LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

I was going through some old blogs and ideas that teachers had shared and I just couldn’t resist posting them again.  I can’t take credit for these activities, but they are absolutely brilliant because they meet my 3 standards:  cheap, easy, and meaningful!

This is what I’m talking about for Core Standards!

Main Idea (Elizabeth Burriss, TN)

Switch book covers on several books.  Have children look at the cover and guess who the main character will be, the main idea, etc.  Read the book.   The class will realize that the story does not match the cover.  After reading the story have the children illustrate a cover for the book and select a title.  Compare their pictures to the real book cover.  What an adorable birthday song!

Birthday Do Dah (Mary Lehman, Indiana)

(Tune:  “Camptown Racers”)

Our friend name is age years old

Do dah, do dah.  (Wave scarf up and down on “do dah.”)

Our friend name is age years old

Oh, do dah day.

Let’s all shout “hooray!”

It’s a special day.

Our friend name is age years old

Oh, do dah day.

*Take scarves, streamers, or just wave your hand as you “do dah” the person’s age.

Snap, Clap, Slap

You can use this idea for saying the alphabet or for spelling word wall words or vocabulary words. 

SNAP your fingers “upstairs” in the air for letters that start at the top dotted line.

CLAP your hands in front of you for letters that are “downstairs” and start at the middle dotted line.

SLAP your thighs for “basement” letters with a tail that go below the line.

WH Brothers

Do you know those snoopy guys?  They always ask questions.

WHO wants to know the person or thing.

WHERE wants to know the place.

WHEN wants to know the time.

WHAT wants to know what’s happening.

WHY wants to know the reason.

Here’s a little song I just made up to “Ten Little Indians.”

Who, What, Where, When, Why?

Who, What, Where, When, Why?

Who, What, Where, When, Why?

Those are five snoopy guys!

FROM NC to TX and SCHEMA TO TALK TIME

Schema  (Anne Evans)

Show students the symbol for join/connect in sign language.  (Hook two index fingers together.) 

Students put one hand on their head for what’s in their head.

They hold out the other hand for what’s in the book.

Join the fingers together to connect what’s in their head and what’s in the book to make a schema.

*Talk about a hands-on way to do Core Standards!

Author’s Wax Museum  (Kristy Gerald)

This is a great alternative for dressing up at Halloween.  Each student chooses a book and a character they want to be.  They have to do a book report and memorize the author’s purpose, setting, etc.  They get to dress up like their favorite character and when the teacher pushes an imaginary button they come to life.  Parents are invited.

Word Friends  (Sam Hart)

Put a word wall or vocabulary word in a nametag.  Pick one child and tell they class they are leaving.  Take that child out in the hall and put the word on them.  Return to the classroom and introduce that child as their new friend (word).  The children call that child by the word all day.

Super Smart Science Glasses  (Jane Harris)

Ask parents to send in safety glasses (or get a business to donate).  When you do science activities let the kids wear their “super smart glasses.”

Race to 100 Partner Activity  (Heather Classen)

Each child will need a blank 100’s board, a pair of dice, and a crayon.  One child rolls a set, adds the amount, and then colors that many squares on their grid.  The next partner then has a turn.  The first person to fill in the whole grid wins!  This reinforces addition, number recognition, graphing, and counting by tens.

Hint!  At the top of each column write 10, 20, 30, etc.

Naturalist Hat (E. Roberson)

Cut out the center of a paper plate so a bowl will fit to make a hat.  Decorate and punch two holes in the sides so you can tie on yarn and use as a hat for field observations.

Vowel Cheer  (Erin Muffler)

(Children repeat each line.)

Give me an A.

Give me an E.

Give me an I.

Give me an O.

Give me a U.

A  E  I  O  U

Vowels say their names.

Meteorologist  (Erin Muffler)

During morning meeting let the meteorologist of the day check the weather using “binoculars.”  (The binoculars are made by gluing two toilet paper tubes together and attaching a string.)

Number Cards (Jane Karman)

When making numeral cards, write the numerals close to the left side.  That way students can overlay the numbers for place value.

Twizzlers  (Sherry Hull)

Use drink stirrers (from the dollar store) for popsicle stick books.  These could be related to themes or seasons.

Birthday Cake  (Angel Frierson)

After having your birthday celebration where they blow out the candles, let the children pretend to eat the cake.

Tic-Tac-Toe  (Susan Vandergriff)

You can use the tic-tac-toe game to review any skill you are working on.

*Put popcorn words on the grid.  Students have to read the word to put up an X or O.  (Lower students can just find a word and the higher students can actually play strategically.)

*Use for math, vocabulary, etc.

Mini Portfolio  (Sherry Hull and Karen Guynes)

Cut the bottom of a lunch bag as shown.  Fold the bag in half to fit under the flap.  Add a Velcro dot and children can store words, math flash cards, and other things they are working on in the pocket.

