CHEESE PIZZA DAY

September 5th is Cheese Pizza Day, but I could eat pizza every day! (Seriously!) Here’s a silly song that I used to sing just because the children got a laugh out of it. Now, I tie it into standards because it demonstrates sound substitution and reinforces vowel sounds. Whatever!!!

Pepperoni Pizza
I like to eat, eat, eat, (Extend arms to make a circle like a pizza.)
Pepperoni pizza.
I like to eat, eat, eat,
Pepperoni pizza.

Sing substituting the long “A” sound for each vowel.
A lake tae ate, ate, ate,
Papparaynay pazzay…

Continue substituting with “E,” “I,” “O,” and “U.”

Hint! Make sign language letters for the vowels as you sing.

Word Family Pizza
Chris Baker created this video to demonstrate consonant substitution as children sing the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrpSSXZK9-I&feature=youtu.be

EASY PEASY PIZZA GAME
There are dozens of math skills you can tie in with this easy peasy math manipulative.

Why? sorting; sets; numerals; addition; subtraction, patterns; following directions; writing how to

What? fun foam (red, yellow, green, brown, black, white), pie pan, red felt, index cards, book ring

How? Cut toppings for your pizza from fun foam using this pattern.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljX1ZiakdoWjhCT00/view?usp=sharing

Sausage – brown
Peppers – green
Cheese – yellow
Pepperoni – red
Olives – black
Mushrooms – white
(Store the patterns in a zip bag.)

Cover the bottom of the pie pan with red felt.

*Let children sort the toppings.
*Give them numeral cards and ask them to make sets.
*Can they make a pattern with the toppings?
*Give them addition and subtraction facts and ask them to work out the problems with the toppings.
*Make recipe cards similar to the ones shown for the children to follow.
*Can they count how many ingredients in all on their pizza?

How To
Have children write their own recipe cards and directions for making a pizza.

Paper Pizza Collage
Give children a paper plate and some scrap paper, scissors, and crayons and let them create their own paper pizza. When they've finished they can add a few drops of glue and sprinkle with oregano or Italian seasonings to make it SMELL like a real pizza.

TEDDY BEAR DAY

Let's have a Teddy Bear Party! Teddy Bear Day is officially September 9th, but it would be fun to do this any day in September.

Everybody loves teddy bears, so how did this love affair with teddy bears begin? President Theodore Roosevelt was a hunter. While hunting in Mississippi in 1902, he refused to shoot a small bear. The Washington Post published a story about it and illustrated the event with this cartoon.

  

Brooklyn candy shop owner, Morris Michtom, saw the cartoon and asked his wife to make two stuffed toy bears to go in his shop window. After asking permission from President Roosevelt, he called them “Teddy’s bears.” Eventually Michtom started the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company.

About the same time a German named Margaret Steiff was making her living by sewing stuffed animals. An American saw a stuffed bear she had made and ordered many of them. These bears also came to be known as Teddy Bears…and that’s how the whole thing started.

"Teddy Bear Party"
Ask children to bring their favorite teddy bear (or other stuffed animal) and introduce him/her to their classmates. (Encourage them to name their bear and explain why they love their bear.)

*Let children draw pictures and write stories about their bears.

*Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast real bears and stuffed bears.



*Read some books about teddy bears. Let children vote on their favorite using a bar graph.

*Play “build a bear” which is similar to hang man. Think of a word and then make blanks for the letters in the word. As children call out letters, write them on the lines. If they call out a letter not in the word begin drawing a bear (body, head, ears, etc.).

*Make a teddy bear sandwich. You’ll need a cookie cutter shaped like a teddy bear. Cut out the bread and then decorate with cream cheese, peanut butter, or your favorite topping. Use raisins, chocolate chips, etc. to decorate.

*Let children make teddy bears from play dough.

*Peanut butter play dough makes cute bears you can eat. (Mix 2 TB smooth peanut butter, 1 tsp. honey, and 2 TB instant dry milk in a bowl. Stir until smooth.)

