Tuesday, April 27, 1999
Early Childhood/Elementary
May Themes and Activities
With
Djinn & Sandy/K/MO
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Djinn - Welcome Y'all
to the ECE meeting for May.
Sandy/K/MO - what
is your favorite thing to do in May?
meeha/ece/tx - in
May ... i like to talk about summer safety!
Djinn - We are still
working on Insects. Then we will do The 5 senses
Sandy/K/MO - that's
a great idea... we have so many lakes and rivers,
Djinn - Meeha- bike
safety and water safety?
Sandy/K/MO - we finish
school with the ocean
NikMiller - we are
going to cover plants in may.
Addie k/mo - we are
finishing up our insect unit, letting our ladybugs go, i try to do a variety
of fun stuff....i think most of ours will revolve around a plant and gardening
unit, but dont have everything completely figured out
NikMiller - I like
the safety idea.
Addie k/mo - i have
done an ocean theme to end the year before.....i like that theme
meeha/ece/tx - that's
basically it -- along with some hot weather health tips ... like drinking
lots of water and keeping out of the sun or using sun screen!
Sandy/K/MO - we are
going to plant a butterfly garden
Djinn - I think we
will do some planting for May Day - we have a lot of ground available
meeha/ece/tx - where,
Sandy?
Addie k/mo - that
sounds neat, sandy, can you elaborate?
NikMiller - butterfly
garden. will you explain
Sandy/K/MO - outside
the school/playground
meeha/ece/tx - we
will be doing the plant thing through a lot of may, too!
Djinn - OOH Sandy
- you got me thinking! What a great idea to end our unit - Our butterflies
are about to emerge
Marcia - I saw the
cutest bee project yesterday using pipe cleaners.
NikMiller - where
did you get your butterflies?
meeha/ece/tx - Tell
us, Marcia!
Sandy/K/MO - we will
plant flower seeds that attract butterflies, put a little sand and water
for them
Marcia - Twist a
yellow and black pipe cleaner around your finger, real tight
Sandy/K/MO - the
earthfoundation sent the seeds with the chrysalis'
Djinn - Nik - Can't
remember?
Addie k/mo - do you
buy the wildflower seeds that you scatter or do you plant certain flowers?
do you plant seeds or plants?
Marcia - pull it
out to make a cone shape. Add a large pompom for a head. More black pipe
cleansers for ant. Put tiny pompoms at the end of the ant. Looks real cute
Kathleen - Sandy,
you got seeds for the plants the caterpillars eat?
Sandy/K/MO - earthbirthday
project www.earthbirthday.org or 1-800-698-4438
Addie k/mo - do the
flowers come up in time for the kids to see them?
Sandy/K/MO - Addie...
MoDOT, Dept. of fire safety gave them to us... seeds. I am in Missouri
Marcia - looks better
than I describe. It was done by pre-k's
Sandy/K/MO - yes
they will, germinate in a week
Marcia - we have
lots of wild poppy's growing by the side of the freeway. California's state
flower
Djinn - I think I
will plant some seedlings. Lantana grows in the sun and is drought resistant.
Butterflies love them
Sandy/K/MO - when
they go to Church all summer they will see them :-)
NikMiller - What
seeds are you describing? Butterfly bush or wildflowers?
Sandy/K/MO - milkweed
seed, bright color flowers
Djinn - Sandy - reminds
me of Ladybird's campaign to beautify Texas
Addie k/mo - i dont
know if this will work or not, but we are planting a "sunflower house"...you
till up an eight by eight square, then you plant sunflowers and morning
glories around the perimeter. as they grow the morning glories twine around
the sunflowers. when they are full grown, you tie them together at the
top with pantyhose. then when the kids come back in the fall you have a
sunflower house....oh, yeah, you need to leave a doorway.
Sandy/K/MO - I remember
that :-)
Sandy/K/MO - Addie
where are you going to do that?
NikMiller - If you're
planting in a place with full sun, Vinca are terrific! They love the sun
and take very little water.
Peachy/K/NC - Addie,
that sounds wonderful!!
Djinn - Addie- how
neat! Then you can harvest the seeds
meeha/ece/tx - Addie
-- sounds too fun! who's going to mind it this summer?
