Math Lesson Ideas for the Number 2 (two)

Objective:  Help children recognize the number 2 and the word “two”, numbers are used for counting, count 2 objects, learn to write “2” and “two”.

Preparations:

• Find an art print or picture from a calendar or magazine with good examples of “TWO”.
• Optional:  Have connecting blocks or die-cut paper apples in two colors.
• Have stickers.
• Write the number “2” and the word “two” on a word card.  Use the “1 one “ word card from the “ONE” lesson.
• Decide on a simple book, poem or nursery rhyme that has good examples of two.  Possibly use, “One, Two, Buckle my Shoe”.  (Included at the end.)
• Have colored paper and pencil for each child.

Lesson Ideas:

• Display the word card with “2 two”.  Discuss the difference between the number “2” and the word “two”.  Compare to the number “1 one” card.
• Read a simple book or poem.  Discuss the examples of two. Discuss different body parts to see how many they have.  Do you have two legs?  two eyes? Etc.
• Show the picture and have each child pick out two things in the picture.
• Show how to make the number 2.  Have them make them in the air with their finger.  Have them close their eyes and write the number 2 in the air.
• Give each child a paper and pencil.  Have or help them write their name.  Show the word card again for “2 two”.  Have them write a number “2” several times, and the word “two”.  (If a child has a hard time writing their letters, write the word “two” with a yellow pencil and have them trace it.)  Put out stickers and have them select 2 for their paper.  (They could also draw two things.)

Extension ideas:  Possibly include some comparison or patterning activities with connecting blocks or die-cut apples.  (small, medium, large, same, different, AABB pattern, etc.)

Nursery Rhyme:
One, two, Buckle my shoe;
Three, four, Shut the door;
Five, six, Pick up sticks;
Seven, eight, Lay them straight;

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Math Lesson Ideas for the Number 1 (One)

Math Lesson for the Number 1 (One)

Objective:  Help children recognize the number 1, the word “one”, numbers are used for counting, count 1 object, and learn to write “l” and “one”.

Preparations:

• Find an art print or picture from a calendar or magazine with good examples of “ONE”.
• Optional:  Make some die cuts of apples or something else in two different colors and 3 different sizes.
• Have some stickers.
• Write the number “l” and the word, “one” on a word card.
• Have examples of the different fonts of the printed form of 1.
• Decide on a simple book, poem or nursery rhyme that has good examples of “one”.  Possibly use, “There Was a Crooked Man”.  (Included at the end.)
• Have paper and pencil for each child.

Lesson:

• Display the word card with “l one”.  Discuss the difference between the number “1” and the word “one”.  What are words made of?  (letters)  What are numbers used for?  (counting)
• Read  a book, poem or the Nursery Rhyme.  Then discuss the examples of one thing in the reading. Discuss different body parts to see how many they have.  Do you have 1 eye?  1 nose? Etc.
• Show the picture and have each child pick out one thing in the picture.
• Show the children examples of different fonts for the number one.  Encourage them to write their l’s with a straight line like an “l”.  Have them make them in the air with their finger.
• Give each child a paper and pencil.  Have or help them write their name.  Show the word card again for “l one”.  Have them write a number “l” and a word “one”.  (If a child has a hard time writing their letters, write the word “one” with a yellow pencil and have them trace it.)  Put out stickers and have them select 1 for their paper.

Extension ideas: Possibly include some comparison or patterning activities with the die cut apples.  (small, medium, large, same, different, ABAB pattern, etc.)   Can also do a food activity with several 1 items.

Nursery Rhyme

There was a crooked man, and he went a crooked mile;
He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile:
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
And they all lived together in a little crooked house.

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Teach about Summer–The Season

Summer

Objective: Help children see and experience summer and how it is different to other seasons.

Preparation:

• Find drawings or pictures from books, magazines or old calendars of summer activities, food, and sun protection items.
• Print the attached worksheet. Downloadable PDF link: summer vs. winter worksheet
• A world globe and lamp.
• Decide on a book to read.  Suggested books: The Wonderful Tree, by Adelaide Holl,  Wake Up, Jeremiah, by Ann Himler,   The Sky Dog, by Brinton Turkle,   Frog and Toad Together, by Arnold Lobel The Reasons for Seasons by Gail Gibbons
  

Lesson:

Read a book(s) then discuss while showing pictures:

Discussion Questions:

• Why do we have summer?  Summer is the time when our part of the earth tilts towards the sun.  This can be demonstrated by holding the lamp next to the globe and explaining how the Earth is tilted on its axis.  Put a sticker on the globe where you live.  Rotate the globe around the lamp showing when their part of the Earth is tilted more toward the Sun it causes the sun to rise higher in the sky it causes longer days.  The rays of the sun hit the earth more directly causing hotter weather.  When their part of the  Earth is tilted away from the Sun it is winter.  The Sun rises low in the sky, and causes shorter days.  The rays of the sun strike the ground indirectly causing colder weather.
• What is the weather/temperature like in the summer?  It is the warmest season of the year.
• What are some ways to protect ourselves from heat and sunburn?  Protect yourself by using sunscreen, wearing a hat, wearing sunglasses, drinking a lot of water, etc.
• What kind of things do we do in the summer?  We play in the water. go on vacations/camping. celebrate the fourth of July, ride bikes, have picnics, play summer sports like baseball and soccer, etc.
• What kind of foods are fun to eat or drink in the summer?  We eat ice cream, Popsicles, watermelon, etc.
• How is summer different from winter?  We wear lighter clothes.  It is hot outside.  

Activity: Worksheet 

How do we dress differently in the summer than in the winter?  Have the children do the attached worksheet. Discuss with them what each picture is and to which column it belongs. Ask why each article of clothing would be appropriate for that season.

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Chunky Junk

Chunky Junk

( This is fun to make when teaching the “NG” sound as in SING, KING, JUNK.  If an “N” is followed by a “K” the “N” has the “NG” sound.)

1. Melt in the micro wave for 1 minutes:

• 20 marshmallows
• ½ cube of butter
• ½ cup of peanut butter

 2. Stir and melt for 1 more minute.

 3.  Mix in:

• 1 cup Oat O’s cereal
• 1 cup Crispy Rice cereal
• 1 cup pretzels
• ½ cup peanuts
• ½ cup raisins
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• ½ cup M & Ms

4.  Spread out in buttered pan.

 5.  Cool and enjoy.

Family

Objective: Children gain knowledge of the concept of families and where they fit in as well as an understanding of rules and chores that are necessary in families.

Preparation:

• Find pictures of families from the internet, pictures books, magazines or old calendars.
• Have crayons for the children to draw with.
• Be prepared to draw family or find a family tree work sheet on the internet to copy. 
• Decide on a book to read.

Suggested books:

• Me And My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney
• I Love My Family by Wade Hudson
• I Am Responsible! by David Parker
• The Family Book by Todd Parr

Lesson:
Read the book(s) then discuss:

Discuss the structure of families. These are some aspects you may want to included depending on the children you are teaching:

• Some have step children or parents.
• Some have single parents.
• Some have a lot of children some only have one.
• Many people think of other loved ones as family even if they are not related.
• Lots of families have pets, but many don’t.
• Uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents are part of families.

Explain that every member of the family is important and has a role to play to make the family work like:

• Every family member has chores and responsibilities to keep the house and yard clean, fix meals and pay bills, etc.  Ask each child what their job or chore is that contributes to their family.
• Family member can be kind to each other to help make a happier family.  Ask what they can do to help make a happier family.
• Rules are important in families too. Discuss rules in the families of each child has and why they are important.

Activity: Make a family tree or draw family.

• Have each child draw pictures of themselves and other family members in each corresponding circle.
• Have them color and decorate the tree.

The Moon

The Moon     

Objective:  Children learn basic facts about the moon and its phases.
Preparation:

• Find drawings or pictures of the moon in its various phases from books, magazines, old calendars or internet.
• Black or blue construction paper: Cut in half lengthwise then fold in fourths like an accordion.
• Print the master for the moon phases.  Moon Phases  (There will enough for 4 books.)
• Cut the words for each child from the Moon Phases.
• Have the 2 circles ready for each child to cut. 
• Glue sticks.
• Scissors for each child.
• White crayons or pencils.
• Suggested books:

1.  Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle
2.  The Nightgown of the Sullen Moon by Nancy Willard
3.  So That’s How the Moon Changes Shape by Allan Fowler
4.  The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons
5.  Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
6.  All about the Moon by David A. Adler

Lesson: 
Read a book or books then discuss some of these points while showing pictures:

• The Moon is about one-quarter the size of Earth.
• It is 238,857 miles from Earth.
• Moons are natural satellites, or celestial bodies that orbit a planet. Some planets, like Jupiter, have several moons; Earth has only one.
• The Moon is like a ball of rock that orbits, or goes around the Earth.
• It takes 25 hours for the Moon to orbit Earth. Together the Moon and Earth orbit the Sun, which takes about 365 days.
• The moon is sometimes in the sky at night and in the daytime.  
• We see the Moon rise and set just like the Sun.
• The Moon reflects the light of the Sun.
• It takes 28 days to go through all the different phases.  These are some of the phases; new moon, crescent moon, quarter moon, and full moon.
• Scientists have launched space shuttles and satellites to help them learn more about space. In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon.
• The Moon’s surface is rocky and dusty and full of craters made by rocks that crashed into the Moon. The surface has mountains and valleys.
• Scientists have not found evidence of plants or animals (or aliens) on the Moon. However, scientists believe there might have been water on the Moon.

Activity: Moon Phases Book  

1. Have the children cut the black lines of the circles and the word strips.
2. Have the children glue “Moon Phases” on the top left corner of the first page.
3. Have them glue “New Moon” to the bottom of the first page.
4. Have them trace the full circle with a white crayon above the words, “New Moon”. 
5. Have the children glue the word, “Crescent” at the bottom of the next page.
6. Then have them glue the crescent shape above the word, “Crescent”.
7. At the bottom of the next page glue the words, “Quarter Moon, then glue the semi-circle in the middle.
8. In the last page have them glue the words “Full Moon” at the bottom and the circle in the middle.
9. Fold like the book.  Read the book together.

The Sun

The Sun

Objective:  Help students discover how the light and heat from the sun affects life on the earth.

Preparation:

• Find pictures of the sun and solar system.

• Find a globe or a ball to use as a globe.
• Find a lamp without a shade.  (A lamp that shines in all directions like the sun.)
• Print out template on yellow paper or card stock or make your own sun shaped frame.  (1 for each child.) sun template
• Trace circles onto clear contact paper about 1 inch diameter larger than the circle in the center of sun frame.  (2 for each child.)
• Painters tape or masking tape.
• Yarn or string for hanging the Sun catcher.
• Tear or cut yellow, orange and red tissue paper into about one inch squares.
• Suggested book:  Sun Up, Sun Down by Gail Gibbons   

Lesson:

Read the book then discuss the sun while showing pictures.

Some discussion ideas:

• The sun is the closest star (fiery ball of gas) to Earth and is at the center of our solar system.
• Its gravity holds all planets and objects in the solar system in orbit.
• The sun’s diameter is about 109 times that of the Earth.
• The sun’s energy drives the weather, and climate.
• The sun supports all life on Earth helping plants and animals grow.
• The sun shines down on the Earth, giving warmth and light.
• The sun makes the seasons. As the earth makes one complete rotation around the sun every year, the seasons on the earth change — from winter to spring to summer to fall and back to winter again.
• Our Earth is about 93,000,000 miles from the sun. To give you an idea about how far that is, suppose we could build a highway and drive a car to the sun. Let’s drive 65 miles per hour. It would take over 160 YEARS to get there!

Demonstrate how the Sun and Earth work together:

• Locate your city, state or country on the globe. using the lamp as the Sun, slowly rotate the globe and showing students how the Earth rotates, resulting in day and night. 
• You can also demonstrate seasons by holding the lamp next to the globe and explaining how the earth is tilted on its axis. Rotate the globe around the lamp showing how the Northern Hemisphere is tilted more toward the Sun which causes the sun to rise higher in the sky and set later causing longer days. The rays of the sun hit the earth more directly causing hotter weather or Summer.  Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth is tilted away from the Sun.  The Sun rises low in the sky, and sets earlier causing shorter days. The rays of the sun strike the ground more indirectly causing colder weather.

Activity: Help the children make a sun catcher.  Let them do as much as they are able:

• Cut out the sun and the circle in the center.
• Cut out the contact or self-laminating paper circles.
• Peel off the backing of one of the contact paper circles and tape onto table sticky side up with painters tape or masking tape.
• Stick frame onto the contact paper.
• Stick overlapping pieces of tissue paper on the contact paper.
• When completely filled with tissue paper, stick another circle of contact paper to the top, then remove tape.
• Use a hole punch or the end of a pencil to make a hole in the paper frame and thread a piece of yarn through and tie the ends together so that the sun catcher can be hung.

• 
  

  Stick frame onto the contact paper.

