I FOUND IT! I FOUND IT!

I found it!  I found it!  I finally found it!  This is the most amazing site for activities to support the Common Core State Standards.  Florida Center for Reading Research has taken each standard and developed multiple ways to develop them in your classroom.  Yeah!  They have come out of the research tower and provided concrete, meaningful, hands-on activities perfect for different grade levels.  And it’s FREE! 

www.fcrr.org/studentactivities/kg.htm

Click the standard and then click on the title that sparks your interest.  You'll find patterns and downloads galore!!

I’ve been on a quest to find something like this and I feel like I've found the pot of gold.  If you know other sites that are free and have good activities that align to standards, please shout them out and I’ll put them on my blog.

OH, YEAH! ANOTHER CUP IDEA!

The Solo cup company might need to hire me!  Betsy Lott shared this idea last week and I had to try it out myself.  COOL!

Melted Cups (Betsy Lott)

Make circular flash cards by melting Solo cups in the oven.  They are durable and reusable.  They make great bathroom and hall passes as well as flash cards.

*To melt place cups upside down on a cookie sheet and bake at 350.  Watch constantly because burnt cups smell horrible!

*Solo brand cups work best.  Cups with restaurant logos are great for environmental print.

*You can also use these cups to make ornaments for Christmas!

Pop Up Book  (Damon Hoskins)

Fold one sheet of paper in half and cut six slits.  Fold in slits to make pop up tabs.  Glue to a second sheet of paper.  Put letters, pictures, etc. on the three dimensional tabs.

People Book (Pamela Pounds)

Fold a piece of paper into eighths.  Open.  Cut off the two sections on the bottom as shown.  Fold in the upper sections to make a vest.  Glue the sections you removed to the vest to look like arms.  Cut out a circle for the head.  Children can open the vest and write “all about me,” “when I grow up,” “my favorite American,” “my favorite book character,” etc.

I'm So Glad You're Here
To gather children in the morning Pam sings:
Rise and shine and welcome to school today.
Rise and shine and welcome to school today.
Rise and shine and welcome to school today.
I'm so glad you're here.
By the time she finishes singing they must be seated and ready to begin their day.

GREAT HAPPENS HERE!

Some more GREAT shirts and GREAT activities from MS and AL!

Cheer (Cynthia Morrow)

Hands formed in an “M” above the head as you say:

“M m m m m m – I’m loving it!”

Point to each other or the one that is doing the right thing.

Campbell Soup Cheer  (Mechickia Brooks)

Johnny’s work is “Mmmm, mmm, good!”

Johnny’s work is “Mmmm, mmm, good!”

Disco Cheer (Pamela Reeves)

That’s the way, uh-huh, uh-huh I like it.

Uh-hum, uh-huh.  (Point like John Travolta.)

Cheers  (Lakisha Jackson)

Fantastic – Fan yourself on “fan” and hands in the air on “tastic.”

Good job!  Good job!  (clap, clap)

Good job!  Good job!   (clap clap)

G double o- o- d   J – o – b.

Good job!  Good job!

Time to Move Along (Rebecca A. and Ben)

(Tune:  “Farmer in the Dell”)

Time to move along.

Time to move along.

Hi, ho, the dairy-oh,

Time to move along.

Clean up the mess you made…

Pick up your things and walk…

Ticket, Please  (Rhonda Anthony)

Children need a ticket to enter or exit the classroom.  Students are asked a review question.  If they get it correct, they get a ticket and it goes in a hat.  Pull the lucky ticket and the winner gets a treat.

Mystery Trash (Lindsey)

Tell the students there is a piece of mystery trash for them to find.  After your room is spotless, award the person who found the mystery trash!

Mystery Walker (Lindsey)

Choose a random “pick me stick” and hide it in your pocket when you are walking the halls.  At the end of the day award that walker for good behavior.

Attention Chant  (Cynthia Morrow)

Teachers says:  Spaghetti

Students say:     Meatballs

Chocolate – Milk

Ring, ring – Hello?

Chump chump- Yum yum!

