Your Green Pages May 2006
By Elizabeth Swartz

For a downloadable version of the Green Pages click here. PDF 467KB

Primary Grades
1. Rhyming Raindrops
   
   
   Reading/Art Provide students with pictures of umbrellas and raindrops or templates for them. Put each pair or group of students in charge of a word family or "chunk." After they have completed them, ask each group to explain their set and then display them in the room.
2. Jazzing Along All Day
   Music Play jazz CDs at the beginning of class, during exercise breaks and while students pack up this month. Display the name of the musical artist on the board and make a bulletin board depicting the instruments being played.
3. Roly Poly Pals
   Science/Poetry Use the following poem when introducing bugs and other small creatures. The bug in this poem, a pill bug, is a crustacean rather than an insect and only has two body parts and seven pairs of legs. Take the class outside to look under sidewalk or playground stones in search of a pill bug or two. In a city area, you might talk to a landscape or garden center worker about finding an example.


Bashful, But Not a Bug

by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

Roly Poly inching
Down the concrete walk
Roly Poly curling up
Too shy to talk.


4. Expanded Numbers
   Math/Art Provide cutouts of butterflies with numbers written on the bodies. Students will write the expanded form of the numbers on the wingspans, always beginning on the left wing to insure that students read and write left to right.
5. Canister Coins
   Math Gather empty film canisters, label each one for a particular coin. Place a pile of coins in the learning center for children to sort into the appropriate container. Allow students to take canisters home to practice sorting their parents' loose change.
6. It's a Match
   Reading Hang a set of capital letters at eye level for the students. Provide lower case letters with Velcro® or paper clips. Students can connect the matching letters. Repeat when cursive is being introduced or with various fonts.
7. Alphabet Flowers
   Reading/Art Make or cut out large individual letters for the center of the flower. Then have students find the same letter to form the flower's petals and words that begin with that letter for the stems and leaves. Display around the room in alphabetical order.
8. Quick Move
   Language Play this game with letter tiles of any kind. Begin with all the kids having a word, maybe "cat," on their mat. Announce the "quick move c to b" and have the children read the new word. Play the same game with number tiles when practicing place value or the reading of numbers.

9. Color My Garden
   Science/Nutrition Provide vegetable and fruit shapes all on white paper. Help students determine which grow above the ground and which below, which on trees and which on plants. Then encourage the children to color the pictures appropriately and place them on a bulletin board representing how/where they grow.
10. Scavenger Hunt
    Visual Discrimination/ Reading Provide each child with a page from a magazine or newspaper and colored pencils or thin markers. Have the children circle all the words in the "-at" family. Then circle all the "color words", etc. Use sale flyers when playing for number practice.

11. Fruity Fun
    Reading/Health/Art Read aloud Henry and Mudge and the Funny Lunch by Cynthia Rylant (Simon & Schuster, 2004) about Henry and his father making wonderful food designs for Mother's Day gifts. Students can draw their own food inventions to place inside a Mother's Day card.
12. Parts to Whole
    Science Whether studying plants, animals or insects provide a pile of individual parts, some large white paper and a couple of bottles of glue. Let the kids put the parts together again, complete with labels and arrows in diagram fashion.
13. Springtime Toads
    Science/Writing Share the following poem and then have students find proof of the information. Challenge them to write a poem conveying a piece of scientific information that they just learned.


Buffo Toad

by Heidi Bee Roemer

Toad grows bigger.
Toad grows fat.

His skin won't stretch.
Imagine that!

His skin feels tight.
His skin feels brittle.

Soon his skin splits
down the middle.

Toad squirms and wiggles.
He'll rub and peel.

He eats his skin --
Mmm! A tasty meal.

14. Parent Activity
    Fine Motor Coordination Together select a coloring book that really interests your child and buy some new crayons as well. Set aside time to sit together, each coloring a page daily. Talk about outlining the picture, your choice of colors, drawing all in one direction and directing the motion of the crayon without having to lift it from the paper.

