Polar Bears - Children will use their knowledge of Dolch words and basic phonics skills to read about polar bears. Ideas are given for word hunts using word families, vowel sounds, etc. Children can color the polar bear picture after reading. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).”
Yaks - Children will use their knowledge of Dolch words and basic phonics skills to read about yaks. Ideas are given for word hunts using word families and vowel sounds. Children can color the yak picture after reading. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).”
Penguins - Children will use their knowledge of Dolch words and basic phonics skills to read about penguins. Children will find –in family words and make their own –in words. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).”
Our Helper, the Sun! - Children will read a nonfiction article about the sun. They will illustrate their comprehension by making pictures of how the sun helps us. Suggestions are given for a phonics activity. The activity correlates with Content Standard D, Earth and Space Science, of the National Science Standards.
The Water Cycle - Students will read an article about the components of the water cycle. The article contains Dolch words and age-appropriate phonics-based words. Children will color the diagram and explain each part of this cycle. The activity correlates with Content Standard D, Earth and Space Science, of the National Science Standards.
Animal Helpers - Students will read an article about pollinators. Guided reading questions are suggested. Students will color a picture of one animal pollinator “helper.” The activity correlates with Content Standard C, Life Science, of the National Science Standards.
Keeping a Top Secret! - Children will read a nonfiction passage (written at the primer level) about the ivory-billed woodpecker. An ecological question is posed. A math story is given and children draw a picture to arrive at answers to this story problem. The activity correlates with NCTM’s Algebra and Communications Standards.
Hurricanes Are Big! - Emerging readers will use sentence patterns and high frequency words to develop a Concept of Word and add to sight vocabulary. Directions are given for highlighting these Dolch words. The activity correlates with Content Standard D, Earth and Space Science, of the National Science Standards.
Clouds – Children will use their emerging sight vocabulary and phonics skills to read about clouds and fog. Ideas for presenting sight vocabulary are included. Teachers are able to use portions of the text to check for Concept of Word. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).”
Maggie at the Zoo! - Children will determine how many legs, tails, and ears on specified zoo animals. They will write these numerals on the activity page. Children may color each animal when finished. Extension ideas, integrating language arts and math, are given. The activity correlates with NCTM’s Algebra and Number and Operations Standards.
What is the Weather? - Children will use sight vocabulary to read a nonfiction selection of how weather affects their clothing and activities. They will demonstrate their understanding of this concept by drawing a picture of themselves on a rainy day and on a sunny day. The activity correlates with the National Geography Strand, Environment and Society: How Physical Systems Affect Human Systems.
Sunlight - Emergent readers will read a nonfiction selection about the ways the sun helps us. The selection uses Dolch words and repeated vocabulary to help with readability. Children follow-up the reading by drawing ways the sun helps the Earth. Ideas for sharing this work are given in the teacher letter. The activity correlates with Content Standard D, Earth and Space Science, of the National Science Standards.
Will You See the Winter Games? - High frequency words, repeated vocabulary, and short sentences make this article about the XX Winter Olympics an appropriate read for your kindergarteners and first graders. An illustration of a medal may be colored and suggestions for extensions are provided. The activity correlates with the National Social Studies Strands: Culture and Civic Ideals and Practices.
What Can You See in Turin? - Children will read a selection about Turin, Italy. The contrasts of this city are highlighted. Children color pictures showing these contrasts. Ideas for classroom use by various levels of emergent readers are presented. The activity correlates with the National Social Studies Strand, People Places, and Environment.
Ideas to Illuminate Italy - Children will read text containing high frequency words and repetitive sentence structure about Olympic athletes and gravity. They will demonstrate their comprehension by creating the illustrations for their own booklet. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.”
Count the Medals - Children will gain practice in chart reading and completing a chart by adding 3 numbers. Instructions encourage use of counters, if necessary. Reading is at an appropriate level for emerging readers. Suggestions are given for follow-up classroom activities. The activity correlates with NCTM’s Algebra and Data Analysis and Probability Standards.
Throw and Sweep - Children will read a short, nonfiction paragraph about the sport of curling. High frequency words and age-appropriate phonics-based words are used. Children exhibit their comprehension by completing sentences about the paragraph’s content. Several suggestions are given for developing higher level comprehension skills. Co-curricular math/language arts ideas are also provided. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).”
The Games Go On - Children will listen to the teacher read about the Paralympic Games and will then read about these Games using high-frequency words and a sentence patterning text. They will draw a picture to illustrate their comprehension. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works.”
Hot Or Cold? - Children read about how climate affects clothing and housing choices. High frequency words and predictable sentence patterns allow emerging readers to independently read the selection. Children are asked to complete two sentences and draw a picture to illustrate their understanding of the article’s concepts. Other teaching suggestions are given. The activity correlates with the National Geography Strand, Environment and Society: How Physical Systems Affect Human Systems.
