COUCH CORNER

There are so many teachers doing amazing things for children and families right now.  Talk about OUR FINEST HOUR!  I love the way Hailey Couch from Oklahoma is sharing her love of books every day!

Hello! My name is Hailey Couch and I am a kindergarten teacher in Norman, OK!

Come join me at Mrs. Couch's Couch Corner to listen to stories this morning!
Cuddle up on your couch, get your jammies and blanket, (parents, grab that coffee ), and let's hang out at Couch Corner!

In my classroom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_T_3S4wMEU&t=20s

At my house:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tql5Yw_BJGA&t=412s

Please visit the Facebook group called Oklahoma Play-based Learning Initiative to learn about fun and engaging activities to do at home with your children!  https://www.facebook.com/groups/2234191930205661/   PLAY is so important, and very necessary during these uncertain times. Here are some fun activities I've compiled from others.

*For a downloadable copy of the ideas that are listed below, visit www.wadewhitehead.com/at-home

*********
Interview a family member.

Measure the area and perimeter of each room in your home.

Graph the types of birds that frequent your yard or windows.

Be completely silent for 60 minutes, then write about the experience.

Write and mail a [real] letter to your teacher or principal or classroom penpal. Address the envelope yourself.

Build a "fable fort" out of blankets and chairs. Camp in it all day while you create stories to tell your family over dinner.

Learn morse code and use it to communicate with your siblings through walls and floors.

Alphabetize the spices in your kitchen.

Stay up late and stargaze.

Call a grandparent or older relative. Ask them to teach you the words to a song from their childhood days.

Using household materials, build a working rain gauge, barometer, and wind vane.

Determine and chart the times that different liquids require to turn solid in the freezer.

Design and build puppets that perform a show about multiplication.

Construct a family tree.

Learn ten new big words. Write them in marker on your bathroom mirror.

Draw a map of your home.

Sit silently for 15 minutes while you write down every sound you hear. When you are done, classify the sounds (high/low pitch, high/low volume, manmade v. naturally occurring, etc.).

Create a Venn Diagram that compares and contrasts two people in your family, your neighborhood, or your church, mosque, or temple.

Learn, practice, and perform a magic trick.

Learn, practice, and tell three new jokes.

Use household materials to make and play stringed, percussion, and wind instruments.

Learn to shine a pair of shoes.

Collect leaves from ten different (non-harmful) plants. Sort them by size, color, and texture.

Put your favorite book, toy, and keepsake on a small table in sunlight. Draw or paint a full color still life.

Find, pick, and dissect a flower.

If you have stairs, walk up and count them. Walk down and count by twos. Walk up and count by threes. Continue through tens.

Determine the volumes of ten containers, them display them in order on your porch.

Write a poem on your sidewalk using chalk.

Classify twenty everyday objects by shape, size, color, height, mass, and material.

Measure the length of your bed using five different nonstandard units.

Call a person who speaks a language you do not. Ask them to teach you five common words or phrases.

Create and use a secret code.

Using one type of paper (constant), build three different paper airplanes (independent variable) and test to see how far they fly (dependent variable).

Set a clock three hours and seven minutes ahead. Whenever someone needs to know the time, help them figure it out by subtracting.

Write down every adjective you say for one full day.

Learn three new jokes. Tell them to an aunt or uncle.

Design a map of every state ever visited by people in your family.

Write or tell a story titled "What if humans had to leave the Earth and no one remembered to turn off the last robot?"

Find ten rocks smaller than a dime.

Using paper, tape, and string, design, build, and test a device that warns you when someone opens the kitchen cabinet.

Imagine, create, and fly a full size flag that tells the world about you.

I did not come up with all of these ideas, but I'm a passionate kindergarten teacher who strongly believes in play based learning and activities that foster social, physical, emotional, and cognitive skills, and wanted to share a compiled list of ideas for families during these uncertain times We are stronger TOGETHER.