Smelly (Sara Jordan Madison)

To reward students instead of candy or stickers, give them a “smelly.”  Rub their hand with a smelly chapstick from the Dollar Tree.

Macarena Months (Nancy Gibson)

Say the months of the year to the “Macarena.”  End with hands on hips rotating as you sing, “These are the months of the year.”

Birthday Month (Yvonne)

Have children stand up when they hear their birthday month sung in “Macarena Months.”  Children sit down when they hear their month again.  (Repeat)

Compound Rap  (Rhonda Anthony)

Teacher:              You take two words and you make…

Students:            One big word.

Teacher:            My word is rainbow.

Teacher:            First word

Students:            Rain

Teacher:            Second word

Students:            Bow

Together:            RAINBOW

Math Signs (Becky McDaniel)

Use your fingers to create “+, -, =” symbols.

Put fingers together on JOIN the groups together.

The “+” sign means you have to add or join the groups together.

- Minus means you take away, take away, take away.  This also means subtract.  (Move fingers away.)

= Means the same as, the same as, the same as.  = Means the same as and this is my answer.

Book Looks  (Diana Beasley)

Each week write one of these on cover stock and post on the wall:

Letters, Word Wall Words, Fancy Words, Characters, Plot

Model how to find these with big books.  Give children small sticky notes to mark when they find these in their books.  Let them share what they’ve found with a friend.

Letter Journals (Myra Anderson)

Create letter journals for all the children.  At the beginning of the year, they write the letter of the week and draw two pictures for that letter.  At the end of the year they write blends, draw two pictures, and try to “sound out” the words and spell them the best that they can.

Snowball Fight  (Tarla Breazeale)

Pass out pieces of paper to students that have been programmed with matches, such as antonyms, math facts and answers, etc.  Students wad up paper and on “GO” they begin tossing the papers.  Let them continue for 30 seconds or so.  Call “time.”  Students each get one snowball, unwad it, and try and find their match.

Word Family Rap  (Erica Smith)

Its time to blend - it’s time to blend.

So now, so now, we shall begin.

Its time to blend - it’s time to blend.

So now, so now, we shall begin.

B says /b/  A-T says /at/

Put them together and that spells “cat.”

(Continue making words with ad, an, etc.)

We’ve learned to blend – we’ve learned to blend

So now we’re at the end.  The end!

Letter Motions  (Dorothy Lee)

Use these hand motions to help children learn letters and sounds.

A /a/  Fingers crawl up arm like an ant.

B /b/  Bat a ball.

C /c/  Cross hands and snap fingers.

D /d/  Beat a drum.

E /e/  Take hand and break egg.

F /f/   Take right hand and mash to left hand.

G /g/  Pretend to gulp a glass of water.

H /h/  Fan hands as if hot.

I /i/    Pretend your nose has an itch.

J /j/   Spread hands and jiggle.

K /k/  Raise hands and snap fingers.

L /l/   Raise pointer finger above nose and down mouth.

M /m/ Rub stomach.

N /n/  Hold out arm and slightly rock.

O /o/  Hold head back and open mouth wide.

P /p/  Put one finger over lips.

Q /qu/ Put palms together and raise fingers up.

R /r/   Lean forward and roar like a lion.

S /s/  Raise finger and wiggle like a snake.

T /t/   Turn head to the side and say the sound /t/.

U /u/  Make a fist with one hand and place on the other with thumb up.

V /v/  Put hands as if on a steering wheel and make a /v/ sound.

W /w/ Put fingers on lips and throw a kiss in the wind.

X /ks/ Cut in the air.

Y /y/   Hold pinky up and then dip as if tasting yummy, yellow yogurt.

Z /a/   Take pointer finger and zigzag in the air.

Number Line (Mary Mae Street)

Write numerals 1-10 horizontally on a sheet of paper.  Put in a zip bag with a tab.  Teacher says a word problem and the children find the answer using their number line.

Left to Right Progression (Bettie Martin)

(Beyonce’s song “To the Left”)

To the left, to the left,

Everything starts from the top to the left.

