I teach second grade and used this activity for a review of initial consonant sounds at the beginning of the year:
Tell the children that they are all going to change their names for the day and become "alphabet people". Give each child a 15" circle of paper and assign each child a consonant. Have the child cut out one-quarter of the circle (I tell them to separate the "pie" into four pieces and cut out one piece.) Then, have the child write their new "name" (the consonant) below the "v" that was cut out of the circle so that it will appear on the front of the hat when rolled up like a cone. The children then decorate the hats with pictures of things that start with the sound of their new name. For example, Mr. or Ms. B would draw things like bumble bee, bus, box, etc. After the children are through drawing, roll the circles up like a cone and staple or tape together. Punch a hole and insert a pipe cleaner in each side as chin straps to hold the hats on.
All day long, refer to the children by their letter names. When they've grown accustomed to this, call on them by saying words that begin with their letter. For example, when you call on "brown", Mr. or Ms. B would answer. You can also read a simple story and have the children stand up and then sit back down when they hear their names. It's lots of fun!
games to play...
songs to sing...
Stuff The Turkey
Brown paper bag
two small brown lunch paper bags
newspaper
tissue paper
tape
stapler
glue
Fold down about 4" of the large brown bag - keep the fold inside. Fold and staple in each of the four edges of the bag so that the opening is smaller. Smooth out the opening to make it rounded. Stuff the two small paper bags with newspaper. Twist the top of the bags and tape to form the drumsticks. Cut strips of the red tissue paper and glue around the twisted top of the drumsticks for decoration. Glue the drumsticks on the sides of the "turkey". For the stuffing, wad up pieces of the newspaper and tape together to form balls.
TO PLAY: Players stand back about four feet and take turns tossing the "stuffing" into the "turkey". See who can get the most in.
This is sung to the tune of the Hokey Pokey but the children will pretend that they are turkeys as you all sing things like:
You put your right wing in, put your right wing out, You put your right wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your left wing in, put your left wing out, You put your left wing in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
You put your red beak in, put your red beak out, You put your red beak in and you shake it all about. You do the Turkey Pokey and you turn yourself around. That's what it's all about.
clean paper towel tube
glue
construction paper
scissors
acorns
Cut a ring off of the paper towel tube about 2 1/2 inches. You can paint this, or leave it brown. Cut out different colored leaves from the construction paper. Glue the leaves to the top of the ring. Then add a couple of acorns for a finishing touch.
Here's a snack your kids will love! Take a pint of vanilla yogurt and put it in a bowl mix it with granola cereal, stir and serve it. It's a great snack idea.
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