Saturday, January 7, 2012

Holiday Homework

To change things up for homework the last week of December, I created a different kind of homework sheet. Students were able to choose two or more activities from the list which included: 1)Make a wish card (cut out pictures from a magazine that you wish you could give to someone else for the holidays, glue them onto a card and write the person's name on the top)2)Do 3 Acts of Kindness (do three things for someone else. It can be anything from holding the door for someone else, to singing a song for someone, to giving a canned food to someone in need, etc.) 3) Holiday Search (look around your house and search for holiday decorations, count how many you can find) 4)Following Directions (make a baked good or craft, make sure that you follow each step or direction) 5) Favorite Toy Writing (if you could keep only ONE toy, which ONE would you keep and why)
I loved this homework assignment because it allowed kids to have fun and think of others! Several students made wish cards for kids in our class! Some of the acts of kindness that students did included: being a secret Santa for another family, reading a book to my brother, sharing candy with others, donating toys, opening the door for others, helping rock my baby brother to sleep, helping my teacher pass out papers, giving some of my money to someone in need, making my brother a snack, and taking a package to a neighbor. These sweet students have BIG, BIG hearts!

Jingle Pencils!

Kids get so excited about the little things!! I made "jingle" pencils by putting two small bells on a pipe cleaner and wrapping it around a pencil. I put one "jingle pencil" at each table and each day students would take a turn using the "jingle pencil." Kids were counting down the days until it would be their turn. They loved them so much that we decided to make one for everyone to take home. I would not be surprised if our class "jingle pencils" stuck around until the last day of Kindergarten!

Winter Wonderland

We had a blast the last week of school in December! We had so much fun making sock snowman, reindeer hats, glitter pinecones,reindeer cookies, and playing with peppermint, cinnamon, and clove playdoh. Students played catch the marshmallow in the cup, sight word bingo, toss the snowball, pin the ornament on the tree and a few other fun, winter games! We also had a visit by Auntie Clause and listened to her read us a story! What a great way to end the year!

Fun Winter Centers on PhotoPeach



Winter Games! on PhotoPeach

Children are a precious gift!