FOOTBALL HERE WE COME!

If you are college football fans like we are, this weekend is like Christmas. We can hardly wait for the first kick off! Football gives us a distraction from the world's woes and it gives us something to cheer for and look forward to each weekend. Football can also be a “kick off” for teaching some skills in your classroom.

College Goals
It’s never too early to plant seeds of attending college in your students. Give them a dream and a goal! One school I visited displayed pennants of the schools where the teachers graduated from in the front hall.

*Have the children brainstorm all the colleges and universities in your area. Talk about why it is important to go to college.

*Encourage your students to think about where they would like to go to college. Give them paper shaped like pennants to decorate with their college dream.

Math
Let children do surveys of favorite college teams.
Graph favorite teams.
Predict who will win the game. Who was right? Who was wrong?
Predict what the score will be. Who was closest?

*Let children choose a favorite player and write their number on a jersey. How many math facts can they think of to equal that number?

Social Studies
Use a map of the United States and locate where games will be played.

Internet Search
Look up team mascots and colors. Listen to college fight songs. Do exercises to fight songs.

Art
Cut pictures of players out of the newspaper or sports magazines. Challenge children to write creative stories about favorite players. They could also write letters to favorite players.

*Make stick puppets from favorite players' photos.

Guest Readers
Invite a local high school football team and cheerleading squad to visit your school to read books. There’s nothing more motivating to a young child than to see someone in a uniform model how “cool” it is to read!

Team Mascots
This game can be adapted to any school mascot, action hero, or seasonal character. Since I graduated from the University of Georgia, UGA was my first choice. This is a quick, simple game that can be played with any age level or any skill that needs to be reinforced. It’s the perfect game if you’ve got a few minutes before lunch or a few minutes at the end of the day.

WHY? shapes, colors, letters, words, numerals, math facts, etc.
WHAT? flash cards, picture of a favorite school mascot
HOW? Have children sit in a circle and encourage them to identify the information on the flash cards as you place them on the floor. Tell the children to turn around and hide their eyes. Take “UGA” and slip it under one of the flash cards. The children turn back around and raise their hand if they think they know where UGA is hiding. One at a time, have children call out a word, letter, shape, etc., and then look under that card. The game continues until a child finds UGA. That child may then be “it” and hide the mascot.

*Use a pocket chart to play this game. Arrange the flash cards in the pocket chart and then hide the mascot under one of the cards as the children hide their eyes.

More? Make a concentration game using various college mascots.
Make a matching game where children match mascots to college names.
What characteristics do you need to dress up and be a school mascot?
Have children write which mascot they would like to be and why.

BADGES AND BEARS AND COOKIES, OH, MY!

These are inexpensive, easy to make, and can provide repetition in daily routines.

LETTER BADGES
Purchase plastic name badge holders at an office supply store. (Or you can save these from conferences.) Choose one letter each day and write it on paper cut to fit in the name badge. Wear the badge and at random times break out in this song to the tune of “BINGO.”

There is a letter you should know,
What can the letter be oh?
/F/ /F/ It’s an F.
/F/ /F/ It’s an F.
/F/ /F/ It’s an F.
The letter F you know!

*Make letter badges for all the letters in the alphabet and let children choose a different one each day to wear. Let the children walk around the room and shake hands with their friends as they practice identifying each other’s letters. For example: “Hello Q!” “Hello S!”

*Call the children by the letter they are wearing instead of their name.
For example: “D, come sit by me.”


LETTER SUPERVISOR
You will need a plastic visor, index cards, and tape for this activity. Choose a different letter each day and write it on the index card. Tape the index card to the visor. Choose one child each day to wear the visor and be the “letter supervisor.” Every time you leave the classroom the letter supervisor stands at the door with her arm extended. Classmates must name the letter or say a word that starts with that sound before she raises her arm and lets them exit the room.



HIGH FIVE HANDS
Cut hands out of construction paper and write letters you want to reinforce on the hands. Tape to the door. As children exit or enter the classroom they “high five” the hands and say the letters (or make the letter sounds.)

