Teaching Nouns with the Twelve Days of Christmas Song

Listening and singing traditional Christmas songs is one of my favorite holiday activities.  I look forward to the hearing Christmas songs played on a radio station.  When it comes to traditional Christmas songs, there's no lack of material!  The centuries from the past have given us much to enjoy. 

I used the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas to create a packet of first or second grade math and language arts materials.  My previous post was about the math component (adding within 12 and adding within 18) of the file.  You can read about it HERE.  This blog post is about the language arts portion of the resource.  

Grouping Nouns:  When I was in elementary school, I heard over and over again, "A noun is a person, place, or thing."  Since then, my definition has changed to, "A noun is an animal, person, place, thing, or idea. 

The definition of nouns seems straightforward enough (Except abstract nouns like an idea are tricky for kids to grasp.) but for many students it's a hard concept.  I think it's best to introduce nouns in segments instead of attempting to teach all categories of nouns at once.  My experience is that the "animals" category is the easiest for kids to understand.  It's the least hazy of the four groups of nouns.  The "person" group is uncomplicated when words like, boy, girl, man, and woman are used with the children.  Throw in words like, painter, jugglers, cook, and pipers and the confusion starts brewing in their little faces!  Should I mention that the word cook is a noun AND a verb?  Try explaining that to six and seven year old children!  It's no wonder that the concept of nouns takes a while to soak in.

The song, The Twelve Days of Christmas works beautifully with a lesson about nouns.  A new noun is added to each verse as the song progresses.  The sequence of "gifts" in the verses are four animals, one thing, two more animals, and the remaining five verses are people.  Those people happen to be musically or acrobatically inclined!

Pictures (not words) should be used when introducing nouns for the first time.  This is because the CONCEPT of nouns is being taught.  When words are used, there is an additional requirement posed on the children.  That is, their reading ability PLUS learning the concept of what a noun is.  The page shown below is a noun sort with pictures of animals and people.  I used five of the people from The Twelve Days of Christmas song for the sort.  This cut and paste activity is perfect for first graders.  No reading required!

The next photo is a nouns word sort.  Reading is required for success with the worksheet.  It will work well for second graders that are proficient readers.  I used the people, animals and things from the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas.  There needed to be a "place" category in the word sort but there are no places mentioned in the song, Twelve Days of Christmas.  Therefore, I added the word "theater".  

Using Plural Nouns:  The Twelve Days of Christmas is a perfect song for showing examples of plural nouns.  I created a page for practicing one of the spelling rules that is taught with plural forms of common nouns.  The spelling rule is, "Change the letter y to an i.  Then add es." 

Verbs with Inflected Endings:  Verbs are another important part of the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas.  Children can act out the song by moving in accord with the characters mentioned.  I included an inflected ending worksheet in the file using some of the verbs from the song.

Alphabetical Order:  Birds are popular pets in many places around the world.  It's interesting that the author of the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas chose birds as the only kind of pet that was given as a gift to the "true love".  Who knows why?  The birds represent fifty percent of the "gifts" in the song.  I used some of the birds from the song and included some other birds to make a simple alphabetical order practice sheet with nouns.

Words to the Song:  This file wouldn't be complete without copies of the song.  I've included a few different versions.  

Reading Passage:  I've also created a reading passage about birds with a quiz for students to take after reading.

Preparation

The paper dice for the math activity and the pocket chart cards for the alphabetical order practice are the only things that require preparation in advance of using this resource.  The children do the cutting and pasting themselves.  Everything has an ink-friendly, black and white version.  

EduClips did a beautiful job representing the characters to go with the song!

If you would like to view this file at my shop, click on the image shown below!

Here are a few ideas for teaching nouns:

1.  Introduce one noun category and practice it before introducing another category.  This should include one lessons or activity with animals, one with people, one for places and one for things.

2.  Use pictures to group nouns before proceeding to sorting nouns with words.

3.  Borrow a dollhouse from a kindergarten or preschool teacher.  Make word labels such as:  kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living room.  Give each child a copy of the labels or make one classroom copy and set the labels next to the dollhouse.  Have the children place the labels in the appropriate rooms of the doll house.  

4.  Create noun lists for things that are relevant to the children's REAL lives.  Make a list of people at school such as:  teachers, principal, nurse, secretary, librarian and custodian.  Make a list of places at the school such as:  gym, library, office, classroom, clinic, and playground.

5.  Avoid teaching proper nouns and common nouns at the same time.

I've made a FREE file that will help with some of these ideas!  Click the image shown below to get all the pages. 

