STICK IT TO ME

Here are some simple teaching tools with jumbo craft sticks.  They are inexpensive and won't take you five minutes to make.

Comprehension Sticks
Write “Who?” “What?” “Where?” “When?” “Why?” on sticks and insert them in a sock. Throw the sock over your shoulder before reading a book to prompt the children to be active listeners. After reading the story, let children choose a stick and tell that part.

*You could also write “author, illustrator, title, beginning, middle, end” or “characters, setting, problem, resolution.”

Punctuation Sticks
Draw a period, exclamation point, and question mark on the end of jumbo craft sticks. Children take turns choosing a stick and placing it at the end of a sentence as friends read with appropriate expression.




Fiddle Stick
Each child will need a jumbo craft stick and a 20” piece of string.
Tie one end of the string to the middle of the craft stick. (Put a piece of tape on it to secure it.) Children can calm down and release wiggles by winding up the string and then unwinding it.

                             

SEALED AND DELIVERED

Need some quick, easy ideas to make it until winter break? Here are some other simple learning activities with envelopes.

Letters
Write the uppercase letter on one side and the lowercase letter on the other side.
Sing the “Hokey Pokey” with the letter puppet.
     You put your (letter) in,
     You take your (letter) out,
     You put your (letter) in
     And you shake it all about.
     You make the (letter sound)
     And then you put it down.

Listen Up
Children listen as you say words. If the word starts with that sound they hold their puppet up. If it doesn’t start with that sound they keep their puppet down.


Shapes
Glue shapes to envelopes and pass out to students. Children listen and then respond as you sing this song to the tune of “If You’re Happy.”
     If you have a circle stand up.
     If you have a square stand up.
     If you have a rectangle stand up.
     If you have a triangle stand up.

*Adapt for other shapes, as well as three-dimensional shapes.

*Use shapes to reinforce positional words. Can you put your shape ON your head? Can you put your shape BEHIND you? Can you put your shape UNDER your chin?


I Have - Who Has Numbers?
Seal envelopes, cut them in half, and then write numbers on the envelopes. (You will need one for each child in your class). Pass out envelopes and have the child with 1 say: I have 1. Who has 2?
The child with 2 says: I have 2. Who has 3? And so forth.

*Count backwards: I have 20. Who has 19?

*You can also play this game with alphabet letters.

                         


High Five Words
Write sight words on envelopes. Children walk around the room giving a high five and reading each other’s words.

Missing Fingers
Hide several fingers in the envelope. Can the children tell how many you have in the envelope? How did you know that?

SHOW DOWN

We all have shopping, decorating, and a "holiday mindset," but academics still exist. Here are some activities you can use the next few weeks to reinforce skills.  All of your children will be engaged and you can quickly see who has mastered a skill and who needs additional work.  Take a look and you'll see how easily they can be adapted to different levels and content

Yes/No
Each child has two index cards. One says “yes” and the other says “no.” As you ask questions, children respond by holding up the card with their response. For example: “Our state is Arizona.” “Fish has the short 'i' sound.” “Blue and glue rhyme.”

*Cut an envelope in half. Write “yes” on one side and “no” on the other.

*Teach children signs for “yes” (shake fist forward) and “no” (extend fingers from thumb and then close. They can quickly answer questions without any props. If they know the signs for alphabet letters they can respond to a phonics review.

Pinch Cards
Cut construction paper or heavy paper into 8 ½ “ x 5 ½” rectangles. Down the left side write the numerals 0-10. Write the very same numerals on the reverse side. As the teacher calls out math problems the children pinch the correct answer and hold up their cards.
 
*Make pinch cards for words, numeral recognition 10-20, phonics, etc.

Zip It
Write letters, words, numbers, etc. on the left side of a sheet of paper as shown and insert the paper in a zip bag. Call out a question, and children “zip” to the correct answer and then hold up their bag.
              
*If you write numerals horizontally you can use it like a number line.

Note! Cardstock works best. I had to trim my paper a little to fit snugly into the zip bag.

Wipe Off Boards

Children write letters, words, or numerals on wipe off boards and hold them up. Erase with a sock and you’re ready to go again.

Hint! White plastic plates or laminated white card stock are great substitutes for white boards.

LETTER WRITING DAY

Since December 7th is LETTER WRITING DAY, I thought it might be a good day to write a blog about it. With texts, emails, etcetera, letter writing is almost a lost art. However, it’s something children should be exposed to and it is a meaningful way to practice informative writing.

Children will easily remember the parts of a letter with this song to the tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes:”

Head, greeting, body, closing, signature.
Head, greeting, body, closing, signature.
These are the parts of a letter.
Head, greeting, body, closing, signature.

*Point to your head as you say “head.”
Point to your mouth as you say “greeting.”
Point to your body as you say “body.”
Point to your knee as you say “closing.”
Point to your feet as you say “signature.”

*Let children write letters to their friends in other classes and deliver them at the end of the day.