Sandy/K/MO - impatients
also are very good with full sun
Addie k/mo - there
is an "outdoor classroom" with two 8 foot by 24 foot raised beds...we are
using one of them. we are going to plant watermelons and pumpkins too...sort
of a gift for next years kids
NikMiller - I love
the sunflower house! I would never be able to pull that off though.
Djinn - Our temp.
get above 100 F for the months of July and Aug. We are also on water rationing
from April to Oct - so L.A can get it's water.
Sandy/K/MO - sunflowers
would be good then Djinn :-)
Addie k/mo - yeah,
it will be neat if it works...never tried it before....i will take care
of it over the summer...i teach summer school all of june and then i only
live a couple of miles from work, so i think i can manage. when i go on
vacation, i will have to find someone to care for it
Djinn - Addie- what
a great plan.
meeha/ece/tx - Djinn
-- you have to go with the heat-resistant, drought tolerant type plants,
then -- what could you use?
Addie k/mo - yeah,
i was thinking of doing some sunflower math activities and things when
we get back to school to go with the house and then go out and read stories
and things in the house at the beginning of the year.
Djinn - Guess I need
to go to my local nursery and ask for some help
meeha/ece/tx - will
you post pics on your web-page, Addie (please?)
Deb/Ne - We must
be talking about flower themes!
Addie k/mo - we are
going to invite each first grade class out to the sunflower house too,
so that the kids who did the work can enjoy it too.
Sandy/K/MO - check
with some of your state agencies... ours is giving free seed packets to
schools
Djinn - Thanks Sandy
- We have a local University that might be able to help - didn't think
of that.
Kathleen - anyone
with a web site should post the url here so that others can visit at their
leisure :-)
Addie k/mo - yes,
i am planning to add it to my webpage as it grows...i got the idea from
virginia riley off the ece mailring, but she has never done it either...she
saw it at the state fair
Djinn - Hello and
Welcome to the ECE chat. We are discussing activities and themes for May
Addie k/mo - http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2221/index.html
Inside Kindergarten
Sandy/K/MO - addie...
hwy gardens :-) MoDot
NikMiller - I teach
1st grade and have a classroom full of enthusiastic readers. I try to update
my reading centers from time to time. I told them how I like to sit outside
in the spring and read. Then I put a gingham picnic table cover on the
floor, 2 beach chairs on it, and a picnic basket full of books. From the
ceiling I hung bright tropical fish. While the students are reading, they
put colorful leis on. They love it, and it really brightens the room with
all the color!
Marcia - http://members.aol.com/MGoudie/index.html
Djinn - If you haven't
visited Addie or Marcia's Websites- please do. They are wonderful
Peachy/K/NC - Anybody
got a quick cute idea for Mother's Day? I need to add something.
Kathleen - Nik, that
sounds motivating, too. Do you use theme books, or just a collection of
what the kids like
NikMiller - paint
clay pots (cheap) and add a flower.
Kathleen - Peachy,
what have you planned already?
Marcia - IF you're
of the Internet inclination try http://members.aol.com/MrsGoudie/ReadySetGo.html
f or grades k-3
Djinn - Peachy -
we trace their hands and make the ASL sign for love by bending the fingers.
Put it on a straw - add leaves and place in a cute Dixie Cup.
meeha/ece/tx - Peachy
-- we're going to do a die-cut camera with the child's face in the lens
cut-out add magnets so it can hang on refrigerator or file cabinet at work
NikMiller - I try
to do theme books about the beach, seasons, fish, etc. But I added their
favorites too.
Sandy/K/MO - decorate
styrofoam cups and plant flower
Kathleen - Peachy,
did you check out the Archive http://teachers.net/archive
for ideas from last year's May planning meeting, and the lesson bank at
http://teachers.net/lessons
Djinn - Meeha- are
you using foam or paper - great idea!
meeha/ece/tx - Nik
-- you need to add a recorcding of 'waves'!
Djinn - We are painting
their hands to look like butterflies - than adding a poem
Marcia - We used
craft sticks to make picture frames that were decorated with jewels. Just
right for the youngest students. 'course they need a picture of themselves,
too!
