Gummy Bears

Someone wanted more information about “The Gummy Bears.”  First, cut 5 bears out of construction paper (red, orange, green, yellow, and purple).  Cut five pennies out of orange construction paper or fun foam.  Choose five children to come to the front of the room and hold the bears.  Pass out pennies to five other children.  Invite the rest of the class to hold up five fingers as you sing this song to the tune of “Five Little Ducks.”  (It’s on my CD IS EVERYBODY HAPPY?)

Down at the candy shop what did I see?

Five little gummy bears smiling at me.

Along came (child’s name) with a penny one day.

He/she bought the green one and took it away.

Down at the candy shop what did I see?

Four little gummy bears smiling at me.

Along came (child's name) with a penny one day.

He/she bought the purple one and took it away.

Continue singing as children buy the other colors.

Adaptations:  Change the number of bears in the song.

Use nickels, dimes, or quarters.

Pumpkins, valentines, and other seasonal items can be used in place of the bears.

Desktop Writing

Desktop Writing

Here’s an idea to save for when you’re setting up your classroom.  Did you know you could write directly on the surface of desks and tables with a Sharpie marker.  It can be erased with a Mr. Clean eraser.  Think of all the possibilities for this!  Names, alphabet letters, number lines, sight words, notes of encouragement….!

You can also write on a mirror with a dry erase marker.  Put reminders, such as “Remember to wash your hands!”  Congratulate a child on a special accomplishment.  Write a daily riddle or brain teaser.

Tater Tot Cheer

When I was at the ETSU Conference this week Seglinda taught me the Tater Tot cheer.

For a good job give a tater tot.  (Make a fist and stick out the knuckle of your index finger and tap with your partner.)

For a better job give a tater.  (Make fists and touch all knuckles.)

For a super job give some fries.  (Extend fingers and wiggle as you touch.)

Grandma's Finger Play

(Rita Quarles shared this finger play that she learned from her grandmother when she was little.  Just an example of how all those rhymes and songs stay in our brains forever!)

Two little hands soft and bright.  (Hold up hands.)

This is my left.  (Extend left.)

This is my right.  (Extend right.)

Ten little fingers standing on each.  (Wiggle fingers.)

So that I may hold a plum or peach.  (Open palms up.)

When I get as big as you,

Lots of things these hands will do!  (Clap hands.)

Discovery Bags

What do you do with all those bags you get at conferences?  Here are some 
"discovery bags" you can create to use in your classroom this year.  

Why?             writing; science concepts; math; vocabulary; motivation

What?            computer bag, old briefcase, backpack, etc.

How?             Fill a computer bag with some of the materials below.

Concept Bag –Put objects that are the same color, shape, beginning

sound, etc. in the bag

Theme Bags – Collect books about a particular theme.  Add pencils, paper, crayons, and ask children, “What can you find out?”

Tell Me More – Put an object in the bag and give the children clues.  When they guess what it is, take it out of the bag and encourage the children to describe the object.  Keep saying, “Tell me more!” as they use more adjectives to describe the item.

Writing Portfolio – Put paper, envelopes, sticky notes, pencils, pens, colored pencils, stickers, scissors, glue, and other writing paraphernalia in the bag.

Math Kit – Add a calculator, ruler, minute timer, counters, toy money, tablet, pencil, calendar, and other math related objects to the bag.

Science Kit – You will need an old white dress shirt (short sleeve) and safety goggles to make a science kit.  Write “scientist of the week” on the pocket.  Add paper, pencils, a magnet, magnifying glass, and book of science experiments to the kit.  One child each week gets to be “scientist of the week” and take home the bag on Monday.  They choose a science experiment and practice it at home with their parents.  On Thursday, they return the kit and present the experiment to their classmates.

Happy Bag – Fill the bag with a special book, puppet, game, flashlight, and other small toys.  Use for emergencies to make children happy.

Art Portfolio – Place construction paper, markers, crayons, glue, scissors, play dough, and other art media in a bag for individual creative activities.

Take Home Activities – Send home games, books, puzzles, and other activities children can work on at home with their parents.

WOW!  Take a look at what Jennifer at "kinderpond" has to share!

kinderpond.com/discoverypacks

NAME BADGES

I was cleaning off my desk this morning and found a name badge from a conference I recently attended.  You’ve probably got one yourself in a drawer.  You can also purchase these at an office supply store.  Here are some interesting ways to recycle those old name badges in your classroom this year!

Skills - Choose skills you are working on (letters, words, numerals, colors, shapes, etc.) and wear them in the name badge. Sing this song to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know it:”

                                    If you can read this word, letter, shout it out. 

                                    If you can read this ______, whisper it out.

                                    If you can read this ______, spell it out.

                                    If you can read this ______, shout it out.

                        Here’s another chant to reinforce skills:

                                    I know color, numeral.  Yes, I do.

                                    I know _____.  How about you?

                                    Children repeat:

                                    We know ______.  Yes, we do.

                                    We know ______.  Just like you!

Special Event -  When a child has a special event in their life, make a badge for them to wear.  For example:  “I’m a new big brother.”   “I scored a goal at my soccer name.”  

Hint!  Encourage faculty members to recognize these badges.

Ask Me About - To celebrate a skill (writing their name, recognizing all the letters, reading sight words) a child has achieved, write “Ask me about skill” on the badge.  For example:  “Ask me about counting to l00.”  “Ask me about writing my name."


When children show proficiency in addition, make a badge that says, “Name has earned a B.A. (Best in Addition).” For subtraction write, “Name has earned an M.S. (Master in Subtraction.)"

If you are doing a unit of study, individualize instruction by allowing children to choose a topic they are interested in.  After doing “research,” they write their area of "expertise" and wear it in their name badge.  Children walk around the room and ask each other questions.