An Extra Special Egg - Children will read about ostrich eggs. They find out that one ostrich egg can feed ten people. They use this knowledge to understand the meaning behind skip counting by ten. The activity correlates with NCTM’s Algebra and Number and Operations Standards.
Trouble in Tuvalu! - Children will increase their vocabulary as they read about an island nation that is being submerged because of global climate change. High frequency words form the basis of the short article. More difficult vocabulary is reinforced using an activity. The activity correlates with the National Geography Strand, Environment and Society: How Physical Systems Affect Human Systems.
Great Big Numbers - Information about big numbers, including the term googol is presented using age-appropriate reading vocabulary. A chart is presented so children can write the number one googol. Follow-up place value activities are suggested. The activity correlates with the National Principles and Standards Number and Operations Strand: Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
Hurry Maggie! - Children will read a short passage about Maggie swimming. They are asked to think about and list activities that could be accomplished in specific lengths of time. Ideas for further development of understanding time passage are presented for the teacher. This activity correlates with the Measurement Standard, “Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement” of the National Mathematics Standards.
It Is Hot! - Children will read about heat and personal safety on hot days. High frequency words are used and ideas for the teacher include how to develop a sight vocabulary and ideas for holding a science-based class discussion.
The activity correlates with both the Content Standard D, Earth and Space Science, of the National Science Standards and with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).”
The Many Uses of Gourds - Children read about the many uses for gourds in different cultures. Follow-up ideas for social studies and writing are included. The Dear Letter contains a chart showing the components of writing. The activity correlates with the National Social Studies Strands: Culture and Civic Ideals and Practices.
Turkey Coins - Children will read a nonfiction article about wild turkeys. They design a coin using the turkey. Ideas are given for developing phonics skills and an art project is explained in the Dear Colleague Letter. This activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).”
I LOVE Cookies! - Children will draw a picture of themselves eating a sandwich cookie. Class results are plotted on a bar graph. Teacher ideas are given to allow for probability and problem solving concepts. This activity correlates with the Data Analysis and Probability Strand of NCTM’s National Standards.
Elephants Need Help! -Children use their growing sight vocabulary and emerging phonics skills to read how elephants help make money to provide for their needs. A picture is included to color. Ideas for understanding vocabulary are presented along with how to use picture cues. An activity is described to help strengthen young hand muscles. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics).” It can also be used in conjunction with the money portion of the National Social Studies Standards Economics strand.
Big, Bigger, and Biggest! -Children read sentences about stars. Comparisons such as big, bigger ,and biggest are used. Stars are classified according to their color, size, and length of “life.” Follow-up activities include further ideas for comparative adjective understanding along with ideas for preparing children to both read and create their own science and math charts. This activity correlates with Content Standard D, Earth and Space Science, of the National Science Standards.
Tall Grass - Children read an article about sod houses and the tall grasses of the prairie. The text includes both high-frequency and decodable vocabulary. Ideas for social studies, language arts, and math extensions are given along with methods to build up hand muscles for improved handwriting. Children color a picture. This activity correlates with the National Social Studies Strand, People Places, and Environment.
Look at the Chart - Students will read level-appropriate text that introduces them to a chart of three presidents. They use place value to answer questions chronological order questions. The reading of charts and place value are out comes of this activity. Follow-up suggestions are given in the Dear Colleague letter. This activity correlates with NCTM’sNational Principles and Standards Number and Operations Strand: Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
Green Math - Children will read about shamrocks. They will complete a chart about shamrock leaves and use their knowledge to problem solve. Further suggestions for an integrated study are given in the Dear Colleague letter. This activity correlates with the National Principles and Standards Number and Operations Strand: Understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems.
See the Light, Help the Earth - Children will read about greenhouse gases and a new kind of light bulb (fluorescent) designed to use less energy. The text contains high-frequency words so that readers at approximately a primer level will meet with success. The Dear Colleague letter contains suggestions to allow children to visualize the science concepts. This activity correlates with Content Standard D, Earth and Space Science, of the National Science Standards.
A Special Poem – Your Haiku - Students will learn about the structure of the haiku form of poetry. The text is written using high-frequency vocabulary and level-appropriate phonics patterns. Ideas for teaching the lesson along with follow-up suggestions are included in the Dear Colleague letter. The activity correlates with the IRA/NCTE Standard, “Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.”
9-1-1 Help Sea Turtles - Children will read nonfiction text about sea turtles and a hospital that helps these reptiles. Students are encouraged to create a Venn Diagram comparing human and animal hospitals. Several suggestions for meaningful social studies and math correlated activities are provided. This activity correlates with the National Social Studies Strand: Civic Ideals and Practices.