Butterfly Snacks

I have seen this done in a variety of ways, with cheesy snacks, popcorn, veggies, or with different baggies or a clothespin caterpillar center.  I just did a quick and easy pan of popcorn on the stovetop, put it in a snack baggie and tied a pipe cleaner around the middle.  It is looped at the top to create antennas.  These can be as detailed or simple as you want.

William Steig Author Study Overview

We worked on a  William Steig author study unit, reading a number of his books and did various activities with them.
Some of the activities were:

• Venn diagrams comparing two books
• reading information about William Steig and writing biographies
• character descriptions (both physical and character traits)
• class discussions of story elements with story charts
• a writing prompt about finding a magic object, like the pebble from Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
•  discussion of magic in books
• writing about his New Yorker covers

We collected work in folders, on which the children did water color illustrations of one of the characters from his books, which they first outlined with ink.

Books: (there are others in addition, these were readily available)
Shrek, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Amos and Boris, Doctor DeSoto, Doctor DeSoto Goes to Africa, Brave Irene, The Amazing Bone, Spinky Sulks

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.