Departments : Your Green Pages :
Your Green Pages February 2006
By Elizabeth Swartz
55 Skill-Building Activities You Can Use Right Now!
For a downloadable version of the Green Pages click here. 
PDF 363KB
- Primary Grades
- Perfect Patterns
Math Provide each child with a crayon box upon which is depicted a row of crayons. Provide a large assortment of crayons for children to use in reproducing the pattern of crayons shown on the box. - Feel the Beat
Music Set aside time each week to play a CD of music, perhaps classical one day, jazz another, then blues, etc. Allow the children time and space to dance to rhythms that they feel. Watch and see the natural beat emerge. - Graphs Alive
Math/Science Place an outdoor thermometer somewhere accessible to your students. View and record the temperature at consistent times of the day. At the end of the week, graph the results. What happens to the temperature during the day? Is there a pattern? What predictions can you make for tomorrow? Next week? - Dancing Today
Music/Poetry Sing this poem to the tune of "Row, Row, Row, Your Boat" and encourage the little ones to jump, gallop, crawl and swim their way around the classroom. - ABC Hearts
Reading Make a set of hearts from red construction paper and write a letter of the alphabet on each. String a line between two chair backs. Ask students to hang the hearts in alphabetical order with clothespins. - Which Weight?
Science/Math Weigh an assortment of items, one at a time, on a postal scale. Lay them in order of weight. Then, present the students with a new object and ask them to hold it, estimating its weight. Which other object does it most resemble? Repeat with several more objects. - Springtime Shadows
Science/Reading Play with shadows at various times of the day, outlining them with chalk in the parking lot. Then read aloud Groundhog Stays Up Late by Margery Cuyler (Walker & Co., 2005). Can your students make a pretend shadow? - Cookie Cutter Cards
Writing/Art Cut heart shapes from sponges and dip these, along with heart-shaped cookie cutters, in tempera paint to create Valentine cards. Your students can personalize the cards with poems and holiday messages. - Primers of the Past
Reading/Social Studies While talking about the history of African Americans in the United States, read aloud Alec's Primer by Mildred Pitts Walter (Vermont Folklife Center, 2004). This book is based on the true story of a young slave named Alec Turner and his determination to learn to read. Also visit www.vermontfolklifecenter.org and go to the VFC Children's Book Series section of the website for classroom applications for this story. - Line Segments
Math Illustrate line segments easily by using cut pieces of chenille that can be measured and labeled. To illustrate a ray, use yarn that is still attached to a skein. Have children use classroom objects to illustrate other geometry terms and display them on a bulletin board or learning station. - Coming to You Today...
Language Obtain a large box and cut a hole through the center. Have your students decorate the box to use as a mock television set. Assist the children in preparing oral reports. Place the "TV" on a table, with your students reporting from a stool or bench behind the table. Stress that details need to be given in the reports as well as the answers to the questions who, what, where, when and how. - Parent Activity
Math/Art/Science As the 100th day of school approaches, help your child begin a collection of some kind – stamps, postcards, baseball cards, etc. – that will have lasting value. Research the items online and count, study and organize the items in the collection together. Take pictures of the initial collection for your child to reflect upon as his or her hobby grows. - Observation Skills
Science/Writing On a snowy day, take the class outside. Give each child a magnifying glass and a piece of black construction paper. Have them catch and study snowflakes. Upon returning to the classroom, make a descriptive list on the board and together write up a nonfiction report of the project. - Cold Season
Poetry/Health Share this poem with your class. Then discuss ways in which people can decrease their chances of getting colds and/or spreading germs to other people. Have students write poems about how they feel when they are sick. - 100 Days Together
