1-2-3 Come Stack Apples With Me!

I like to combine a variety of skills and standards into one lesson, that way I'm covering quite a bit in a short amount of time.  The "Apples Up on Top" Name Activity involves math, reading, science and writing, plus completed projects make an adorable back-to-school bulletin board!

For example, if you run off the apple printable on yellow, red and green construction paper, students can learn the science fact, that apples can be 3 different colors. You can also teach students an ABCABC pattern. I've included a graphing extension to cover that concept as well.

Click on the link to view/download the Apples Up On Top Name Activity.

To further reinforce lessons, whenever I read a story, some sort of activity followed. Dr. Seuss' (Theo. LeSieg's) book, Apples Up On Top is a wonderful first week of school book, as we are in full swing studying apples. After reading the story, ask your students who the main animal characters are.  Run off the template that is appropriate for you, and have students choose one to color.

Print off the apples of your choice (plain red, numbered red, plain black & white, numbered black & white) for your students to (color), copy and glue "up on top" of their animal.  When everyone is done, count to 10 forwards as well as backwards. There's also a graphing extension to see how many students chose a specific animal.

The printable can also be used as a dice game for older students. They choose a partner and take turns rolling first one die, for numbers 1-6, and then add a second die, enabling them to roll numbers 7-10, when they add the 2 together. 

I've included numbered strips for this game.  The numbered strips are also good for preschoolers who are not able to sequence yet.  This is great 1-to-1 correspondence for them. 

Click on the link to view/download the Apples Up On Top With Animals Activity.

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"You give but little when you give of your possessions.  It is when you give of yourself that you truly give." -Kahlil Gibran

1-2-3 Come Sing A Song And Learn Names With Me!

On the first day of school many little ones will be overwhelmed with all of the newness of a zillion different things they've never experienced before, including being surrounded by other children who are strangers.

A wonderful "icebreaker" is to help youngsters feel welcome.  Learning their names quickly, is a very important part of that.  

Once children know each other's names, they also feel more comfortable, making friends rather quickly.

Since "being able to recognize their name" was one of my Y5 report card standards, I did all sorts of activities to help children accomplish that in a fun way.

Singing name songs was always a favorite activity. Since most children know the tune of Old MacDonald, I decided to start there.

Simply print off the adorable clipart song poster. Thanks ever so much to the very creative djinkers.com who provides licenses for teachers to use her clipart.

After children catch on, you can point to the words as you sing.

Fill in the blanks by pointing to 2 children and having them say their names. Continue the song 'til you have used every child's name.

As another name recognition activity, run off the farmer name cards and write your students' names on them. 

If you have time, it's nice to allow children to color their card to help with recognition. 

Using a variety of colors, to write the names, will also help really little ones associate their name with the color, helping them to differentiate more easily, especially if a lot of your students' names begin with similar letters.

Laminate the cards for durability. When you sing the song again, instead of pointing to a child, show their name card. 

When they recognize it, they can say their name.  Pretty soon all of your students will be able to read everyone's name!

You can also print off an extra set of name cards to send one home to parents.  If they post it on the bathroom mirror or other prominent place in the home, they can make it a teachable moment whenever their child sees it.

Click on the link to view/download the EIEIO Name Recognition Song.

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"A leader is anyone who has two characteristics: first, he is going someplace; second, he is able to persuade other people to go with him."  -W.H. Cowley