 Kickin' Off a Terrific Year!
This page will share some ideas for the first few weeks of school. I hope you find something you can use. Where indicated, forms
are saved in an Adobe Acrobat PDF files page that can be printed.
Marvelous Me
The children make "All About Me" booklets to introduce themselves. As a class, brainstorm and write things that they could tell about themselves. The children pick 4-5 things that best describes themselves. These are written on a half sheet of lined paper. (You can also use a pre-written, fill in the blank page. Save these writings for attaching to the people books they will make next!
Here's a picture of the people shape booklets.
Click the picture to view and print the PDF file directions
You can also read some of the samples from a class of 1st graders by going to Marvelous Me Introductions.
You will need:
1- 12"X18" piece of white drawing paper(body)
1 to 2- 11"x 9" piece of tan (face and hands) construction paper
Various sheets of colored construction paper (shoes)
Yarn in various shades of black, brown, yellow for hair
Scrapes of paper for details
Markers, crayons
"Me Math"The children complete information about themselves that can be recorded with numbers.
The items they record are the date, their birthday, number of family members,
favorite number, height, etc. I take pictures of each child on the first day of school using a digital camera. These are printed and added to the bottom of the "Me Math" form. These are then posted on a bulletin board. These pages are saved for the end of the year for some comparisons.
(Click the notepad to view PDF file page )
Poetry Here you will
find poems we use for the beginning of school. I utilize poetry folders
and we start on day one! Each child has their own green pocket folder containing the first poems we will be using for August.
I have adapted the guidelines from Using Poetry to Teach Reading
(Click the notepad to view PDF file page of poems )
Favorite Beginning of the
Year Books and Activities
"Black Lagoon Series"- This series by Mike Thayler is so much fun for the beginning of the year. I use them as read-alouds for the first week. During the second week, we write a class whole class review of one of the books. Then, the children work with a partner to write a book review of one of the books in the series.
(Click the notepad to view examples of our past Black Lagoon reviews. )
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
After reading the book, share what makes us each important. Stress that we all are different with a variety of strengths. Use the pattern
from the book to write what makes them important.
The following is a sample from last year:
"Carly's Important Poem"
The important thing about me is I am nice.
I can reads and ride my bike.
But the most important thing about me is I am nice.
(Click the notepad for a PDF file pattern page)
The Kissing Hand by Audry Penn
Marcia Goudie shared a wonderful class book that she makes with her class. The children place their stamped hand print onto a piece of paper and dictate who brought them to school and how they felt.
I turned her idea into a PDF file. You may view by clicking
the
Thanks Rhonda Dominguez for the following poem and idea.
"The Kissing Hand Poem"
Here's a special thing to do,
When I am scared of leaving you.
Hold my hand, then kiss it here,
The kiss will help to keep you near.
It will help me through my day,
So I can work and learn and play.
The poem can be sung to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little
Star. After reading and discussing The Kissing Hand, paint the child's
hand and make a hand print below the poem. Glue a heart to the palm
of the hand and send home with the students so that they can share Chester's story with their family.
Kissing Hand Quilt- Each child makes a hand print square for a classroom quilt.
1. Cut 6"squares from a variety of fabrics. Cut enough for 1 per child plus a few extra "just in case."
2. Cut equal amounts of 6" squares of muslin fabric.
3. Iron "Heat n' Bond to the wrong side of each patterned square...NOT to the back of the muslin.
4. Trace each child's hand onto a square of fabric.
5. Cut out each hand and iron onto a 6" square of cream colored muslin.
6. Each child writes their name onto their square using fabric crayons. They may also draw a heart on their hand. (Make sure to follow directions for ironing over the crayon to set the wax and color into the fabric.)
7. Sew all the squares together to form a wall quilt.
8. Turn under all the edges or add a backing.
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
After reading and sharing this wonderful book about the importance of names, let the children decorate their own name tags for their desks. Fold and cut a 9 x 11 piece of white construction paper in half, length wise. Write each child's name in the middle of a name tag. The children decorate their desk name tag to reflect their personalities. Attach to desks or tables using clear contact paper cut 1" wider on all sides. The contact paper is easy to remove from the desks.
"What We Wore on the First Day"-
One of our favorite activities in first grade involved the book Mary Wore Her Red Dress and Henry Wore His Green Sneakersby Merle Peek. After reading and enjoying the book, we use tally marks to indicate how many are wearing dresses, skirts, shorts, jeans and pants. Each child then fills in lines telling the color of their clothes on the first day of school. They draw an accompanying self portrait. These are bond into our first class book of the year.
(Click the notepad to view PDF file page )
Additional Back-to-School Links
14 Great Activities for The 1st Week of School
ABCteach-Back to School
Back to School from TeachingHeart
Back-to-School Unit
DTKL-Printable Activities
Enchanted Learning-School
First Day Activities
First Day of School Ice-Breakers
Time Capsules
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