I, like all teachers, just want to help during these times of uncertainty. Please reach out to us educators if you need anything at all!!
#StrongerTogether #Oklahomastrong
#ItTakesAVillage

MORE great ideas here:
https://mpes.mono.k12.wv.us/13/News/501…

https://familyeguide.com/boredom-busters-110-fun-at-home-a…/

100 MORE IDEAS HERE:
https://entertainkidsonadime.com/…/100-activities-to-do-at…/

#play #playbasedlearning #cognitiveskills #letthembekids #childrenunplugged #OkEarlyEd #BecausePlayISImportant #earlychildhood #dance #sing #explore #learn #socialskills #emotionalskills

Hailey Elaine Couch

Madison Elementary

Kindergarten teacher

Milken Educator (OK '18)

Great Expectations Instructor

Instagram is hailey.elaine1215

Name on Facebook is Hailey Elaine Couch

"A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart."

HAPPY BIRD DAY!

Have you seen my PLAY, LEARN, LOVE video yet?  

Let's put away those devices and have a little hands-on fun!!!

https://youtu.be/s0xibLFsSNE

What a perfect time of year to distract yourself from worries and become a bird watcher!  There are so many wonderful fiction and non-fiction books about birds, as well as crafts, finger plays, books, and games.  I know some of your parents will enjoy making bird watchers and doing some of these activities.

Bird Watchers 

You will need paper towel rolls, tape, a hole punch, and string to make these "bird watcher" binoculars.  Cut the paper towel roll in half and tape together.  Punch 2 holes at the top and tie on a string that can easily fit on and off the head.  Take a nature walk and see how many birds you can identify.

 

Two Little Bluebirds

Two little bluebirds sitting on a hill. (Stick up both thumbs.) 

One named Jack (Wiggle right thumb.)
And one named Jill. (Wiggle left thumb.)
Fly away Jack. (Put right thumb behind back.)
Fly away Jill (Put left thumb behind back.)
Come back Jack. (Bring back right thumb.)
Come back Jill. (Bring back left thumb.)

Opposite variations:
One named Happy and one named Sad… (Say happy and then sad.)
One named Loud and one named Soft… (Say loud and then soft.)
One named Fast and one named Slow… (Move one fast and one slow.)
Continue letting children think of names and motions for the birds.

Paper Plate Birds and Nests 
Let children make birds or nests out of paper plates similar to the ones in the picture.

               

What’s in the Egg? 
First, brainstorm all the different animals that come out of an egg. Now, you’re ready to make a flip book called “What’s in the Egg?” Fold a sheet of paper in half lengthwise, then fourths and eighths. Open and cut the crease to the middle fold. Fold in half to make 4 little flaps. Children draw eggs on the front of each flap. Open the flaps and challenge children to draw 4 different things that might come from an egg. When they hold this book up to the light, they will see their little critters inside the egg.
         
                           

Lunch Bag Nest
Open a paper lunch sack and roll out and down until you reach the bottom and it looks like a nest. Give children a bird identification book and invite them to choose their favorite bird. Provide construction paper, scissors, and markers and let them make their bird. Make the shape of a tree on a bulletin board. Staple the nests in the tree and then let children put their birds in their nest.



Tissue Bird
You can also make a little bird out of two tissues. Open one tissue and lay on the table. Wad the other tissue up into a ball and place in the middle of the flat tissue. Gather around the ball to make a head and tie with a piece of yarn. (An adult will need to do this.) Let children add eyes and a beak cut out of construction paper or let them draw with a marker.
                                      

P.S.  A teacher shared this website where children can learn to identify birds and their calls.  It's so engaging even for adults like me!               
https://www.aaastateofplay.com/50-bird-species-sounds-they-make/?fbclid=IwAR3JkCpq5zt33DNG-QVeSDSR5Hku-c5PUKiYVRXh_17xvRjEZ_7AzcksUkw                      

DON'T WAKE UP THE BIRDIES!

