Early Learning Lesson

"Morning Chant"

This call-and-response chant is easy to memorize because of the rhythm and repetition. It sets the stage for a happy, busy day.

Teacher: "It's early in the morning." (Pantomime the sun rising.)

Children: "Bright new morning." (same action as above)

Teacher: "Ready for school."

Children: "Cool school." (Spread arms to indicate surroundings.)

Teacher: "I ate my breakfast." (Rub stomach.)

Children: "Good breakfast!" (same action as above)

Teacher: "I got dressed for the day." (Pantomime putting on clothes.)

Children: "Ready to play!" (Pantomime running.)

Teacher: "I got to school on time." (Tap wrist to indicate watch.)

Children: "Right on time." (same action as above)

Teacher: "My light is turned on." (Tap forefinger on side of head.)

Children: "All day long and going strong!" (Pantomime lifting weights.)

From Reading Readiness Essentials, Circle Time Activities (EMC 739)

Kindergarten Connection

"Topic of the Week"

This activity provides an opportunity for students and their families to work together to acquire information and facts, and helps children broaden their knowledge base and set a lifelong pattern for learning. Children are proud to share the results of their "research."

Making the Connection:

1. Each week, send home a new topic as part of the children's homework. See the parent letter below.
2. Take a few minutes each day to ask children to report their findings. Chart the information that comes in. Save the charts and review them from time to time, or when relevant to your curriculum.
3. Use the examples below to formulate additional topics.

Bears
What are some different kinds of bears?
Find out about how bears live.
Where do wild bears live in our country?
Who is Smokey the Bear?

Boats
What are some types of boats, and what do they do?
What kinds of jobs do people do on boats?
What are some ways that boats move?

The Sun and the Solar System
Why is the sun important?
What are the p***ts' names?
How many p***ts are in our solar system?
Why is the moon so bright?

Birds
What are some different kinds of birds that live near you?
What do birds use to build their nests?
What is the largest bird in the world?

Insects
How many legs do insects have? Can insects fly?
How many body parts do they have?
Name three different kinds of insects.

Milk
Where does milk come from?
How does milk get from the farm to the store?
What are some foods that are made from milk?

The United States of America
How many states are in the USA?
Who is the president?
What countries border ours?
What is our nation's capital?
What is a capital?
What is our national anthem?

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Dear Parents,

Each week during circle time, we share what the children have learned about the Topic of the Week. This week's topic and questions to answer are:

<write topic here>

Have fun helping your child explore this topic using books, magazines, videos, etc. Write down some facts that your child tells you about the topic. Your child may also want to draw a picture showing the information learned. Have your child bring the information to school to share with others.

Thank you.

From Reading Readiness Essentials, Circle Time Activities (EMC 739)

Word of the Week

lackadaisical
adjective
You don't show much interest or enthusiasm if you are lackadaisical about it.

You probably won't improve too quickly on the piano if you have such a lackadaisical attitude about practicing.

Which of the following might you be lackadaisical about?

• getting permission to invite your best friend on your family's vacation
• watching a movie being filmed on your street
• seeing a speck of dust on your window sill
• learning to ride a bike by yourself
• watching a snail crawl

What is something your feel lackadaisical about? It is a good idea to be lackadaisical about your schoolwork? Why?

From A Word a Day, Grades 1-3 (EMC 2717)

Ten-Minute Activity

“High/Low Dice Throw”

Math
Skill: place value

Materials:

• chalkboard
• chalk
• three dice
• paper
• pencils

Here’s How:

1. Roll three dice.
2. Choose a student to write the numbers on the chalkboard, one on top of the other. (See the example below.)

3. Have students write the largest and the smallest numbers that could be made by combining the digits (highes--641, lowes--146).
4. Ask place value questions such as: For what place is the number the same (tens)? What number is in the hundreds place in this number? (Point to one of the answers.)
5. Roll the dice again and continue in the same manner.

Variations

• For young students, use only two dice.
• For older students, use four, five, or six dice.
• Use an eight-sided die.

From Ten-Minute Activities, Grades 1-3 (EMC 784)

Word of the Week

gratify
verb
to please

I usually like to eat dessert after meals to gratify my sweet tooth.

Which words mean about the same thing as gratify?

• satisfy
• annoy
• enchant
• delight
• irritate

Describe something that gratifies you.

From A Word a Day, Grades 4-8 (EMC 2718)

Ten-Minute Activity

Schoolwood Squares
Social Studies
Skill: facts review

Materials: lists of nine history or geography questions, chalkboard, chalk

Here’s How:

1. In advance, compile several lists of nine questions each from history or geography studies.
2. Draw a large square on the chalkboard. Divide it into nine smaller squares. Number the squares randomly, 1 through 9. As in the television game show Hollywood Squares, students attempt to get tick tack toe by answering the questions correctly.
3. Divide students into two teams--X's and O's. Direct one member of the X team to select a numbered square.
4. Read the question you have assigned to that number. If the X team member answers the question correctly, mark an X in the square. If the answer is wrong, leave the square blank.
5. Next, direct one member of the O team to select a numbered square. Read the question assigned to that square. If the O team member answers correctly, mark an O in that square.
6. Continue play until one team has achieved tick tack toe.

Variations

• As a good way to review for an upcoming test, have students create the questions to be used in Schoolwood Squares.
• Have teams collaborate on responses.
• Conduct a Schoolwood Squares tournament in which individual students (rather than teams) compete against one another until a champion is determined.

From Ten-Minute Activities, Grades 4-6 (EMC 785)

Science Activity

Process Skills: Inferring and Organizing

• Humans are most comfortable when the temperature is not too hot and not too cold. Yet people live in extremely cold and extremely hot places.
• As a group, brainstorm a list of ways that people in cold climates stay warm. Then brainstorm a list of ways that people in hot climates stay cool.

From Science Cooperative Learning Cards (EMC 5006)