HOUSE BOOK AND BROCHURE

House Book
Fold the paper in half lengthwise to form a crease. Open. Bring upper left corner to the center crease. Bring upper right corner to the center crease. Fold up the bottom edge to make a house.

                                                    

Use for: learning addresses

my family (how we celebrate, have fun, etc.)

colors, letters, shapes, number words

word families

following directions

title of story and favorite part/character

animal homes

NAPPING HOUSE – recall characters

number house

homework – write words in their house they can read

Brochure
Directions: Fold a sheet of paper into thirds to create a brochure.

*You can also try the easy version where you roll the paper into a “burrito" and “smash” flat.

                               

Sequence - Write/draw what happened at the beginning of the story, the middle, and the end.

Sorting - Sort words with one letter, two letters, and three letters.

*Sort words with one syllable, two syllables, and three syllables.

*Sort nouns – people, places, and things.

*Science - Turn the brochure vertically and sort animals in the air, on the ground, and under the ground.

*Sort food that grows in the air, on the ground, under the ground.

*Sort transportation in the air, on the ground, on water.

HOT DOG! A HOTDOG BOOK!

Hot Dog Book (aka Flip Book)
Make a hotdog fold. (Fold in half.)

Make a hotdog fold. (Fold in half.)

Make a hamburger fold. (Fold in fourths.)

Make a juice box. (Fold in eighths.)

Open in half. Cut down each crease to the middle fold.

Fold in half to make four flips.

*Children like to call this a “garage door” book.

Use for: 

sequence of a butterfly
story elements
letters and pictures that begin with the sound
opposites
before and after
parts of a plant
what’s inside an egg
mother and baby animals
sequence of your day
sets and numerals
riddles or questions and answers
four seasons
animals and their homes
spelling word – picture or definition

Hint! Use longer paper and more strips to make a book about the five senses, days of the week, planets, etc.

                       

                 

 

BLANKETY BLANK BLANK!

Over the next week I'll share my favorite "blank" books that you can use in your classroom for any age level or content. Sure beats worksheets and I'll tell you why!!!!

TOP TEN REASONS TO USE BLANK BOOKS

1st – They are perfect for differentiated instruction. Blank books are open-ended to challenge children at different skill levels.

2nd – Blank books can be used to reinforce reading and writing standards across the curriculum.

3rd – Writing and drawing activate more areas of the brain than typing a key on a computer.

4th – Many children don’t have books in their home so this is a great way for children to share reading with their families.

5th – Blank books are much more engaging than worksheets and encourage creativity.

6th – Blank books nurture the belief in children that they really are “authors.”

7th - If children write a book they will be more motivated to read the book.

8th – Children have a tangible project that demonstrates learning when they make a book.

9th – When children make books they are developing the executive function of “task initiation” and “task completion.”

10th - Blank books can be used in learning stations or as an activity with a partner or small group.

                                    

Helpful hints when making books!

A. Make these books with a small group of children, such as a guided reading group. It’s much easier to help 5 or 6 children learn the steps than the whole class at once.

B. Model making the book from start to finish. The brain remembers as a whole. The second time the children can make the book with you as you slowly go through the steps.

C. Make the same book each day for a week, assigning different tasks with the book. Once children have mastered making several of these blank books you can use them for assignments the rest of the year.

D. Suggest children use as many colors as they are in age in their books. For example, if you are five years old you should use at least five colors. If you’re seven, you should use seven colors.

*Ask older students to use as many words in their sentences as they are in age.

E. Blank books are a perfect activity for parent volunteers to do with the class.

F. Save blank books throughout the year as part of their writing portfolio.


Book Boxes
Let children decorate cereal boxes or food boxes and use these for “personal libraries” to store their books. They can take these home over holidays or at the end of the school year so they’ll always have a book to read!

HOUSE BOOKS AND CARDS

These open-ended books are perfect for differentiated instruction across the curriculum.

 

House Book 

 

Directions:  Fold the paper in half lengthwise to form a crease.  Open.  Bring upper left corner to the center crease.  Bring upper right corner to the center crease.  Fold up the bottom edge to make a house.

                             

My Family - Children draw their family, how they celebrate, how they have fun, and so forth.

 

Book Report - Write the title of the book on the house and the author and illustrator on the roof.  Children open the house and draw/write their favorite part of the story.

Number Bonds - Write a number on the front and different ways to show that number in the house.

 

 

Card

 

Directions:  Fold a sheet of paper in half and then into fourths.

 

Greeting Cards – Children can make cards for their friends, family members, holidays, and so forth.

