OUTDOOR QUOTIENT OF YOUR COMMUNITY

 By answering a few simple questions you can decide what kind of quality outdoor resources your community has.  Great for EARTH DAY. Makes a fun Class Book to put in the Book Corner.  At the end of the year remember to put the child's test in the Journal/Memory Book.

MAJOR ADDRESS

This is a cute way to show your class how we fit into the Universe.  You might do it while you study The Solar System.  I posted it above the doorway so everyone could see it on the way out of the room.

THE GREAT MAIL RACE

HALLWAY BULLETIN BOARD

LETTER TO PARENTS

PEN PAL NOTE

TEACHER COVER LETTER

SAMPLE BLANK MAP

SAMPLE ENVELOPE

Directions:
1.  Formulate a questionnaire to include in each letter you send.  See sample.
2.  Develop a class letter which each child will copy to send away.  Be sure to ask for the return of the questionnaire.  Encourage BEST HANDWRITING.  See sample.
3.  Prepare a cover letter from the teacher to be included in the mailing.  See sample.
4.  Have students choose state/city they are interested in.  Some students may need to send out two letters to make sure you have covered all 50 states.  Pick towns from zip code lists.
5.  Address envelopes:  BEST HANDWRITING
     Second Grade Class
     Town
     State    Zip
     *POSTMASTER--Please deliver to any school with a second grade.
6.  Post a large map of the United States and put names of the students on the states to which they have written.
7.  As replies are received, color the states, or list the states to the side of the map.  Keep a tally so the children can see the number of replies.  WORK IN MATH QUESTIONS.
8.  WINNING???  Do we get all 50 states back before school is out?
PUT RESPONSES IN CLASS BOOK DURING THE YEAR AND THEN TRANSFER TO JOURNAL/MEMORY BOOK AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

AFTER LUNCH GARBAGE CRUNCH

This is a great way to get students to see the amount of waste that they are contributing to the lunch garbage pails.

POLLUTION SOLUTION BULLETIN BOARD

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR TEACHERS

I found this very interesting and in some ways it encapsulates what teachers need to do to stay fresh and continue to enjoy the "teaching element" of the job in today's world.

FLOWER FOR OUR SECRETARTY

Do you want to recognize the best secretary?  This is a great activity to show her how much your students care for her.  Draw the flower and section as many petals as needed.  Have students write messages and sign their petal.  This takes awhile, so be patient and encourage neatness.  Label the inside of the flower with colorful markers.  Have students brainstorm jobs the secretary does that impacts them and makes her the greatest.  Write the ideas on leaves, attach to a stem, place in the hallway near the Secretary's Doorway so all who enter will see how much she is appreciated.

"EGGS"CHANGE

GRAPHING GREEN

Redo graph for number of students in your class or combine two classes.  Copy completed graph for each student has one to put in Memory Book.

MAGIC BAGS

SECRETARY DAY

Have one student draw a picture of your school secretary.  Glue it to a tagboard rectangle that has a hole punched near the top, and write "Such a Person!"  beneath the picture.  Then on long strips of different colors of tissue paper, write qualities that make your secretary so great.    Glue the strips to the bottom of the tagboard before suspending from the ceiling near her desk.

VALENTINE PARADE POLES

LANDFORMS IN YOUR AREA

Help students understand landforms by relating them to the area you live in.  Get a map of your community and its surroundings.  Name and mark the landforms with colored paper on the map.  On the side, list the landforms with the definition.  To make it more interesting to your students, get push pins and label with each child's name.  Push the pin on the map where each child lives in the community.  Watch your students look at the board again and again.  

See postings below for other ways to enhance the learning of landforms.

http://okscribbler.blogspot.com/2009/03/study-of-water-and-land.html; http://okscribbler.blogspot.com/2009/02/landform-learning-bulletin-board.html 

FRIENDSHIP POEM

Pair students up for this project.  Have students fill out Web sheet alone.  Give students time to talk about their Web sheets with their partner.  Once they are finished, hand out the Friendship Poem.  Explain the format and have the students work on it together.  It can be published on the bulletin board, on the web and end up in the Journal/Memory Book.

FRIENDSHIP NECKLACES

Students trace the necklace template, write their name on it, decorate it, and add yarn onto the back to tie around their necks.  Set aside.  Use yarn to attach name hearts for each student in your classroom.  As soon as all the names are added, attach the yarn to the necklace.  It is ready to wear on party day.

 

FRIENDSHIP FOLDERS

Each child needs to make a FRIENDSHIP FOLDER before starting the main project.  Fold a large construction paper in half.  Have students staple the sides with finger spaces between each staple.  Students choose a heart, glues it on their folder, and draw a face on it for them.  Write their name under the heart face.  Attach folders to the child's desk.

Encourage students to think good thoughts about their classmates.  These is something wonderful about everyone!  (Older students) Brainstorm and write phrases on the board or chart paper. Then ask each student to make a paper heart for everyone in the class.  Have a variety of hearts in several colors and sizes for students to choose from.  Give each student a paper that lists the name of each child.  Have the students write the name of a classmate on each heart and (younger students) glue a symbol which most reminds him of that person or is best demonstrated by that child or (older students) have them write one of the phrases off of the board.  Deposit the Valentines into the special Friendship Folders that are attached to each child's desk. To make sure that everyone gets a heart every day, have students start with the name below theirs on the name list and then continue in order. You can work on this project for several weeks. If done in a quiet reflective atmosphere, you will have a more meaningful Valentines Day - one which will have everyone going home with a folder full of good feelings.

A "CLASSY" TREE

Each child draws a "FULL FACE" self portrait.  Encourage student to make sure their face fills the paper!  Have background all in GREEN.    Make sure names are on the face portraits.  Put in the hallway in the shape of a tree.  After the tree is taken down, put the art in a class book or Journal-Memory book.

100th DAY SCHOOL ACTIVITY

Our school had each student bring in pennies.  The goal was 100 pennies per student.  Each class did their own activities that incorporated graphing and math skills that were age appropriate.  Older classes partnered with younger classes to help with their projects.  On the 100th DAY OF SCHOOL an assembly was held to give the school total and present the amount to the chosen charitable cause.   Idea was taken from - The Mailbox.com

ALL ABOUT ME HAND

GETTING TO KNOW YOU PROJECT FOR THE NEW YEAR!

Students trace and cut out five (or more) hand prints.  On 1st, ALL ABOUT _______ with thumb-stating name, pointer-stating age, middle-stating grade level, 4th finger-stating height and pinky-stating hair color. On 2nd hand, MY FAVORITE BOOKS - each finger names a book.  On 3rd hand, MY FAVORITE PEOPLE - each finger names a person.  On 4th hand-MY FAVORITE FOODS - each finger names a food. On 5th hand-MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO - each finger names an activity.   These topics can change according to your interest.  When you are finished, staple together at the wrist.  You could add one more hand.  Write What I Want to Be When I Grow Up - list one occupation on each finger, OR My Hopes and Dreams....  And it could go on.  Definitely, I would only do one hand at a time, with younger students, to get a better result.

SCOUTING ACTIVITY - BRAVE LITTLE INDIAN