A FEW MORE IDEAS FROM THE TEXAS FIRST GRADE CONFERENCE IN AUSTIN!

Talk Time  (Lu Mighell)

After an activity ask children to find a friend and share with them their favorite thing about what they learned, what a vocabulary word meant, etc.  After a few moments direct them to find a new friend and share something different.

Magnetic Bottle  (Paula Alexander)

Cut pipe cleaners into small pieces and put them in a plastic bottle.  Let the children take a magnet and see how many pipe cleaners they can attract.  Count and record.

Inequality Spoons  (Connie Coney)

Attach Velcro dots to wooden ice cream spoons.  Children can use these for creating greater than and less than signs.

Early Finishers  (Shannon Garcia)

You will need zip pockets and a 24 pocket hanging chart for this project.  Each pocket is labeled and numbered with an activity inside.  When children finish their work they grab a zip pocket and take it to their desk.  Super easy, fun, and QUIET!

Deciduous Trees  (Sandra Kelley)

(Tune:  “Do Your Ears Hang Low?)

Do your leaves fall down?

Do they tumble to the ground?

Do you loose your leaves in the fall?

Then you are deciduous, that we know

Because you lose your leaves in the fall.

PAY DIRT IN NORTH CAROLINA

Talk about hitting pay dirt!  Did I get some great ideas in North Carolina last week!!  Someone once said, “Teachers don’t steal ideas, they harvest ideas!”  Well, I’ve got some terrific ideas for you to harvest and adapt for your classroom.

My journey started with a concert at my friend’s grandson’s school in Durham.  The kindergarteners were so delightful it made me want to go back to the classroom.

Here we are doing the “Banana Dance.”  I used to be called the “Tooty Ta Lady,” but now the kids call me the “Banana Lady.”

William showed me how to do the eagle wave by crossing the wrists and wiggling the palms.

Envelope Factory

This is how teachers take an idea and milk it for all its worth!  I’ve showed you before how to cut an envelope in half to make a puppet.  Look how this can be used to reinforce Core Standards.

*Put a period on one side and a question mark on the other.  When the teacher makes a statement, children hold up the period.   When the teacher asks a question, the children hold up the question mark.

*Write “fact” on one side and “opinion” on the other side.

*Write “fiction” on one side and “non-fiction” on the other side.

*Write “yes” on one side and “no” on the other side for a quick review.

Mustard Cheer  (Trish Snyder)

Clap one hand on top of the other so it looks like you are holding a bottle as you squeeze it and say, “Th th th th thpt thpt.”

Letter Pops   (Kristi Moore)

Glue upper and lowercase letters on jumbo craft sticks.  Children can match letters that go together.

*You could also use these for helping children find a partner.

Silent Math  (Cindy Lang)
While students are waiting for the restroom or drinking fountain, one student shows the person beside them a number on their fingers and then a function sign (+ or -) and another number.  The friend will answer by showing the correct number of fingers.  Continue playing until everyone is back in line.

Syllable Stepping  (Michaela White)

As a way to transition and line up students, have them step out syllables and sounds.  Every student stands in place.  The teacher (or student helper) calls out a word.  The students move according to the syllables they hear. 

Ex:  arctic – 2 syllables – walk 2 steps in line

*Segment sounds (CVC words, etc.) by stepping for each sound and then sliding as you blend the sounds.

*Students can step on long vowel words, but they must freeze on short vowel words.

Twister (Traci Branch)

Use a Twister mat and write words, numerals, letters, etc. on the circles.  Write the words on the spinner and let the children play.

Hint!  A shower curtain can be used to make the game with a homemade spinner.

Word Family Step Book  (Gaye Vitolo)

Staple a step book at the top and cut up as shown.  Write a different rime on each section and then challenge children to write all the words they can that end with that sound.

*Use for long vowel, short vowel, and r controlled.

*Use for tenses or place value.

Question Strategy  (Jamie Turnage)

Students tap their brain to think of the answer to a question and then blow the answer in their hands.  They all release the answer on the count of three.

Wolfpack Cheer  (Julie Earnhardt, Lisa Byrom, Joan Munn)

Stick index finger and pinky up in the air and then touch middle finger and ring finger to your thumb to make the “wolf.”  Children can make fingers “bark” as they give a silent cheer for their friends.

Schoolwide Vocabulary Parade (Tammi and Tiffany from Manchester El.)

This is a one month project.  First, each child chooses a word and writes a proposal with the word, the definition, a sentence, and a picture.

Kindergarten – nouns

1^st Grade – verbs

2^nd Grade – adjectives

3^rd Grade – multiple meaning words

4^th Grade – similes

5^th Grade – idioms

Based on their word, each child creates a hat that they wear on a special day and they parade around the school.

