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ABC Worksheets

by on October 19, 2010 in First Grade, Kindergarten, Pre-K, Reading, Worksheets

Various worksheets that provide practice using the alphabet:

Fill-in ABC’s Worksheet (uppercase letters)

Fill-in ABC’s Worksheet (lowercase letters)

Letter Match Worksheet (A-M) (upper and lowercase)

Letter Match Worksheet (N-Z) (upper and lowercase)

Explode the Code (use numbers and letters to find the hidden message)

Explode the Code  (use numbers and letters to find the hidden message)

Five Fall Center Ideas

by on October 18, 2010 in Center Ideas, First Grade, Kindergarten, Pre-K, Second Grade

Autumn is such a beautiful time of year. It would be a shame not to take advantage of the many learning opportunities it has to offer. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate the various colors and textures found in the fall:

Take students on a nature walk. Provide small paper bags for each student so he/she can collect specimens (leaves, twigs, acorns, etc.-be sure to emphasize that bugs stay in nature!). Allow students to also carry along a pencil so that they can write down some observations or draw some small pictures on their bags of things that they see. This collection of autumn data can be then be used as a center in a multitude of ways…

  1. Have students make a “My Seasons Alphabet Book” using the items they found and observed as inspiration. The process of making the book can begin with fall and extend throughout the school year to include all of the seasons. By the end of the year, all of the alphabet pages will be filled in.
  2. Provide butcher-like paper (the inside of a large, brown paper bag is big and study) for each child and clear Elmer’s glue. When it is each child’s turn to work in the center, have him/her take the items found on the nature walk and arrange them on their paper. Next, glue should be applied. Finally, have students write a few sentences about what they found, how autumn makes them feel, or compare/contrast autumn to their favorite season. Once all students have completed the activity, post the collages and paragraphs on a bulletin board.
  3. Make a “Leaf Man”.

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    Read the book as a whole group. During center time, allow students to use what they collected from the nature walk to create their own leaf man. Provide butcher-like paper (again, the inside of a large, brown paper bag works wonders) and some clear Elmer’s glue. Once students are finished creating, have them name their leaf man and write a few sentences about him.

  4. Acorn Estimation-Gather a large amount of acorns. Using a variety of jars, fill each one with the acorns. Label each jar with a number. Provide students with a numbered piece of paper. During center time, students will look at each jar of corns and estimate how many acorns they think are in each jar. They will write their answers on their sheet of paper. Provide the correct number of acorns in each jar on the bottom of the jar. Once completed, students can check their answers to see if their estimate was correct. An alternate way of checking for the correct answers would be to provide a baking pan lined with felt so students can actually pour out each jar and count the number of acorns.
  5. Lastly, an oldie, but goody-leaf tracing. Provide various pieces of paper for children to place over leaves and then color over them with a crayon. This simple activity can be used in a variety of ways…
  • After tracing, have students label what the different leaves are called. Make a border out of construction paper to formally display the leaf portrait.
  • Have students trace each leaf twice. Next, have students cut out their leaves and paste them on a square piece of construction paper (this is so they can’t see the type of leaf it is). Students can then use them as pieces for a matching game (turn all the leaves over, students take turns turning leaves over to find matches).
  • Provide folded pieces of paper for children to make a Happy Harvest or Thanksgiving card to give to their families.

The Grouchy Ladybug Art Project

by on September 5, 2010 in Art Projects, First Grade, Grade Level, Kindergarten, Pre-K

This activity was created as a follow-up to the story “The Grouchy Ladybug”. I love the fun and functionality this activity provides. The dots of the ladybug are used as playing pieces for a tic-tac-toe board.

Recommended Grade Level: PreK-1

Supplies Needed:

Grouchy Ladybug Pieces (print on card stock for durability)

Crayons or markers

Glue

Scissors

Directions:

Print copies of the “Grouchy Ladybug Pieces” for each student. Allow students time to color and cut out the parts. Remind them that the “board” should not be covered with a dark color so it can be visible for playing. Instruct students to glue the head slightly under the body as well as the legs (so the board is not covered). Once complete, students can pair up with a friend to play tic-tac-toe.

Little Cloud Art Project

by on September 1, 2010 in Art, Art Projects, First Grade, Kindergarten, Pre-K

"Little Cloud" Art Project Sample This activity was created as a follow-up to the story “Little Cloud”. Blue construction paper and some cotton balls create a simple way for children to connect with the story and the environment.

Recommended Grade Level: PreK-1

Supplies Needed:

blue construction paper

glue (liquid in bottle)

cotton balls (3-5 per student)

Directions:

After reading the story, encourage students to look around the room and think about all the different things that clouds can look like. Encourage students to use their imaginations to think of something they would like to create. Demonstrate how to stretch and pull the cotton balls apart to form different looks. Allow students time to manipulate their cotton. Once completed, provide glue. Remind students that much is not needed to hold the glue in place! Taking phrases from the book (e.g. “Little Cloud changed into…”), have students dictate what their cloud is and write it on their creation.

A House For Hermit Crab Art Project

by on September 1, 2010 in Art, Art Projects, First Grade, Kindergarten, Pre-K

A House for Hermit Crab

This activity was created as a follow-up to the story “A House for Hermit Crab”. I love the use of texture in this project. For students with fine motor difficulty, have the legs and the eyes of the crab pre-cut.

Recommended Grade Level: PreK-1

Supplies Needed:

Hermit Crab Worksheet (replica taken from the book)

card stock or tagboard (print on for durability)

Crayons, markers, or paints

Glue (liquid in bottle)

Scissors

Styrofoam bowl

sand

seashells

shoebox

hot glue (optional, but may be necessary)

Directions:

Have children color/paint and cut out the “Hermit Crab” printable. Next, glue must be applied to the outside of the Styrofoam bowl. This is best done by applying the liquid glue with a brush to make sure it is evenly and thinly distributed. Using a shoebox, place the Styrofoam bowl inside. The box is used to catch the sand and avoid a huge mess. Have student sprinkle sand to cover the outside of the bowl. Lift bowl to gently shake off any excess sand. Finally, seashells can be glued to the outside of the bowl. *If the shells do not want to stick, hot gluing them will make them stick. I hope it is obvious that hot gluing would most definitely be done by the adult! Once the bowl is completely dry, attach to hermit crab with glue.