LETTER BEARS
You will be able to get a lot of “mileage” out of these little bears. Cut 26 bears out of construction paper. Write upper and lowercase letters on all the bears. Mix up the bears and then sing this song to the tune of “Twinkle Little Star” as the letters are revealed:

Dd bear, Dd bear, what do you see?
I see Kk bear looking at me.
Kk bear, Kk bear, what do you see…

*Focus children’s attention while they settle down for a story or lesson with the letter bears. You could also use the bears as a transition activity. Dismiss children to line up, wash their hands, etc. when the letter that their name starts with appears.

Letter Bear Pattern
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljUjloN1BNSUxlOUU/view?usp=sharing


WHO ATE THE COOKIE?
You will need an empty cookie box and cardstock to make this game. Cut 3” circles out of the cardstock and write letters on them. Place in the box. One child at a time chooses a “cookie” (letter) out of the box as you chant?

Who ate (letter) in the cookie jar?
(Child’s name) at the (letter) in the cookie jar.
Who me?
Yes, you!
Couldn’t be.
Then who? (It names another friend and passes the box to them.)

Note! This game is made from all recycled materials!

EASY PEASY NAME CARDS

How can something so simple be used in so many ways? Make name cards and you’ll be able to use them to help children get to know their classmates, plus:

print connections
alphabet knowledge
phonological awareness,
motivation to read
transitions
classroom management
writing

Directions: Write each child’s name on a card and glue their picture on the right as shown. Store the name cards in a box or basket.

Sign In
Place name cards by a large sheet of paper. Each day when children come to school they can find their card and write their name on the chart.

Writing Center
Keep cards in the writing center so children can use their friends’ names to write stories, notes, etc.

Transitions
Pull names to line up, answer questions, go to centers, etc.

Seating
Place cards on the rug before circle time. Children find their name and sit in that spot. (The cards can be used in a similar manner for snack or table activities.)
NOTE! This is a perfect way to separate children who challenge you.

Mystery Name
Choose one child’s name each day and place it in an envelope. Give clues about the consonants and vowels in the name. For example, “This person’s name has one vowel and it is in the middle.” Write an “a” on the envelope. “Whose name could it be? This name has a /t/ sound at the end.” Write a “t” on the envelope. “Anybody guess whose name this might be? There is a /p/ at the beginning of this name.” Write a “P” on the envelope. “Stand up if this is your name.” Pull the name card from the envelope to verify.



BINGO
Give children dry cereal or buttons and let them play Bingo with their name cards. As you call out letters they cover them up if they are in their name.

Hint! As children become familiar with their names, let them choose a symbol or sticker to replace their photo. During the next stage, write each child’s name using a different color for the first letter in their name. Finally, just use cards with the children’s names.

GREAT TEACHERS 117

Awesome shirt that a teacher wore in Birmingham in 2013!

Noun Song (Staria Russell)
(Tune: “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain”)
A noun is a person, place or thing.
Yee haw!
A noun is a person, place, or thing.
Yee haw!
A noun is a person. (Point to or name a person.)
A noun is a place. (Name a place.)
A noun is a person, place, or thing. (Name a thing.)


Roping Spelling Words (Jennifer Stringer)
Let children turn their chairs around and sit on them backwards (like a horse). The teacher throws out a word. The kids then “catch it” and spell the word
(c –a –t) as they pretend to rope each letter.


Sight Word Cadence (Karen Fortner)
There are twenty words you’ll need (Children repeat each line.)
If you want to learn to read…

    You     could      their      was
    Go      where     some      have
    Said    me         little         the
    This     come     with        here

*Select words that are difficult for children because they cannot be sounded out phonetically.


Wikki Stick Words (Tami Humphries)
Write nursery rhymes or poems on chart paper. Children use Wikki sticks to circle the sight words they find in the poem or rhyme. Use with a whole group activity, center, or small group.