  
© Lessons by Molly 2015.  All rights reserved.  

Twelve Days of Christmas Math

One of my favorite Christmas songs is The Twelve Days of Christmas.  I've been listening and singing this traditional Christmas song since I was a young child.  I loved the idea of the "true love" receiving gifts . . . especially all the birds.  When I became a teacher-author, I knew I could incorporate first or second grade learning activities with this beautiful song.  This blog post is about the math activities for The Twelve Days of Christmas resource I created.      

Adding within 12 - Form B:  Each student will need to a regular pair of dice to complete "Form B" which is adding within 12.  Use dice that are numbered with dots from one to six on the faces.  This will allow students to count the dots when they are calculating their sums.  Students roll the dice and record the two addends shown on the dice dots.  They then circle the correct numeral which is their sum.  Print sides one and two (front and back) on the sheets so that students have 8 problems to complete.

Adding within 18 - Form A:  If you use the "Form A", you will need to use the paper dice that are included in the file.  There is a tutorial at the end of this blog post.  The paper dice represent the gifts from The Twelve Days of Christmas song.  One dice template is for the gifts from 1 to 6.  The second dice template is for the gifts from 7 to 12.  The numerals are represented on the dice.  There are no actual matching numbers on the dice.  Therefore, students will need to use manipulatives or calculators to solve the problems.  Students will arrive at the sum of 18 only when the "6 geese a-laying" are rolled along with a roll of the "12 drummers drumming" on the second dice  This activity can be used as a math station which means you'll only need to make a few sets of dice.  Allow the children to work with a peer.  While the children are standing, they drop the dice on the floor or carpet.  They observe the numbers that are face up on the dice.  The numbers that are face up are the addends.  The record the addends on the recording sheets.  Then, they solve the addition problem that was created.  They circle the correct sum from the selection provided.  Each child within a pair is responsible for one of the dice. 

The fact that The Twelve Days of Christmas song has twelve gifts made the paper dice activity work well.  The paper dice template that is included could also be used with "Form B".  In that instance, you would use two of the dice that are for gifts 1 to 6.  You would not use the dice template for the gifts from 7 to 12.

Determine The Missing Number:  The Twelve Days of Christmas is a cumulative song.  Each verse repeats the previous ones.  The quantities of gifts also increase by one number with each new day.  The worksheet shown below includes sentences which tell the number given of a particular gift.  Students can use manipulatives to determine the missing number.  The back side of the worksheet includes the gifts for days eight through twelve.

Here is a tutorial for assembling the dice.

Step One:  Print the desired paper dice templates.  You will need a pair of scissors and tape to complete the next steps.

Step Two:  Cut out the paper dice template.  Cut on the solid lines.  Do NOT cut on the broken (dotted) lines.  Each dice has six faces or surfaces.

Step Three:  Fold on the broken (dotted) lines.  This includes the seven flabs (or tabs) that extend from some of the faces (or surfaces) of the dice.

Step Four: Start on the dice surface which has two flaps.  Tuck the flaps into the dice as you tape the edge of one surface to the edge of another surface.

Step Five:  Continue taping the surfaces of the dice together.  Conceal the remaining three flaps into the dice and tape.

You're almost finished!  Repeat the procedure with the other dice template.

You're ready to use your paper dice that go with the song named Twelve Days of Christmas!

This resource also includes printable sheets with the words to the song, The Twelve Days of Christmas and several language arts activities that are suitable for first and second graders.  Find more details about the language arts activities in the next blog post HERE.  Click the image shown below to view this product in my shop.

Lessons by Molly © 2015  All rights reserved.

Cyber Monday Sale and a Giveaway

Get out your computers, your laptops, and your phones.  It's time to shop online!  Cyber Monday is on November 30th this year.  I am excited to tell you that Teachers Pay Teachers is going to have a SALE on MONDAY, November 30th AND TUESDAY, December 1st!  Everything in my store will be 20% off.  Use the promo code "SMILE" and receive and additional savings.  Click on the image shown below to view my store and make your wishlist now.  The image shown below created by Jillian Starr.  Visit her Teachers Pay Teachers shop at:  Jillian Starr.  Thank you Jillian!
  

Want more to SMILE about?  Enter for a chance to win a $100.00 gift certificate good toward items on Teachers Pay Teachers.  Keep reading!

