Dinosaur Math
This math activity was one of my favorites that I was able to create and conduct within a first grade classroom. I used the book How Big Were the Dinosaurs by Bernard Most to introduce the concept of dinosaurs and measurement together. Afterwards, the students were taken to the gymnasium to be separated into groups of five, each with their own life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex footprint. Each group received a T-Rex necklace to wear that indicated whose turn it was to measure the foot. The students received supplemental objects and a corresponding worksheet. They had to use the supplemental object to measure the length and width of the foot and write the answer. The dinosaur necklace was passed from student to student for each material. At the end, the T-Rex's stride was laid out across the gymnasium and the students were able to measure the stride using their bodies. The students loved this activity due to it being hands-on and interactive!
Dinosaur Math | |
File Size: | 102 kb |
File Type: | docx |
What do you want to BEE when you GROW up?
For this activity, the students created bees at the end of their week of reading Busy Buzzy Bee and created flowers. To showcase these flowers and have the students practice their writing skills, I had the students write about what they wanted to "bee" when they "grew" up. I then was able to create a beautiful display in the hallway to showcase the students' work.
Also during this week, to go with the theme, the students created bee antennas and buzzed around the room to collect "nectar" and unscramble the spelling words on the flowers. This was a great activity for differentiated instruction due to the students being able to move at their own pace.
Also during this week, to go with the theme, the students created bee antennas and buzzed around the room to collect "nectar" and unscramble the spelling words on the flowers. This was a great activity for differentiated instruction due to the students being able to move at their own pace.
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Shaving Cream Spelling
I learned quickly that it is vital to have activities that keep students' attention and motivates them to learn. Using shaving cream to spell words was one of my favorites that kept the students engaged and having fun. The students absolutely loved this activity and worked hard throughout the whole spelling period. It was amazing how focused they were!
Telling Time
This lesson had the class divided in two groups for two different interactive activities, "Clock Hunt" and "What Time is It?".
Clock Hunt: This activity had the students walking around the classroom to find clocks. Once they found a clock, they would read the time and write it in the correct spot on their corresponding worksheet.
What Time is It?: This activity had each student wearing a paper watch. The students would walk around and read the time off of another friend's watch. They would then write the time down on their corresponding worksheet, along with the friend's name whose watch they read.
I taught this lesson in the afternoon so it was vital to take my lively bunch and keep them engaged in a structurally fun way. The students loved the activities and it encouraged me to continue this type of mobile activity with other subjects and concepts.
Clock Hunt: This activity had the students walking around the classroom to find clocks. Once they found a clock, they would read the time and write it in the correct spot on their corresponding worksheet.
What Time is It?: This activity had each student wearing a paper watch. The students would walk around and read the time off of another friend's watch. They would then write the time down on their corresponding worksheet, along with the friend's name whose watch they read.
I taught this lesson in the afternoon so it was vital to take my lively bunch and keep them engaged in a structurally fun way. The students loved the activities and it encouraged me to continue this type of mobile activity with other subjects and concepts.
Clock Hunt Worksheet | |
File Size: | 37 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Watches Activity | |
File Size: | 131 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Penguin Writing
For the writing unit in my first grade placement, the students wrote about Emperor Penguins. In order to create the atmosphere and get the students excited, my cooperating teacher and I created Antarctica within the classroom. It featured an Observatory and Research Center and an iceberg/ocean. The students were able to go within the Research Center to access the library.
During the one area of their writing on the Emperor Penguin, we had a "pet penguin" sent to the classroom from the South Pole. I was able to locate the actual address that mail is received by the South Pole Research Center to write on the package. This was a great introduction to their writing page that asked the students what needed to be done in order to take care of a pet penguin.
This entire writing unit was exciting and fun for not only the students, but for myself, as well.
During the one area of their writing on the Emperor Penguin, we had a "pet penguin" sent to the classroom from the South Pole. I was able to locate the actual address that mail is received by the South Pole Research Center to write on the package. This was a great introduction to their writing page that asked the students what needed to be done in order to take care of a pet penguin.
This entire writing unit was exciting and fun for not only the students, but for myself, as well.