Around the World (Phyllis Malone)
To review letters, sounds, words, etc. play “Around the World.” Have the children sit in chairs and mix up the flash cards. If they answer the question right they get to stand. If not, they stay seated. Once everyone is up, start round two. This time they sit. The last one to sit down “wins.”


Sight Word Um Umph! (Casandra Stewart)
Place sight word cards in a bag along with school day pictures of the teacher. Laminate cards and pictures on like paper. Students pull cards out and read the words. If a student pulls a card with the teacher’s picture, she has sight word “Um Umph!” and all her cards must go back in the bag. Students love this game!


Four Corners Sight Word Game (Brandi Morse)
Tape sight words around the room. Teacher closes eyes and counts to five. The students walk to a word. If the teacher says a word where they are standing, then they must sit down. Continue until one child is left standing.


Cowboys and Chickens (Gina Copeland)

This is similar to the “Boom” flashcard game, but use pictures of cowboys and chickens. When the cowboy comes up the children make a roping motion as they say, “Yeehaw!” If the chicken comes up they flap their arms and cluck.

GREAT TEACHERS 114

SEE IF YOU CAN FIND SOME "JEWELS" FROM MY 2012 WORKSHOPS.

Button Factory Language Unit (Ann Michael)
Ann used this favorite song as a springboard for the following activities:
Button box – sort, organize, match, describe
Button fashion show – children wear clothing with buttons
Button shirt – put a wide Velcro strip on a child’s shirt. Put Velcro on buttons and have children put the buttons on their shirt.
Button sweatshirt – teacher wears a sweatshirt covered with a variety of buttons and children describe the buttons

Classroom Management Trick (Alison Barnes)
Teacher: Give me one.
Students: One. (clap one time)
Teacher: Give me four.
Students: One, two ,three, four. (clap four times)
*You can do this as many times as you want mixing up the numbers. End by saying:
Teacher: Give me fingers to lips.
Students: (Put 2 fingers to lips and smile quietly.)


Take a Picture Walk (Lauren Martin)
This activity will help children learn to turn pages from the front of the book to the back. Use two fingers to mimic walking through a book as you chant:
Walking through the pictures.
Walking through with speed.
Walking through the pictures
And now it’s time to read.
Students close the book to the front and raise their hands to describe the pictures that they saw.


Animal Reading (Mary Baykouski)
Read predictable books using different animal sounds or whatever theme sound the children suggest.
For example: The Farm (moo moo)
The boy is on the farm. (moo moo)


Transition Song (Sharon Dudley)
Tune: La Cuckla Racha
Come to the carpet, come to the carpet.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la.
We are ready.
We are listening.
We are ready for some fun, story, math, etc.


Candyland Adaptation (Amanda Dalgleish)
Level one - Write the color names on the color cards.
Level two – Make new cards by writing color words in the same color as the word.
Level three – Make cards with just the word written in black.

More Skill Games with Candyland (Katie Spies)
Make Candyland cards with numerals, word wall words, math facts, etc. Put harder level words or facts on the double color cards.


Tattle Stopper (Linda Rossiter)
Pick up some old tax forms at the library. When children start to tattle hand them a form and tell them to fill it out and then bring it back to you.


Waiting Gemstones (Dawn Corkran)
Let students pick a stone and decorate it. When they need help they lay their stone next to the teacher and return to their work until the teacher can help them. (Most of the time they will solve their own problem.)


Go Tell Puppy (Yolanda Coppedge)
When children have an issue, they tell it to the toy puppy in their calm down area.

Thinking Time (Maggie Silver)
Some children are much faster at identifying words. To give an opportunity to all the kids, when you come to a new word point to it and slowly say, “1, 2, 3, what word do you see?” That will give the children extra time to sound out the word.

GREAT TEACHERS 111

I’m sharing more good news and good ideas with you today!

