Real vs. Fiction

Standards for young students focus heavily on reading comprehension and understanding the basics of writing. Common Core has especially upped the ante on this one. Educators today dwell heavily on comprehension, especially when it comes to non-fiction. 

First, of course, a student must be able to determine if what they are reading is Real or Fictional. Using a basic lesson idea from our curriculum, I took and expanded it to something large and hands-on. 

The idea found in 1st Grade English Skills: Reading for Christian Students, provided 6 sentences (3 real and 3 fictional). While they suggested writing these on sentence strips and placing them on a word wall, I decided to make use of my large notebook paper. 

If the sentence was real, the student was to place a card with the letter R next to the sentence. If the sentence was fictional, the student would place a card with the letter F next to the sentence. Again, I chose to take a slightly different direction and use pictures. Turning to Microsoft Word, I just happened to find 2 perfect pictures to use as markers. 

One picture is of a real cricket. The other is of a fictitious cricket. 

Using my handy Velcro, I created movable markers and a storage pocket out of construction paper. The entire thing is glued to a piece of poster board. 

Voila! A perfect large visual and interactive way to discuss Real vs. Fictional!

This idea is simple and easily reproducible. Basic art supplies are all you need. Please feel free to use and incorporate into your lesson plans. Just remember, these 6 sentences are not my recreation, but that of 1st Grade English Skills: Reading for Christian Students.

Enjoy!

Everything Matters

You'll forgive me for the pun in the title. My quirky sense of humor found it quite appropriate. 

Our science lessons for this semester begin with discussing the properties of matter. 

1. Matter takes up space.
2. Matter can be weighed.

The students are also learning about the 3 forms of matter (solid, liquid, and gas). Our science book (Science 1 for Christian Schools) gave several different experiments to introduce the students to these concepts. 

Matter Takes Up Space

What you'll need: 

• clear jar or container half-filled with water
• flashlight
• rock
• bottle of glue

Before starting, you might want to mark the water line on your jar or container (either with a marker or a piece of masking tape). This will let your students see the original water line later in the experiment. 

1. Speak at the water. Ask the students, "Did my voice cause the water to rise?"
2. Shine the light at the water. Ask, "Did the light cause the water to rise?"
3. Place the rock in the water. Ask, "Did the rock cause the water to rise?"
4. Remove the rock, and place the glue bottle in the water. Ask, "Did the bottle cause the water to rise?"

Discuss with the students why the rock and the bottle caused the water to rise. The rock and the bottle take up space. Matter is a word we use to describe something that takes up space. Since your voice and the light did not cause the water to rise, they are not matter. Instead, we call them energy. 

Matter Can Be Weighed

What you'll need:

• small scale (I simply used my kitchen scale that I use for weighing food)
• flashlight
• rock
• bottle of glue

1. Speak at the scale. Ask the students, "Does my voice have weight?"
2. Shine the light at the scale. "Does the light have weight?"
3. Place the rock on the scale. "Does the rock have weight?"
4. Remove the rock and place the bottle of glue on the scale? "Does the bottle have weight?"

Discuss with the students why the rock and the bottle have weight . . . because they are matter. Your voice and the light did not cause the numbers on the scale to rise, therefore light and sound are not matter. 

Visuals

Granted, these are simplistic experiments, but my boys found them amusing. The experiments are also educational and extremely visual. 

To introduce the 3 different forms of matter, I created a fun, interactive poster. 

Using poster board, construction paper, and Velcro, I put this hands-on visual together. The 3 categories are listed with Velcro underneath to attach the correct items. The pictures of the rock, water, air, milk, and apple are all removable. 

But I'm not an artist, you say. No problem. These days pictures and fancy lettering can easily be printed off the computer, even using simple programs such as Microsoft Word. To create my worksheets, I frequently use the Clip-art feature in Word. Browsing the web is also a great way to find the right pictures you need. 

Check out this wonderful site for some cute graphics: My Cute Graphics

No matter what your lesson might be, develop something visual and hands-on for your struggling learners . . . even if it's simplistic, most students will enjoy having something to do rather than just sitting still and listening. 

Enjoy!

Healthy vs. Sick

Today we started our Health Unit. With the new semester here, we are entering into new subjects, many of which I'm looking forward to. 

While being able to listen attentively to a teacher's lesson is important, students with special needs (especially those with ADHD and reading difficulties) need visually appealing and hands-on oriented items incorporated into the lesson. 

Today's health lesson discussed what it means to be healthy. It's a simple topic, but one that I felt was a good starting place for my Kindergartner and 1st Grader. Since it's a simple topic, I knew I needed to add something fun and visually stimulating to the lesson. 

I incorporated posters of a Healthy Boy and a Sick Boy. (Below are the two posters clipped side-by-side.)

To make it hands-on, I drew a thermometer, a blanket, and a box of tissues on a separate piece of paper. Then I cut out those items and used Velcro to allow the students to take the items on and off the Sick Boy. 

Velcro with a sticky back can be easily found in most stores that have a sewing aisle. I use sticky-backed Velcro a lot in the classroom because it allows for easy attachment and removal of items providing a lot of hands-on fun! 

While this portion of the lesson did not take long, the boys enjoyed taking care of the Sick Boy. After our discussion on Healthy Behaviors and Where We Learn Healthy Behaviors, the boys drew their own healthy and sick children. 

If you would like to download these drawings: CLICK HERE.

Enjoy!