1-2-3 Come Have Some Fun With Chrysanthemum And Me
I thought I had finished up designing some quick, easy and fun activities to go with the story "Chrysanthemum", 'til I had a request from Erin in Idaho.
Her preschool has adopted the "Bucket Filling" program and she wondered if I could tie that concept in with the "Chrysanthemum" story.
Great idea Erin, and easy-peasy to do, as the theme of "Chrysanthemum" is all about being kind, and careful with the things you say. Thus "Bucket Filling With Chrysanthemum" was born.
After reading the story, children transition to making a list of “bucket dipping” moments in the story, as well as “bucket filling” times on the 2 worksheets.
I’ve also included color copies so you can do this as a whole group activity as well.
The packet also includes several posters: “We are a bucket-filling classroom”, “Easily Fill A Bucket By . . .” plus a “Please Don’t Be A Dipper”.
The “Chrysanthemum’s ABCs of Bucket Filling” worksheets help build vocabulary while practicing letter sounds.
These can be done individually, or use the colorful ones with a whole group.
I’ve included answer keys with lots of alliterative options: “Aa: aid, applaud, ask, award, advise, affirm, acknowledge…”
Finally, students can use the little Chrysanthemum "bucket cards" to encourage each other. There’s a set in color so that you can leave your students a compliment or note as well.
I was now in the Chrysanthemum mode again, so I also designed some Chrysanthemum-Themed Alphabet Number Puzzles.
Because the story is all about this little mouse’s name, I like to transition my kiddos to some name writing activity afterwards.
These puzzles provide a super-fun way to do that, plus children get in some uppercase alphabet practice too.
They're a real “sanity saver” as children are happily engaged coloring, cutting, then putting their puzzle together.
While they work independently you are freed up. Woo hoo!
The puzzles mix math with literacy, as they help practice sequencing numbers from 1-10, working on those toughie teen numbers, as well as skip counting by 10s.
Simply choose which number concept is most appropriate for your students.
For a fun back to school bulletin board, have children mount their puzzle to a sheet of construction paper leaving a little gap between each strip, which will create an interesting mosaic effect.
I’ve included 2 “ABC 1-2-3 Look Who’s In The Class With Me!” posters to use for the center of your display. (Plus preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade as well).
There’s also a colorful Chrysanthemum puzzle (1-10, 11-20, & counting by 10s) to use as an independent math center, plus an additional name writing worksheet where children finish drawing Chrysanthemum.
Finally, while I was putzing with this, another name activity popped in my head, so I created a quick, easy & fun "color, cut & glue" name craft, which provides wonderful fine motor practice, plus assists children in learning how to spell their name as they begin to recognize those letters.
Completed projects make a sweet back to school bulletin board too. Besides the name craft, the packet also includes:
* Separate upper & lowercase letter cards, as well as a set of cards with both the upper and lowercase letter on one card.
Use them for Memory Match and “I Have; Who Has?” games.
I’ve also included a 4-page tip list of other ideas for the cards, including the “Kaboom!” game as well as . . .
* A variety of letter worksheets plus…
* Some simple letter games like "What Letter Did Chrysanthemum Hide Today?" and "What's Missing?", as well as several dice worksheet games.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of 10 Classroom Management Posters. I hope you find them useful.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. Time to move on to another theme.
Hmmm... shall I start working on "Chicka Boom" or "If You Take A Mouse To School" stuff? Stay tuned. I'll be doing both before August disappears.
Wishing you a carefree, happily lazy kind of relaxing day.
"Children must be taught how to think, not what to think."-Margaret Mead
