#1009. "U" Letter Ideas

Reading/Writing, level: Elementary
Posted Tue Apr 20 13:23:30 PDT 1999 by Early Childhood Mailring ().
Concepts Taught: "U" letter activities

U letter ideas

Letter U

U
Under the spreading chestnut tree ( speread arms out, touch chest, head
(nut)
fingers together over head)
We were as happy as could be (hug slef and rock back and forth)
with our banjos on our knee (strum banjo slap knees)
under the spreading chestnut tree(repeat first step)

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Letter Recognition
Submitted by Betty of the KOS Loop
Letter Uu Idea - Make an Upside-Down Cake !!! I have done it for years and
after doing it today, I just had to suggest it on the loop! The kids just
loved the whole idea.. I just used a recipe for Pineapple Upside-Down Cake in
my general cookbook
(made it from scratch!) They were sooo impressed. First, we asked them in the
"Question of the Day" for which we do a "yes/no" tally...Have you ever eaten
an Upside-Down Cake? You should have seen their faces!!! After we ate the
entire thing!...we did another tally...Do you like Upside-Down Cake? Fun!
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Title: My Umbrella...
Here's my new umbrella,
Wide and high.
It keeps me cozy, warm, and dry.
If the rain starts falling from the sky,
I'll just open it up and I'll stay dry!
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U: UNIVERSE
TELL ABOUT:
Hold up a picture. Ask what you can see when you look up at the sky on a
clear night.
IDEAS:
On a clear night, when there are no trees, buildings, or mountains
obstructing
the view, you can see half of the universe. You can see the stars, planets,
the Milky Way Galaxy and nebulae. At times you can also see meteors, comets
and the moon.

Sandy
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I had them make an umbrella and then I gave them some sticders and asked
them to put them under the umbrella. I also have a large "U" and I made
diffent umbrellas out of a toothpick and a half circle. I am going to
give them the umbrellas and have them glue them to the big U then I have
some unicorn stickers and will ask them to put them under the U.
From: cschaef@pacbell.net
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we make a classbook called "Under the Umbrella." it varies from year to year
with skills and such, but here's the basics:

text on top reads: What is under the umbrella?

middle of page is a beach umbrella on the sand. this can be colored to choice
and real sand glued on. children use animal rubber stamps to stamp a set
number of critters under the umbrella. could be "number of the week" or a
roll of the dice.

bottom of the page reads: I see (number) (crittername). (i.e. I see 3 dogs.)

you could also do this one in the style of brown bear, brown bear: (Name),
who is under the umbrella?
draw picture of child under umbrella or use photos
bottom text: I see (name).

janet/spedK/nj
holland@edmail.com
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From: bbillingsley@tcia.net

Umbrellas " The Umbrella"
Unicorns
Universe We talked about the universe and made a mural
of our universe. The children really enjoyed this activity.
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Activity U
What does the prefix "un-" mean? Have an undo day. Gather dolls and
different kinds of clothes that have different kinds of fasteners. You will
want samples of things that tie, buckle, button, snap, zip, velcro, and any
other kind of fasteners that you can find. Place these things in an area of
easy access along with any dressed dolls you may have. Then after discussing
"un-" and talking about all the things you can undo, it is time to undo
everything. Have fun with your child and help only when needed.

U: Under the umbrella. Have children walk a masking tape
tightrope as they use a small umbrella for balance like in the
circus!!

Umbrellas
*Have the children cut the individual egg-carton cups in half. Show them how
to glue the halves onto a sheet of construction paper. Add pipe cleaners for
handles. Draw pictures around the umbrellas with crayons or paint.

Five Umbrellas
Five umbrellas stood by the back door,
The red one went outside, then there were four
Four umbrellas, pretty as could be
The blue one went outside, then there were three
Three umbrellas with nothing to do
The green one went outside, then there were two
Two umbrellas not having much fun
The yellow went outside, then there was one
Just one umbrella alone in the hall,
The purple one went outside, and that was all!
by Jean Warren

I plan on using this with large colored umbrella cut-outs. When the
child's color is called, he/she will go "outside". (Out in the hall)

Color Umbrellas
We keep our umbrellas so perky and gay
Ready and waiting for a rainy day.