  

  Stick overlapping pieces of tissue paper on the contact paper.

   

  

  

  When completely filled with tissue paper stick another circle of contact paper to the top, then remove tape.

   

  

Teach about Fall

Fall

Objective: Teach children about fall (autumn) and how it is different from other seasons.

Preparation:

• Find drawings or pictures of fall activities, fall foliage, and fall food from books, magazines, or old calendars
• Print out this PDF of the Tree book.    tree book    Cut into fourths and staple together along the side to make a four page book.
• Have crayons, markers or colored pencils.
• Decide on a book to read. Suggested books: 
  • Clifford’s First Autumn (Clifford the Small Red Puppy) by Norman Bridwell, 
  • When Autumn Comes by Robert Maass, 
  • Fall by Chris L. Demarest, 
  • Autumn Story by Jill Barklem
    

Lesson:

Read the book(s) then discuss the changing colors and cooling temperatures of fall while showing pictures.

Explain that some people call autumn, “fall,” which refers to the leaves falling off the trees during this season.

Show the pictures and discuss.

Discussion Questions

• When does this season occur? The first day of autumn (fall) is celebrated on the fall equinox – a time when both night and day are equal. September 22 or 23rd is the first day of autumn.
• What happens to the leaves on the trees?  The leaves change color.
• Why do leaves changes colors in the fall? During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis.  The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer.  In the fall they begin to shut down their food-making factories.  The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves.  As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow, red and orange colors.
• What is the weather like?  The weather gets cooler.
• What kind of things do we do in the fall? Explain that many animals, such as squirrels, are busy during the fall collecting food to survive the winter months ahead.  People harvest food and prepare it for winter, go back to school, watch and play football, etc.
• What kind of foods do we eat in the fall?  Apples, pumpkins, potatoes and other vegetables and fruits.
• What holidays take place in the fall? Thanksgiving, Halloween

Activity:  Tree Book

• Have the children color the tree on each page to each season.
• Winter—just color the trunk and branches with no leaves.  (Talk about why this is called a bare tree.)
• Spring—color the trunk and draw in some green leaves and pink blossoms.
• Summer—color the trunk and draw in green leaves.
• Fall—color the trunk and draw in red, yellow and orange leaves on and under the tree.

For more educational products and information visit www.phonicsbyspelling.com

 

  

 

Precious Time

Precious Time (The first few minutes after school.)

 

The first minutes when you see your child right after school are the time when you will learn the most about their day.  With our mobile phones, it is easy to be on the phone when picking up children or when they walk in the door resulting in those precious few minutes being gone. 

 

If you end your call and take those few minutes to listen, you will always be thankful for your time with your children.  You will learn things that will save a lot of heartache. 

 

Enjoy your time with your special ones.

Lesson Plan Ideas for the “AW” sound.

Teaching the “AW” Sound

Preparation:  

•    Be prepared to talk about what you say when you see a cute puppy or kitten.
•    Collect some pictures with the AW sound in the word.
•    Decide on a worksheet (A great worksheet is in our reproducible work book called The Other Sounds.  Check out our website :  www.phonicsbyspelling.com).  Here is a sample worksheet from our workbook; worksheet aw with pictures
•  Use the reproducible simple book from, The Other Sounds, workbook or make a simple 4 page book called, Draw.  Have the children draw the pictures.  Here are some sample sentences for the pages.  (I can draw a ball.  I can draw a paw.  I can draw a saw.  I can draw an awesome picture.)
•   Have their name cards.
•   Have some rhyming words listed such as: saw, caw, jaw, paw, raw, thaw, draw,  call, ball, fall, hall, mall, tall, small.

Lesson:

• Listen to at least 10 songs in Phonics By Spelling books including AW.   Johnny saw a cute puppy in front of the store.   “AH! Cute Puppy”.  Compare this sound with the short Oo sound. (This sound is made with the mouth not as open as the short Oo sound.  In some dialects they are the same sound.)  Talk about seeing a cute puppy or kitten and make the AW sound.
• Show pictures of things that have the AW sound.  Help children recognize the sound in the beginning, middle, and end.   (ball, wall, hall, saw, paw, draw, talk, walk, etc.)
• Discuss how “w” and “l” make the “a” have the AW sound. 
• Read together the lists of words with the AW sound.  
• Take the children’s name cards and see if anyone has the AW sound in their name.

Activities:

1.  Do together a worksheet that helps a child recognize the sound.
2. Make a Draw book.