Happy New Year!
There is no better way to welcome your class back to school than to welcome them back to the New Year and this packet is ideal to do just that.
Let's start with these two cuties. They might decorate your bulletin board, hang on a locker or top this paper with resolutions your class has written.
I personally like using them to showcase the student resolutions.
If you do not have this book in your class library you will want find it in the library or I think it will be worth the purchase! Begin your lesson about the New Year with this KW chart.
What does your class already know and what do they wonder? I save this sheet and then at the end of the day I have the class turn it over and write one new fact they learned about the New Year.
This vocabulary is perfect for posting. There are 12 colorful words for posting. I like to use small pocket charts and place them by the New Year books.
I have the word search on their desk as they enter in the morning to keep them busy while I collect all the information students bring in but it could also be perfect in the word work center. All the words are related to the new Year.
My all time favorite activity is making words.
I like to put the students in groups, assign a secretary and have them work together to make as many words as they can. I set a time limit and when we finish groups share their creative efforts. (Each child will need their own sheet to cut out letters and write down words.
It may just be the quietest time of the day if you tell your class to work quietly so the other groups do not hear the words they are making.
Your reading groups can consist of one of the three informational text pieces.
There is a one page sheet, a mini book (fold and read), and a mini book.
In the small groups as we read text we highlight key ideas. I then send them back to write those key pieces of information on their graphic organizer. They then use these facts to write and we create a class book. The materials for these are included in the packet but not shown here.
Below you will see another sheet you can use to record information.
For assessment you might want to use the New Year Sort...what is a tradition and what isn't.
Then you will want to fit time into your day for writing those resolutions.
One page focuses on what a resolution is and the other two help students gather their thoughts for what their resolution is.
One of my favorites is this cute cut and paste...it makes a perfect flip book with what they want, wish, etc.
The packet also contains two activities to accompany two stories about New Year.
The Night Before New Year's by Natasha Wing...Text to Self
Squirrel's New Year's Resolution by Pat Miller...Sequencing Text
Both stories help students gather even a deeper understanding of New Year's and Resolutions!
And for math how about this cute game.
Find your way to the New Year Party.
Use pennies, buttons, cute erasers or whatever you can find for markers.
Students roll and move using the grid on the game page.
I just know your class will learn while engaging in activities that promote academic growth.