Deb/Ne - Fold construction
paper in half and let children create a flower at the top put "My Love
for you...
Amy - easy for mother's
day: have kids trace their hands on two different pieces of colored paper.
cut out. arrange on blue paper to resempgle flowers (tulips), add green
stems (i have a template for stems/leaves which kids trace onto green paper,
the cut out). have kids write/copy "Made by my hands, Mother's Day 1999"
meeha/ece/tx - Djinn
-- paper, we'll laminate it. Did it at Christmas for my Jehovah's Witness
kiddos
Deb/Ne - Oops, on
the inside attach a packet of flower seeds and add "keeps growing, and
growing, and growing....
Kathleen - When is
Mother's Day this year?
NikMiller - I like
the magnet idea! How cute! I saw an idea at a relative's house. They took
magnet sheets with a white side, put a handprint on it, and had the child
sign his name. Then cut out around the hand so that just a little bit of
white was seen.
meeha/ece/tx - a
cute card is to have the kids draw/decorate body on 12x18" paper, use sentence
strip with hands at either end -- it reads: "I Love You this Much!" when
the arms are opened out!
moly - Deb, I never
thought of adding seed pack, great!!
Amy - Where is a
good place to get sheets of magnets?
Djinn - Butterfly
hand poem : This isn't just a butterfly As you can plainly see. I amde
it with my hand Which is a part of me. It comes with lots of Love Especially
to say I hope you have a very Happy Mother's Day. Author Elaine Magud
Deb/Ne - Magnets...I'd
check your local Hobby Lobby!
Kathleen - Amy, probaby
a craft store, or collect from families. They have a lot of those ad magnets
on their refrigerators
meeha/ece/tx - Amy
-- look at craft stores or at business supply stores
emu - My sons Kdg.
teacher made frames and decorated with puzzle peices...
NikMiller - amy-Wal-Mart,
Garden Ridge (do you have one of those?)
Djinn - Amy - you
can get rolls at Walmart
Kathleen - Djinn,
that's beautiful!
Marcia - Michaels
has all kinds of magnets. I go to the local hardware store. Often they
are very reasonable.
preteach - how big
do the magnets have to be do they come in sheets
Deb/Ne - Anybody
doing a zoo theme? Any cute ideas or sites?
Djinn - We made thier
handprints today - painted middle finger black - symmetrical colors for
each finger and palm. Pressed on white paper and added antennae with marker.
Will cut out and place with poem on construction paper and laminate
meeha/ece/tx - preteach
-- the magnet sizes vary, you need enough to support the weight of the
project.
NikMiller - They
come in sheets and rolls. I've seen both. It's probably going to depend
on how big your little one's hands are.
meeha/ece/tx - Deb
-- don't forget the song "Going to the Zoo"!
Marcia - We just
finished a farm unit. We talked about how baby animals grow/and compared
them to how children grow. We do mental health. How do you treat babies/baby
animals. One boy said "don't jack them up" we laughed and laughed.
Marcia - I raise
dairy goats and I brought a three day old baby goat. It was so neat.
meeha/ece/tx - my
kiddos also like Thomas Moore's "Mr. Bristol Went to the Zoo" -- it is
on the cd that the "Humpty Dumpty" is on
Marcia - The children
were so gentle. Their first question was "does it bite"
Djinn - We are going
to visit the chocolate factory - So that will be our last unit - CHOCOLATE
NikMiller - a kindegarten
class just finished a unit. They covered a different animal everyday, did
a shared writing about each animal, and made faces of the animal on paper
plates. They took gray strips of paper, linked them together, and made
a trunk for an elephant. So cute!
Kathleen - Djinn,
you have a choc factory near you??
NikMiller - I would
get into soooo much trouble at the chocolate factory!
Djinn - Yes Kathleen
- a Hershyes Factory in a nearby town
meeha/ece/tx - similar
to 'old MacDonald' -- but he goes to a zoo, animals do different things,
cute song. (T. Moore has a Ph.D. in e.c.e., wonderful children's music
-- you can often find it in Lakeshore books!)