In your writing, in your reading,

To the left, to the left.

Contractions (Cynthia Morrow)

You put the “can” in.  (Shake your invisible shaker.)

You put the “not” in.  (Shake the other hand like a shaker.)

You take the “o” out and add an apostrophe.  (Take out something and make an apostrophe in the air.)

You smoosh it all together and “can’t” comes out.  (Clap hands together.)

WE'RE STILL IN KINDERGARTEN AND LOVING IT!

Isn’t this an awesome shirt that a teacher wore last week in Birmingham?  Here are some great ideas from Jackson, MS, and Birmingham to help you “love” teaching!

*Today’s activities will focus on words, but they could be adapted for shapes, numerals, letters, math facts, etc .   Come back tomorrow for transitions, cheers, and math activities.

Noun Song (Staria Russell)

(Tune:  “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain”)

A noun is a person, place or thing.

Yee haw!

A noun is a person, place, or thing.

Yee haw!

A noun is a person. (Point to or name a person.)

A noun is a place. (Name a place.)

A noun is a person, place, or thing.  (Name a thing.)

Roping Spelling Words  (Jennifer Stringer)

Let children turn their chairs around and sit on them backwards (like a horse).  The teacher throws out a word.  The kids then “catch it” and spell the word

(c –a –t) as they pretend to rope each letter.

Sight Word Cadence  (Karen Fortner)

There are twenty words you’ll need

If you want to learn to read…

You                        could                          their                        was

Go                          where                        some                       have  

Said                        me                             little                        the

This                        come                        with                         here

*Select words that are difficult for children because they cannot be sounded out phonetically.

Wikki Stick Words (Tami Humphries)

Write nursery rhymes or poems on chart paper.  Children use Wikki sticks to circle the sight words they find in the poem or rhyme.  Use with a whole group activity, center, or small group.

Poof Review Game  (Kerrie Sherrell - whosinfirst.blogspot.com)

You will need an old Pringles can.  Write sentences on strips of paper and place them in the can.  Write “Poof!” on a few strips.  If a child can pull out the sentence and identify the noun/verb/etc. they can keep it.  If they pull out “Poof!” they must put all their strips back in the can.

Around the World (Phyllis Malone)

To review letters, sounds, words, etc. play “Around the World.”  Have the children sit in chairs and mix up the flash cards.  If they answer the question right they get to stand.  If not, they stay seated.  Once everyone is up, start round two.  This time they sit.  The last one to sit down “wins.”

Letter Cheer (Lorrie Strong)

Stand up and put your hands on your hips.

Say the word “late.”

Segment the word /l/ /a/ /t/ holding hands cupped out below the chin.

Spell the word “l – a – t – e” as you reach up right and then left.

Hands on hips and say the word “late.”

Sight Word Um Umph!  (Casandra Stewart)

Place sight word cards in a bag along with school day pictures of the teacher.  Laminate cards and pictures on like paper.  Students pull cards out and read the words.  If a student pulls a card with the teacher’s picture, she has sight word “Um Umph!” and all her cards must go back in the bag.  Students love this game!

Four Corners Sight Word Game  (Brandi Morse)

Tape sight words around the room.  Teacher closes eyes and counts to five.  The students walk to a word.  If the teacher says a word where they are standing, then they must sit down.  Continue until one child is left standing.

Cowboys and Chickens (Gina Copeland)

This is similar to the “Boom” flashcard game, but use pictures of cowboys and chickens.  When the cowboy comes up the children make a roping motion as they say, “Yeehaw!”  If the chicken comes up they flap their arms and cluck.

Memory Shirt – Have children bring in an old t-shirt from home.  (White works best.)  Provide them with fabric pens and let them have friends write their names and draw pictures on their shirts.

Hint!  Plan several days for this project.  It’s “no fun” if you have to do it all at once.  A parent volunteer would be very helpful!

Sweet Dreams Pillowcase -  Let children bring in a pillowcase and have their friends decorate them with their names and pictures.   They will have “sweet dreams” all summer!

