then use them to make puzzles.

Jigsaw Puzzle
Put a jigsaw puzzle (50-100+ pieces depending on the age and ability of your students) on a table. Explain that you will leave it out all week and if they finish their work early they can try and put it together. (You’ll quickly be able to identify the children who have done puzzles at home with their families.)

OPPOSITE DAY

Opposite Day is January 25, but it could add a smile to any cold, dreary day.


Good-Bye and Hello
Reverse the daily schedule by starting the day with your good-bye song and ending with a good morning song and the morning message. Say your Z Y X’s (alphabet backwards) and count backwards. Turn around in your chairs and face the back of the room. Read a book backwards. Oh, and don’t forget to eat your dessert first at lunch!!!

Opposite Song (Tune: “Shortnin’ Bread”)
We can do opposites, opposites, opposites.
We can do opposites follow me.
Top and bottom… (Touch top of head and bottom of foot.)
Front and back… (Touch tummy and then back.)
Happy and sad… (Smile and then frown.)
Left and right… (Hold up left hand and then right.)
Up and down… (Point up and then down.)
Loud and soft… (Say, “Loud,” loud and “soft,” soft.)
Open and shut… (Open and shut hands.)
Stand and sit…and put them in your lap! (Stand and then sit and put hands in lap.)

Let children suggest other opposites you could sing in the song.

Opposite Game
Whatever the teacher says, the students do the opposite. For example if the teacher says “cry” the children laugh. If the teacher says “up” the children point down.

T-Chart
Have children fold a sheet of paper in half and illustrate opposites. Use a T-chart to identify antonyms.
         

Take photos of children acting out antonyms and use them to make a class book.

Hint! Introduce the word “antonym” and explain that it means the same thing as “opposite.”

Backwards Day January 31st
You can also celebrate Backwards Day on January 31st by reading a book backwards, walking backwards, wearing your shirt backwards, saying a poem backwards, etc.

COMPLIMENT DAY AND KAZOOS

What do compliments and kazoos have in common? They are both holidays you can celebrate the end of January.

Compliment Day January 24th

This would be a good day to talk about what a compliment is. How do you feel when someone gives you a compliment? What are some different ways you can compliment someone? How many compliments can you give during the day?

Compliment Jar
Get a clear jar and a bag of gems. Whenever someone compliments your class put a "gem" in the jar. When the jar is full the children get a special reward such as a popcorn party, extra recess, etc.

*You can use cotton balls, marbles, or other items for the compliment jar.

Hint! Be sure and let your special teachers and other school staff know about your gem jar so they can compliment your class when they EARN it.

Compliment Board (Kalli Lemley)
To encourage kindness and appreciation for others, place a bulletin board outside the room dedicated to compliments to each other. Vary the theme throughout the year:
“Leaf a compliment.” (Leaves)
“Snow’s some kindness.” (Snowflakes)
“Send a ray of sunshine.” (Sunshines)
“Watch our friendship grow.” (Flowers)

National Kazoo Day January 28th

Ask your students to bring in paper towel rolls. (For sanitary reasons it is best to collect paper towel rolls rather than TP rolls!) Cut the paper towel rolls in half and punch a hole ¾” from the top. Let children decorate the cardboard rollers with markers or crayons. Cut 6” circles out of wax paper and use a rubber band to attach to one end of the roller and you’re ready to hum. March around the room as you hum some of your favorite songs.

Play “name that tune” as different students stand up and try to stump their classmates by humming a familiar tune.

GIVE A HUG DAY

January 21st is National Hugging Day, but I think it should be changed to National Hugging MONTH! Could anything be better than a hug on a cold winter day?

If your school is cautious about hugging, demonstrate how to give a hug in sign language by making fists with your hands and wrapping your arms around your chest.

How about a “hall hug”? Cross index and middle fingers and wiggle.

An “eye hug” is a good way to greet visitors to your classroom. Children squeeze their eyes as they wrap their arms around themselves and then open them up and share the hug.

A “hand hug” can be done by placing your palm next to a partner’s palm. Wrap your thumbs around, squeeze, look in your partner’s eyes, and smile!



Someone told me that a “rainbow hug” is when you hug yourself, make a wish, and send love to someone far away.

Can your students think of other ways to give a hug?

Discuss why we hug people. How does it make you feel when someone hugs you?

For a writing activity ask your students to make a list of all the people they’d like to give a hug.

Give children a paper plate and ask them to draw their face on it. Let them trace around their hands and cut them out. Give them two strips of paper (12” x 2 ½”) for arms. They can glue the arms to the paper plate and then attach the hands. Use the “hugs” for a bulletin board or let children give them to someone special.

Here’s a great big hug from me to you today!!!

HUNDRED DAY CELEBRATIONS

Some of you are probably days away from the 100th day of school, while some of you won't get there for weeks. One thing for sure is that sooner or later you'll want these ideas to celebrate this special day.


100 Day Book
Fold 5 sheets of paper in half. Punch holes about 1 1/2" from the top and the bottom on the fold. String 10 beads on a wooden skewer. (I bought the thinnest ones I could find and cut them to 8"). Insert a rubber band (long and thin) in one hole and slide one end of the skewer through the loop. Insert the other end of the rubber band through the other hole and slide the other end of the skewer through that loop as shown. Children can make a set of ten on each page with markers, stamps, words, etc.