Sharing Good News (Jessica Williams)
Write children’s names on craft sticks and place in a jar that says “Good News.” The teacher starts every morning by sharing her own “good news.” The children clap or cheer for her. Next, she pulls a stick and the class sings, "Tell me something good!" That child shares their good news and then the class does a cheer. The teacher pulls the second stick and they sing, "Tell me something good" and then cheer. Do three children each day and then put those who have had a turn in an envelope and start all over again when everyone has had a turn.

Whisper and Release Questioning Strategy (Mary Claire Porter)
When the teacher asks a question have the children blow their answer into their closed fist. When the teacher says, “What is it?” they “release” their answer by opening their hand and saying the answer out loud.


Name Bingo
Play BINGO using children’s names and googly eyes. Write children’s names on sentence strips and give them googly eyes. “I spy the letter R. “ If children have an “R” in their name they cover it up with a googly eye.

Category Game
The children repeat after the teacher:
“Pink is a color.” (Children repeat.)
“Purple is a color.” (Children repeat.)
“A square is a color.” (Children yell NO!)
Adapt for shapes, objects in a house, rhyming words, numbers, and other categories.


Eating the Alphabet (Yolanda Coppedge)
You will need upper and lowercase magnetic letters, a bowl, spoon, and alphabet cards. Each child uses the spoon to scoop out a letter. They have to name the letter, make the sound, and say something that starts with the sound before matching it to the alphabet card.

ABC Tune (Marina Attix)
Did you know that you could sing the ABC’s to the tune of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” It’s great because L M N O P don’t end up sounding like “a lemon and a pea.”


Class Pictionary
Each day choose a different letter of the alphabet and write it on a large sheet of paper. Let the children cut out objects or draw pictures of things that start with that sound. Be sure and label their pictures. After introducing all 26 letters, put the pages together to make a BIG BOOK PICTIONARY for your classroom. Don’t forget to add a page for illustrators and the publisher (school, city, and state). You could also let the children dedicate the book and make a page that says “The End.”


Silly Band Writing
This is the coolest idea with silly bands. Explain that when you go for a ride in the car you have to wear your seat belt. When you write you have to put a seat belt on your pencil. Put a silly band on your wrist, hold your pencil, and then loop the silly band around the pencil. It will stabilize the pencil and make it easier for the children to write.
*A teacher also suggested holding the lid of the marker in your hand when you draw to get the correct grip.

Who Stole the Sound? (Candice Hall)
Adapt “Who Stole the Cookie?” to letters. Write letters on cookie shapes and place them in a bag. Pass the bag around and as children pull out a letter say:
Who stole the letter sound from the cookie jar?
Child’s name stole the letter sound from the cookie jar!
Who me?
Yes, you!
Couldn’t be.
Then who?

GREAT TEACHERS 107

Where’s Bear?

Write sight words on the sides of cups. Put a teddy bear counter under one of the cups. The children say a word and the teacher lifts the cup to see if the teddy bear counter is under that cup. Tally who finds the bear and count who has the most, least, etc.

        

*This activity has endless possibilities. You could use it for letters, numerals, math facts, etc. You could also hide seasonal objects or treats under the cups.


Marshmallow Mouths

To teach the kids how to walk in the halls quietly tell them to pretend to put a marshmallow in their mouths.

*Just for fun give them a real marshmallow.


Jingle Bell Club (Kitty Allen)
Kids get to sign their name as members of the “Jingle Bell Club” when they learn to tie their shoes. They also get a jingle bell on a ribbon to tie on their shoe laces.


Expert Chart (Karen Stone)
Every student can see themselves as an “expert” with this idea. Make a poster with areas of expertise, such as cutting, writing numerals, writing letters, spelling, tying shoes, etc. Children get to sign their name and put their picture on the poster where they feel they are an expert. Students must consult at least “3 experts” before asking the teacher.

Rhyming Hunt (Sara Christensen)
Chant while tapping your lap and then clapping:
We’re going on a rhyming hunt and I know what to do.
I need to listen well and rhyme a word with you.
Teacher: Cat (Teacher calls on a student to say a rhyming word.)
Student: Hat


Dance and Point 

Tape words, letters, numbers, etc. around the room. Play some music so the children can dance. When the music stops the children point to a word. The teacher calls on students to read their word.


