It is always a good time for a little rainbow fun.
Showing posts with label poem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poem. Show all posts
Fire Safety Week is next week - but it's always a good week to learn about fire safety.
First I am going to tell you a little story.
A long time ago (like the 70s) I was visiting my grandparents' unheated home in England (they don't seem to believe in central heating in England - at least in the 70s). My bedroom had an old electric fire in it. One morning, I was chilly, and stood in front of the electric fire to warm up. The frill on my jammies got inside the protective cage and caught on fire. I had no clue what to do, so I ran around the room screaming my head off. Luckily my mother was in the next room and stop, drop and rolled me. The end of the story is that I had a deep second, partial third degree burn on the back of my leg and got to check out a number of hospitals around England.
The post script to the story is that I believe that it is really important to teach kids what to do if they, or someone else catch on fire.
First I am going to tell you a little story.
A long time ago (like the 70s) I was visiting my grandparents' unheated home in England (they don't seem to believe in central heating in England - at least in the 70s). My bedroom had an old electric fire in it. One morning, I was chilly, and stood in front of the electric fire to warm up. The frill on my jammies got inside the protective cage and caught on fire. I had no clue what to do, so I ran around the room screaming my head off. Luckily my mother was in the next room and stop, drop and rolled me. The end of the story is that I had a deep second, partial third degree burn on the back of my leg and got to check out a number of hospitals around England.
The post script to the story is that I believe that it is really important to teach kids what to do if they, or someone else catch on fire.
Time for a little Public Service Announcement.
Inspired by Grade ONEderful's Poetry Slam
and the amazing, wonderful, blue sky, rarely a cloud weather we are enjoying.
Remember to
slip
slop
slap
seek
and slide
slip on a shirt
slop on some sunscreen
slap on a hat
(with a brim that covers your face, neck and ears)
seek shade
slide on sunglasses
The Aussies have have had it figured out for a while.
Sid the Seagull has a good-on-ya-mate jingle to help us remember to be safe in the sun.
Now the Poetry Slam.
On the increasingly rare occasion that we have a sunscreen June
we read this poem together.
I only had it on chart paper for group reading.
So, I made some individual reading versions.
black and white with pictures
colour with pictures
all words
Lots of white space and simple illustrations, so the kids can focus on the words.
Double spaces between words making it easier to track for beginning readers.
Friendly, easy to read font.
Click on which ever version your heart fancies for a free download.
happy summer!
There are so many great monster books and monster activities that we could keep monstering for a couple more months.
But tradition dictates that Pajama Day is in November, and we are beginning to run out of November.
Before the monster stuff all goes back in the box, and the box goes back on the shelf, here are a couple of monster tidbits.
During my summer every-rock-must-be-painted phase, I made some rock monsters. The kidlets did lots of sorting (putting in groups and having others figure out their sorting rule) and patterning.
But tradition dictates that Pajama Day is in November, and we are beginning to run out of November.
Before the monster stuff all goes back in the box, and the box goes back on the shelf, here are a couple of monster tidbits.
During my summer every-rock-must-be-painted phase, I made some rock monsters. The kidlets did lots of sorting (putting in groups and having others figure out their sorting rule) and patterning.
We made monster faces. I was inspired by some monster accessories and tried my hand at making my own. What a fierce little monster!
We learned a monster dance. That's right. We learned how to dance like monsters. For some, it wasn't a real stretch!
Way back in the olden days, I went to a McCracken workshop (I am quite fond of McCracken resources and think that it is a crying shame that they are no longer available) and one of the handouts had The Monster Dance on it. We made up our own actions. I think that other classes are a little worried when we do the monster dance. Click the stomp for a free download.
next up, nocturnal animals
reading is one of our super powers
I like my new batch of kidlets to see themselves as readers from the get go.
So, if they were not convinced of their reading ability before coming in the door, it's my job to let them know that reading is one of their super powers.
enjoy the rest of August before "It's September!"
I like my new batch of kidlets to see themselves as readers from the get go.
So, if they were not convinced of their reading ability before coming in the door, it's my job to let them know that reading is one of their super powers.
We start with a bag. A nice soft red treasure bag from Ikea when had it's castle kids' stuff. Love that store.
Inside that bag is a red apple, a yellow bus and some white felt.
It does not take long before one of my new kidlets with the superpower of observation, notices that there is a picture of an apple and a bus in the pocket chart.
A kidlet with a making connections super power will figure out that the white felt is clouds for a blue sky. We will find some blue paper.
Then we can " read" our objects. First literal, then symbolic.
Pretty soon (like a couple of minutes) the reading superpower is very apparent. The kids want to read the pocket chart.