*Use 5 red beads and 5 white beads similar to rekenrek and challenge children to make different combinations of ten in their book.

$100 Book
Make a copy of $100 bill. (You can find several to choose from online.) Cut paper the size of the bill and staple it to make a book. Let children draw pictures or write stories of what they would do if they had $100.

*Children can draw their face or use a real photo for these books.


Cover Up
Make 2 copies of a 100 grid. (You can download these online.) Cut up one set and put the numbers in a zip bag. Children can play this game by themselves or with a partner. Give them a 3 minute timer and challenge them to cover up as many spaces as they can in the time limit. Have them record the amount and try to beat their score each time they play.

Hint! Adapt this game for younger children by giving them a grid with 10 or 25 spaces.

*Use the grid to practice writing numbers.
*Use the grid for graphing or for making patterns.
*Color even numbers one color and odd numbers another color.


Buzz
All children stand. Go around the room and have each child say a number. When they get to a set of ten they must say “buzz.” If they don’t say “buzz” they are out of the game and must sit down. The game continues until there is one person left or you reach 100.


100 Bottles
Have each child take an empty plastic water bottle and fill it with 100 items.


100 Art
Cut a “1” and two “0’s” out of construction paper. Children glue them on a sheet of paper to create a “critter.” They can decorate it with crayons, markers, or paint.


100 Exercise
Do ten sets of the following exercises: toe touches, jumping jacks, arm circles, hops (on one foot), waist twists, squats, scissor jumps, hops (on the other foot), jog (in place), windmills.


100 Snack
Children count out ten each of each snack food (such as Cheerios, pretzels, Gold Fish, raisins, m&m’s, miniature marshmallows, cheese crackers, wheat squares, rice chex, peanuts, etc.) and put them in a zip bag. Shake and eat.
*Adapt to the dietary needs of your class.


Math Challenge
How many ways can you think of to make 100? Children could do this independently or with a partner.


Self Portraits at 100 

Have children draw pictures of what they think they will look like when they are 100.

*One teacher even had them use the brown paper towels from the restroom. They wadded them and wrinkled them before drawing on them. Too funny!


Zero the Hero Number Stomp
I am Zero the Hero and I’m here to say,
I love to do numbers every 10thday.
When we make sets of ten we’ll stomp the ground.
And when we reach 100, we’ll sit back down!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (Stomp!).
Let’s count another ten.
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 (Stomp!)
Two tens, let’s go some more…
Three tens, you’re catching on...
Four tens, you’re doing fine...
Five tens, you’re half way there...
Six tens, you’re on a roll...
Seven tens, what a cool game...
Eight tens, you’re doing great...
Nine tens, we’re near the end...
Ten tens is 100, now it’s time to sit down!And here's a new youtube video that my webmaster made. I love that he made "Zero the Hero" a girl.

http://bit.ly/drjeanZeroHero

This might be a good time to discuss what a hero is. Do they know any heroes? Can both boys and girls be heroes?





Hundreds Club (Bobbi Cure)
When a child counts to 100 they get their name under “Count to 100 by 1’s.”
When a child counts to 100 by 10’s they get their name under “Count to 100 by 10’s.”
When they count to 100 by 5’s they get their name under “Count to 100 by 5’s.”
When they can write to 100 by 1’s they get their name under “Write to 100 by 1’s.”
When all four are accomplished, they get a crown that says “100’s Club."

INDOOR GAMES FOR A WINTER DAY

The weather outside is frightful,

But inside our game is delightful.

And since we can’t go out to play

Here are some indoor games for today.

Silent Touch
This is a great game to quiet children and build memory skills. The first child gets up and touches an object and then sits down. The second child gets up, touches the first object, then touches an additional object. The third child touches the first object, second object, and adds a third object. The game continues as classmates touch what the previous children have touched in sequential order and then add a new item. When a child forgets, simply begin the game all over again.

Four Corners (This is the BEST indoor game ever!)
Number each of the corners in the room ~ 1, 2, 3, 4. (You can write the numerals on paper and hang them up if you want.) Choose one person to be “it.” “It” hides their eyes and slowly counts from one to ten as the rest of the class tiptoes to a corner in the room. When “it” says “freeze,” everyone must be in a corner. “It” then calls out a number (1, 2, 3, or 4) and the children in that corner are out of the game. They sit down in the “stew pot” in the middle of the room. “It” counts to ten again as everyone moves to a new corner. The game continues until there is one person left. That person becomes the new “it.”
Hint! Shorten the game by having “it” call out two corners at a time.

*If there is no one in the corner, ask “it” to call out another number.

*Label the corners with letters, numbers, sight words, vocabulary words, etc.


Detective
One child is the “detective.” The detective describes a “missing child” (classmate), giving their eye color, hair color, description of clothing, likes, etc. The first person to identify the missing child gets to be the new detective.

