THIS ISSUE'S THEME: The Letter E
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Volume 7, Issue 17
October 12, 2009
Theme: The Letter F
Fantastic F
Teacher:
Say the word farm, or foot, or fall.
What starting sound do you hear?
(teacher cups hand to ear)
Children (responding in unison):
We hear an F –- my dear!
Teacher:
Say the word for, or fast, or feet…
What starting sound do you hear?
(teacher cups hand to ear)
Children (responding in unison):
We hear an F –- my dear!
Continue this response rhyme by inserting more f- words…
This school year, each of our newsletters will bring you and your children activities featuring a letter of the alphabet. We know that many of you introduce the alphabet to your children one letter at a time, sharing activities that reinforce it during the course of several weeks. We hope our new format will support your teaching and give you some new ideas to enhance your alphabet instruction.
Susan LaBella
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter
 FEATHER FUN
Print a copy of this bird for each child. Provide children with feathers, which can be purchased from craft stores or taken from a feather duster. Let children glue the feathers onto the bird to create their own pet. Children can then name their new fine-feathered “pets.”
AN F MOBILE
Have children cut from magazines and catalogs any pictures they find of things whose names begin with f. Maybe they will find pictures of feet, a farm, a fan, fire… Give each child an oatmeal box lid. (Alternates: a small, sturdy paper plate or a 6-inch circle cut from heavy cardboard.) Punch a hole in the center of the lid. Punch holes at equal spaces around the edge of the lid. Pass a piece of yarn through the center hole in the lid and knot it well. Next, punch a hole at the top of each child’s pictures. String a piece of yarn through the hole in a picture and knot it at that end. Push the other end of that piece of string through a hole in the lid and knot it. Do this for each picture. To display, hang the mobile from the center piece of string.
FUNKY FANS
Help children glue a paper plate (not Styrofoam) onto a wooden craft stick. Invite children to decorate the plate with fingerprints dipped in various colors of tempera paint. Finally, let children glue strips of foil around the edges of the plate. What fun and funky fans!
FLOWERS ’N FEET
Give each child a sheet of 11- by 17-inch construction paper. Instruct children to turn their papers vertically. Let each child dip his/her palm into a shallow tin or bowl of tempera paint and press it onto the top of his/her paper to create a flower. Next, have children draw long stems from their “flowers.” Then let children dip the soles of their feet into tempera paint and press each foot to either side of the stem to make leaves. Add each child’s name to his/her creation.
FIRE TRUCK SNACK
Toast a slice of bread for each child. