42 Activities for November/December, by Elizabeth Swartz
42 Skill-Building Activities You Can Use Right Now!
Favorites Forever
Reading In honor of National Author's Day, November 2, invite parents or grandparents to come into the school to read stories or poems by their favorite childhood authors. Some questions to ask the children might be: What makes a favorite author? Have you ever met a real author? After Author's Day, talk to your librarian about setting up an author visit for your school this year.Link by Link
Reading/Math/Art/Science At this time of year, many people like to make construction paper chains that they use to count the days that are left until holidays. But paper chains can also be used to put numbers in order, sequence story events or put members of the food chain in order. Provide students with strips of paper on which appropriate facts are printed, and have students arrange, roll and staple them in order. Different colors can be used for different subjects. Send the paper chains home as decorative study guides.A Woodcarver's Work
Reading/Sequencing If approved in your system, read to the class The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski (Candlewick, 1995). After reading the story, show the class a manger scene with separate pieces and have students place the figures in the correct position in the scene.Holiday Napkin Holders
Art/Social Studies Cut strips of white felt 8" long and 3" wide. On the strips, draw or paint designs having to do with a particular seasonal celebration, e.g. Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Christmas. Overlap the ends of the felt strips and glue them together to make individual rings. Then roll various colored napkins and place them into the holiday napkin holders. Invite another class to come in and enjoy some traditional treats.Gravity Grooves
Science Bring in a peanut or candy dispenser and show how it works. Talk about the big spiral bubble gum machines. How does the gum get to the bottom? Would the gum get to the bottom if the machine were lying on its side? Why or why not? Do experiments in which the children build models (with ramps) out of clay, building blocks, etc. and use little cars or marbles to investigate how gravity works. Have the children bring in pictures of other mechanisms that use gravity: gravity wagons, water towers, etc.Two Kinds of Homework
Reading Read aloud Dianne de Groat's book, Jingle Bells, Homework Smells (HarperCollins, 2000). Is there sometimes more than one way to do homework? Are there times when it has to be done in a particular way? Discuss the character development in this book. Do students in your class identify with the characters in the book? Have each student make a picture of his or her own favorite character.Happy Kwanzaa
Poetry/Math Check with your librarian for a Kwanzaa picture book to read to your class before doing the following counting rhyme. Read the poem to the class, and then read it again, having students act it out. They may also create pictures of the actions to hold up.
Kwanzaa Guests
by Jacqueline Schiff
1 Kwanzaa Guest
Kindling a light,
2 Kwanzaa guests
Drumming at night.
3 Kwanzaa guests
Eating some fruit,
4 Kwanzaa guests
Playing the flute.
5 Kwanzaa guests
Stringing their beads,
6 Kwanzaa guests
Planting some seeds.
7 Kwanzaa guests
Dancing away,
8 Kwanzaa guests
Painting their clay.
9 Kwanzaa guests
Singing out loud,
10 Kwanzaa guests,
Smiling and proud.On the last line, all join hands, raise them say "Harambee!" (hah-rahm-BAY-ay), which means "Let's all pull together!"
Story Trees
Art/Writing Cut Christmas tree shapes from 12" by 18" green construction paper. Have students simulate evergreen needles by making diagonal cuts down the sides. Fold the tree in half and make a starburst-shaped cut in the center. Unfold tree and glue the flaps of the starburst down to make an open window. Have students tape recycled Christmas card pictures in the opening. Students decorate their tree and add a brown paper stem. Ask students to write a caption about what's happening in the picture on their tree. Exchange trees and write captions for other trees. As the teacher holds up a tree, each student reads his or her caption aloud. Do we all see the same stories in a picture?Intro to Elections
Reading/Social Studies Read these two great books to your class to introduce what elections are about. Election Day by Margaret McNamara (Aladdin, 2004) can lead to a talk about how someone gets elected and what promises are realistic. Then read Duck for President by Doreen Cronin (Simon & Schuster, 2004). Discuss the differences between governors and presidents. Discuss how to keep elections fair.I Heard That
Reading/Listening Put a book on tape in the listening center. Don't include the printed book – just the tape, with drawing paper. After the child has listened to the tape have him or her draw the main characters, the setting, the plot – whatever you're studying.Daily Dialogue
Reading/Writing Read together Lunchroom Lizard by Daniel Kirk (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2004). It's based on typical lunchroom dialogue formatted in balloon fashion. Make a bulletin board of "Daily Dialogues" or have students create a page of dialogue overheard in various places. Introduce quotation marks and put some quotes in a story.Take a Break!
Physical Ed. Plan an exercise break between classes or activities that require sitting. Do 10 jumping jacks one time, 15 head-shoulders-knees-and-toes another time. Walk around the building twice, do arm circles, etc. Let the children suggest additional physical activities. Everyone will feel better – and work better.Hanukkah Time
Poetry/Social Studies Provide pictures of the items mentioned in the poem: latkes, dreidels, Hanukkah candles, etc. Read the poem and discuss the items and what they're used for. Read the poem again, having children clap the rhythm. Then read it once more and have the children raise their hands when they hear an "-ing" word.Pretty Junk Mail
Science/Art Collect some of those free online cds that come in the mail. Hang them with fishing wire or stand them up where sunlight will strike them. Soon you will see rainbows of light. Where else would the children find prisms? What causes them? Are the colors always in the same order?Parents Activity
Writing/Management Provide a peaceful place and time for your children to work, especially during holiday time. Give them an evening or two when they don't have to go anywhere. Praise them for the good work and the effort they put forth and feed their passion for hobbies and interests. Model passion by showing them your interest in their education, reading and writing.Brrr...I Remember
Vocabulary If you live in an area where it snows, go out after or during a light snowfall and write your vocabulary words, spelling words, math facts, etc. in the newly fallen snow. Or, place cookie trays with a light coating of water into a freezer until ice starts to freeze. Take out the trays and do the same exercise in the frosty ice.Calendar Math Magic
Math Select any three-digit by three-digit calendar section. Add the diagonals. Add the middle digits across. They are equal to each other. Give some old calendars to the students and have them see if this is true.One Serving, Please
Health/Nutrition Bring in some chips, pretzels, fish crackers, fruit drinks, peanuts, raisins, ice cream etc. Ask the children how much they might eat in a sitting. Have them come up and pour that amount into a bowl. After several bowls and glasses are filled, read the serving size on the package. Measure out that amount and place it beside the bowl. Are we eating too much? Do your students get more than they can eat when they visit a restaurant? What happens to the food that is left? Discuss ways to cut back.Cool Patterns
Math Have students multiply 37 by multiples of 3 and see what happens. Then multiply 15,873 by multiples of 7 and observe and discuss those surprises.What Kind?
Reading/Writing Have students and teachers collect used holiday cards. Separate the cards into categories: funny, sentimental, holiday, etc. Then sort by style of writing: persuasive, entertaining, educational. Then have students study the structure: words, phrases, complete sentences, rhythm, rhyme, etc. Or have students find word types that they've been studying: nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. Finally, have your students write some different types of cards. Is card writing as easy as they expected?Favorite Decorations
Art/Writing Have students bring a favorite holiday decoration from home. If possible, provide supplies necessary for other students to make it. Have the student write the directions for making the decoration. Have the student who brought in the decoration write a journal entry about why it's his or her favorite. Because it is colorful? Because someone special made it? Because it makes noise?Super Silky Spiders
Science/Writing/Reading Read the following poem with your students, then plan and carry out the spider study described below.Spider's Web
by Martin Shaw
Glistening strands of silken thread,
Sway gently in the breeze,
Attracting all the curious,
the flies, the moths, the bees.The crafty spider sits close by,
While guests come in to call,
Yet, no one ever gets to leave,
No one, no one at all.
Obtain a clear fish tank. Carefully capture some spiders and put them in the tank with plants and a couple of flies. Cover the top with plastic wrap, and punch a few air holes in it. Watch the spiders create their webs. Add flies or moths. Keep a written log about what occurred during the experiment. What was observed and learned? Release the spiders and other creatures at the end of the experiment.
Recycle Into Supplies
Science/Social Studies Grocery and shopping bags get thrown out at home, but at school someone is always looking for a bag in which to carry things home. Pens and pencils clog the junk drawer at home, but kids need them at school. What about pint, quart, gallon containers? Science, anyone? Help your class find workable solutions to problems like these.What Did You Say?
Vocabulary/Social Studies In preperation for National Foreign Language Week, March 9-15, 2015,the theme will be "Learn a Foreign Language; Gain a New Perspective". With that in mind have your students research and make some of the international symbols for food, help, restrooms, etc. Then in March have students place the new labels around the school in the appropriate places. Why were international symbols invented? Where will you find them? Why? Have your students even seen them? Are there others that are needed? Have your students invent some new ones and test them to see if they work. Are they easily understandable?Technology Tells
Science/Math Make a Venn diagram comparing snail mail to e-mail and/or instant messaging. How has science continued to develop communication? What do students think might be next? What is it about communication that science is trying to improve? Graph the number of students that use each medium and/or graph the amount of time spent on each medium. Is there a trend in your class?Being A Leader
Reading/Writing Share the following poem aloud and on the overhead projector. Discuss the author's point. Talk about examples that the students have seen. What would be better examples for us to show to others? Have students write in their journals some of their experiences and suggestions.Real-life Maps
Geography In preparation for a mapping unit, get maps from a nearby airport, subway and bus station. If you're in a rural area, get maps from the nearest city. Teach vocabulary such as concourse, connection, e-tickets, etc.Parents Activity
Writing/Organization Prepare for the first parent/ teacher conference of the year by having your child make a list of questions or concerns that he or she would like to have brought up at the conference. Ask your child to make an educated guess as to what kind of comments the teacher might make about the child's grades and work effort. Ask your child to put his or her predictions in writing. After the conference, go over the written report together. Was your child's prediction close? Is your child aware of his or her own work style, strengths and weaknesses?In The News
Science Oil and gas prices are always in the news. Let's help the students understand why that's the case. Get a book like Oil and Gas by John Paul Zronik (Crabtree Publishing, 2004). Its excellent photos, well-defined vocabulary and objective presentation makes it a good independent read or read-aloud. You can do further research to show your students how gas and oil are formed, how they are refined and how the production and sale of these materials affects the global market. How can your students help their own families conserve oil and gas?Happy Happy Holiday
Music Get musical selections for each of the holidays going on at this time of year (ask for help from the librarian or music department). Play the selections, then compare the pieces to each other and to music we listen to when it's not a holiday season. How is holiday music different? What do we use it for? Why has it survived many generations? What music do your students prefer?Mag Day
Reading One day a week, make it "Mag Day" during silent reading time. Allow students to bring in a magazine to which they subscribe. Get some extra magazines from the library for children who don't receive a magazine at home. You'll see where your students are coming from and you'll be better able to explore their needs and interests.What a Car!
Science/Writing/Art Visit www.jiffylube.com to find out about – and maintain – approximately 15 main components that contribute to how cars function. Have your students choose one component to explain in flow chart or paragraph format. Make informative posters, models and diagrams to display in the school.Free Education?
Social Studies/Reading During National Education Week, November 16-22, take some time to figure out the cost of sending a child to school if public education were not available. Your business office should be able to tell you the cost of one student's tuition in your district. Assume a cost of $100 for uniforms if worn in your district. Add the cost of other clothes and school supplies. Now add the cost for all the siblings in the home. How much would it cost for a family with four children of school age? What about a family with six children? Remind your students that in many parts of the world, children can't go to school unless their families are able to pay tuition. Have each student write a reflection after this discussion.It's a Small World
Science/Math Take your students to an airline web page or print out an airline schedule and map. Use these to calculate distances, air speed and elapsed travel time from one destination to another. Compare various aircraft types and capabilities. Calculate costs to go to whatever part of the world you are studying to investigate wildlife or flora. Are the routes always direct? What must life be like for business travelers? Are there any travel veterans in your class?Our Bill of Rights
History On Bill of Rights Day, December 15, provide each student with a copy of the Bill of Rights or go to it online. Discuss how this document makes us different from other countries. What does it guarantee its citizens? How or where have the students seen its influence (particular movies or books that represent courts and freedoms)? Have them watch the media for specific examples to bring in for future discussion.Hello, World!