Here is a green one to keep me dry
When I open it up and hold it high.

Have you seen the umbrella that's red?
It loooks so nice held over my head.

The rain can get heavy, oh me, oh my,
But the purple umbrella will keep me dry

I love the umbrella of pretty blue
It's big enough for me and you!

The yellow umbrella is bright like the sun
Jumping puddles with is it so much fun!

The orange umbrella is saved for showers
The kind of rain that wakes up the flowers

Our umbrellas are fun and so nice to see
Just look at them all, I'm sure you'll agree!
by Susan M. Paprocki

This one I will use as a flannelboard activity.

Umbrella Crafts
Here are some ways we have made umbrellas:
1. Large half circles, cut out, with handle shapes attached.
2. Large half circles, handles attached, but also glue on a strip of
blue crepe paper at bottom of circle before you attach the handle. Use
scissors to fringe. This looks like rain. The children enjoy "fringing" the
paper.
3. This one is a little difficult to explain, but have used it for
display and is cute. Use a full circle. (This may be cons. paper or
even a paper plate. I have made a scalloped circle and reproduce it on
the fold so children cut one line, then open to make a large scalloped
circle.) This is the umbrella. Add boot shapes to the bottom. It looks
like a full umbrella, opened up, from the back. Like "Singing in the
Rain"--all you see is from the back. I usually add a small circle to the
very center of the plate. This looks like the umbrella shaft.
4. Large Umbrella with handle. Make into a mobile by attaching
raindrops with yarn and hang from the bottom of the umbrella (not
handle, but umbrella). I have seen these with the children's name
written on raindrops, one letter per drop and suspended from the
umbrella like above.

Story: This isn't about just am umbrella, but has an umbrella in it and
is a cute spring story. AND THE WIND BLEW-- by Pat Hutchins.

Ugly Duckling
Read the story Ugly Duckling, then have the children draw a picture of what
they think an ugly duckling looks like and how they think it feels.

Under Cover
Work on the concept of "under" by using several old sheets. Have the children
hang on to the edge of the sheet. When you holler "Under", the children all
get under the sheet and pull it around them.

Under the Umbrella
Give each child a small bowl of mixed fruit. Place a washed lettuce leave
over the top to act as an "Umbrella" to cover their food until it is time to
eat.

*Umbrella pictures Supplies:
Paper Baking Cups Scissors Glue Crayons or Paint Pipe Cleaners
Cut several baking cups in half, these will be the umbrellas. Glue
them on a sheet of paper. For the handles, use pipe cleaners or you
can draw them. Draw or paint rain drops.

* UMBRELLAS
I put on my raincoat. (Pretend to put on coat.)
I put on my hat.
(Put on hat.)
I put up my umbrella (fingertips touching over
head)
Just like that!

Umbrellas go up,
Unbrellas go down, (Point up and
down.)
When rain clouds are dark
All over the town.
One raindrop and two, (hold up on finger at a time)

Two raindrops and three,
My up and down umbrella
Is up over me.
(fingertips touching over head.)
Four raindrops and five, (hold up one finger at a time)
Six raindrops and seven,
Raindrops are tumbling (raise arms and let
fingers fall slowly)
Down from the heaven.
Drip, drip, drip, drip!
I am dry as can be,
My up and down umbrella
Is up over me
(fingertips touching over head.)

(Suggest that children draw a rainy day picture with umbrellas)


SPECIAL UMBRELLA

The first umbrella is red.
It keeps rain off my head.
The second umbrella is yellow
For a very lucky fellow.
The third umbrella is blue.
It is one that I drew.
The fourth umbrella is brown.
I will carry it to town.
The fifth umbrella is green
Fit for a king or a queen!