Hint! Here is another variation of this game. Send the detective out in the hall. Select one child and hide him or her under your desk or behind a shelf. The detective returns to the classroom and tries to identify the missing child. (You can also let two children exchange seats and see if the detective can spot the switch.)


Hot Potato
You can use a small ball, bean bag, or stuffed animal for this game. Children sit or stand in a circle. Children begin passing the “hot potato” (ball or bean bag) around the room when the music starts. Explain that it is a “hot potato” and they need to pass it quickly to the next friend. When the music stops, the one holding the “hot potato” is out of the game and must leave the circle. If two children are holding it they are both out. The last child remaining is the winner. Begin the game again.




Silent Ball
You will need a small, soft ball for this game. Explain that the object of the game is to see how many times you can toss the ball without talking. Look at the person you are throwing the ball to so they will be ready. Silently count how many times we can throw the ball without talking or dropping it. If someone talks or drops the ball, then the game begins all over again.

Tower Topple
This game is similar to Jenga. Have children get a block and then sit in a circle. The first child begins building the tower by placing her block in the middle of the circle. The second child places his block on top of hers...The game continues as children try to build the tower higher and higher. When it falls over every shouts "tower topple" and the game begins again.


Going On A Trip
The first player begins by saying, “I’m going on a trip and I’m taking (names an object).” Second player says, “I’m going on atrip and I’m taking (names first object and names a second
object).” Next child says, “I’m going on a trip and I’m taking(names first object, second object, and names a third object).” The game continues as each player tries to remember previous
objects. When a player forgets, begin the game all over again.

*You can also name objects in alphabetical order. For example, the first person says something that begins with an “A,” the second person names something that begins with a “B,” and so on.
Change the game to “going on a picnic,” “going to the moon,” etc.


Penny ~ Penny
One person is “it.” “It” chooses three friends to leave the classroom. While the three are out of the room, “it” walks around the room and places a penny in one child’s hands. All the children
cup their hands as if they are holding the penny. The three children are then called back into the classroom. The three walk around the room opening hands until one finds the penny and says, “Penny, penny, I found the penny!” That child then becomes “it” and the game continues.

*Let children hide a seasonal toy, such as a bunny or a pumpkin.
*Play a similar game by having one child leave the room as youhide a small object. Guide her to the object by saying “cold” when she is far away and “hot” as she gets closer to the object.

Charades
Children will have fun “performing” and “stumping” their classmates with this game. One child at a time gets up in front of the room. The child acts out a nursery rhyme as her friends try to guess which one it might be. The first child to guess correctly gets to act out the next rhyme. (You might need to suggest rhymes to younger children.)

*Children could also act out book titles, songs, feelings, animals, or other categories.
*Children can make sounds or simply pantomime.
“Statues” is a similar game where children work in groups and freeze in position to symbolize a book, song, or other event.

IT'S A DEAL WITH CARD GAMES

People have been entertained by card games for centuries, so shuffle up that deck and let’s pass on some learning fun with children.

Sorting
Ask children to sort cards by color, suit, number, etc.

Order Please
Remove the face cards and then have the children put the cards in numerical order.


Patterns
Can children make a pattern with their cards? Can friends identify the pattern?

Mind Reader
Remove face cards. One child comes to the front of the room and draws a card. Don’t let anyone see what it is! Classmates take turns trying to guess the number by asking yes/no questions that include math vocabulary. For example, “Is it greater than 5? Is it even? Do 3 and 5 equal it?”

Line Up
Remove face cards and pass out a card to each child. Call out directions for lining up using math vocabulary. For example, “If you come between 7 and 9 you can line up. If you are an odd number lower than 5 you may line up. If you add your number to 6 and get 8 you may line up.”

Number Stories
Remove face cards, shuffle, and then have each child draw two cards. Encourage them to think of a number story using the two digits. Can their friends tell the answer?

Memory
Use two suites of cards for this game. Shuffle cards and place them face down in rows on the floor or a table. Children rotate turning over two cards. If their cards match they may keep them and take another turn. If their cards don’t match they turn them back over and the next child has a turn. The game continues until all pairs have been matched.

Top It
(This game was formerly known as “war,” but “top it” sounds more politically correct.) Remove face cards and shuffle. Split the deck and place face down. Children remove one card at a time and turn it over. The child with the highest number takes both cards. If they turn over the same amount they place 3 cards face down and turn over the 3rd card. The highest number takes all the cards. The game continues as long as time permits.

Add It Up
This is similar to top it. Children turn over one card at a time. The first child to correctly add up both numbers gets both cards.

High, Low, Equal
Make a game board similar to the one shown. Children place a deck of cards face down. They select two cards at a time and place them in the correct category.

Scramble
Remove face cards. Pass out a card to each child. The teacher calls out a number between 2 and 20. Children “scramble” around the room and find one or two other numbers that will equal that amount.

Dealer’s Choice
Go Fish and Crazy Eights are other traditional card games your students can play, or let them create their own games.

Homework
Wouldn’t it be great if children taught their parents how to play some of these card games?
Note! I’ve heard that if you have a casino in your area they will donate free cards to your classroom. Apparently they drill a hole through the cards first, but they’d be just fine for classroom activities.