3 Books for Read-Alouds and Activities

Take a look at these terrific, tried-and-true children's books that are perfect for read-alouds and centers.  These 3 books are ones I have either read to classes or seen kids enjoy independently, and I've found websites that also recommend the same books and include activities you can complete after reading.

Dodger and Me  by Jordan Sonnenblick is a nice chapter book to devote to read-alouds, and Yearn4Learning's class considers it a favorite.  She has posted a chapter-by-chapter reading response packet to go along with the book.    

 

A Bad Case Of Stripes by David Shannon, one of my favorite picture book writer/illustrators, is one I definitely have enjoyed reading to students.  StepIntoSecondGrade turned the book into a coloring and writing activity for her students, and she's shared it on her site!  Your class can color their own stripes on Camilla, the main character, and write about the cause and effect of events in the story. 

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is one of the most popular books I see in school libraries.  Kids love the cool illustrations, and I must admit that I love seeing the glittery images on the covers of the Rainbow Fish series.  That's why it was so exciting to see LearningParade's eye-catching craft activity designed around this book.  Students create a tissue paper lantern that closely resemble the colors associated with the popular book covers.  Students can also work on a cut/paste activity and color their own rainbow fish in this printable sheet from the site.

As an added bonus, check out MrsRojas's story maps made with post-it notes!  They are just the right size for a little story analysis for students.  She's even included a printable sheet to include information about different story elements.

Happy reading!



Using Popsicle Puzzles as a Research Activity

Check out this creative idea posted last month on Sciencenotebooking.  Popsicle puzzles are a common craft idea for kids, but have you ever thought to use them in the classroom?  The blogger did just that, and she's graciously posted a few videos to walk you through performing this activity with your own class.


A popsicle puzzle can be used for any sort of short-term research activity.  Her example uses a short report on an animal, but you could also do this for geography (assign students their own state, country or location to research), or history (historical figures, ancient cultures, artifacts, events, etc), science (scientific discoveries, processes, etc), and almost anything else you can imagine.


I like this activity because it combines lots of good things:  research, writing, technology (students have to type the information that appears on their puzzles, and find or illustrate a good picture), and hands-on/visual learning with creating and reconstructing the craft.


I also love her suggestion to have students mix up their sticks, place them in a labeled plastic baggy, and then rotate to one another's desk to reassemble others' puzzles and read the information on the back.  Have them jot down one or two interesting facts about each other's puzzles, or compose your own assessment activity.

Watch the example videos:

Activities and Resources for Learning Outdoors

I've compiled a list of activities that you can do with your class on great weather days.  Inspired by the sunny, cloudless skies and idyllic temperatures I've been experiencing lately, I thought it would be a good idea to think of some ways to take learning outside the classroom.


These activities take advantage of great weather in any season, but are especially useful for end-of-year lessons.  After exams are taken and students begin to get restless, it may be just what you need to get outside in the sun and do some of that active learning that's beneficial for the brain.


Try these on for size:

• *BUILD AND FLY KITES*

This is a really awesome activity shown in detail on Mr. Salsich's classroom blog.  He has two videos describing the kite-making activity.  You can really see all the time and effort placed into this project, which encouraged kids to use their math skills to design, test and perfect their kites.

In the first video, you can see them working together on the kites.  In the second, you can see all their hard work pay off in their fun kite-flying session.  They had a ball and applied their math skills.  Love it!

• *DESIGN BUBBLE PRINTS*

This cool craft activity can be done inside, but playing with bubbles and paint could be a great opportunity to take kids outdoors.  The video shows how simple the process is, and recommends using the finished products for things like book designs.  The colorful prints would make nice book covers for some of the students' creative writing, which could also be done outside.

• *CREATE SOLAR OVENS*

This is an activity I found on Scholastic's Classroom Solutions Blog.  Stacey's class used pizza boxes to construct solar ovens and cook s'mores.  A lesson on solar energy and a tasty treat!  Her blog contains some information about her activity, as well as links she used.

Another Scholastic link gives Beth Newingham's ideas for going green at school and references a similar activity with solar ovens.  She used a great resource at FamilyFun for Solar S'mores.

• *SCHOLASTIC'S SUN ACTIVITIES*

Speaking of the sun, Scholastic also has a great list of activities to do outside using the sun's energy.  They suggest taking a "solar stroll," complete with a reproducible, making a shadow play, using solar kilns, and more.

• *IDENTIFY LINES, ANGLES AND GEOMETRIC FIGURES AROUND THE SCHOOL*

Ms. Jessica White's classroom blog has a great video that shows her class embarking on a journey around campus during a math lesson.  Check out some of the places where they found parallel and perpendicular lines, plus a lot more! 

• *CREATE NATURE COLLAGES*

Have the class walk around outside to collect some of nature to add to an Alphabet Collage.  This blogger added beans, couscous and a few other items to her kids' leaves, pebbles, flowers and other findings so that they could create letters of the alphabet.  You can also turn this artistic activity into poetry practice by making the letters smaller so that students can make acrostic poems.