The lucky helper of the day gets to hold the magic reading stick (even those with super powers can use a little magic) and points to each word as we read it.
The next day there is a new treasure bag - blue this time.
Inside this one are some fall leaves, some crayons and a bunch of question marks.
And some more words and pictures in the pocket chart.
Those superpowers come into play again; observation and connections.
We can read the objects, mix them all up, put them back in the correct order, read the words, and own our super powers.
Here's the full poem. We only read the first two verses. But I really like all of them. Click the image for a free one page download.
Here's a colour copy of the poem to print out for your kidlets.
And, a black and white version for photocopying.
not willing to think about it yet - but here's a back to school book and poem
I have a full month of summer holiday left, and I refuse to even make eye contact with the back to school aisles in the stores.
But for a picture book ... I'll talk back to school.
Click the the book cover to listen to Robert Munsch tell the story.
It is written in typical Robert Munsch style with good fun, plenty of repetition, good rhythm and an ending where the kids come out on top.
On the first day of kindergarten, Amanda and Jeremiah want to play with the same toys and do the same activities at the same time. But the strategies that they use at home to commandeer toys don't work in kindergarten. The teacher, and even the other children, encourage them to share - and they do - with a twist.
The book leads nicely into a discussion about sharing and friendship - always good discussions to have at the beginning of kindergarten!
Click on the picture to go to the Canadian Children's Book Centre's page for We Share Everything to download a paper friendship bracelet.
Here is a poem printable to welcome your kids and and the new school year. Click on the graphic for a free download from google drive.
I purposefully keep a lot of white space on the papers that I give my kidlets to read. I try to add something to hook their attention, but not too much to distract them from their task - to look at the words.
a present can make your whole day
I was given a fabulous gift by the the pre-school teacher who has the classroom beside mine.
It was something that I had been wanting a looooong time. At least 15 months!
And as she was cleaning out her room, she just popped into my room and gave them to me.
I was dance-happy.
Now I'll be able to make jellybean stew with the kidlets.
I saw this at a conference a little over a year ago, and have been looking for jellybeans from that moment on.
Here is the recipe for jelly bean stew. Click on each of the images for a free printable.
I was given a fabulous gift by the the pre-school teacher who has the classroom beside mine.
It was something that I had been wanting a looooong time. At least 15 months!
And as she was cleaning out her room, she just popped into my room and gave them to me.
I was dance-happy.
Now I'll be able to make jellybean stew with the kidlets.
I saw this at a conference a little over a year ago, and have been looking for jellybeans from that moment on.
a bit of driftwood, or a stump, or a circle of rocks
an old pot
some wooden spoons
some wooden bowls
and we will be ready to cook
and eat
 |
| a jellybean bag to take home |
Print as four to a page for the "send home" size.
I guess you pick jellybeans from the jellybean plants to make stew, 'cause jellybeans grow from seeds.
Just make sure you don't burn the stew!
aye aye, captain
On our last full week of school, it is good to be overrun with pirates.
That way, I can growl at the kidlets and tell them to walk the plank -- and it's all good.
The kidlets have been enjoying a pirate sensory bin.
The base is aquarium gravel. It was a bit expensive, but I liked the texture. Rice dyed blue would also work.
The pirate ship is an aquarium accessory. Again a bit expensive, but cheaper than toob pirates. I economized and bought dollar store pirates. They swashbuckle well.
may you find much treasure on your journey
On our last full week of school, it is good to be overrun with pirates.
That way, I can growl at the kidlets and tell them to walk the plank -- and it's all good.
The kidlets have been enjoying a pirate sensory bin.
The base is aquarium gravel. It was a bit expensive, but I liked the texture. Rice dyed blue would also work.
The pirate ship is an aquarium accessory. Again a bit expensive, but cheaper than toob pirates. I economized and bought dollar store pirates. They swashbuckle well.
Other bits and pieces that went in to the sensory bin are:
gold coins
cut up mardi gras necklaces
a cut up fake pearl necklace
sea shells
plastic "jewels"
glass pebbles
sharks and a dolphin
dollar store treasure box
Thrift Shop goblet
Thrift Shop metal ice cream dish
skulls and Xs (to mark the spot) from the dollar store
and pirate bounty
and pirate bounty
The kids have been having fun burying treasure, making pirates walk the plank and sometimes being eaten alive by the sharks, dividing up the treasure ...
Listening to the language and the stories that they are collaboratively developing is fun.
Here is a fun little pirate poem that we are reading.
Click on the image to download your free copy from google docs.
(just print the first page - google docs seems to enjoy messing up a second page for me)
(just print the first page - google docs seems to enjoy messing up a second page for me)
may you find much treasure on your journey
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