Magic Pointer (Lana from Minneapolis)
To help children learn high frequency words, choose a magic pointer and wave it across a word as you say (with expression);
Magic pointer, magic pointer, where will it land?
I don’t know where it will land?
Point to a word for the children to read. After a few weeks, the children get to take turns with the magic pointer.


Table Captain (Jennifer Hill)
At each table there are four children, each with a nametag. On each tag is a red, blue, green, or yellow circle sticker. Each week choose a different color sticker to be “table captain.”
*Colored stickers can be used for other transition activities. For example, “Yellow stickers go to the art center.”


Envelope Assessment (Cowan Elementary)
Laminate envelopes and then cut them in half. Children can write on the laminated envelope with a dry erase marker. This can be used for formative assessment.


Pony Beads (Vonda Stamm)
Place 10 pony beads on a string (5 of each color). Use for number identification, addition, counting, etc. If the teacher calls out a math fact they can hold up the answer and hide the beads they don’t want to show in their fist.
*Students could also use these with a partner. For example, one student shows a number of beads and the partner tells the number.
Hint! I tied a black bead on both ends of the string so the beads wouldn’t fall off.

Sight Words and Sign Language (Kris Buss)
Teach sight words by using sign language. Put a picture of the sign on the back of every sight word. Use this for every word you teach. By having the signs on the back of the cards, the parents can use these at home to help their children learn.

Some old ideas, but how about a new video?

YouTube - https://bit.ly/drJHugs

Handout - https://bit.ly/drJHugsPDF

GREAT TEACHERS 102

 

Reading through the notes teachers share at my workshops is like finding a prize in a box of Cracker Jacks! Look through this list from a conference in North Carolina in 2012 and I guarantee you’ll find something to add a sparkle to your new school year!


Funtime Center (Michele Montgomery)
Ask parents to send in cereal boxes. Cut off the back and laminate. Place in a reading bin with dry erase markers and allow students to work the puzzles if they finish their work early.
*You can also collect kids’ menus from restaurants and laminate.


Pick Up Sticks Sight Words (Lesley Whitman)
Write sight words on popsicle sticks. The children use wooden skewers to try and pick up sticks without moving any of the other sticks. Encourage them to read the word on the stick.
*You could make a similar game with letters, math facts, etc.


Magazine Pictures (Lesley Whitman)
Cut out odd magazine pictures and glue them on cardstock and laminate. For the pre-k children pass out a pictures and let each child talk about their picture. It’s a great way for making inferences and encouraging complete sentences.
*In kindergarten put several pictures in a basket and let children draw a picture and then write about it.


Baby Fish Fingers (Deborah Morales)
Tell the children that their thumb and index finger are their baby fish. When they need to open anything they should use their baby fish. (Works like a charm for ketchup packets.)
At circle time tell them to put their baby fish in their fish bowl (hole created by sitting cross legged).


Cutting Shoebox (Chris Lance)
To encourage children to practice cutting at home by asking parents to fill a shoebox with junk mail and safety scissors. Keep the box on top of the refrigerator and bring it down when parents are busy cooking dinner.

Stretching Sounds (Maria Bristal)
Buy little plastic slinkies at the dollar store and let the children use these to stretch out words.


Write Your Name on Your Paper (Christy Jones)
Sing this song to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.”
Write your name on your paper,
Write your name.
Write your name on your paper,
Write your name.
If you don’t write your name,
Then they all look the same.
Write your name on your paper,
Write your name.

Greetings (Jennifer M. Britt)
Greetings are so important and you can use an apron with different types of greetings for kids to choose. 

 An adaptation to this would be to make a wheel (like Wheel of Fortune) and use picture symbols to represent the different handshakes (biker, fisherman, butterfly, thumb kiss, Spiderman, hand hug, farmer, etc.) 
*You could also use a wheel and spinner for cheers, songs, etc.