15. Gallons of Garden Fun
    Reading/Science Share the book of garden poems, Busy In The Garden by George Shannon (Greenwillow, 2006). Many of the poems offer things you can do, like folding a paper May Day basket and filling it with flowers, or dividing five potatoes evenly among four people by cutting, cooking and mashing them. Simple rhymes and great rhythms will make these poems quick favorites.
16. Fishy Numbers
    Math/Place Value Put magnetic numbers into a clear fish bowl. Invite a student to select a certain number of digits from the bowl and place them in the correct order on the overhead, chalkboard or other surface.
17. My Word Book
    Reading/Vocabulary Use a digital camera to photograph places in the building and signs such as office, cafeteria, exit, door, etc. Put the pictures together in a booklet and either type the correct words in the captions, or have students print the words. Also, attach other blank pages on which to have students include pictures from magazines and descriptive words written underneath. Send this booklet home for summer reading practice.
18. Tickets, Please
    Math Practice ordinal numbers by making a set of "train tickets" with first, second, fifteenth, etc. on them. Pass them out at different times of the day when you need to line up or take turns for an activity.
19. Memorial Day for Kids
    Social Studies For holiday crafts, activities and printable worksheets designed for young students go to www.education-world.com/holidays/archives/memorial_day.shtml
20. Number Mosaics
    Math/Art/Fine Motor Coordination Make a large numeral in the center of a piece of cardboard. Provide various seed types, pasta shapes or colors of fish tank gravel. Have the student make the numeral one color or pattern and the background a contrasting one.
21. Real Heroes, Real Letters
    Writing Contact local VFW and American Legion Posts for addresses of people currently serving in the military. Help students write letters to those still on active duty thanking them for their service.
22. Puzzle Me This
    Prediction Place the pieces for a puzzle on a table. Don't show the picture of the finished puzzle. As students complete a section, ask them what the setting might be. What else can they predict so far? Characters? Season? Do this several times during the process. Save their written predictions to compare with the finished result.


Middle Grades


23. Dream Writing
    Writing Children are always dreaming about something that they would like to have, so put this to use in your writing class or center. Make some clouds and write on them, "If I could have a new pet..." "If I could have a new computer game..." "If I could have a new brother..." and then expect main ideas, supporting topics and good solid writing.
24. Troops Around the World
    Social Studies Help students gather information about where U.S. troops are stationed around the world. Display a world map with push pins indicating where there are troops, what kind and how many. Invite other classes to view the display as Memorial Day draws near.

25. Scrambled Spellers
    Language Make some flowers with a different letter in each petal. Have students identify the words. Use vocabulary and spelling words from throughout the entire year. Post a few each day as brain teasers.
26. How Books Are Made
    Reading/Math Share with your students How a Book Is Made by Aliki (Crowell, l986). Have students design flow charts depicting the process. Also visit www.harperchildrens.com/hch/picture/features/aliki/howabook/book1.asp
27. Memorial Day Picnics
    Health/Nutrition Discuss different foods and where they fit on the nutritional pyramid. Help kids plan healthful picnic menus. Discuss with them possible ways they might positively influence the food intake of other members of their families.
28. Travels with Laura
    Reading Read A Little House Traveler by Laura Ingalls Wilder (HarperCollins, 2006) to learn more about Laura. The book includes actual photographs and letters to Laura from relatives. It is an excellent nonfiction follow-up to the "Little House" series and gives insights into what the writer's real life was like.
29. Sailboat Sequence
    Reading/Writing Make a timeline that encompasses this school year. Have students make sailboats with school events listed on them, then encourage students to place the boats sequentially on the timeline. Then use the timeline as a memory jogger as students write their memoirs of the year. Remind them that memoirs are classified as nonfiction.
30. Parent Activity
    Reading/Listening Take your kids to the library and pick out some audiobooks to listen to together in the car. Talk about the characters, where the story takes place and what you think might happen. Would you all enjoy another book or tape by the same author? Why or why not?

31. Turn-Around Designs
    Math/Art During your geometry unit give each student a large sheet of white paper and a geometric shape. Instruct them to trace that shape and then turn, flip and slide it while continuing to trace. Color in the shape created and try to determine one another's original shape.
32. Hike, Anyone?
    Physical Fitness Take your class to the website for the American Hiking Association for ideas about upcoming events and places to visit. What kind of a hike could your class plan for your area? Would it be safe, well-lit and easily accessible? Are there rest rooms available? Remember, hikes can take place in the city as well as in the mountains.
33. Article Reviews
    Reading/Writing Instead of a book review, have students read and write a review of an article from their favorite magazine. Have them bring in the magazine and present both an oral and written review and see the great variety of magazines that are being read. Take time for students to browse through one another's video, music and sports magazines.

