STAND UP FOR DR. KING

Our daughter, Holly, wrote the lyrics for this song, and I think they are beautiful!  This book would provide a perfect opportunity to teach some new vocabulary words.  You can download it on my January, 2007, website.

Stand Up For Martin Luther King – 3^rd Monday in January

(Tune:  “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean”)

Dr. King stood up for justice.                  (Stand and sway back and forth.)

He stood up for equality, too.                  

Dr. King stood up for children.

He stood up for me and for you.              (Point to self and then others.)

So now we…

Stand up, stand up,                                (March in place to the beat.)

Stand up for Martin Luther King.

Stand up, stand up,

Stand up for Dr. King.

Dr. King wanted all of America                (Sway back and forth.)

To be tolerant, fair, and free.

He stood up for what he believed in.

He stood up for you and for me.              (Point to self and the others.)

So now we…

Stand up, stand up,                                 (March in place.)

Stand up for Martin Luther King.

Stand up, stand up,

Stand  up for Dr. King.

Dr King taught us all to be dreamers       (Sway back and forth.)

So one day the world could begin

To judge people based on their character

And not on the color of their skin.

So now we…                                             (March in place.)

Stand up, stand up,

Stand up for Martin Luther King.

Stand up, stand up,

Stand  up for Dr. King.

MLK and KWL - Check out books from your school library on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   Put them in your class library and ask the children to see what they can find out about Dr. King.  Use a KWL chart to begin your discussion.  K – What do they already know about Dr. King?  W – What do they want to learn about him?  L – After reading books about Dr. King, add the new information the children have learned.

Heroes – Martin Luther King was a hero.  Make a list of other people that the children consider to be heroes.  What character traits does a hero have?  Ask children to write stories about what kind of hero they would like be when they grow up.

Acts of Kindness – Get a spiral notebook and write “Acts of Kindness” on it.  Encourage the children to record kind deeds their classmates do for them.  Read over the book at the end of each day to encourage more positive behavior.

Henry Box Brown – Henry Box Brown was born a slave and escaped in a box.  He’s such an interesting person that I know your children will enjoy learning more about him.  Brainstorm with your children how they could find out more about Henry Box Brown.  For example, you could look on the internet, go to the library, look in an encyclopedia, ask parents. etc. 

HOT, HOT CHOCOLATE!

One of my favorite scenes in THE POLAR EXPRESS is when they are serving hot chocolate on the train!  Ahhh!  The smell and simple pleasure from a cup of hot chocolate!

Well, here’s a way to stir a lasting memory and love of poetry in children with a cup of hot chocolate.  Ask each parent to send in a box of instant hot chocolate and an old coffee mug.  End each Friday with a “Hot Chocolate Poetry Café.”  The children can empty a packet in their cup and then the teacher can add hot water.  Mix it up and get ready to enjoy some poems, a story, and perhaps a song as you sip and smile!


Talk about multi-sensory learning!  

IT'S FREEZING!

Frozen Thoughts

Fill a clear plastic container half full with water.  Mark the line.  Place outside overnight to freeze.  Compare the water line after it’s frozen.  Why did the water expand when it froze?  (That’s a good homework questions for children to ask their parents!)

*Wet a paper towel, a piece of string, and other objects and place outside to freeze.  Encourage the children to describe the differences.

Icy Experiment

Give each child a clear cup with an ice cube in it.  Ask them to draw a picture of what it looks like.  Have them predict how many minutes it will take their ice cube to melt.  Encourage them to draw what it looks like after five minute intervals.

Snow Painting

Fill a squirt bottle with water.  Add food coloring.  Let children spray on snow to create designs.

Icebergs  

Fill plastic containers with water.  Add food coloring and freeze.  Place these in your water table and tell the children they are icebergs.  Add walruses, polar bears, and other plastic arctic animals.

LET IT SNOW!

 Snow Flakes

Let children fold coffee filters in half, then fourths and eighths.  Cut little “bites” out of the folded edges.  Open.  You can make colorful snowflakes by coloring the coffee filters with water soluble markers before cutting them.

Hint!  Make snowflakes out of newspaper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, and other types of recycled paper.