(One finger at a time may be held up to review ordinals. Suggest that
the children draw and color umbrellas as a rainy day activity.)


UMBRELLAS IN MANY COLORS

Umbrellas help in many ways.
This black one is for rainy days.
In summer, when there's too much sun,
I carry this bright yellow one.
This umbrella pink and neat
Fits at the table where I eat.
This red one when I put it up
Looks like an upside-down big cup.

(Ask the children to take out their crayons and hold up the correct
color as you red the poem aloud. Suggest that they draw and color
their favorite umbrella. Ask, "How many umbrellas are mentioned in
the rhyme?" Ask them to say the rhyming words in the poem. Read the
poem again and ask the clas to help you with the words.)

*Unicorn Song.
For those of you, like me, that did not know there were hand motions, I'll
pass them along.

The hand motions go with the chorus after each verse. I won't send the
whole song as it has already been passed along on the loop.

Chorus:

There were green aligators (arms in front of your face, opening and closing
like alligator's mouth)

And long necked geese (two arms outstretched in front, with wrists bent
down)

Some humpy-backed camels (use arms to form a hump on your back)

And some chimpanzees (hands under arms)

Some cats (make whiskers); some rats (hands in front of face with wrists
bent in a menacing way); and elephants (arm extended out in front of face for
trunk) as sure as you're born

But the lovliest of all was the unicorn (hand close to head, making a
spiraling motion

*Uu
Umbrellas
Have the children cut the individual egg-carton cups in half. Show
them how to glue the halves onto a sheet of construction paper.
Add pipe cleaners for handles. Draw pictures around the umbrellas
with crayons or paint.
Ugly Duckling
Read the story Ugly Duckling, then have the children draw a
picture of what they think an ugly duckling looks like and how they
think it feels.
Movement and Games
Under Cover
Work on the concept of "under" by using several old sheets. Have
the children hang on to the edge of the sheet. When you holler
"Under", the children all get under the sheet and pull it around
them.
Alphabet Appetizer
Under Cover Give each child a small bowl of mixed fruit. Place a
washed lettuce leave over the top to act as an "Umbrella" to cover
their food until it is time to eat.
Upside-Down day

Umbrella Collages

I Unpacked My Grandmother's Trunk (Suitcase)
Take a trunk or suitcase and put objects in that start with letters you've
already talked about (i.e. socks, watch, hat, ball). The more funny the
stuff the better the children like it. Then the children take turns pulling
things out and they have to say what the object is and what letter it starts
with. It's great fun!

Kim ;D
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Read the book Underwear by Mary Elise Monsell. I have a zeroxed copy
of a pair of underwear the children decorate using
sequins,glitter,ribbon,buttons etc. The book is about Zachary Zebra
and Orfo Orangutan who love underwear in all colors,prints and styles.
Every year they go together to the World's Greatest Grassland
Underwear Fair. But Bismark Buffalo is always sad and grumpy. Of
course, he does not like underwear. "Buffalo don't wear underwear!" he
bellows. The grassland animals feel sorry for Bismark. But then they
get an idea--an idea about underwear and an idea about Bismark. And at
last, Bismark finds the fun in underwear, underwear, underwear.
Sandy D
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For Letter U we read Underwear by Arlene Monsell, kids really like it and
than we cut out and decorate using paint some boxer shorts for the boys and
bloomers for the girls.
It always makes a cute b.board!
Karen
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U activities
Umbrellas - Have the children cut individual egg-carton cups in half. Show
them how to glue the halves onto sheets of construction paper. Have them add
pipe cleaner handles to make umbrellas. Have them make pictures around the
umbrellas with their crayons. If they like, the children can decorate the
umbrellas with paint or markers.

Under the Rope - Have the children experiment with all the ways they can
think of to move under a rope. Have them take turns holding the ends of the
rope as the others go under. Play this game in the same way as "Follow the
Leader" so that all the children can try moving in different ways.
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