Meaningful Print

Heart Words

Heart words are created by the students.  They are words that have the most meaning to each child.  The words chosen are unique to each child.  This experience gives the children the opportunity to reveal to the community what is important to them, what puts their mind to wonder, and what they think about.  Aside from this emotional connection, heart words provide an entryway into literacy.  Learning to read and write becomes easier when the words come from a place of love rather than a rote list.  Slowly, the children learn the letters in their heart words and start to hear and learn the sounds that each letter makes.

Description borrowed from a NAREA participating school.

We display this sign above our heart words

Each child's heart words are held together with a binder ring.  I add a small picture on the bottom to help them find their words. 

Examples of words that the students use: favorite color, foods, toys / special people in their life /  silly words like capow! / etc.

The heart words are hung in the writing zone, but the students take them to whatever area they need them.  

Print Conveys Meaning

Teaching children that letters form words, words form sentences, and that those sentences carry meaning can be a very abstract concept.  This is why I introduce it with printed words coming directly out of their mouths.  

I started this process the first week of school.  I gave them a large sheet of watercolor paper & crayons and had them decorate it anyway they like.

The next week they added watercolor.

On the third week I interviewed them.

The last and most fun step is to get the kids to pose with their mouth open.  Print and cut the outline of their head and then glue their responses .

Each child had an opportunity to "read" their sentences to their friends.  

Pete the Cat

Rocking In Our School Shoes

We love reading Pete the Cat books! That cat really does LOVE his shoes and so do we!

After reading Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes, I took a photo of everyone's shoes.  

I made a Powerpoint with the pictures and displayed it on the Smart Board.  As each shoe was displayed we answered the following questions:

1. What kind of shoes are these?

2. Do you wear these shoes when it's hot, cold, or both?

3. Are these shoes best for walking or running?

4. Do these shoes belong to a boy or a girl? How do you know?

5. Who do these shoes belong to?

Class Book
I printed the slides from the powerpoint and made a class book.

Shared Writing
We graphed each child's shoes by color.  We then wrote how their shoes got to be that color.  For example:  Angie stepped in a pile of ketchup (she has red shoes)

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Download free Pete the Cat Activities and songs:

http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/feature/petethecat/

The Hundred Languages Poem

DOWNLOAD COPY OF POSTER:

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1f5QJtIZGze5huWFH-NLj07QnwJGI4Yrci4D4qWiMlmY/edit?usp=sharing

Photo Tile

Great Gifts 

Photo tiles make a beautiful gift for parents and family.  This is an inexpensive project that is quick and easy.

Materials Needed:

1. Photos ( In this example I digitally arranged mine on the computer and printed, but it is totally not necessary. I have used regular photos in the past.)

2.  Mod Podge

3. Paint brush (I used a sponge brush)

4. Smooth Ceramic Tiles  (I used 4x4)

Steps:

1. Arrange the photos on the tile before glueing.  Make sure it looks like you want it. Once they are glued down they can be difficult to unglue without tearing.
2. Glue the photos onto the tile using the Mod Podge and let completely dry.
3. Apply a layer of Mod Podge over the photos.  This will make a protective seal.
4. Allow to dry (about 1 day)

The tiles make great Christmas, Valentine's day, Mother's/Father's day presents. A friend used pictures from the whole year and gave them as End of the Year gifts.

Class Photo Tiles

Other Ideas:

• Add jewels, buttons, ribbons, or sea shells to add more personality (after completely dried)
• Preserve children's drawings on tiles

Clay Activites

Clay Ideas & Pictures

(Most pictures were found on Pinterest - You can find a link on my "Clay" board on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/msiems/preschool-clay-work/  and Panther's Palette http://pantherspalette.blogspot.com/search/label/Clay)

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Poem: 

Can be used as an inspiration or to go along with documentation

Clay Fossils
(http://pantherspalette.blogspot.com/)

Students flattened a ball of red clay before using various objects (leaves, twigs, seashells, toy dinosaurs, etc.) to create impressions.

After the clay had dried, students painted their fossils with watered down black and brown tempera paint. Paper towels were used to rub the clay to create a "dirty" look to help the fossil look more realistic.

    When students finished making their fossil they observed their work and created a quick sketch.

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   Clay Coil Pots

    (http://pantherspalette.blogspot.com/)

   Create clay pots by roiling coils! Each student starts by flattening a ball of clay for the bottom of their pot.

    Pieces of clay were pinched off of a larger ball of clay, rolled into coils and attached to build pots. Remember to use slip to make the clay stick after it dries. 

   Let dry for several days then paint.

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Clay Textured Disks
(http://pantherspalette.blogspot.com/2012/02/1st-grade-clay-textured-disks.html)

   To flatten clay show the students how to carefully throw their ball of clay on the table to flatten it. Use your hands to smooth the clay and water to erase any cracks.

   Students used various materials like marker lids, toothpicks, dry noodles and rubber stamps.

   

   Let dry, paint, and add string.

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   Clay Pinch Pots

   (http://pantherspalette.blogspot.com/search?q=pinched+clay)

    Use a little water to smooth out cracks and then added textures to the pots with various tools.  Paint after it is dried.

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    Clay Turtles

    (http://pantherspalette.blogspot.com/search?q=clay+turtles)

      Make a pinch pot out of clay first, and then added a head and legs with balls of clay. Remember to use clay slip to make the clay stick after it dries.  Pinch the clay for a tail and add textures with clay tools.  

   If you don’t have tools use popsicle sticks, marker caps and tooth picks. Paint turtles after clay dries. 

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   All About Me

   An extension to self portraits: represent themselves with clay

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    Leaves:

     Use clay to represent leaves. 

   Make leaf prints to add to your science center.

   Use wax paper under the clay to be able to peel off easily. 

   Take a real leaf that has been flattened and rub it with the back of a spoon onto the clay with the veins face down.  Gently peel of the leaf.  (don’t use dry brittle leaves – only fresh)  Let dry & paint.

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    Clay Bead Necklaces

    After viewing glass beads and observing their shapes students can make their own beads.  Will use previously learned skills like making balls and rolling clay.  Need to make the bead big enough to be able to make a hole through it. 

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    Plastic Animals & People

   Add plastic animals and/or people to create habitats. Clay is used to create a habitat.  Any animals can be used as inspiration.

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    Natural Materials

   Natural materials like: leaves, acorns, sticks, plants / flowers, feathers, seeds, rocks, etc. can be a great provocation.

   Great for 3D art