Ice Skating

Give each child 2 paper plates.  Demonstrate how to place these on the floor and put one foot on each plate.  Slide your feet as if skating.  Put on some waltz music and let the children skate, twist, and turn.  Play “freeze.”  When you stop the music children must “freeze” in their positions.  When the music begins again they may continue to skate.

Snowman Addition

Draw snowmen on poster board similar to the one shown.  Laminate.  Children make sets (or write addends) in the top two balls and then put the sum in the bottom ball.

Snow Seeds – (Pamela Pounds, AL)

To make snow seeds put rice and white glitter in a ziplock bag with this note: 

          Sprinkle freely in your yard.

          Close your eyes, and wish real hard. 

          If you can get the north wind to blow,

          In the morning you’ll have snow.

          If for some reason all you get is rain,

          Pick the seeds up and try again.

SNO' FUN

I’m a Little Snowman

(Tune:  “I’m a Little Teapot”)

I’m a little snowman                   (Bend knees.)

Short and fat.                           (Extend arms in a circle.)

Here is my broom and                (Hold out right hand.)

Here is my hat.                         (Touch head with left hand.)

When the sun comes out            (Slowly melt to the ground.)

I’ll melt away.

But I’ll be back another day!

I’m a snow lady,                          (Bend knees.)

White and round.                        (Extend arms in a circle.)

In my hat and apron                   (Touch head and waist.)

I don’t make a sound.                  (Index finger on lips.)

When the sun comes out             (Slowly melt to the ground.)

I’ll melt away.

But I’ll be back another day!

*Download this book on my January, 2007, website.

Snow People

Instead of drawing snow “men,” encourage children to paint or draw snow ladies, snow children, snow pets, and other characters.

Snow Dough

You can use any play dough recipe for snow dough.  Simply omit the food coloring and let the children knead in iridescent glitter to make it sparkle.  (My favorite dough is: 2 cups flour, 2 cup salt, 2 TB. cream of tartar, 2 TB. vegetable oil, and 2 cups water.  Mix ingredients together in a pan until smooth.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture forms a ball and sticks to the spoon.  Cool and knead.  Store in airtight containers.)

Note!  Make sure children wash hands before and after playing with dough.

RING IN JANUARY!

HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!

Ring in the New Year

(Tune:  “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”)

Let’s all do a little ringing,  (Shake hands as if ringing bells.)

Let’s all do a little ringing,

Let’s all do a little ringing

It’s a Happy New Year!

Let’s all do a little clapping…  (Clap hands.)

Let’s all do a little dancing…   (Dance around.)

Let’s all do a little smiling…    (Smile.)

When is your birthday?

When is your birthday?

When is your birthday?

Stand up and cheer.

(Say months of the year.)

January, February, March…(Children stand up on their birthday month.)

Let’s all be a little kinder…  (Pat friends on the back.)

For a Happy New Year!

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Make a brochure by folding a piece of paper into thirds.   Label the sections “Yesterday”…”Today…”Tomorrow”  Children draw what they were like when they were little (babies or toddlers), what they look like now, and what they will be like when they are grown-up.

New Year’s Resolutions

Discuss what a New Year’s Resolution is.  Let children draw pictures and dictate or write sentences about a resolution they want to have for the New Year.  Put these together to make a class book.

Birthday Party Center

Purchase a birthday party package at a dollar store.  Put the party hats, favors, plates, etc. in plastic tub.  Add paper and pencils so children can write invitations to their pretend party.  Don’t forget some play dough and candles so they can make birthday cakes!

MIRACLES

A favorite book that I read several years ago was called THE MIRACLES OF SANTA FICO.  It was the story of a beloved priest in a small village in Italy.  His dying wish was to witness a miracle, and so all the villagers faked a miracle by gluing leaves to a withered fig tree.  Of course, the priest wasn’t fooled, but his parting words really touched me…

         His life stretched out before him and for the first time he

         realized that it had all been a miracle –everything—

         every day—every accident—every coincidence—every

         disappointment—every joy—all of it…It was all a miracle.

As teachers and parents we witness miracles every day.  Children are born knowing nothing, and yet they miraculously learn to speak, walk, laugh, and sing.  They come to school knowing very little, and they learn to read, share, write, cooperate, play games, and love learning.

Little miracles happen every year and every day in your classroom.  You’ve just got to keep your eyes open for all the little miracles the New Year!