• *ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES WITHIN A CAMPING THEME*

This idea comes from Victoria's Scholastic Blog.  She came up with a camping-themed event at her school where students could go outside and participate in several math and science activities.  Check out her blog and see pics and explanations of the event, where kids did fun things that helped them practice measurement.

• *PLAN A VOCABULARY PARADE*

Another great idea from Scholastic classroom blogs:  Angela Bunyi wanted her class to demonstrate their understanding of vocabulary words by creating costumes representations.  Next, they went outside and held a parade to show off their cool creations.  Visit her blog to see pictures of the event.  She planned this parade in lieu of a Halloween activity, but dressing up for vocabulary would be a neat activity any time of year.

Angela adapted this activity from Debra Frasier's books and ideas.  Visit her site for more ideas on how to plan a vocabulary parade.

• *READ OR WRITE OUTSIDE*

Keep it simple and take your students outside to read, write prose or poetry, or observe nature and the action outside.

• *TRACE AND MEASURE SHADOWS*

Here is a activity that gives students a chance to explore the relationship between the sun and shadows.  Try this as a guide to the activity.

In fact, using sidewalk chalk and concrete is a good basis for many outdoors activities.  You can design a lot of review games based around hopscotch or drawing with sidewalk chalk.

Creating a sun dial may also be a good way to examine the sun and shadows.

• *MAKE A VOLCANO ERUPT*

That's just what Mitch Squires' class did on a nice day for a science lesson.  They went outside and used their play dough and plastic bottle creations to simulate volcanic eruptions.   Watch the video and go to his blog for details.

• *CREATE A GAME, OR DEVISE A TREASURE HUNT*

These activities are listed on Scholastic and even include printables.  Students will love coming up with their own outdoor games and creating all the rules, or going on a treasure hunt as a fun challenge.

I hope you're enjoying the glorious weather!  Use it as an opportunity to teach and enjoy learning!

images:  microsoft

Spring Crafts: Caterpillars, Bees and Other Insects

These projects were designed to recognize the crawling and buzzing creatures that thrive in the spring.  I've included butterfly and ladybug crafts in previous posts, but these ideas highlight the less glamorous bugs that kids nevertheless find interesting:

• These cute caterpillars are made from egg cartons.  The creator astutely suggests pairing this project with a reading of Eric Carle's classic Very Hungry Caterpillar.
• This is a simple bumblebee project that's ideal for young students.
• These bees are made from paper plates.
• This last resource is actually a list (provided by Scholastic) of science activities that focus on insects. These engaging activities include everything from exploring bee pheromones, to journeying outside and predicting what foods attract the most ants, to using butterflies as a model for symmetry.  If you like these, there is another list with even more suggestions for springtime science activities.  

image: microsoft

Spring Crafts: Make Kites, Umbrellas, & Birds

Here a few more ideas for spring classroom crafts:

• This first grade teacher introduced her class to dictionary skills with little kite decorations.   What a great idea for spring! 

• These adorable, vibrantly colored birds are a nice project for the ambitious and talented.  They're made from lightbulbs!  The step-by-step process is clearly outlined.

• Speaking of birds, why not combine a springtime theme with Poetry Month lessons?  The Crafty Classroom shows what can happen when birdseed and poetry unite in this simple activity.  A downloadable template is included.

• If you’re reading any books about rain, or looking for a craft project to accompany a lesson on weather, how about these April shower umbrellas made from paper plates?

• Finally, check out these beautiful window silhouettes decorated as Easter eggs and bunnies!  Lovely adornments for your windows at this time of year.

Enjoy!

5 Butterfly Crafts for Spring

If you want your students to create these beautiful insects to celebrate the spring season, explore these 5 ideas from various sites:

• ·      These are some of the most eye-catching butterflies that I’ve found, and the site even features some helpful templates.
• ·      This art class used tissue paper and liquid starch to make these colorful butterflies.
• ·      These butterflies would look wonderful hanging near a window where they can catch the sunlight.     
•      This easy butterfly project is made from a paper plate.
• ·      From the Mailbox:  use templates to trace the butterfly body, and then trace the wings onto black construction paper.  Use some glue on the wings, and then sprinkle glitter over the glue.  Shake off the excess after drying, overlap the wings, and then glue the body over them.  Add antennae and other decorations.  Here is an illustration from their site:

image:   The Education Center

6 Flower Crafts for Spring

Flowers are a quintessential part of spring, and these craft ideas are perfect classroom projects for this time of year:

• ·       Make a daffodil from paper and an egg carton, with a link for a template 
• ·      This blog shows you how to make a bouquet of flowers from an egg carton, toilet paper roll and pipe cleaners 
• ·      These prettily designed flowers are made entirely from paper
• ·      Even more colorful, paper flowers
• ·      A flower made from the bottom of a 2-liter bottle
• ·      If you want to make your flowers part of a science lesson, check out these creations with labeled plant parts

3 Ladybug Crafts for Spring

Celebrate spring by having your students create lovely ladybugs!  I’ve looked around the net for ladybug classroom craft projects, and here are my three favorites:

•        This Fabulous First Grade teacher shows you how to make ladybugs from paper plates.  Click the comments to view the teacher’s instructions.   She also included a printable to use this activity with a popular Eric Carle book.  
•     Arts and Crafts Kids’ website provides an easy, step-by-step process for ladybugs, also made from paper plates.  The photos and instructions are quite easy to follow.
•     Another idea from The Mailbox:  use the same paper plate ladybug concept, but cut the wings in half, hole punch the top, and connect the wings with brads (or, use this template from teachers.net).  Underneath the wings, glue an index cards for students to write a poem about ladybugs.

