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Lesson Plan
Search For Activities
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- January 2006 Activities -
This month
begins a new year and offers a fresh start for children.
Snowball fights, building snow forts, sledding, snowmobiling,
ice skating, broomball, and cross country skiing are
Wisconsin winter activities enjoyed by all ages of children.
Try to play outside with children to get exercise but also
use the cold weather to gather inside and challenge our
minds.
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Some of you are parents,
teachers, childcare workers, or grandparents interacting with all ages
of children. Change the rules to fit your own situation and use these
activities as a guide to create your own special moments. |
#1
Measuring Snow
Winter brings snow
to our area. Chatting and sharing information about this
weather event helps children to be inquisitive and learn
about their world.
- Gather a bowl of snow and bring inside.
- Taste and feel the snow.
- Take the temperature of the snow with a
thermometer.
- Measure one cup of packed snow.
- Allow the snow to melt and see how the
liquid compares to the amount of packed snow.
- Measure snow from different snowfalls as
snow has varying densities.
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(Click photos to enlarge image.) |
#2 Describing
Snow
Encourage a child to describe snow to someone living in a
constant warm weather climate. See if they can paint a “snow
picture” with words
- How does snow look...
- How does snow feel...
- How does snow sound...
- How does snow taste...
#3 Snowball Math
This game can be played outside with REAL
snowballs or indoors with Styrofoam balls. WOW – we can
sneak in addition skills by having a child practice counting
by 2’s, 3’s, 5’s, or any number.
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Begin by labeling a point
value on a basket or container. For every “snowball” in the
basket you can get 2, 3, or 5 points.
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Give a child 3 snowballs to
throw at the target. Place the target far enough away to
make it challenging. Each player adds his score for each
successful throw.
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If each basket counts for 5
points and the child gets all 3 snowballs in the basket he
should say – 5 – 10 – 15.
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Determine a goal to reach
depending on the ability of the child. Counting by 1’s for a
young child with a goal of 10 or counting to 100 by 10’s for
an older child are appropriate goals.
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(Click photos to enlarge image.) |
- Keep the score on a marker board for each player if
inside or use a spray bottle of colored water and write
the score in the snow outside.
#4 Clothespin Spelling
Watch Video
Spelling is one skill that needs
consistent practice. This is an easy and fun way to practice
spelling lists throughout the year.
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Collect spring type
clothespins, round cardboard base or pizza base, a
shoebox or similar lid, and a permanent marker.
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Write the letters of the
alphabet on the clothespins.
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Make 2 or more clothespins
for each letter
Place the clothespins alphabetically on a cardboard
base.
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Select a word from the
spelling list and say aloud for a child to spell.
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(Click photos to enlarge image.) |
This spelling game is
good for children who have multiple styles of
learning
#5 Vocabulary Game “That’s ME”
This is a good way to review all
vocabulary words but is especially helpful for teenagers
working on SAT and ACT vocabulary lists.
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Find a list of
suggested words to practice on the Internet or
in SAT and ACT practice guides.
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Select a group of
up to 20 words to practice
Write these selected words - one per index card.
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Mix the cards up
and write a definition on the back of the cards.
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Make sure that the
WRONG definition is on the back of each card.
Now we are ready to
play the game.
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Pass out the cards
to all the players (3 or more players).
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First player reads
the definition on his card.
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The player who has
the correct matching word to the definition says
“That’s ME” and says the word aloud.
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(Click photos to enlarge image.) |
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This player now reads the
definition on the back of his card and another player,
recognizing the definition is for a word he has on a
card states “That’s ME”.
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For example – first player
reads “not able to be climbed or overcome”. Player
holding card “INSURMOUNTABLE” says “That’s ME – the word
is insurmountable. This player now reads definition on
back of his card for another player to say “That’s ME”.
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All players need to be
listening to make sure that the word matches the
definition.
Let me
know by e-mail what your favorite activity was this month. I am compiling information for a resource book
and want your input. Thanks.
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