Kathleen - Wild,
welcome to the early childhood primary group!
Djinn - Boy I got
so excited I couldn't hardly type! I can't wait
Marcia - This kid
beats them all. We are having trouble. He continues to act out. Begging
for negative attention.
Deb/Ne - Meeha- Thanks...I'll
check it out!
Marcia - We have
the Jelly Belly factory just down the road. It's fun for the medium size
kids, but the littles get restless.
Djinn - Doesn't Raffi
sing that song also?
meeha/ece/tx - Djinn
-- Mr. Bristol ... or Going to the Zoo?
Djinn - Going to
the Zoo - sorry Missed Mr. Bristol
NikMiller - I wanted
our 1st graders to visit an animal shelter to wash and walk the dogs. The
other team members didn't sound too thrilled about that. I thought it'd
be a good "giving back" field trip.
meeha/ece/tx - I
have Going to the Zoo by Raffi and by Hoyt Axton -- Axton is my favorite!
meeha/ece/tx - Nik
-- let them visit you. Washing and walking could get into some 'liability'
situations the shelter (and you!) don't want to have to address!
Marcia - We did a
community service field trip this winter. Kids need to learn more about
giving.
Djinn - My kids are
so needy themselves. I work at a Title 1 school
NikMiller - well,
since today is my anniversary, I better go and spend quality time with
my hubby, even though he has the flu. Thanks everyone for your ideas!!
Kathleen - I try
to get something together each year for May Day, tissue flowers or something
to bring to a senior housing center
Peachy Again - Thanks
for all the neat ideas about Mother's Day. I am already doing the plant
in the cup...just wanted to add something. My computer is acting up as
usual is why I was so slow responding to your nice suggestions!!
CASS - Taking a trip
to a state park next week. I am looking to maximize the experience. Any
suggestions about trip logs for the 1st grades to take and keep up with?
Sandy/K/MO - we take
may day baskets of flowers to sr. center
Kathleen - Peachy,
the bath salts thing is easy and nice
NikMiller - There
is a local shelter that picks well mannered dogs for that purpose. Very
closely watched and supervised.
Sandy/K/MO - we did
a scavenger hunt k/1 then made a collage of things we found.. rebus story,
picture
Kathleen - needy
kids can probably get special enjoyment out of giving
meeha/ece/tx - Cass
-- how about a 'scavenger hunt' where the groups look for items, maybe
the parent in charge could carry -- kids could check off and make notes
...
Peachy Again - Do
you put the bath salts in an empty baby food jar, Kat?
Kathleen - Cass,
it's important that they harm no living thing for the hunt
Kathleen - Peachy,
I've used tiny plastic zip locs, but jar would be nicer
Djinn - Kat- is that
Epsom salts? What do you add?
Kathleen - Sandy
and Djinn, didn't one of your recent meetings have ideas for nature walk??
meeha/ece/tx - small
hand-made cards and pictures are nice for giving ... it is important for
little ones (and big ones) to understand ... or be reminded ... that gifts
needn't cost a lot to be loved and special1
Kathleen - Djinn,
yes, epsom and perfume and food color, it's in the lesson bank
Sandy/K/MO - the
earthday one did :-)
Djinn - thanks Kathlelen
- of course it is!!!
Marcia - Or a nature
bracelet. Wrap masking tape backwards on the wrist.
Sandy/K/MO - we are
going to go on our pond study on Fri. doing a relay... fishing for litter
Kathleen - Cass,
check out the Earth Day meeting transcript in the Archives at http://teachers.net/archive
for some additional ideas
Sandy/K/MO - you
can also take a walk in a sock (over a shoe) then see if the sock picked
up any seeds. :-)
Wild One - Hello
All, pardon my barging in. I'm a writer who'd love to ask a question.
Marcia - I once did
a unit on trees. We had the children sit around the base of a tree. Sit
still and listen. Write down what they hear, see. Like insects.birds etc.
Djinn - We are planning
to do the 5 senses next. Check out the lesson exchange for our Culminating
PanCake day activities- my favorite!
Kathleen - Sandy,
do you plant the whole sock?