Time Capsule – Create a memento of the year with a time capsule.  Ask each child to bring in Pringle’s can.  Have them draw a picture of themselves and put it in the can.  Let them write or dictate what they want to be when they grow up and illustrate it.  Challenge them to collect a wrapper from their favorite food, something their favorite color, friends’ signatures, and other small, meaningful objects to add to their bottles.  After gluing on the lid and decorating the outside, send the time capsules home with a note to the parents asking them to save them until their child graduates from high school.

Now I Can!  Brainstorm all the things your students have learned during the school year.  Give each child a sheet of paper and have them draw something they couldn’t do at the beginning of the year that they can do now.  Complete this sentence:  “I couldn’t _______, but now I can _______.”   Make a cover that says “Now I Can!” and bind to make a book.

Time Line – Give each child a long strip of paper.  Draw a line down the middle.  Have children draw what they looked like when they started the school year on the left and what they look like now on the right.  They can fill in the middle of the time line with special memories.  (You might need to brainstorm or show photos to spark their memories.)

PICNIC BOOKS

Picnic Book

Fold a sheet of construction paper in half.  Punch holes at the top and attach pipe cleaners for your handles.  Let children draw and write about an imaginary adventure in their “picnic books.”

Picture This

Cut 5 ½ ” off the top of lunch bags.  Give each child a bag and let them decorate it with construction paper scraps and markers to look like a camera.  Punch two holes at the top and tie on a 24” piece of string so the children can wear their cameras around their necks.  Go on a nature walk around the school and encourage the children to take “pretend” pictures.  When you return to the classroom have children describe different things they saw.  Give each child a 4 ½” square to draw their favorite thing.  Let the children dictate or write a sentence about their picture on the back. 

Come Out and Play!

Brainstorm all the fun things to do outside.  Give each child a sheet of paper and let them draw a picture and write/dictate a sentence about what they like best.  Put their pictures together to make a class book.  Let one child take this home each day to share with their families.  

LET'S GO ON A PICNIC!

Check out my website today (drjean.org) and you can get a free download of this song.  

Going On a Picnic

(Children repeat each line.)

We’re going on a picnic.                                   (Slap hands on thighs to the beat.)

We’re going to pack a big one.                        (Arms out wide.)

With sandwiches, cookies, and lemonade, too.   (Pretend to pack in your basket.)

Look over there.                                                (Hand over eyes.)

It’s some tall grass.

Can’t go over it.                                                 (Hands up in the air.)

Can’t go under it.                                               (Hands down low.)

Can’t go around it.                                             (Circle hands around in front of body.)

I guess we’ll go through it.                               (Shrug shoulders.)

Swish, swish, swish, swish!                            (Brush palms against each other.)

Look over there.                                                (Hands over eyes.)

It’s a lake…

I guess we’ll row across it.

Row, row, row your boat.                                 (Pretend to row a boat.)

Look over there.                                                (Hands over eyes.)

It’s a swamp…

Ooeey, gooey, ooey, gooey.                           (Pretend to tiptoe through mud.)

Look over there.                                                (Hands over eyes.)

It’s a park.                                                           (Pretend to point at different things.)

It’s nice and shady.

It’s got a picnic bench.

We’re all so hungry

Let’s go eat!                                                        (Pretend to eat.)

Mmmmmmmm!                                                   (Pat tummy.)

*Let children make a map showing the different places they passed on the way to the picnic.

*Talk about healthy foods.  Give children a lunch bag, grocery flyer, glue and scissors.  Have them cut out foods and pack a healthy lunch.

*What kind of foods are good to take on a picnic?  Why?  What would happen if you took spaghetti or ice cream?

*Prepare a dramatic play kit for a picnic with a tablecloth (or towel), cups, plates, napkins, and plastic cutlery.

*Brainstorm all the fun things you can do on a picnic.  

You'll also find tons of new PowerPoints this month.  (iPad users may need to download a free app named SlideShark to view PowerPoint files from your site.)

http://drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2013/05_May_css/pg00.html