*Write letters to politicians, children’s favorite authors, movie stars, famous athletes, etc.

*And, yes, you might even be at a school where they can write letters to Santa! (You can download these free from several sites.)


Letters to Santa

Some of you may not be able to do this, but an open center where children could write letters to Santa might get them excited about writing.

Note! There are several free templates for these letters on the internet.

                                                   


Here’s a simple way to make a letter/envelope.

1. Write your letter.
2. Fold in the top two corners as shown.
3. Fold up the bottom.
4. Fold down the top triangle and secure with a sticker.
5. Turn over and write the name of the recipient.

HO HO HO JOKES

Here are some holiday jokes to make you smile. Write one on the board each day to use for choral reading, double meanings of words, and phonological awareness.

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Holly.
Holly who?
Holly – days are here again!

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Dexter.
Dexter who?
Dexter halls with boughs of holly.

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Mary.
Mary who?
Mary Christmas to you!

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Avery.
Avery who?
Avery merry Christmas to you!

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Wayne.
Wayne who?
Wayne in the manger…

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Oakham.
Oakham who?
Oakham all ye faithful…

                        
Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Rabbit.
Rabbit who?
Rabbit up carefully – it’s a present.

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Donut.
Donut who?
Donut open until Christmas.

Knock, knock!
Who’s there?
Olive.
Olive who?
Olive the other reindeer.

                                                        

What’s red and white and goes up and down?
Santa Clause in an elevator.

What did the ghost say to Santa?
I’ll have a boo Christmas without you.

Who delivers presents to dogs?
Santa paws!

Who delivers presents to cats?
Santa claws!

Why did the elf go to school?
To learn his ELFabet!
                        


Why do rappers like Christmas so much?
Because of all the wrapping!

What did the reindeer say when he saw an elf?
Nothing. Reindeer can’t talk.

How do you scare a snowman?
You get a hair dryer.

What do snowmen eat for Christmas?
Frosted Flakes.

What goes, “Oh, oh, oh!”
Santa Claus walking backwards.

What do you call the wrapping paper leftover from opening presents?
A cris-MESS.

What Christmas carol is a favorite of parents?
Silent Night.

Why is it so cold at Christmas?
Because it’s Decembrrrrrr!

What is in December that isn’t in any other month?
The letter “D”!

What do the cows say on Christmas morning?
Mooooey Christmas!

What kind of money do elves use?
Jingle bills!

What does Santa do in his garden?
He hoe, hoe, hoes!

KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

Let's get cooking with some of these recipes!

Snowman Soup
You’ll need instant hot chocolate with miniature marshmallows, zip sandwich bags, wrapped candy canes, and red ribbon to make this treat. Put the package of the instant hot chocolate in the zip bag. Tie on a candy cane with these directions:
     Here’s a little snowman soup –
     Complete with stirring stick.
     Add hot water, sip it slow.
     It’ll warm you up real quick!”

Hint! This is a great gift for school helpers and volunteers. Get a holiday mug at the dollar store and you've got a winner!


Wreath Sandwich
You will need bagels, cream cheese, green food coloring, and fruit loops to make this snack. First, dye the cream cheese green. Spread it on the bagel and add red fruit loops for berries.




Menorah Snack
Children will need a small banana, pretzel sticks, and a piece of red licorice to make this menorah. Peel the banana and insert a piece of red licorice in the middle. Insert 4 pretzel sticks (candles) on either side.

Reindeer Sandwich
You will need bread, peanut butter, pretzel twists, raisins, and a red M & M to make this yummy sandwich. Cut the bread into two triangles. Spread peanut butter on the bread and then decorate with raisin eyes and a red candy nose. Break pretzels in half and add for antlers.

                   
Note! If children have peanut allergies spread with cream cheese or another topping.


Reindeer Oats
Put a few tablespoons of butter in a flying pan. Add a few cups of Cheerios and stir over low heat. Sprinkle with salt.
*You can also sprinkle on cinnamon sugar for a sweet snack.

                                                       

IT'S A WRAP

Save money on wrapping paper and cards with these "artsy" ideas.

Wrapping Paper

With tissue paper, paper plates, paint, and cookie cutters you’ll be all set to create your own wrapping paper. First, fold a paper towel and place it on a paper plate. Pour paint on the paper towel. Let children dip the cookie cutters in the paint and print on the tissue paper.

*Recycle paper grocery sacks to use as wrapping paper.

         

*Let children paint with pine boughs on newspaper to create wrapping paper.

*Use fruits or vegetable prints to create one of a kind wrapping paper.

Gift Tags 

You’ll need card stock, an ink pad, fine tip markers, and ribbon to make these gift cards. Cut card stock into 2” x 5” rectangles. Fold in half. Children press their thumb on the ink pad and then print on the front of the card. Let them add details
with markers. Punch a hole and tie on a ribbon.

Greeting Cards

Let children use fingerprints or hand prints to make “one of a kind” holiday cards. They can also make a colorful collage by gluing bits of wrapping paper to a blank card.