Back to School Unit
Name Activities
Books
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten by
Joseph Slate
The Wheels on the Bus
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill
Martin, Jr.
I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson
Me Too! by Mercer Mayer
I Spy Schooldays
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten by
Joseph Slate
The Wheels on the Bus
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill
Martin, Jr.
I Like Me! by Nancy Carlson
Me Too! by Mercer Mayer
I Spy Schooldays
Name Puzzles
Use colorful markers to write each child's name on a large, white, unlined index card.
Have each child use crayons to decorate the personalized side of his/her card. Cut
the card into a designated number of puzzle pieces. Ask each child to assemble the
puzzle and give the child a plastic baggie to store the puzzle in. The children could
then trade puzzles and assemble other classmates' puzzles.
"My Name Is . . "
Have students sit in a circle. Pass around an object, such as a stuffed animal, as
music is being played. When the music stops, the student holding the object has to
say his/her name. Continue until everyone has had a chance to introduce him/herself.
Letter Practice Using Names
Daily pick a name from your class and write it down on a sentence strip. Have the
students chant the letters in the name. Then cut up each letter and have the students
put the letters back in order. The class then draws a picture of that person and writes
the person's name at the top of the picture. Compile the pictures into a book to give
to that student. Display the picture drawn by the student on the wall or bulletin board.
Name Placemats
Write the following sentence on the bottom of a large piece of white constuction
paper; My name is my first gift from my parents! Then have each student sponge
paint name or write name with crayons or markers. You could display the placemats
at tables or desks for open house.
Use colorful markers to write each child's name on a large, white, unlined index card.
Have each child use crayons to decorate the personalized side of his/her card. Cut
the card into a designated number of puzzle pieces. Ask each child to assemble the
puzzle and give the child a plastic baggie to store the puzzle in. The children could
then trade puzzles and assemble other classmates' puzzles.
"My Name Is . . "
Have students sit in a circle. Pass around an object, such as a stuffed animal, as
music is being played. When the music stops, the student holding the object has to
say his/her name. Continue until everyone has had a chance to introduce him/herself.
Letter Practice Using Names
Daily pick a name from your class and write it down on a sentence strip. Have the
students chant the letters in the name. Then cut up each letter and have the students
put the letters back in order. The class then draws a picture of that person and writes
the person's name at the top of the picture. Compile the pictures into a book to give
to that student. Display the picture drawn by the student on the wall or bulletin board.
Name Placemats
Write the following sentence on the bottom of a large piece of white constuction
paper; My name is my first gift from my parents! Then have each student sponge
paint name or write name with crayons or markers. You could display the placemats
at tables or desks for open house.
Alphabet Activities
School Alphabet Words (Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten is a good book to go along with
this activity)
Write the alphabet on chart paper, one letter per line. Brainstorm with the children
school words. A for Art, B for Books, etc. List the words on the chart paper next
to the appropriate letter. Have each child illustrate one letter of the alphabet.
Display pictures on the wall or bulletin board or compile into a big book.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Class Mural
Read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. On large sheet of light blue paper draw or attach
a large brown palm tree. Have the children cut out and glue on green leaves and light
brown coconuts. Then have the children add the first letter of their names to the tree.
Children might need to use templates to help them with the letter formation.
The children could also make their own palm tree. Have the children use crayons or
markers to draw the tree. They then would sponge paint the letters in their name
starting with their first letter at the top of the tree going on down to the trunk of the
tree.
this activity)
Write the alphabet on chart paper, one letter per line. Brainstorm with the children
school words. A for Art, B for Books, etc. List the words on the chart paper next
to the appropriate letter. Have each child illustrate one letter of the alphabet.
Display pictures on the wall or bulletin board or compile into a big book.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Class Mural
Read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. On large sheet of light blue paper draw or attach
a large brown palm tree. Have the children cut out and glue on green leaves and light
brown coconuts. Then have the children add the first letter of their names to the tree.
Children might need to use templates to help them with the letter formation.
The children could also make their own palm tree. Have the children use crayons or
markers to draw the tree. They then would sponge paint the letters in their name
starting with their first letter at the top of the tree going on down to the trunk of the
tree.
Good Morning Song - We sing this every morning as we begin our day.
(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Good Morning, Good Morning,
It's a good, good, good, good, good morning,
It's time to say ,"How do you do?"
To all our friends and teachers too.
Good Morning, Good Morning,
It's a good, good, good, good, good morning!
(Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
Good Morning, Good Morning,
It's a good, good, good, good, good morning,
It's time to say ,"How do you do?"
To all our friends and teachers too.
Good Morning, Good Morning,
It's a good, good, good, good, good morning!
For great back to school songs and poems
click here: www.canteach.ca
click here: www.canteach.ca
Graphing Activities
Graph Names - After reading Chrysanthemum make a class graph of the
number of letters in each child's name.
Graph how each child came to school. Bus, car, van, walk, bike, etc.
number of letters in each child's name.
Graph how each child came to school. Bus, car, van, walk, bike, etc.
Kissing Hand Activities
The Kissing Hand - A wonderful first day of school story to read to the
children. It is a story about a little raccoon that shares with his mother his fears of
starting school. His mother comes up with a great solution to help her little raccoon
remember that she loves him even when he is away at school.
After reading the story discuss how moms and dads might feel when their children
are away at school. Decide together to make a gift for mom and dad.
Gift for parents: On a large piece of white construction paper have each child
print their handprint at the top using red paint. After the handprints are dry, have
the children draw a family portrait below their handprint. Add a pre-cut tiny heart to
the center of each child's handprint. If time allows the children can share their
portraits with the class. Have the children take the handprints and portraits home
that day and the children should explain to their parents that they should not be sad
because they are thinking of them each day when they are away at school.
First Day Snack - Make sugar dough kissing hand cookies.
Roll out the dough and use a hand print dough cutter to make
handprint cookies. Add a small red candy heart.
The Kissing Hand activities are from www.kinderthemes.com
children. It is a story about a little raccoon that shares with his mother his fears of
starting school. His mother comes up with a great solution to help her little raccoon
remember that she loves him even when he is away at school.
After reading the story discuss how moms and dads might feel when their children
are away at school. Decide together to make a gift for mom and dad.
Gift for parents: On a large piece of white construction paper have each child
print their handprint at the top using red paint. After the handprints are dry, have
the children draw a family portrait below their handprint. Add a pre-cut tiny heart to
the center of each child's handprint. If time allows the children can share their
portraits with the class. Have the children take the handprints and portraits home
that day and the children should explain to their parents that they should not be sad
because they are thinking of them each day when they are away at school.
First Day Snack - Make sugar dough kissing hand cookies.
Roll out the dough and use a hand print dough cutter to make
handprint cookies. Add a small red candy heart.
The Kissing Hand activities are from www.kinderthemes.com
Click here for
Exploring the Alphabet
webquest.
Exploring the Alphabet
webquest.
| NAME BOOK The name book consists of one page for each child with his/her name and picture. The cover is in the shape of a school house with the name of our school printed at the top. |