Bike Safety (Jennifer Britt)

Talk about bike safety and let the children suggest rules, such as wearing a helmet, looking all around before getting on their bike, etc.

* Let children make a license with their picture, date of birth, address, eye color, hair, address, etc.


Snowman Counting (Debbie Stowe)
You will need cups, cotton balls, and tweezers for this activity. Draw snowmen on cups and write the numerals 1-10 on their tummies. Children use tweezers to pick up snowballs (cotton balls) because they are too cold. Can they place the correct number of snowballs in each cup?

Paint Paddles and Clothespins (Mary Jane Long)
Write numerals vertically down a paint paddle. (They'll usually donate these at a paint store.)  When the teacher says, “Show me 4,” the children attach a clothespin to the numeral and hold up their answer. You can use paddles for addition, subtraction, and other math skills.
*Make paddles with letters, shapes, etc.


Rotten Apple (Mary Jane Long)
Use die cut apples for this game. On the apples write letters, numbers, words, or whatever skill you are working on. On a few apples write “rotten apple.” Children take turns choosing apples and identifying the information. They must put all their apples back if they pick the “rotten apple.”
*Adapt throughout the year with a broken heart in February, cracked egg in April, melting snowman in January, etc.


Hey There Neighbor! (Ruth Ann Tensi)
Hey, there, neighbor! (shake hands)
What do you say? (switch hands)
It’s going to be a great day. (reach up diagonally)
Greet your friends. (high 10’s)
And boogie on down. (shake bottom while bending knees)
Give ‘em a bump (bump hips gently)
And turn around. (turn around in place)
*Count to ten while they find a new partner.


Hang Those Letters Down (Kate Barnes)
Boys and girls, some letters stand tall. (arms up)
Some sit on the wall (arms straight out)
And some fall.
I’ll show you what to do with those letters in a minute.
Let’s go through the alphabet.
a, b, c, d, e, f, g
g?!
Hang those letters down down 

(Sing to the tune of “100 Bottles of Pop on the Wall”) 
Hang those letters down.
Some letters stand tall, 
Some sit on the wall,
Some hang those letters down.
h, i, j
j?! (Repeat above chant.)


Pencil Grip (Ann Blackard)
Break crayons in half and children will use three fingers. Golf pencils also encourage children to use three fingers.


Author/Illustrator Party (Denise Catoe)
At the end of the year have an author and illustrator party using children’s individual books they’ve made in the classroom. It’s a way to celebrate writing throughout the year. Parents are invited to attend and cookies and drinks are served.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

It’s summer and time to root, root, root for your home team! There are some things that are not in your curriculum that I think all American kids should be exposed to such as the traditional song "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." Use this link to go to my website and get a free download.

http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2014/05_May_css/index.html

Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Take me out to the ball game. (Hand in fist as if cheering.)
Take me out to the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts (Hold up one palm and then other.)
and Cracker Jacks.
I don’t care if we never get back, (Shake head “no.”)
For I’ll root, root, root for the home team. (Cheer with hand in the air.)
If they don’t win it’s a shame. (Open up palms and shake head.)
For it’s one, two, three strikes (Hold up fingers as you count.)
You’re out! (Stick up thumb like “out.”)
At the old ball game.


Cracker Jacks Book
Cut the front and back off a bag or box of Cracker Jacks. Cut paper the size of the bag and give each child a piece. Let them draw and write what prize they would like to find in a box of Cracker Jacks.

Visor
Here's a simple visor that you can wear to the game. Cut a moon shape out of a paper plate and let the children decorate it with markers and crayons. Punch holes in the ends and tie on strings so you can fit the visor to children's heads.



Bar Graph
What's your favorite baseball team? Make a bar graph that children can fill in when their team wins.


Let’s Play Ball!
Write “1st,” “2nd,” “3rd,” and “Home” on paper plates. Place the plates in a diamond shape on the floor. Divide the class into two teams. Let them “huddle” and come up with a team name. The first team lines up and one player at a time stands on “home” as the teacher “pitches” a flash card to them. (Flashcards with words, letters, math facts, etc. can be used.) If the student can identify the information on the flash card they can walk to first base. The game continues as different players on the team come up, identify the flash card, and move around the bases. Tally points on the board. The second team then has a turn at bat.

