A favorite book that many teachers read the first few weeks of school is Chicka Boom Boom. I wanted to dream up some new ideas, as many teachers also make a Welcome bulletin board with that theme, and gear several days around letter activities as well.
The first FREEBIE is entitled Trunk Tricks and has a variety of activities based around the trunk of a coconut tree.
I've seen others make painted handprints for fronds, which is cute, but sometimes messy and difficult, as well as time-consuming to do, especially if you're teaching a bunch of little ones all by yourself.
I decided to trace my handprints to see how they would turn out and I really liked the effect.
Have a room volunteer do the tracing and cutting for you, or send the green paper home and have parents do this step.
With the handprint portion out of the way, this adorable keepsake artwork can be whipped together in about 10 minutes.
For extra pizzazz, I used brown textured wallpaper for the trunk of my tree.
Brightly-colored foam letters also add that bit of 3-D pop and the student photo on the coconut makes it all the more precious.
In Trunk Tricks you can also make a Name Tree, a Vowel Tree, a Color Tree and a count by 10's to 100 Tree.
Any of these would make quick and easy bulletin boards: "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Look What The K's Did In Mrs. Henderson's Room!"
Make A Chicka Boom Name Tag:
This comparison not only involves various math extensions, but you can toss in some science exploration as well, by having a discussion with your students about what they think is inside the coconut etc.
Chicka Boom Envelope Letter Game:
There's nothing like a game to help students learn lessons. Children can play with a partner or in a group of 3.
You can make a class set of Chicka Boom trees, or allow each student to make their own "Chicka Boom Name Tree". Play the game several times in class and then let children take them home to enjoy with family.
Children glue construction paper to a sealed envelope making a trunk so that they can insert letters into the back of their tree's "pocket". Students roll a dice to determine how many letters they put in their envelope.
If they roll a 1 they take 1 letter out; if they roll a 6 they lose their turn.
Chicka Boom Popsicle Stick Puzzle:
I love making Popsicle stick puzzles. They are easy and inexpensive and fun for students to put together.
Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.
"80% of success is showing up!" -Woody Allen
More Chicka Boom Stuff!
Yesterday’s Chicka Boom Activity Packet was a huge hit, so I wanted to share the Picka Chicka packet.
I LOVE using file folders with children because they are relatively inexpensive and I have 4 pages I can fill up with “cool stuff”.
Because they are made of heavy-duty cardstock, they can also handle the abuse of 4-year-olds or the soggy “oops” of too much glue as well.
My kiddo’s also enjoyed them because they were something different and something “older” people used, so they felt extra special.
After reading Chicka Boom have your students put together their “lap files”. Choose whatever things you are going to study with them.
This 67-page packet includes:
Chicka chicha boom boom, I hope you enjoy all of the new kids in your classroom!
Click on the link to view/download the Picka Chicka Chicka Boom Activity File Folder Packet
Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN anything you think others will find helpful.
"Losers are people who are afraid of losing.” –Robert Kiyosaki