 Enjoy!

  -Veronica

image:  The Education Center

Turn Broken Crayons into a Valentine Craft

         teachers.net/Marilyn Brackney

I found this interesting Valentine’s Day activity that’s both practical and eye-catching.  It’s practical because, around this time in the year, elementary classes often have tons of broken crayons that will be discarded, lost or replaced.  This project gives you an opportunity to make use of those all broken and stunted crayons that are probably collecting in a big tub, or in students’ pencil boxes.

The project is eye-catching because the little heart-shaped creations are colorful, artistic and would make good non-candy gifts for a classroom party.  Pink and Green Mama made a thorough description of the melted crayon hearts project (also click here).  Look how pretty!  All that’s really necessary are sorted crayons (challenge students to peel off the paper during free time), a baking sheet, some vegetable spray, and a place to cool.  The melting process is a pretty quick one!

Here is another good example.

I also found this helpful description on teachers.net.  Marilyn Brackney gives some good tips on combining the colors in the baking sheet:  she advises you to stick to putting colors close together on the color wheel in the same mold, which creates prettier mixes in the final products.

The good thing about this project is that long after Valentine’s Day is over, students can keep and use the heart-shaped crayons for their coloring.

-Veronica

Native American Heritage Month Activities: Navajo Sandpainting

This month, I will be posting some activities related to two things that make November special:  Native American Heritage Month as well as Thanksgiving celebration.


Today's lesson plan idea:  discuss some different Native American tribes and the differences in their cultures.  Like many people, many tribes had their own distinctive forms of art.  For the Navajo, sandpainting was a sacred practice.  Find information about and examples of Navajo sandpainting (here is a website to get you started) and share it with the class.


Then, lead your class in a sandpainting activity, an adaptation of the sandpainting done by the Navajo.  


Here is a video that shows the process, which actually appears pretty simple:



A second video, found here, shows how the sandpainting can incorporate more traditional designs (scroll to the last few minutes).


Kinderart also has a written outline of the instructions. Enjoy!




-Veronica

Teaching Tips of the Week (October 25-31)

1. Here’s a great tip from The Tip Jar:  use metal cookie sheets with raised edges in your spelling, math or word work centers.  Students can use magnetic letters and numbers on the sheets for their activities.  The sheets will give students space to work, and will stack up neatly for easy storage.
2. Check out this cool project from High Tech High:  10^th graders applied their math and science skills to design a model of a home that has minimal impact on the environment.  The site contains full details about the project.
3. Houghton Mifflin has a great proofreading interactive activity on their site that allows students to be the editor for a TV network.  They must choose a passage and keep a sharp eye for mistakes to correct.
4. Teaching Young Children provides tips for making different kinds of puppets for the preschool classroom (http://www.naeyc.org).
5. Finally, the 2011 Cray-Pas art contest in underway!  If you have students gifted in art, download the entry form for them and encourage them to enter their work for a chance to when cool prizes, such as art materials and their artwork imprinted on a tote bag!  Winning students will also have their teachers and schools awarded prizes.  The deadline is December 10, 2010.  Visit the site for more details! 

(image source:  sakuraofamerica)

Top 5 Teaching Tips of the Week (September 6-12)

1. Using Pringles to teach engineering skills?  That’s what Mr. Salsich’s elementary class did when they had to figure out a way to mail a single Pringle a long distance without breaking the chip.  The cool science experiment is documented on their Edublog archive.  Find a cooperating class in another city, state or country and then try it! 
2. I also found a more complex version of this activity for older students.  Students are challenged to make their package have the smallest mass and volume, and still keep the single Pringle intact. 
3. Book Adventure could help your students find reading material that reflects their interests.  The Kid Zone allows them to find books based on their own criteria, and the site also provides comprehension quizzes that students can use to earn points for prizes.  The site has a wide-range of recommended books and quizzes, from Charlotte’s Web to Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
4. Teach your class about energy conservation using California-based Energy Quest.  There is even a cool online novel called Devoured by the Dark included on the site, offering the integration of science and reading.
5. Looking for classroom craft ideas?  Visit TeacherPlace.org for their collection of craft projects suitable for various grade levels and subjects.  Decorate your room with the Recycled CD-mobile, or invite students to make an “All About Me” scrapbook.  My favorite?  The Turtle Maracas.