Sandy/K/MO - put
the sock in a pie plate... will then germinate
Wild One - Thanks,
Kathleen. What are 3 favorite animals for young kids?
Marcia - I have several
great 5 senses links on my web page.
Kathleen - Djinn,
are you going to tell us about the Pancake day?? ;-)
Djinn - It's in the
lesson Exchange!!
Kathleen - bears,
rabbits, dogs
Steach - Djinn..how
do I go to lesson bank...sorry for dumb question...still not to familiar
Sandy/K/MO - when
our chicks hatched the kids were great... asked so many neat questions
Marcia - My favorite
is the baby food jars with different smells. I do lemon, vanilla, chocolate,
pepper and more.
Kathleen - Djinn,
is it listed as Pancake Day or 5 senses?
Wild One - Sorry,
I should have specified -- wild animals.
Sandy/K/MO - cats,
and dogs for us
Djinn - Kathleen
- under pancake day -
Marcia - I also to
a taste test with the different flavors of red fruit drink. Cherry, punch
etc.
Kathleen - bears,
elephants, and ??
meeha/ece/tx - for
study purposes, wild?
Sandy/K/MO - Djinn..
about 2 years ago.. there was a rebus story for the run away pancake, did
you get it?
Djinn - My kids love
the animals in the Jan Brett Stories
meeha/ece/tx - whales,
bears, tigers (or dinosaurs!)
Wild One - For learning
to read, meeha.
CASS - My kids like
elephant, moose, and bears.
Sandy/K/MO - my kids
just love Jan Brett... Comet especially
Djinn - No I didn't
Sandy. Where do you think I could find it?
Sandy/K/MO - tigers
and snakes... I can send it...let me look at school
Marcia - snalkes,
polar bears, tigers
Gail - Does anyone
do "bubbles" in May?
Sandy/K/MO - bats
too... we did a lot on them
Kathleen - Wild,
did we get it right?
meeha/ece/tx - Does
anyone have an idea of where to locate the book EVERYTHING GROWS -- goes
with the Raffi song -- now out of print per two sources!
CASS - Wild if the
animal has a nice personality it doesn't matter what it is. rodents etc...
Sandy/K/MO - gail
there are some really good bubble sites..
Wild One - Does anyone
concentrate teaching about their native wild animals?
Djinn - Gail - I
think we will do bubbles for our last week
Bette/TX - sandy-do
you know the addresses to those sites
Doug - wild one-
good idea though
Kathleen - Wild One,
good point.
Sandy/K/MO - we do
a short one, but then one of our Mom's is the educ. consultant for Conservation
Dept AND her husband is a trapper
Kathleen - Wild One,
I would have to admit to no on that one.
meeha/ece/tx - check
out http://www.homeworkcentral.com/Top8/files.htp?fileid=63421&use=jr
for bubbles ideas!
Wild One - I ask
because I live in Colorado and do Audubon programs in schools. Few kids
even know robins, but they know dinosaurs
Djinn - Wild one
- we have Kit foxes and burrowing owls in our neighborhood. Great idea
Sandy/K/MO - I have
4 wild turkeys in the back yard and I live in town. :-)
Steach - maybe i
might be off the opic but is anyone planning a graduation for Pre-K
Kathleen - Oh, we
do a Robin Watch each spring!
Marcia - I struggle
with raccoons. We do have bobcats stealing livestock about 4 miles from
me.
Sandy/K/MO - Steach...
we don't do a graduation..
CASS - Djinn what
do you have planned?
Steach - I'm in a
private school and they are very big on it so I'm trying to gather some
ideas...
Djinn - We haven't
seen Kit foxes - they are rare - but burrowing owls stopped Kmart from
moving into my neighborhood
Wild One - Kathleen,
what is your robin watch?
Djinn - We do not
have a graduation - but I am getting togather a little program for the
parents. Just some songs
moly - Steach, I'm
in private too and we have already begun practice of songs
Kathleen - I just
hand out a picture of a robin, with blanks to fill in child's name, date
of spotting first robin of the Spring, where it was spotted. I live in
Connecticut
Sandy/K/MO - Wild
one... we are taking part in the Journey North activities...