*Use this idea for book reports.  

*At the beginning of the school year, make “expert” name badges so children can get to know each other.


Here is a comment from Ms. Jessi:

Perfect ideas! I've used them on field trips by putting my business card in it. :)

MrsDugginsDoodlebugs wrote:

I LOVE these ideas - I use them a "Center Captain" badges too. My captain of the day (for each group) get's to wear this badge and boy do they feel special! 

KATALINA MATALINA UPSADINA WALKADINA HOCA POCA LOCA

Katalina Goes Back to School

Oh, my goodness!  August is almost here and many of you are getting ready to go back to school.  Katalina Matalina would like to go with you this year!

Katalina and I go back a long time to when I was a girl scout in the 1950’s.  I loved her then and children still love her today!  She has several cousins, like Hagalena Magalena, but the message is the same. 

Skills:  phonological awareness, invented spelling, diversity, comprehension

Directions:  Children will love singing this song to the tune of “Shortnin’ Bread.”  Then you can use Katalina as a catalyst for reinforcing other skills. 

*The song is on my “Silly Songs” CD if you want to get it on my website drjean.org.

Chorus:            Katalina Matalina Upsadina Walkadina Hoca Poca Loca was her name.

                        Her head was shaped like a baseball bat.   (Point to head.)

                        And right on top was a funny, old hat.  (Chorus)

                        She had two hairs in her head.  (Point to hair.)

                        One was alive and the other was dead.  (Chorus)

                        She had two eyes in her head.  (Point to eyes.)

                        One was purple and the other was red.  (Chorus)

                        She had two teeth in her mouth.  (Point to mouth.  Point up and down.)

                        One pointed north and the other pointed south.  (Chorus)

                        Her neck was as long as a ten foot pole.  (Point to neck.)

                        And right in the middle was a big, black bow.  (Chorus)

                        Her hips were like two ships in port.  (Wiggle hips.)

                        One headed south and the other headed north.  (Chorus)

                        Her feet were as flat as a bathroom mat.  (Point to feet.)

                        How did they ever get like that?  (Chorus)

                        But she had a heart, so I’m told.  (Put hands over heart.)

                        That was made of purest gold.  (Chorus)

Syllables  - Clap out the syllables in Katalina’s name.  Clap out the syllables in the children’s names in your classroom.  Count how many claps in each person’s name.  Compare and graph.      

            

Shared Writing  -  As an interactive writing activity slowly say Katalina’s name. Encourage the children to call out letters as you write them on the board.   Make up silly rhymes with children’s names,

Comprehension - Have children close their eyes as you sing the song and create a picture of Katalina in their heads.  Give each child a sheet of paper to draw her interpretation of Katalina.  Display on a bulletin board or make a class book.

Diversity  - Talk about what it means to have a heart of gold.  Cut out 4 hearts and decorate with gold glitter.  Punch holes in the hearts and tie on string to make necklaces.  Each day when you see a child being a kind friend, let them wear Katalaina Matalina's heart of gold.

      

ABC - Sing with Me!

ABC Tunes

Did you know that the traditional tune we use to sing the A B C’s is also the tune for “Baa Baa Black Sheep” and “Twinkle Little Star”?  Here are several other tunes that you can use to sing the ABC’s.  Give it a try!

“Amazing Grace”

“Braham’s Lullabye”

Theme from Gilligan’s Island

“100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall”

“Mary Had a Little Lamb”

Clap on the consonants and hop on the vowels as you sing.  You can also march, tiptoe, disco (finger up in the air and then cross the midline and point down), patty with a friend or do other movements.

Give children a copy of the alphabet and have them point to the letters as you sing.  You can use a pretzel stick, Bugle, or craft stick with a wiggly eye as a pointer.  But, my favorite pointer is a fake fingernail glued to a craft stick.  "Keep your finger on the letter!"

Debbie sent a link for some song posters she made to go with a few tunes I posted lately.  They're really cute!  Thanks for sharing, Debbie!

http://teachingmaketheworld.blogspot.com/2011/07/linky-party-songs-for-classroom.html

After a whirlwind trip to Houston, Mobile, and Dallas this week:
I'm home again, home again, jiggity jog!  
Now I'll get busy and do some more blogs!

Nature Center

Nature Deficit Disorder

Several years ago I read a fantastic book called LAST CHILD IN THE WOODS.  It reminded me that children need to be connected to nature, and in our technical, fast paced society they are just not getting to spend enough time outdoors.

We all need balance in our lives or things get out of whack.  It’s especially critical when children are young and their brains are developing to make sure they have plenty of sensory stimulation, time to be creative, time to use their imaginations, and time to experience all seasons of nature. 

Last week when I attended a conference in El Paso I happened to walk by the Lakeshore exhibit.  Now, I’ve seen enough plastic toys in my time that I usually walk on by.  But Todd Hays (Lakeshore’s sales rep) had created the most engaging scenario. On logs made from real trees he had placed some little plastic animals.  I wanted to stop and play!  I usually don’t push commercial products, but this was something unique, different, and refreshing.  

You can buy the kit, or perhaps it will inspire you to collect natural objects and create a nature center of your own.  Surely, there’s a parent in your classroom who would saw some limbs off a tree and cut them into sections for the block center.  A little bag of forest animals and you're in business! 

Materials:  basket of leaves, rocks, shells, pine cones, sticks, nuts, or other natural items (rotate for different seasons)

magnifying glass

clipboard, pencils, paper

ruler

field guide book (leaves, rocks, shells, etc.)

Activities:

*free exploration

*sorting

*counting

*seriating by size

*measuring

*observing with a magnifying glass

*sketching with a clip board

*identifying with a field guide book

*non-fiction writing

*PLAYING!