Social Studies On November 21, the 41st Annual World Hello Day will be held. Its purpose is to advance peace through personal communication. There are people from countries all over the world involved. Everyone who participates will greet 10 people. Take your class to www.national-awareness-days.com and plan to pass on some peace!Parents Activity
Reading/Social Studies Take your child to a local bookstore or library and get any one of the many almanacs for kids. Read it together and be amazed at all the cool information in there. What can you learn about your state? Our country?A Sample Synopsis
Writing Have students bring in DVD and video game boxes to read from for sample synopses. Do the descriptions on the boxes tell what the DVD or game is about? Does the information give anything away? Have students write a synopsis of a story or book just read in class. Read the synopses aloud. Are they as effective as the ones on the boxes?Smoking? Yuck!
Science When preparing your plan (posters, newsletters, letter to the editor, protest march, etc.) for the Great American Smokeout, November 20, show the students hard evidence. Use a clean white handkerchief or several pieces of gauze overlapped and inhale cigarette smoke through it. Show your students the tar residue that appears on the handkerchief after just a couple of inhalations. Would the students want that in their lungs? Why do your students think people continue to smoke even when they know the consequences it will have on their health? Discuss addictions of all kinds.Eights Galore and More!
Math Put this pattern on the board and challenge the students to continue it. 1 x 8 + 1 = 9, 12 x 8 + 2 = 98, 123 x 8 + 3 = 987, etc.Testing Water's Skin
Science Every month www.acs.org highlights a new topic in the world of chemistry. Each of the activities uses basic supplies that you can find at home and at school. Take your class to the site to find out how to test water's skin.Go Santa!
Poetry/Geography Enjoy the following poem together, taking note of the rhythm, the rhyming and the geography included within it. After reading the poem, give groups of students maps or atlases and challenge the class to find all the places mentioned in the poem. Then rewrite the poem together, substituting different destinations. Try to choose destinations that will rhyme with other words in the poem.Hip! Hip! Hooray!
by Beverly McLoughland
Hip! Hip! Hooray!
For Santa C.
He knows the way
To you and me.No matter where
On earth we are –
From Paris, France
To Zanzibar,From New York City
To Santa Fe,
He never, ever
Goes astrayOr has to stop
On Christmas night
To ask if it's
A left or rightTo Montreal
Or Tokyo –
At longitude
He is a pro.Hip! Hip! Hooray! For Santa C.
Good thing he aced
Geography.
Primary Grades
Hanukkah Time
by Jacqueline Schiff
Candles kindling,
Children singing,
Hanukkah is
Just beginning.
Dreidels spinning,
Apples simmering,
Latkes sizzling,
Pennies shimmering.
Families gathering,
Voices ringing;
Hugging, kissing,
Children grinning.
Gifts unwrapping.
Clapping out this rhyme.
Hanukkah is
A miracle time!
Intermediate Grades
Follow the Leader
by Heidi Roemer
Follow the leader
is a fun game to play.
But sometimes a leader
can lead the wrong way.
Watch those you follow:
Do they gossip and lie?
Will you follow along
and make others cry?
Sometimes your friends
may be following you.
So be an example
of right things to do!
Middle Grades
THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTIONS:
Sherry Timberman, Albany Township, ME, #4; Jacqueline Schiff, Moline, IL, #7, #13; Joan Macey, Binghamton, NY, #8; Teddy Meister, Orlando, FL, #17, #19, #40; Beverly McLoughland, Williamsburg, VA, #42.
POETRY: "Kwanzaa Guests," "Hanukkah Time" by Jacqueline Schiff, Moline, IL. "Spider's Web" by Martin Shaw, Bronxville, NY. "Follow the Leader" by Heidi Roemer, Orland Park, IL. "Hip! Hip! Hooray!" by Beverly McLoughland, Williamsburg, VA.
Illustrations by H. Robert Loomis.
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