Here are the steps:
1.  Type your name and email where shown in the Rafflecopter.  
2.  Go to the website that is linked in the directions.
3.  Find the name of one person that endorsed TBOTEMC.  Return to the contest and type the name in. 
4.  Visit the stores of sellers listed and answer additional questions.  This will increase your chances of winning.
 a Rafflecopter giveaway
  Lessons by Molly © 2015  All rights reserved.

Independent Reading Is a Literacy Center Activity

Greetings!

It's October and leveled reading groups are in full swing.  It can be a daunting task to manage the children that are not working directly with the teacher while he/she is involved with a guided reading group. 

The question that goes through every educator's mind is, "What are the other children in my class doing while I am working with a reading group?"  It's a tough question and there are no "One-Size-Fits-All-Classrooms" answers.  Part of how the other children are managed depend on whether or not there is another teacher, a paraprofessional, or a parent volunteer in the classroom at the time that reading groups take place.

Whatever the answer may be, there's one thing that is for certain.  When students are working on their own, the assignment or literacy centers must be at their INDEPENDENT level.  This is a time for students to review or practice skills which they have MASTERED.  An exception to this is when students are working directly with another adult.  Then, they are working at their INSTRUCTIONAL level. When students are expected to work on a level that is beyond their current independent level, they become frustrated!  In the end, the teacher must reteach material that was learned the wrong way when adult support was absent.    

If the teacher is the only adult in the classroom while reading groups are taking place, he/she has the challenging task of creating meaningful, independent-level activities for all of the students to engage in. 

One of the best literacy centers that can be developed is independent book reading.  (If you have book corner with a collection of picture books that the children go to and randomly select books to view . . . . it's not an independent reading center.  Don't get me wrong!  There is value in "Book-Look" time.  But it is not independent reading.  That is, unless your classroom is filled with first graders that are reading well above grade level.)

In order to set up an independent reading center, you will need leveled books.  The small paperback books work wonderfully.  You will also need to provide each child (or pair of children) with their own storage container for the books.  Plastic ice cube bins make great book bins for the small paperback books.  You can get the plastic ice cube bins at a super-center store.  The cost is under $2.00 per bin.  Tape name tags to the bins to indicate the child or children that "own" the bin.  Try to replace the books with new ones on a monthly basis.  If you are using consumable booklets (the ones that you print and assemble), consider giving the books away (to the "bin-owners") when you switch out the books.  They'll love to take the books home and share with their families! 

Here is a photo of an ice cube bin that is used as a leveled book bin.   

This ice cube bin is being used as a leveled reader book bin.

The next thing that you will need to do is start supplying the children's ice book bins with books!  The only books that make their way into a child's (or pair of children) bin are the ones that he/she can read on an independent level.  Independent reading means that the child can read the book with little or no errors.  Most experts have considered that to be at a 95% level of accuracy for the lower leveled books.  Therefore, if the book has a total of 25 words, and a child makes1 error while reading the book, the child reads the book with 96% accuracy.  The book is within the independent range.  But, if the child makes 2 errors with the same book, it's at 92% accuracy.  Hence, the book is not a candidate for that particular child's book bin.   

The child's "just-right" books need to be his/her independent reading level.  

Have you assessed a child's reading level and found that the assessment tool was not quite accurate?  If you've conducted leveled reading assessments with lower elementary aged children, you've seen this!  You've tested a student on a "B" level book and he's at instructional level.  Then, you've tested the same child on a "C" level book (within a week's time) and he scores at independent level.  Did he make a level's worth of reading growth in one week?  No.  

What happened????  

Many of the leveled books focus on a small handful of sight words within a single book.  If the book on the "C" level happens to have sight words that the child knows, he might score at independent level.  At the same token, if he doesn't know the sight words in a "B" level book, he might make a few errors resulting in an instructional level score.  

Think of the assessment tool as narrowing the gap but not always hitting the nail on the head!  

I've been creating my own collection of TAKE HOME READERS.  My booklets include word cards for every word within the text.  This includes both the sight words and the vocabulary words.  I've also included assessments for each book so that teachers can easily check for accuracy and determine whether or not a child can read the book independently.  My TAKE HOME READERS are "print-fold-staple" technology.  There is no cutting with scissors.  There is no use of a paper cutter.  Many of my readers include both a color version as well as a black and white version. 

Some of the books can be sung to traditional children's songs.  I love using the well known tunes. Many parents are able to find the song on the internet.  Some parents might recall the tune from their own childhood experiences.  The video below shows my attempt at singing one of my books to the tune, "Oh My Darling Clementine".  

Phew!  Glad I'm finished singing! 