BETTE/TX - Djinn-i
think parents like that to see their children preform
meeha/ece/tx - Steach
... i don't plan to do this with my kiddos moving from ece sped to regular
kindergarten ... seems 'too much' to me. Last year we made caps with tassels,
gave certificates of completion, etc -- followed w/ a party in the room.
Marcia - Steach if
you have AOL there are some great ECE boards there , too
Steach - That's what
I am thinking of doing I'm just trying to see what songs to use
Kathleen - Yes, parents
like to see their children perform. We need to keep the programs relevent
to the children's interests and level.
Sandy/K/MO - creating
a habitat, making birdhouses, watering places
meeha/ece/tx - My
first choice would be to video kiddos throughout the year, edit a tape
and let the kids sit with parents and watch the year in review! low stress
for all concerned!
Sandy/K/MO - Steach..
I will check KinderKaper for you too
Djinn - We are singing
the Three Little Pigs - Greg and Steve. A sign song _ Love spells love
- Brown Bear - just some of our favorites
moly - I am on AOL
what do I search to get ECE board??
meeha/ece/tx - Steach
-- use favorite songs from throughout the year -- kind of a 'year in review'!
BETTE/TX - meeecha-
my daughter's 2 nd grade teacher did that then had a local video store
make copies for the parents
Marcia - email me
and I will send you a direct link. MGoudie@aol.com
moly - meeha, that
is the best idea yet, much less stress
CASS - djinn earlier
you were talking about bubbles, I think I missed it?
Kathleen - One good
ec page: http://teachers.net/mentors/early_childhood
Djinn - go to home
page http://www.teachers.net
Steach - meeha..that's
a good idea...don't need much practice for that!
Djinn - Cass - I
have a whole bubbles unit. email me at magud@inreach.com and I'll give
you some activities
linda - I have a
great rap for Three Little pigs!
Sandy/K/MO - :-)
Kathleen linda.. that would be neat for you to post that
CASS - Linda, share
it.
Kathleen - Everyone,
I'm going to reveal Wild One's true identity since she will be presenting
a live session here on May 3. She is author Shannon Jacobs. "Healers of
the Wild" "The Boy Who Loved Morning" "song of the Giraffe"
meeha/ece/tx - Sandy
-- making birdhouses -- missed part of the discussion
Wild One - Thanks,
Kathleen. I'd almost skipped off.
Marcia - Speaking
fo the three pigs. Two years ago We did a great project for this book.
Got a big stove box. ON each side we decorated it (stick, bricks etc.)
Make sure you cut a door. Then let the kids act out the story. So funny
Djinn - Welcome Shannon
-
Sandy/K/MO - my husband
cut out 10 bluebird houses and predrilled nail holes.. we are going to
put them together and then around the park/pond
Djinn - Sandy - what
a guy
Kathleen - We've
had good luck with our bluebird houses here
meeha/ece/tx - have
you heard that Home Depot will come to the classroom -- with all supplies
-- and help the kiddos build these? you just supply extra adult help in
the classroom!
Marcia - These were
pre-k's. They loved it. We left the box in the classroom for a long time.
Djinn - Anyone made
bird houses out of gourds? Been thinking of planting some just for that
Sandy/K/MO - I am
hoping not to many smashed fingers, especially mine :-) he is even taking
the day off to go with us on our field trip
moly - meeha, do
I call local Home Depot?? Wow, never knew this
meeha/ece/tx - I've
seen them, Djinn, but not made them! good luck! :-)
BETTE/TX - meeha-
we dpon;t have a home Depot but we do haave a Lowes maybe they would do
it
CASS - djinn, doesn't
take awhile for the gourds to dry out.?
Djinn - Hey Everyone
- It's that time again Another wonderful session with all of you great
thinkers! I must go and get carnations for my about to emerge butterflies!
See you on the boards!
Kathleen - I have
to leave, thanks, Sandy and Djinn for another great idea session! Shannon
Wild One Jacobs, I'll see you next Monday right here for your session!
meeha/ece/tx - moly
-- as i understand it, yes -- just call them, they'll help you set it up!
Sandy/K/MO - this
has been great... thanks everyone
Sandy/K/MO - night :-)
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