Math/Writing On the 100th day of school, challenge students to show different ways of arranging their 100 objects, such as by groups of ten or five, two by two, etc. Then work together as a class to compose a list, in sentence form, of 100 wonderful things that have happened since school began. Vary sentence opening and length. - Dental Experiments
Health/Science Take your students to www.crestkids.com and go to the kids link to find the "eggsperiment" that compares teeth enamel with an eggshell. This is a good, clear representation what can happen to teeth if careful attention is not paid to diet and dental care. - Farmland Field Trip
Social Studies Visit The virtual tour of a commercial dairy farm at www.moomilk.com/index.html has colorful graphics, up-to-date photography and is applicable for grades K-6. See what cows eat, how much milk they produce and what kind of work is done on a dairy farm. - Heart Fractions
Math Give each student a small package of heart candies. Have them count the number of hearts in the package and use that number as the denominator. Then ask them to write fractions for the number of hearts of each color and/or each saying. Compare percentages among the packages. - Wake Up, Mr. Groundhog
Art/Science/Social Studies Visit www.groundhog.org on February 2 to learn about the history of "Punxsutawney Phil" and Groundhog Day. Then draw a picture of a groundhog on brown construction paper, as though it is lying on its' back with outstretched arms and legs. Cut out your groundhog. Add facial features with a permanent marker. Fold the legs, arms and head in so that they lie flat over the body. Place water in a shallow dish and set the groundhog on top of the water, folded parts up. Watch carefully as the goundhog's arms, legs and head begin to unfold as he "wakes up." Can the students tell why this happens? - Valentine Analogies
Reading/Writing Read the following poem together. Discuss the analogies and ask your students to come up with more analogies. - Past Presidents
Social Studies When your students are researching past presidents, send them to www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gov.html for individual biographies. How have presidencies changed with the times? Have students give their reports in the order of the presidents. What changes or developments do they notice? What changes can they predict for the future? - American Music
Music Have students work in groups to research music that was popular in different stages of our country's history. Utilize the library and music teachers as resources as well as www.loc.gov/rr/perform/ihas/ihashome.html, which features the "I Hear America Singing" resource of music-related treasures found in the Library of Congress. - Old Glory
History/Reading Introduce students to William Carney, the first African American to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, by reading Hold The Flag High by Catherine Clinton (HarperCollins, 2005). Discuss what it would be like to face battle. To what lengths would your students go to protect the flag of the United States? Recommend that your students see the movie Glory to understand more fully the role of African Americans in our early wars. - Pretty Percentages
Math/Art Get a disposable checkered tablecloth. Give each student a 100-square section and round stickers that fit in each square. Ask the students to illustrate various percentages (30%, 50%, 15%) with the stickers. - Snowy Synonyms
Art/Writing With your students, cut large snowflakes from white paper and mount them on a dark background. Encourage the children to write as many descriptive words as they can think of during a timed period. Discuss and compare the words; which ones are synonyms? Have students write poems about their snowflakes using the words gathered. Display the poems and snowflakes together. - School to School
Current Events Through an organization called Operation Iraqi Children, American soldiers are distributing donated supplies to Iraq's schools. Visit www.operationiraqichildren.org with your class to see the current situation in this war-torn country and learn how you can help provide much-needed tools for learning. - Endless Energy?