The images below are from my fall themed take home readers.  Click on any of the images to view at my shop.  The first one is a book about the days of the week which are presented in sequential order.  The second booklet is sung to the tune of, "Oh My Darling Clementine".  The last booklet is about a visit to a pumpkin patch.  The last booklet is a FREE RESOURCE that you can get at my Teachers Pay Teachers shop.

There are several artists that should be credited for the adorable illustrations in the booklets that I made.  They are  Laura from Whimsy Clips  and Sarah from Educlips.  Visit their fabulous shops!


That's all for now!


Lessons by Molly © 2015  All rights reserved.

sight-word-games

Summer is over but its memories linger on.  I thought I'd post a few pictures from last summer.   

The first photo is of a young fellow who learned how to float.  His swim trunks are almost the same color as the water!  The shiny dark hair that you see floating in the water is now sporting a short, "school boy" haircut.  He was taking it easy and clearing his mind of his summer projects.  He wasn't thinking about the fact that in a few short weeks he would be floating right into a classroom!   

Relaxing before the start of a new school year.

Learning how to float!

The young lady has a different way of relaxing.  For her, it's all about movement . . . . nonstop!  

Going down the water slide!

Jumping off the diving board.

Once in a while, the two of them like to compete with each other in a friendly game of ball!  

Time to play ball!

I have been working on some fresh ideas to practice sight word recognition.  Our "poolside fun" gave me inspiration!  This summer, I sat down and made up 3 new games for sight word practice.  I decided to use the pool as the theme.  

I wanted the games to be ENGAGING, FUN, and CHALLENGING.   They also needed to foster FLUENCY, SPELLING, and high-order THINKING.  I used 25 of the most frequently used sight words in text.  When students don't know the first 25 sight words, there's little point in trying to learn more advanced sight words.  If you've taught second grade for a while, you've probably encountered a student that came to you in August or September and knew less than 15 sight words.  You scratch your head and can't help but wonder what happened in first grade!  But, you have to take your students where they're at.  The good news is that you can support children that have significant gaps in their progress and they can make huge gains in their growth during the next few months of school.   

Here's a description of the sight word games I created:    

Game 1 Fish in the Water        

Players take turns withdrawing sentences from a stack.

Players take turns withdrawing sentences.  (This game works best with 2 players.)  There is a sight word underlined within the sentence.  The player that withdrew the sentence reads the sentence and marks the spot with the same word on the game board.

The 4 green bingo chips will go in the water.

The players continue taking turns withdrawing sentences and marking spots along the pool's edge.  Once a player has 3 spots in a row covered with bingo chips, it's "Fish in the Water".  He/she slides the bingo chips into the water.  (Because of the nature of the game, it is necessary for each player to have his/her own set of bingo chips that are distinguished from the opposing player by the color.)

In some situations, a player will have 4 or 5 in a row.  In this case, all the chips within the row go in the water.  In the photo above, the player with the orange chips could cover the word "is", then the word "at" and then the word "that".  5 in a Row!

The game is over with when all the sentence strips have been withdrawn.  The winner of the game is the child that has the greatest number of "FISH" in the water.

This game will require a minimal amount of preparation.  You will need to print the game board and laminate it (if desired).  You will also need to print the sentence strips and cut them out.

Print the sentence strips on card-stock paper and cut them out.

Game 2  CLAIM!  

Each player will need his/her own set of bingo chips and his/her own set of letter tiles.

Players "BUILD" the sight words that are show along the pool's edge.  They use paper (or other material) letter tiles to make the words.  Once a player builds a word, he/she must "CLAIM" the spot by placing a bingo marker over the word on the pool's edge.  Once a spot is "CLAIMED" other players can't take the spot.  Children will quickly learn that it is easier to start by building 1-letter and 2-letter words claiming those spots first.  Let them figure out this strategy on their own! 

The game ends when a player has created the required number of words to win.  This can be a small number such as 5 words.  The game can also continue until all the spots along the pool's edge are claimed.  The winner is the player that builds the most words or builds the required number of words first.  (Use a small number of words to win when the game when it is first introduced to the class.)

"BUILD" a word.  "CLAIM" the spot.

"BUILD" another word.  "CLAIM" another spot.

This game will require a minimal amount of preparation.  You will need to print the game board and laminate it (if desired).  You will also need to print 2 or 3 sets (1 set per player) of letter tiles and cut them out.  Print the letter tiles on card-stock paper.  Use a different color card-stock paper for each set of letter tiles.  Store them in small baggies.

Print the letter tiles on card-stock paper.  Use a different color of card-stock for each player.

