GREAT TEACHERS 122

JUST A-SWINGING IN VICKSBURG, MISSISSI[[I 2013

What Is a Sentence (Jennifer Williams)
(Tune: “Where Is Thumbkin?”)
What is a sentence?
What is a sentence?
A complete thought.
A complete thought.
It starts with a capital letter.
It starts with a capital letter.
And ends with a punctuation mark.
And ends with a punctuation mark.


Show Me Punctuation (Jennifer Williams)
Teach children the following motions for punctuation marks.
. Hand out like “stop.”
? Shrug shoulders.
! Show muscles.
Teacher says a sentence, and the students show the correct punctuation.
I like to ride my bike. (Hand out STOP.)
Do you like to ride a bike? (Shrug shoulders.)
That’s a big snake! (Show muscles.)


Book Sort (Sheila Scott)
Use pictures from old book order forms to do the following:
*Children cut out pictures of books and sort into genres.
*Put books in ABC order.
*Make predictions about books.

Full body Listening (Gloria Pettitt)
Teacher says, “1, 2,3, eyes on me!”
“Full body listening!” 1. Feet on floor
2. Hands in lap.
3. Mouth closed.
4. Ears open.
5. Eyes on speaker.
Students show the action or point when saying the steps.

Envelope Puppets (Cybil Richmond)
Cut envelopes in half so you can insert your hand to make a puppet. Use in science to identify living/nonliving things, biotic/abiotic factors, physical/chemical properties, etc.

Sparkle Spelling Game (Gloria Pettit)
Students stand in a circle. The teacher says a spelling word. The students go around the circle saying one letter each. After they spell the word, the next student says the word. The next student gets “sparkled” (all students yell “sparkle” and that student sits down). Keep going until only one student is left.

Memory Game (Beverly Buice)
“I’m going on a grip and I’m going to take…”
The first student names something that starts with A. The next student repeats the sentence and the first answer. Then the second student adds something that starts with B. This continues until you get to Z. This game helps students develop listening skills, sequential order, and their memory.

Graphic Organizer Puzzle (Ashley Salina)
Make a puzzle out of a math mat to demonstrate parts and the whole.

Punch Out Spelling (Suzanne Artman)
Cross over and punch letters to spell a word. Clap hands at the end while saying the word as you clap the syllables. Kids then say the number of syllables. (say, spell, say)

WHAT'S A NOUN?

What's a Noun?(TUNE: She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain)
A noun is a person, place, or thing. Yee haw! (Fist in air.)
A noun is a person, place, or thing. Yee haw!
A noun is a person. (Point to a person.)
A noun is a place. (Point to a place in the room.)
A noun is a person, place, or thing. (Point to a place.)


Wacky Sentences
Write nouns and picture clues on 5 index cards and verbs on 5 index cards. Place them in lunch bags labeled “nouns” and “verbs.” Children choose a noun card and a verb card and write a sentence using the words.

Hint! They love to use nouns with their teacher’s name, principal, and other stars.


Noun Sort
Fold a sheet of paper into fourths. Write “people, animals, places, things” in the sections. Give children old newspapers and catalogs and ask them to cut out pictures of people, animals, places, and things and glue them in the appropriate section. Can they label their pictures?

Noun Hunt
Give children a clip board and challenge them to find all the nouns they can in the classroom. They can write the words or draw pictures.
*For homework ask them to make a list of the nouns in their home.


Noun Names
Make name cards for the students in your class from 8” sentence strips. Write each child’s name and glue their picture on the card. Use these for writing prompts in a center.

WHAT'S A NOUN?

Every sentence has a noun, so let's find out more about them!

The Noun Song
(TUNE: She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain)
A noun is a person, place, or thing. Yee haw! (Fist in air.)
A noun is a person, place, or thing. Yee haw!
A noun is a person. (Point to a person.)
A noun is a place. (Point to a place in the room.)
A noun is a person, place, or thing. (Point to a place.)


Wacky Sentences
Write nouns and picture clues on 5 index cards and verbs on 5 index cards. Place them in lunch bags labeled “nouns” and “verbs.” Children choose a noun card and a verb card and write a sentence using the words.

Hint! They love to use nouns with their teacher’s name, principal, and other stars.


Noun Sort
Fold a sheet of paper into fourths. Write “people, animals, places, things” in the sections. Give children old newspapers and catalogs and ask them to cut out pictures of people, animals, places, and things and glue them in the appropriate section. Can they label their pictures?

Noun Hunt
Give children a clip board and challenge them to find all the nouns they can in the classroom. They can write the words or draw pictures.
*For homework ask them to make a list of the nouns in their home.


Noun Names
Make name cards for the students in your class from 8” sentence strips. Write each child’s name and glue their picture on the card. Use these for writing prompts in a center.

LETTERS MAKE WORDS

The idea of manipulating letters and sounds to make words is a key to beginning reading.

Name Puzzles
Write children’s names on a sentence strip. Cut between the letters. Place the puzzle pieces in an envelope. Write each child’s name and glue their photo to the front of the envelope. Children can practice putting the puzzles together and reading friends’ names.

*Make name puzzles with Unifx cubes.

Cut Up Sentences
Write a simple sentence on a sentence strip. (For example, “We like to read books.”) Place the sentence in a pocket chart and invite the children to read it with you as you move your finger from left to right under the words. Say, “I’m going to cut this sentence up,” as you cut between the words. Place the letters in a paper bag and pretend to shake them up. Let children come up and select a word and place it in the pocket chart. Guide them as they unscramble the words and make the sentence. Call their attention to the capital letter “W.” There’s always a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence. Point out the period and remark, “You’ll always find a period or punctuation at the end of a sentence.”

*Let each child complete the sentence “I like _____.” Have them cut between their words and place them in a bag. Can they put their own sentence back together?


Happy Birthday
Whenever a child has a birthday, you’ll be able to celebrate and learn at the same time with this idea. Write each line of “Happy Birthday” on a sentence strip. Cut between the words. Arrange each line on a pocket chart. The birthday child gets to scramble the words and then friends sing along the silly lyrics. Arrange the words in the correct order and sing again.

Spaceman
Glue the figure of a “spaceman” to a jumbo craft stick. (I found my little guy at google images.) Use spaceman to find spaces on classroom print. Sing the Batman tune as you go, “Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da Spaceman!” Encourage children to use spaceman when writing.