Word Wall Wednesday (Joan Munn)

Ask questions about words on the word wall.  Assess by having the student write down their answer on a “ticket.”

*On “Thinking Thursday” do math word problems.

This Is Why We Do What We Do!  (Tiffany Berry)

This is a touching story that a teacher shared:

In August of 2011 I was blessed to teach a beautiful little girl from Canada.  This student was previously home schooled on-line in Canada.  She was very intelligent, but struggled with being in a regular classroom setting.  She struggled with social interaction, communication, the mechanics of writing, and the lack of immediate gratification.  ALL of her previous learning had taken place on the computer, which would provide instant praise.  Coming into my first grade classroom was overwhelming for her!  We sing, dance, act, and write – all things this child was not accustomed to doing.  I had to teach her social skills of looking at someone when you are speaking to them, saying hello to friends, saying please and thank you, and that it is absolutely O.K. to run and play with your classmates at recess.  I adore the time I spent with this student, but if the world is only based on technology for children it is not the world I would like to see.  Children should laugh, jump, dance, sing, and create.  Technology can be great, but PLEASE let kids be kids!

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

But wait!  There’s more!  I feel like an infomercial!  I’ve come up with a few more “cup”able projects!  I promise this is the last day I’ll push plastic cups!

Instruments – Give each child a cup and play some catchy music.  Have them gently tap the cup on their desk to the beat of the music.

*Give them two cups that they can tap together to make music.

Turkey Caller – Take a nail and poke it through the bottom of a cup.  (An adult will need to do this.)  Thread a 2’ piece of string through the hole and tie a paper clip to the end outside the cup.  Hold the cup upside down and dip the string in water.  With your index finger and thumb, gently pull down on the string.  You can make a long squeaking noise or jerk it to sound like a chicken.

Phone – Punch holes in the bottoms of two cups.  Take an 8’ piece of string and thread each end through the bottom of a cup.  Tie paper clips to the ends of the strings in the cups.  Each friend takes a cup and pulls the string taut.  One child talks in a cup while the other child holds the cup to her ear and listens.

Fence Art – You’ve all seen this where the children stick cups in a chain link fence to make a design.  This is great for holidays and other special celebrations.

*You could also challenge children to make patterns in a fence with cups.

Pop Up Puppet –This is cute for a groundhog or a bunny.  Poke a hole in the bottom of a cup.  Draw a groundhog, bunny, or other creature that lives underground on a piece of paper.  Cut out and attach to a straw.  Turn the cup upside down and insert the straw through the hole in the cup.  Move the straw up and down so the critter can pop out of the hole.

Snack Cups – In addition to using cups for liquids, they’re handy for serving popcorn and other snacks to children. 

*Decorate with stickers and use for party treats.

Brainstorm – Divide students into groups of 4.  Give each group a cup and challenge them to come up with as many uses for the cup as they can in 10 minutes.  

MY RED, YELLOW, BLUE, AND GREEN SOLO CUPS

I couldn’t sleep at all last night.  Just a thinking about cups…

Did you think I was going to stop with educational activities with plastic cups?  No way!  Check out these ideas!

Building Cups – Put out cups and paper plates for the children as a construction project.  Don’t tell them what to do or give them any directions and you’ll be surprised at what they come up with!  Talk about 21^st Century skills!  Collaboration, communication, problem solving, and creativity at its finest!

This would be a great project for two children or a group of four.  Give them a set time and then let each group report on what they created.

Help Me!  Give each child a red and green cup to keep in their desk.  When they are doing independent work have them place the cups on their desk with the green on top.  Green means they are good to GO!  If they need help they put the red cup on top to indicate, “Please STOP and help me.”

Classroom Management – You’ll need a red, green, and yellow cup for this activity.  Stack the red, yellow, and green cups in that order and place them in the middle of a table where students sit.  If the group gets loud, remove the green cup and the yellow will be a warning to calm down.  If the noise continues remove the yellow cup and they must stop all talking.

Note!  I didn’t think of this.  There are several variations of it on the internet. 

Dippers and Fillers – This is a popular management system that many schools use.  When children are unkind or say something hurtful they are “dippers.”  When they are kind they are “fillers.”  Punch holes in the sides of a cup and tie on a string or pipe cleaner so children can hang them on their chairs or a bulletin board.  The teacher or friends can put a token in their cup to thank them for being a “filler.”

Storage – Plastic cups can be used for organizing art materials, pencils, and other supplies. 

*How about a cup for “Lost and Found Crayons” or “Lost and Found Pencils”?

*Store brain tickets or other coupons in cups.

