Activities for 1st Grade
Ask the Expert
Submitted by: Anne-Marie
May 3rd, 2010
Categories: 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | Art | Classroom Management | ESL | History | Language Arts | Math | Music | Reading & Writing | Science | Special Education
Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
Description: When we are begining a new unit I write key terms, people, locations etc. for the upcoming unit on Post-it® Notes (one per note). These post it notes are placed on our classroom word wall. Each student is assigned to become the expert on one of each of the key terms, places etc. that are listed, using post-it on our word wall. They sign the corner of the post-it, do their research (in class/homework) and during the course of the unit, as we come across these key terms, etc. each student, I mean expert, teaches the class about his or her term, person, place etc. The post-it stays up and kids use them as a reference for who to ask when seeking clarification or additional information about one of the word wall terms. The kids are empowered to "be the expert" on a particular piece of the curriculum and it encourages cooperative learning and positive social skills among my students. This can be used at almost any grade level and in any subject area. This project also allows the teacher to easily differentiate instruction by allowing the student to present their knowledge of the key term in a variety of ways while maintaining the consistency of using the post-it note system to make a word wall.
Batty About Bats!
Submitted by: Susan
April 12th, 2010
Categories: 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | Language Arts | Reading & Writing | Science | Special Education
Estimated Time: 30-40 minutes
Description: Teacher: Cut a large bat shape from a roll of black paper - make it at least 4 feet long and 3 feet high! Hang the bat on a bulletin board or wall at a level students can reach, as they'll be hanging Post-it® Notes onto the bat to complete the activity. After doing research about bats, give each student 3 Post-it notes (one of each color, if you prefer, or all of the same color) Ask students to write their three favorite facts about bats - one on each Post-it note. Challenge them to find obscure facts! If desired (for handwriting issues) use Post-it notes with lines on them. Students could also use a different colored marker to write each fact. After all the students have written their information, gather the students near the bat hanging on the bulletin board/wall and let each child "present" his/her information to the rest of the group. Students are then allowed to hang their facts onto the bat. After all information is presented by students, pass out one more Post-it note and ask students to write a question they would like to know about bats. This note can also be added to the bat, and may encourage students to do more research at home! As a neat side note - if the bat is hung in an area that gets a breeze, the moving Post-it notes make it look like the bat is flying! Kids love this!
100th Day of School
Submitted by: Sharon
April 8th, 2010
Categories: 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | Kindergarten | Math | Reading & Writing
Estimated Time: 20-30 minutes
Description: Read a book about 100th day of school (we read "Pigs in Hiding"). Create poster of numbers from 1-100. Students find Post-it® Notes in the room from 1-100 and add to poster.
Super Star Adjectives
Submitted by: Allison
April 5th, 2010
Categories: 1st Grade | 2nd Grade | 3rd Grade | 4th Grade | 5th Grade | 6th Grade | 7th Grade | 8th Grade | Classroom Management | ESL | Language Arts | Reading & Writing
Estimated Time: 0-10 minutes
Description: Each week in my class we have a star of the week. The star of the week has a bulletin board they have decorated that tells the class about themselves. At the beginning of each week I hand out to each student a star die cut Post-it® Note. Throughout the week they think of one adjective that describes the star of the week and place the Post-it Note on their bulletin board. At the end of the week we take all of our adjectives down and put them onto an Post-it Recycled Easel Pad. This give the kids a wonderful sized poster to take home that is full of encouragement.
First Grade Friends
Submitted by: Melinda
August 27th, 2010
Categories: 1st Grade | Classroom Management | Language Arts | Reading & Writing
Estimated Time: 0-10 minutes
Description: Because we are located on a University campus as a Lab school we follow the same guidelines. Finding ways to make Public Affairs relevant for 1st graders and reinforcing their speaking skills I use sticky notes constantly. Sharing weekly on a small stage a 3 minute presentation before the class, then they children write down questions about the presentation or comments. The child presenting will select 5 questions that are written on the sticky note and answer or research to find the answer to share again. By the end of First Grade these children are more comfortable with Public Speaking than many much older students. I also use the sticky notes to remind myself of the questions and answers for further diuscussion, share and send home a brief note to parents on Friday. I use them in reading groups, children write comments, ask questions and mark words they want to learn about!