Cut out the letter tiles.  Provide each player with his/her own set.

*If you have access to blank ceramic or plastic letter tiles, it is easier for the students to build words with this material.  This is because they are heavier than paper.  The paper letter tiles tend to move around while the children play the game and hence, the words become disarranged.  

At least 70 letter tiles are needed per player.  (It's better to have extras in case some get lost!)  The tiles need to be a different color for each player.  Ceramic tiles might be found at a craft store.  A local flooring company is also a good place to look.  (Keep in mind that ceramic tiles will create more noise than paper tiles.) 

Program the tiles to align with the letters in the words.  This can easily be done by using the letter tile sheet provided in the file.  Separate the individual tiles.  (Avoid using tiles that are linked together with cement-like material!)

The white ceramic tiles are being programmed with the same letters as the paper sheet.  A black permanent marker is used to write the letters.

 Game 3  Mystery of the Floating Flip-Flops


Players become "Detectives" in this game.  Players use deductive reasoning to determine the mystery word.  (It is the same concept as logic puzzles.)  At least 3 players are needed for the game.  1 player is the "Witness".  The witness is the only player that views the mystery word.  

Turn the card that is in the swimming pool face down so that it can't be seen by the detectives.

The word cards are shuffled and placed in a bag.  The witness withdraws a word from the bag.  The witness looks at the word and then places it face down in the swimming pool.  

The "Witness" randomly selects one of the sight word cards to be placed face down in the swimming pool.

There is a set of interrogation cards.  These are shuffled and placed in a stack.  Detectives take turns withdrawing an interrogation card.  They ask the witness the question posed on the interrogation card.  The witness answers with "Yes" or "No". 

Interrogation cards

Detectives rule out "suspects".  They mark an "X" within the circles when a word is no longer a "suspect".  ("Suspects" are any words which might be the word that is face down in the pool.)

"Detectives" record their "clues" on the Word Suspects sheet.

In the photo shown below, the first question that was withdrawn says, "Does the word have a t?"  The mystery word is "that".  Therefore, the answer to the question is "Yes".  At this point, detectives can cross out the words which do not contain the letter "t".

Game components include:  Game board, interrogation cards, sight word cards, and the word suspects recording sheet.

The game is concluded when all but one suspect remains.  This will happen before all interrogation cards are used.  At that time, detectives must determine the word that is floating in the water.  They record this on the word suspects sheet.  The word in the swimming pool is revealed.  The witness is the one to reveal it.  The winners are the detectives that accurately determined the correct mystery word.

The preparation involved in this game includes:   1.  Printing the game board and laminating it (if desired).  2.  Printing multiple copies of the word suspects sheet.  3.  Printing and cutting out the word cards.  4.  Printing and cutting out the interrogation cards. 

Print and cut out the word cards.

  Use white card-stock for printing the word cards.

Print and cut out the interrogation cards.

Use white or colored card-stock for printing the interrogation cards.

If desired, trim the white edge off of the game boards prior to using.

If desired, trim the white edge off of the game boards.

I used graphics from Lettering Delights to create this resource.  It was the perfect fit for what I was envisioning!  Here is a link to their website:  Lettering Delights.

I created this product for second and third graders that have learned less than 15 sight words.  Due to the length of the sentences in the game "Fish in the Water", it is too advanced for most first semester first graders.  The "Mystery of the Floating Flip-Flops" requires deductive reasoning which may be beyond the reach of some first graders as well.

This file will work well in a one-adult to one-child ratio where the adult is one of the players.  This could be a parent volunteer or a paraprofessional.  

If you have groups of older students that visit your classroom on a weekly basis, second graders could be paired with fifth graders to play the games.  (You would need to print multiple copies of each game for this to work.)  

An educator could also work with a small group of six students with the "Fish In the Water" game.  This could be done by pairing the children together.  The educator's role would be to support the players.

Once your students have practiced the games several times, the games could be used as independent group literacy center activities.

On a side note:  The sweet gal shown in the photo below loves the sight word wheel that I made from a cake wheel.  She can read each word separately and turn the wheel to read the next word.  She doesn't have to read the words from a horizontal or vertical line of print.  She can turn the word wheel faster than she could if flash cards were being used.  However, the sight word wheel does NOT provide her with reading fluency practice, sight word spelling practice, high-order thinking, learning to work with peers, or to develop positive sportsmanship conduct.  Get your sight word game on!

Sight word wheel

If you're interested in the resource featured in the post, you can view it at my shop by clicking the image shown below:

Lessons by Molly © 2015  All rights reserved.