Here's a FB Live video I did yesterday for parents.  
I just wanted to share

some ways that they could 
PLAY, LEARN, AND LOVE their children!

Play, Learn and Love with Dr. Jean

 
         Here's a video where you can watch me sing this song and tell this story. 

                        Click to watch video on YouTube

Birdies (Happy Everything CD)

Way up in the sky (Put hands in arm pits and flap arms
The big birdies fly. like a bird.)
Way down in the nest (Make a nest by cupping hands.)
The little birds rest.
With a wing on the left, (Wiggle left arm like a wing.)
And a wing on the right, (Wiggle right arm like a wing.)
The little birds sleep (Put head down on palms as if sleeping.)
All through the night.
SHHHHHH! (Put finger over lips.)
DON’T WAKE UP THE BIRDIES!
Then up comes the sun. (Put arms over your head.)
The dew falls away. (Bring down palms.)
Good morning! Good morning! (Put open palms around your head.)
The little birds say.
*This is the perfect song to demonstrate the exclamation point and talk about exaggeration!

Baby Bird Story

Baby Bird Story - click to download pdf file

It was spring time and mother and father bird decided to build a nest. Who can tell me some of the things they might have used to make their nest?
(Fold the paper in half and cut accordingly.) 

Mother bird sat on the nest and laid a beautiful egg. (Open the nest to reveal the egg shape.)
 

Now, mother bird could not leave the egg. She had to sit on it and keep it warm and safe. Even when it rained and the wind blew hard, mother bird had to sit there and protect her egg. Fortunately, two little bugs who lived in the tree made friends with mother bird and kept her company. This is one little bug. His name was _____. (Use a child’s name in the class.)
         
(Draw a little dot for the bug.)
This is the other little bug. Her name was _____, (Use another child’s name in the class.)
(Draw another little dot on the opposite side.)

One day as mother bird was sitting on the egg, she heard a 
little cracking sound. She looked down and saw a little crack in her egg. (Cut a little slit on the fold slanted toward the eyes.)
 
Then she heard a great big cracking sound. (Cut around the eye and slit as shown stopping before you get to the end of the egg.)


And guess what mother bird saw coming out of the big crack in her egg? She saw her baby bird! (Open the egg and bend up the beak as shown.)


 
How To Writing
As a writing activity ask children to write "how to build a nest."

PLAY WITH ME!

Teachers, here is a video you can share with your 
families called "PLAY, LEARN, AND LOVE!"

 https://youtu.be/32MatsX3Fk8

As crazy as our world seems right now, we need to put our children first.  We need to remember that children want and need the same things they've always wanted.  They want to be loved, they want to feel safe, and they want to play and have fun!

This can be a great opportunity to GET UNPLUGGED and connect and PLAY with your child.  Consider turning off your phone, television, and other devices for 20-30 minutes each day and giving your child 100% of your attention.  You may be surprised that you enjoy it as much as they do!  Follow your child's lead and have FUN as you create special memories over the next few weeks.

Here are some “play activities” to get you started.  Cut them apart and place them in a sack.  Your child can choose an activity and then let the party begin!

Download Play Activities

Read a book.
Tell a joke.
Exercise. 
Sing a song.
Play hide and seek.
Hum.
Say a nursery rhyme. 
Play a card game.
Talk. 
Make a puppet.
Juggle two paper towels. 
Swing.
Sit on the floor together. 
Build something with blocks.
Blow bubbles. 
Go outside and take a walk.
Cut pictures out of magazines. 
Skip.
Play a board game. 
Skate on paper plates.
Count. 
Look out the window.
Go on a nature walk. 
Make a wish.
Jump or hop as long as you can. 
Do a job together. 
Play a memory game. 
Write a letter.
Cook something together. 
Do a finger play.
Work a puzzle. 
Make a band of pots and pans.
Pantomime. Guess who I am? 
Play “I spy.”
Draw a picture. 
Put on a puppet show.
Make a book. 
Make a card for someone.
Play a rhyming game. 
Play with play dough.
String pasta or cereal on dental floss.
Draw with chalk on the sidewalk.
Play follow the leader. 
Make silly faces in a mirror.
Draw a picture. 
Put on some music and dance.
Give each other a back rub.