Science Provide your students with solar-powered calculators, clocks or flashlights. Work with these items for a few days. What are the pros and cons for solar-powered mechanisms? What problems will need to be solved in order for solar energy to become more popular? - Researching Mount Vernon
Reading/Social Studies Conduct research on Mount Vernon in the library and read aloud a biography of George Washington. As a culmination to your unit, take the class to www.mountvernon.org to view the mansion and grounds where the President lived. - Snowman Studies
Science/Math/Writing During or after a snowstorm take your class outside and make a snowman. Measure its height, the circumference around each section, the distance from carrot nose to hat, etc. Record the outdoor temperature. Even take the snowman's temperature. Back inside, make a list of the snowman's properties and write nonfiction pieces about its creation. Each day record new measurements. Write predictions about when it will melt, giving reasons for the predictions. Write reports about the disappearance of the snowman. Invite students to write fictional accounts of the snowman, as well. - Mathematical Valentines
Math As you read the following poem aloud, have students listen for numbers. Ask students to add up the numbers given as you read the poem a second time. Is there any particular significance to this total sum? Can the students write their own Valentine's Day message using number words? - Parent Activity
Science/Reading February is Wild Bird Feeding Month, a great time to share a project with the whole family. Find a place where you can hang a bird feeder, or even just pine cones coated with peanut butter and birdseed. Record the birds that you see frequenting the feeder and research them. Might they stay year-round or are they migratory? Help your children keep notes about the birds. Take photographs of your feathered guests to share at school. - Super Snacks
Health/Writing February is Snack Food Month. Take some time to discuss and taste various snack foods. Which ones are good for you? Which ones are not as healthy? What is the difference? Ask your students to collect recipes for favorite healthy snacks such as trail mixes, etc., then type and illustrate them in the computer lab. Compile the snack ideas into a booklet that everyone can take home and enjoy. - Read It All
Current Events/Reading Often students overlook the information in captions of pictures. To help your students learn to read captions, cut captioned photos from newspapers and magazines, paste them on construction paper and cut them in two in a jagged fashion. Have students take turns finding the pieces that go together and reading aloud the caption. How much information is it possible to convey in one or two sentences? Later, provide students with complete pictures for which to write descriptive captions. - If I Were President
Writing/Art Have your students make silhouette profiles of themselves. On the profiles they will write what three things they would do to change America if they were the President. Discuss these things as a class. Why do the kids think these changes need to be made? Is it realistic to think that large changes can be made by one person? Why or why not? - Lifelong Percentages
Math After teaching and practicing percentages, bring in a sample credit card offer. Read the large and small print. Calculate together what the total bill due is when a $100 account is overdue one month, then two months. Work with different total amounts due to illustrate how credit card debt grows. - "Time Spent" Study
Social Studies/Math Ask your students to watch an age-appropriate network movie with a notepad and stopwatch on hand. Have them record the amount of time spent on the movie and the amount spent on each advertisement. Record at what time the ads appear, how many are shown at one time and how long they are, as well as what products are being advertised. Is there a trend? Can they decipher what audience is being targeted? How long, in actuality, is a two-hour television movie? - Jazzin' Up Your Classroom
Music Listen to various genres of jazz while using the Internet-based jazz curriculum for grade 5 at www.jazzinamerica.org The areas of study covered in this curriculum, which was created by the Thelonious Monk Institute for Jazz, include social studies, American history and music. - Great Speeches
History Hear recorded speeches, see maps and view video clips of important events in the civil rights movement by taking your class to www.historychannel.com/exhibits/blackhist/proindex.html Be sure to also check out the link to the 65 biographies at "African American Icons" - Career Questions?
Career Ed Help your students learn about careers they may not have known exist, and play career-related games, at www.thefunworks.org Try to arrange for students to spend a day with people who work in the students' desired careers. - Even in New York
Social Studies/History Take your students on a virtual gallery tour of New York at a time when it was the capital of American slavery. See the ship diagrams, maps of transit and timeline of the largest relocation of human beings in the world by going to www.slaveryinnewyork.org - Perfect Paragraphs?
Writing/Reading Cut out individual paragraphs from magazines or newspapers. Give one to each student. Have the student find the main idea, topic sentence and supporting details. Are some paragraphs better than others? What makes the difference? Can the paragraphs stand alone? Ask your students to rewrite any of the paragraphs that they can improve. - Pets On Parade
Science February is Responsible Pet Owner Month, a great time to invite your students to bring a companion animal to class. Ask them to prepare presentations on the type of animal it is, some of its unique traits, what its care entails, how much its care costs, the pros and cons of having a pet, etc. Be sure to take into account student allergies before planning this project. - Once Upon a Tail
Writing Use the pet event listed above as a story starter. Along with the great nonfiction writing that could be inspired by these visits, also ask the students to write a story using this or a similar opening line: "Once upon a time I opened the closet door and there was a..." This might be a companion animal they've wanted but never had, or an unexpected visitor to a bedroom, like a jungle or farm animal or a fictitious creature. - Slow It Down!