Lucky Sticks – Let each child decorate a craft stick with her name.  Place the sticks in a cup labeled “lucky sticks.”  When you have a special job to be done pull a stick from the cup.  That’s the “lucky” winner.  Put their stick in your desk after they’ve had a turn and when all the sticks are in your desk put them back in the cup and start all over.

Touch and Tell – Insert a cup in a sock.  Put an unusual item down in the cup.  Children reach in the sock and try to identify the object by touch. 

*Make several of these and number each one.  Have children draw a picture or write a sentence about each object.

Hairy Creatures – Let children draw silly faces on small bathroom cups.  Fill the cups with soil and sprinkle grass seed on the top.  Water, set in the sun, and before long you’ll have a hairy creature!

HAVE A CUP!

I actually started working on this blog after Christmas when I had a little time to explore on the web.  I’m so out of the loop I didn’t even know Toby Keith had a song called “Red Solo Cup.”  Don’t worry!  This blog isn’t going to be rated “R.”  (Although there were some clever things in the video!)  It will be rated “G” for GOOD teaching ideas using plastic cups.

This “cup” idea was planted by Mona Hickerson when I was in Oklahoma City several weeks ago.  You can’t beat plastic cups for price, adaptability, and creativity.  Doing this blog keeps my mind working and with a little exploring on the web and a trip in my closet from the past I’ve come up with a cup or two for you! 

Hint!  You can use any size cup to make these activities.  I used permanent markers as well as fabric paint to write on the cups.  I really like the paint, but I’m not sure how well it will hold up with lots of play.  Please give me some feedback.  I also used my favorite E6000 glue for the pictures.

Alphabet Cups – Write letters on the sides of the cups and the tops.  Children can put these in alphabetical order or make words with the cups.  (I put the uppercase letter on one side and the lowercase letter on the other side.)

*Glue pictures to cups and use them to match beginning sounds, ending sounds, vowels, etc.

*Write words on cups.  Children arrange them to make simple sentences.

*Write word families on cups.  Children can read the words as they stack the rimes.

Math Cups  - Write numerals on cups.  Children can put them in numerical order.

*Write numerals on one set, number words on a set, and on others draw sets of objects.  Children can stack the numerals, words, and sets.

*Use cups for place value - one color for hundreds, one for tens, and another for ones.

*Write fact families on cups for children to rearrange.

*Write addition and subtraction facts on cups.  Can children stack the ones that equal the same amount?

*Use different colored cups for children to make patterns.

*Have children sort the cups by odd and even numbers.

Secret Pennies  - Place a certain number of pennies on the table in front of a cup.  Explain that you will hide some pennies under the cup.  Have children close their eyes as you hide a few pennies under the cup.  Can they guess how many are under the cup?
*This would be a fun game for children to play with a partner.

Hint!  If you use bathroom cups you can store them in a Pringle’s Can.

Matching Games  - Trace around the bottom of cups on a file folder.  (Bathroom cups work best for this game.)  Write numerals on the circles or letters on the circles.  Challenge children to match cups and circles as fast as they can.  Mix the cups up and then see if they can stack them in order.

*Write compound words (one word on each cup) and have children stack them and tell the word.

*Glue pictures of mother and baby animals, things that rhyme, opposites, animals and habitats, things that go together, before and after (you get it) for children to match and stack.

Hint!  Old workbooks have great pictures for games like these.

Review Questions - Write a question on the front of the cup and write the answer inside for a self-check activity.

PARTY TIME - 100 DAY CELEBRATIONS!

It's almost the hundredth day of school for some of you, and that means party time.  For those of you who started school later, you can use these ideas next month.

100 Days

(Tune:  "When Johnny Comes Marching Home")

We’ve been in school 100 days.      (Children stand and march.)

Hoorah!  Hoorah!                           (Fist in air as if cheering.)

We’ve worked and played 100 days. 

Hoorah!  Hoorah!

Zero is our Hero today.

Now let’s all count to celebrate!

We’ve been in school 100 days,

And it’s been great!

1, 2, 3,…..100!                 (Hold up fingers as you count.)

Hoorah!
*Download this book at drjean.org/January, 2007.

$100 Book – Make an enlarged copy of the front and back of a $100 bill.  (If you don't have a $100 bill you can go to drjean.org/January, 2007, and download it.)  Cut paper the size of the bill and staple it between the front and the back to make a book.  Let children draw pictures or write stories of what they would do if they had $100.

Note!  I’ve been told that it is illegal to copy US money unless you enlarge or decrease the size and cross through the face.  (Hopefully, I wont go to jail for doing this!)

Cover Up – Make 2 copies of a 100 grid.  (You can also download this at drjean.org/January, 2007.)  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 Day Book- Fold 5 sheets of paper in half and staple.  Children draw sets of ten on each page.

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.

Zero the Hero
Here's another book you can download on my website.