 

MORE?  Go to drjeanandfriends.blogspot.com and put a topic in the search engine.  You're sure to get plenty of ideas.

You can also download this free book:
Download Play Dough Power - Free   

FAMILY ACTIVITY CALENDARS

You've all heard IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD! A “village” of parents, teachers, relatives, friends, community leaders, neighbors, and a myriad of others who love and want to protect our little ones. We can’t do it alone, but if we hold hands and stick together like we tell the children to do, then we can create special memories in the next few weeks.

Several years ago I created family activity calendars with fun things children can do at home.  I hope you'll share them and encourage your families to check out my blog to find other ways to UNPLUG devices and get PLUGGED INTO each other!  The activities are SIMPLE, FUN, and FREE!






Download Family Activity Calendars

                                               

Download Family Activity Calendars

 

 

When life gives you lemons - make lemonade! 

"SPRING" SPRINGBOARD

Here are some fun ideas children can do at home with their parents.  

Please share this video as well!

                             http://bit.ly/drjeanCoronaVirus
 
Long and Short
Give children a piece of string or yarn. Challenge them to walk around the playground and find objects that are "longer" than their string and "shorter" than their string.

 
Spring Crown
Give child a sentence strip and invite them to draw signs of spring. Let them collect small objects they find on the ground, such as leaves and flowers, and glue them to the crown. Adjust to crowns to the children's heads and staple.

                                        




Spring Acrostic

After a spring walk, have children write the word spring vertically down the left side of their paper. Can they write a word (or sentence) for each letter that is a sign or symbol of spring? 


Hint! With younger children do this as an interactive writing activity.

Spring Poem
Have children fill in the words to create their own poem or a book.
                
SPRING
Spring looks like____.
Spring smells like ____.
Spring sounds like ____.
Spring feels like ____.
Spring tastes like ____.
I like spring!

Web
Brainstorm spring vocabulary words and then encourage children to make a web using words or drawings.  

                                                         
Spring Words

How many words can they write from the letters in “spring”?

"SPRING"ING WITH IDEAS!

Note!  Many of the ideas on my blog would be perfect for children to do at home with their parents.  I also hope you'll share this video with them!

http://bit.ly/drjeanCoronaVirus

I hear spring calling, don’t you? Come out and play! Come out and learn! This Thursday is the "official" first day of spring, so here are some ideas for your lesson plans this week.

Spring-O
Make a bingo card with signs of spring and objects that children can find on your playground. Children can walk around the playground and and color in the objects as they find them. Children could do this activity individually or with a partner.

                            
 
*Here's a SPRING-O card I made for you. I'm not the best artist so you'll need to go over the words and the pictures with your students.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljZUxiN0dMUTdvdTQ/view?usp=sharing

Scavenger Hunt
Here’s a spring hunt for older students. Divide them into groups of 4 and give each group a clipboard with the items below. Have them record their answers. When you return to the classroom groups can share their results and compare answers.

Spring Scavenger Hunt 

Can you find a sign of spring? 

Can you find something older than you? 

Can you find something younger than you? 

Can you find something rough? 

Can you find something that feels soft? 

Can you find something living? 

Can you find something dead? 

Can you find something smaller than your fingernail? 

Can you find something bigger than you? 

Can you find something green? 

Can you find something yellow? 

Can you find something that smells good? 

Can you find some trash? Pick it up and throw it away! 



 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1SnEagA4jljZFR1cHVzSlpBR3M/view?usp=sharing