Science Make the wheel diagrammed below out of strong cardboard. Cut out all the notches and the finger hole as indicated. Mount the wheel onto a smooth wood handle using a pushpin. Aim the wheel at something simple, like the second hand of a clock. Turning the wheel, see if you can "stop" the motion of the hand. Next look through the wheel at the spinning blades of a fan and water trickling out of the faucet. What would happen if there were more cut-outs? What makes this experiment work? To what good use could it be put? - Mag Reports
Reading Assign each student a magazine report instead of a book report this month. Let them select their own favorite magazine and report its genre, the type of advertisements in it and what percentage of the magazine is ads. How much does it cost? Is it available in stores or only as a subscription? What kinds of articles are featured? Are there reviews or games? What makes a good magazine? See your librarian for extra copies of various magazines. - American Idioms
Language After reading the following poem aloud to your class, have your students look up other English idioms about the heart. Have them write a sentence that shows the correct usage for the idiom. Then have students write a humorous question for every idiom and exchange papers. Discuss or write out answers for one another. - Fruity Figures
Math Compare the price of a pound of bananas at the grocery store with the price of an individual banana at a deli, cafeteria or airport. Do the same with apples and oranges. What, roughly, do the individual pieces of fruit weigh? Why do individual fruits sold outside of the grocery store cost so much more than a package? Why might the prices vary so from venue to venue? How does information like this make you a smarter consumer? - Find Your Seats, Please
Reading Find the map or website for an entertainment or sports arena in your area. Have your class log on and assign them particular seats. Help them navigate the stadium to find various sections and seats. Which entrance makes the most sense for where you are seated? Which parking lot is most readily accessible for the entrance that you want to use? Why are some seats more expensive than others? Do the types of seats wanted vary depending on the particular event? - Racism Is a People Thing
Reading/Social Studies Discuss the segregation of the South that limited access to African Americans. What would it feel like to have one's options so restricted? Read aloud The School Is Not White: A True Story of the Civil Rights Movement by Doreen Rappaport (Hyperion, 2005). This book tells of a family that braved violence, eviction and continual harassment to integrate the schools in their Mississippi town in 1965. It is based on interviews with the adult children of this family; what events should your students be interviewing grandparents and great-grandparents about now in order to keep history alive? Encourage them to talk to their older relatives and find stories worth keeping. - Birthday Stones
Science Have students look up their own birthstones and research where they come from in the world. Check their monetary value and compare them with one another. Why are diamonds worth so much more than topaz? What properties do the gems have independently? How did they become designated as birthstones? - Taxation
Social Studies/Math What is the sales tax in your state? What is the purpose of the sales tax? Help students calculate the amount of tax that will be added to a $10 bill, a $50 bill and a $100. Does the sales tax make a difference in what for or where students will shop? Research what the sales tax is used for. If they were being asked to vote for a sales tax increase, how would they vote and why? - Parent Activity
Math The next time you have company for dinner or host a party, invite your child to help plan the occasion. Develop a budget together, estimating the costs of supplies. Go through some favorite family recipes together and figure out the quantities and measurements of ingredients needed to double or triple the recipes. If using paper goods, how many cups, plates forks and spoons should be purchased? Calculate for surprise guests and people using more than one plate. Will there be decorations? - Free Pens
Social Studies Visit a local bank, real estate office or tax office and request pens and/or pencils for your class. Pass them out and discuss the significance of having names on the items. Why do companies put their names on pens and pencils? Why do companies pay large sums of money to have their name in a ball park? Are the students influenced by the names they see around them? What should their response be as consumers? Do they feel products are being forced upon them? - Winter Music
Language/Writing Enjoy the following poem together. Discuss the parallels drawn. Ask students to write their own descriptive poetry about something that nature entertains us with at this time of year. - A Smoke-Free Heart
Health/Science The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 50 percent of smokers begin tobacco use by age 14, 25 percent by age 12. Visit www.americanheart.org, go to "Children's Health" and choose "For Kids" from the pull-down menu. Here you'll find several grade-leveled activities and downloadable worksheets to help your students learn about heart health, including Your Heart: A User's Guide and The Smoking Yokadokas, an illustrated poem by Jack Prelutsky that points out the absurdity of lighting up.