 

Books – Children can use these like little books to write stories.

 

Letters and Numbers – Use these instead of worksheets for open-ended learning.

 

Writing List

Provide children with writing lists for common words they will want to know how to spell.

TIME TO BOOK IT!

 

Here are some blank books that you can use to replace worksheets, encourage 

creativity, and motivate children to write and read.  Blank books are a tangible 

project where children can demonstrate what they are learning. They are 

open-ended to challenge children at different skill levels, and they can be used 

across the curriculum to reinforce skills.  

 

Note!   You could provide these in their weekly school kits or teach the parents 

how to make them in a family workshop.

 

Snip Snap Book

 

Directions:    Fold two sheets of paper in half.  Make tears (or snips) about a thumbnail apart down the fold.  Bend one tab forward, then the next backward, and so on to bind the pages together.

                                      

 

Phonics - Children can use this for a letter book by drawing pictures, writing words, or cutting out pictures of things that start with a beginning sound, diagraph, vowel, etc.

 

Number Book - Have children write numbers and then make that many objects.  

*Write a number and then show different ways to make that number.

*Use as a shape book where children walk around their house and draw shapes they see.

 

Write Your House – Children walk around their house and write all the words that they can read.

*Younger children could write letters that they find.

*Challenge older children to find a word for each letter of the alphabet.

Concept Book  - Coordinate the book with a unit, theme, or holiday.  For example, when studying about dinosaurs have them make a book about dinosaurs.  When focusing on social skills ask them to make a book called “How to Be a Friend.”  For Thanksgiving they could make a book of things they are thankful for.

 

  

Brochure

 

Directions:    Fold a sheet of paper into thirds to create a brochure.

You can also try the easy version where you roll the paper into a “burrito) and “smash” flat.

 

Sequence - Write/draw what happened at the beginning of the story, the middle, and the end.

 

Sorting - Sort words with one letter, two letters, and three letters.

*Sort words with one syllable, two syllables, and three syllables.

*Sort nouns – people, places, and things.

 

Science - Turn the brochure vertically and sort animals in the air, on the ground, and under the ground.

*Sort food that grows in the air, on the ground, under the ground.

*Sort transportation in the air, on the ground, on water.

 

TIS' THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

 

Tis’ the day after Christmas and the house is a mess.
There’s trash to clean up and thank you’s to address.
There are cookies and candy you can’t leave alone,
And the kids are fighting in a rather loud tone.
The weather is frightful – you can’t get outside.
You’d like to get under the covers and hide.
But, you are a teacher, no need to fear.
It’s time to get ready for the new year.
Did you think that all your presents were done?
I’ve got ideas to cheer everyone.
Every day I’ll post new activities for you.
My things are meaningful and simple to do.
And I’ll exclaim over the earth with a very large roar,
Sing and play in 2019 and SHUT YOUR DOOR!

SNIP SNAP BOOK
This is one of my favorite books because it doesn’t require any special tools or materials. It can be used to replace a worksheet for almost any skill or concept that you want to reinforce.

Directions: Fold two sheets of paper in half. Make tears (or snips) about a thumbnail apart down the fold. Bend one tab forward, then the next backward, and so on to bind the pages together.

Phonics
Children can use this for a letter book by drawing pictures, writing words, or cutting out pictures of things that start with a beginning sound, diagraph, vowel, etc.
                        
Number Book
Have children write numbers and then make that many objects.
*Write a number and then show different ways to make that number.
*Use as a shape book where children walk around the room and draw shapes they see.
                                              
Weekly Spelling Word Journal
Monday – write a word on each page
Tuesday – write the definition of each word
Wednesday – illustrate or cut out a picture for each word
Thursday – write a sentence using each word
                                                                
Write the Room
Children walk around the room and write all the words they can read.
Can they find a word for each letter of the alphabet?

Can they find nouns?  Adjectives?  Seasonal words?
                                                                                
Concept Book
Coordinate the book with a unit, theme, or holiday. For example, when studying about dinosaurs have them make a book about dinosaurs. When focusing on social skills ask them to make a book called “How to Be a Friend.” For January they could make a book of “My Goals for 2019.”
               
Hint! For younger children make this book with one sheet of paper.

*Fold paper lengthwise to make a tall book.
                                           
*Cut a piece of paper in half to make a small book.

*Use a colored sheet of paper on the outside and a white sheet on the inside.
                                                                

Check out WORKSHEET AVENGERS for over 150 things you can do instead of a worksheet.