34. Summer Seedlings
    Science Get each student started gardening with a small potted tomato plant. Keep two or three extra ones growing in the classroom, just in case. Have each student keep records on growth, watering, first blossoms, etc. Have photographs taken throughout the process in school and expect that to continue over the summer by sending a plant home with each student. Gather with this former class for a tomato luncheon when school reopens to compare graphs, records, photos and tomatoes.
35. Summer Fun
    Math Discuss and plan a tally chart that everyone can make and take home to record events over the summer. It should include swimming, sleepovers, movies, campfires, company, trips, baseball or soccer games, concerts, fireworks, fishing, etc. It should provide information and a basic timeline for answering the old question, what did you do this summer?
36. Bookmark Review
    Study Skills Encourage students to use computer and study skills to design and complete some bookmark review sheets. Have them make a summarization bookmark with just a few bulleted items that summarize sections of chapters. Make other study bookmarks that contain vocabulary words on one side and definitions on the other. Have students plan what other facts or skills might be best reviewed by preparing and studying a brief bookmark.
37. Seasonal Work?
    Social Studies/Careers What does it mean to have seasonal work? If you have migrant families in your class they will know, but others might not. Conduct a study of your community. What seasonal work is available? What happens to the workers when the season ends? Create charts showing the type and location of the work. How does the seasonal workforce influence your local economy?

Intermediate Grades


38. Jazz in the Big Easy
    Music/History Research as a class the great world of Jazz music and its roots in New Orleans. How did Hurricane Katrina impact the jazz scene in this city? Has jazz returned to New Orleans?

39. Thank You, Officer
    Social Studies/Careers Write letters and/or posters of appreciation to your local police force in time for National Police Week (May 14-20). Think of all the ways police officers benefit the community. Invite an officer to come to your class to talk about what the career is like, what training is required, etc.
40. International Exercise
    Physical Fitness Children all around the world are encouraged to exercise at the same time on May 3 for Projects ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously) Day. Go to www.projectaces.com to learn details and to get your class involved.
41. National Memorial Concert
    Social Studies/Music Tape the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS to watch and discuss with your students. Also take them to www1.va.gov to find information about the World War II memorial in Washington, D.C. Gather statistics about U.S. veterans as well as information about cemeteries for veterans.
42. What Are You Reading?
    Reading Show students the column in any recent copy of Publisher's Weekly magazine that asks people on the subway or in a coffee shop what they are reading and why. Have students conduct such a survey among all faculty and staff at your school. Extend it to parents if possible. Compile the results. Are there any interesting patterns? Does it tell you anything about your community?
43. Summer Sights
    Writing/Art Share this poem about summer activities and write lots more to illustrate with pencils, markers or paint.


Summer

by Martin Shaw

Blankets marking cozy spots.
Laughter in the air,
Castles made from sparkling sand,
Sprouting everywhere.

Children dashing through the waves,
Ice cream vendors shout,
Seagulls soaring overhead,
That's what summer's 'bout.

44. National Physical Fitness
    Health Have students compare people's lifestyles of the past (people walked everywhere, ate most meals at home and didn't have processed food, etc.) with today's lifestyles. How would implementing some of yesterday's habits affect the physical fitness of the nation? What changes could occur in your students' own lives to improve fitness (walking or riding a bike to practice instead of the bus, taking stairs instead of elevators, etc.)?
45. Beautiful Butterflies
    Science/Art Study various types of butterflies that live in your area. As a culminating activity, have each student or group select one type of butterfly to make on a folded three- or four-inch piece of paper. Glue the completed butterflies to a wooden spring-type clothespin and display.

46. Poetic Geography
    Language/Geography Share Got Geography! edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Greenwillow, 2006) and ask your student to find the places depicted in the poems on the classroom map or globe. Then challenge the children to write a poem about a particular place in the world, like the equator or a mountain. Perhaps, they would rather write a poem pretending that they are seeing a natural marvel for the first time.

47. Tracking Bananas
    Social Studies Help your students get a real understanding of the rainforest by taking them to www.rainforestalliance.org One activity they can do there is track banana cultivation from the tropical forest to the breakfast table.
48. Meet a Vet
    Current Events Contact a local VFW or American Legion Post to request that a veteran, or several, come to your school and talk with students about serving in the military. Allow for a question-and-answer time. Provide a world map so the veterans may show the students the locations in which they served.
49. Being Prepared
    Science With the hurricane season beginning in several parts of the world, take students to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration site at www.nhc.noaa.gov to learn how to best prepare. Also visit the tornado project website at www.tornadoproject.com
50. Wonders of the Web
    Writing/Research Encourage students to use the knowledge they already have to plan and write a class brochure about their favorite websites and what each is used for when researching items. Guide the students to utilize only safe, approved websites.
51. Shape Poems
    Writing/Science/Art Read with your class this poem about the complexity of the jellyfish and share photos of these creatures. Can the poem be written out to resemble its subject matter? Ask your students to write poems about other species in a particular shape, coloring lightly over the words to enhance the likeness.


Cnidarians
(aka Jellyfish)

by Muriel Mandell

No head, no back or front.
No legs or fins,
No heart, no brain,
No left or right side,
Radiates from its center
Like the spokes of a wheel...
But
Beneath lie sophisticated genes
and a complex net of nerves
Divided like the human brain

Plain, simple, primitive?
Gazing at a jelly fish,
Scientists say,
Mirrors looking in a mirror!

52. Parent Activity
    History/Social Studies Involve your child in local Memorial Day activities. Find out how many people have served from your community in the past. How many are serving now? Become involved in sending letters or care packages to service people. Go to www.historychannel.com/exhibits/memorial/memorial.html together and see some of the nine videos created by veterans. Discuss their comments about the effects of war and coming back home.
53. Cinco de Mayo
    Social Studies Research together the significance of May 5 to our Mexican neighbors. Find out how they will celebrate, and how this holiday is celebrated by Mexican Americans. Have your class plan a celebration of arts around this holiday.

54. My Bike and I
    Geography/Writing Have students print maps of the local area in your computer lab. Ask them each to mark where they have ridden their bikes. Also have them write about particular experiences they have had while riding their bikes. Talk about other countries and cities where adults use bikes rather than cars to commute to work. What might be some of the reasons? Could we be using bikes more in our country than we do? How could we help influence that change?
55. Your Local Economy
    Social Studies Have students collect information about their own community and use it to determine the health of the local economy. What employment opportunities are in your area? How many jobs are "skilled" versus "unskilled"? Are people moving into or out of your area? Do you have an ample amount of public transportation? Are shopping centers readily accessible? What are the unemployment and homeless rates? After gathering all of the information and charting it, hold a discussion about the community's health. Is your community growing or declining? What difference does it make to your student' futures?
56. Preserve for the Future
    History National preservation is a lengthy and expensive endeavor, but how else would our students get a clear picture of the past? Have a discussion about historically relevant places that you or your students have visited. Invite them to bring in photographs and postcards. Is there such a place near you? Research how it came to be. Go to www.nationaltrust.org to find out more about National Preservation Month and the projects being undertaken.
57. Hall of Fame
    Current Events Have students research to find out about the military services of faculty and staff within your district or building. Gather photographs, maps of bases, medals, letters, etc. to use in putting together a display case. Former faculty and staff persons can be included as well as the sons and daughters, brothers and sisters who are currently serving from your community.

58. Thank You, Nurses
    Social Studies/Careers/Writing Have students design thank-you cards and letters that look like bandages to send to the school nurse thanking her for always being on duty. Talk about nursing as a career and the various forms it can take. Discuss the educational requirements and then bring the cards, balloons and cookies to your school nurse.
59. Asian Awareness
    Social Studies/Geography May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, a good opportunity for your students to learn about the history of the immigration of these varied populations to the United States. Visit www.apaha.org to learn more about the holiday, and read the new novel Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum, 2006) about a girl whose family is sent to an internment camp for Japanese Americans during WW II.

For a downloadable version of the Green Pages click here. PDF 467KB

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:
Carla Schaadt, Hinesville, GA, #8, #10; Deb Smith, Hiawatha, KS, #16; Helen Wubbenhorst, Mesa, AZ, #7, #31.

POETRY: "Bashful, But Not a Bug" by Kimberly M. Hutmacher, Springfield, IL. "Buffo Toad" by Heidi Bee Roemer, Orland Park, IL. "Summer" by Martin Shaw, Bronxville, NY. "Cnidarians" by Muriel Mandell, New York, NY.

Illustrations by H. Robert Loomis.

May 2006, Vol. 36, No. 8