Animal Dances
by Kimberly M. Hutmacher
Up, up, on your feet
Get up off your seat.
March, march, around the room
To the merry beat!
Leap, leap, way up high
Jump up to the sky.
Flap, flap, like a bird
Around the room we fly!
Trot, trot, time to ride
To the countryside.
Gallop, gallop, off we go
Graceful horses glide!
Swim, swim, through the mush,
Through the swampy slush.
Crawl, crawl, on the shore,
Watch out for the brush!
Stop! Stop! We're impressed!
We all did our best!
Bow, bow, to one and all
Now it's time to rest!
The Flu Blues
by Kimberly M. Hutmacher
Drippy nose
Droopy eyes
Dreary yawns
Dreadful sighs.
Scratchy throat
Stuffy head
Stuck at home
Sick in bed!
Valentine Blues
by Heidi Bee Roemer
Like a bed without a pillow,
Like a chair without a leg.
Like a boy without his puppy,
Like a hen without her egg.
Like a hot dog without ketchup,
Like a sneeze without a tissue –
When you're gone, the day
seems long.
O Valentine, I miss you!
Middle Grades
A Be-9 Valentine
by Jacqueline Schiff
I went 2 the store
4 a Valentine's card.
I saw 1 you'll love--
Sweet and 10-der.
A card that is gr-8
On this 1-derful date
That 2-gether
And 4-ever,
We'll remember.
(answer = 32)
Intermediate Grades
Heart-to Heart Questions
by Jacqueline Schiff
Gee, when you lose heart,
Where could it be?
On the seat of your school bus?
Up in a tree?
When your heart rules your head
And you give it a rub,
Do you hear your brain beating
With a lub and a dub?
When your heart's in your mouth,
How does it taste?
Like liver with onions?
Like pig's feet? Like paste?
When your heart's in your boots,
Are your boots feeling tight?
Are you half-hearted in left foot
And half-hearted in right?
When you pour out your heart,
What will it fill?
A gas station pump?
The Mississippi River?
When you finish this rhyme,
Will you learn it by heart
Or learn it by nose
As you sniff every part?
Sky Watcher
by Heidi Bee Roemer
Louder than maracas,
I hear a rattling roar.
Raindrops hard as pebbles
clatter at my door.
Crystallized ice pellets
bounce upon the grass.
Falling frozen marbles
click against the glass.
Like angry hornets stinging,
Hail is singing, "Ping-ping-pop!"
I watch it pelt the sidewalks,
then suddenly---
It stops.
For a downloadable version of the Green Pages click here. PDF 363KB
ABOUT THE GREEN PAGES: Green Pages activities are for use in teaching grades PreK through 8. Activities are labeled according to basic skill areas.
THIS MONTH'S CONTRIBUTIONS:
Sherry Timberman, Sanford, ME, #13; Marie Cecchini, West Dundee, IL, #19; Muriel Mandell, New York, NY, #33; Harry T. Roman, East Orange, NJ, #44
POETRY: "Animal Dances" and "The Flu Blues" by Kimberly M. Hutmacher, "Valentine Blues" and "Sky Watcher" by Heidi Bee Roemer, "A Be-9 Valentine" and "Heart-to-Heart Questions" by Jacqueline Schiff, Moline , IL.
Illustrations by H. Robert Loomis.
February, 2006, Vol.36, No.5