Note! If they don’t know the answer you can call them out. I did this when I taught first grade, but with kindergarten I let the other players on the team help them. The great thing about being the teacher is that you are the baseball commissioner and you can change the rules to work for you!!!


Batter Up
Cut 4” circles out of cardstock and draw baseball stitching on them. Write words, letters, math facts, etc. on most of the baseballs. On a few write “out” and on a few write “home run.” Mix up the balls and place them in a bag. Children take turns choosing a ball and reading the word. If they select “out” they are out of the game. If they select “home run” everybody cheers.

HOMEMADE PLAY EQUIPMENT

Your kids will have a blast making these games and then playing with them.

Goofy Golf
You will need several empty cardboard containers from fried chicken, popcorn, ice cream, etc. Turn the containers upside down and cut an arch out of the bottom similar to a mouse hole. Set the containers up on the grass and let the children practice hitting golf balls in the holes.

*You can also make a golf course with hula hoops.

*Use small brooms and tennis balls instead of golf clubs.


Broomstick Hockey
You will need children's brooms and a rubber ball for this game. Children hit the ball with the broom and try to get it in a box or designated area.

Bowling
Take several empty liter bottles from water or soft drinks and arrange them in a triangle. Children stand behind a line and roll a ball, trying to knock down the plastic bottles. Count how many they knock down. Let children can take turns rolling the ball and setting up the bottles for each other.
Hint! Fill the bottles with water if it’s a windy day.

Paddle Ball
To make paddles, place two paper plates together and staple ¾ of the way around. Insert the hand and use like a paddle. Roll up a scrap piece of paper to make a ball.

Balloon Tennis
Bend two coat hangers into diamond shapes. Stretch the legs of panty hose over the diamonds and knot at the end. Bend up the hook of the hangers and tape it to make handles. Blow up a balloon and you’re set of a tennis match!

Bouncy Ball Lane
Draw a path on the sidewalk with chalk. Children take balls and try to bounce them on the designated line.

Can Catch
You will need a tennis ball and empty Pringle’s can for this game. Children bounce the ball and try to catch it in the can. They can place this game by themselves or with a friend.

Hungry?If you're hungry from playing all those games, just put your favorite snack mix in an ice cream cone and nibble away. Eat the cone and there's no clean up!

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN!

We used to play "girls chase boys" or "boys chase girls" and then some decided that was politically incorrect. We started mixing the teams up and changed the names to things like "bunnies chase squirrels" or "Ninjas chase Robots." However, I'm smiling because kids will be kids and someone will continue to call out "girls chase boys" or "boys chase girls" forever!

Here are some new versions to the old game of tag that your children might enjoy.

Cat and Mouse
Materials: none
The children form a circle and hold hands. One child stands in the center and is the “mouse.” Another child stands outside the circle and is the “cat.” On a given signal, the “cat” must chase the “mouse.” They can enter or leave the circle only if the other players hold up their hands and form an arch. When the “cat” catches the “mouse,” let them choose classmates to take their places.

*Change the characters for different seasons. You could have the farmer chase the turkey, the witch chase the bat, etc.

Hug Tag
Materials: none
Designate a playing area. One child is “it.” “It” chases other children who must “freeze” when they are tagged. Other players hug those who are “frozen” to “unfreeze” them.

Stoop Tag
One child is "it." Children stoop down on the ground when they are tagged by "it." When everyone has been caught and is stooping down a new person is chosen to be "it" and the game begins again.

Cartoon Tag
Children must name a cartoon show when they are tagged. They can continue to play if they can name a show.


Shadow Tag
You'll need a sunny day for this game. Children must freeze when “it” steps on their shadow.

Sticky Tag
Children must hold the part of their body that is tagged by "it." They can continue to play touching the body part(s) that are tagged.