Valentine's Pencils

A easy Valentine's present for students, especially if you need to avoid food allergies!

Steps:

1.  Cut out a heart and trace one for each student.

2.  Draw a border.

3.  Write a message.

4.  With a single hole punch, punch a hole on the top and bottom and slide a pencil or straw through.

Non-Fiction Chart

A reference chart for kids when reading a non-fiction text.  As you are reading text with the kids (such as a Time for Kids or Scholastic News, or a photocopied text), identify examples of each of the features on the checklist.  Cut out, or copy and cut out the examples and paste them on the chart.  Then hang the chart to use as a reference.  If the children have helped create it, they are more likely to remember and refer to it.  Sometimes we have one for each reading group. 

Magnetic Boards for Learning

Any magnetic board is a fun way to practice multiplication facts, spelling words, writing letters, answering teacher questions.  One year I found several at the dollar store and was able to use them in small groups at reading and math time.  You can be as creative as the kids with the uses.  Also a great center activity!

                                                       
                                                     Early letter formation work

Vegetable Tray Letters

To work on more tactile letter formation and pencil pressure, vegetable packaging trays are a great resource.

Using a pencil, I model a letter and then have the child or student try to write the same letter.  They can trace over the modeled letter with their finger, then their pencil, and then try to write it.  A good reason to save a stack of trays!

Tactile Letter Formation

Another fun way to form letters (straight line letters), is with objects such as toothpicks or popsicle sticks.  I do this with my three year old son.  Sometimes he just likes to create designs or play with the toothpicks, setting them side-by-side.  Either way, it's a great way to develop fine motor skills.  Popsicle sticks are a lot easier to manipulate and don't roll, but toothpicks work well also.

Bio Poems

This is a great "get-to-know you" activity with a group of students.  I have used it at all levels and adapted it to the students.  There are a variety of templates available for bio poems, available on the web and in teaching resources.  I have provided a couple here.  I usually create a model with the students, especially to model it for elementary school students.  Kids can also illustrate them and I always have them share (or at least the parts they are comfortable sharing).  Fun to put up for open house or parent conferences also!  You can create your own based on a template also.

First name

Three traits to describe yourself 

Son or daughter or relative of...

Who feels...

Who fears...

Who needs...

Who gives...

Who would like to see...

Last Name 

or

First name

Three adjectives describing yourself

Who feels

Who wears

Who wonders about

Who loves

Who fears

Who wants

Who will achieve

Last name

Dirt Cake

I used to make this when my fourth graders read How to Eat Fried Worms.  Recently my son made it, it's so easy to make and fun to eat!  You can also tie it into studying plants, life cycles, measurement, etc.

Ingredients:  Instant chocolate pudding, milk, Oreos, gummy worms

(If you can find a flower pot that a bowl fits into, it's a fun way to serve it, as above).

1.)  Make the pudding according to directions and based on how many servings you want, in the corresponding serving container.  I have made this in individual portions in clear cups when doing it for the students at school and in a bowl for parties.  

2.)  Crush chocolate sandwich cookies and sprinkle them on top.  

3.)  Refrigerate.

4.)  Put gummy worms on and in mixture.  (you can do this before step 3, but they get a little hard in the fridge and are more chewy for little kids to eat).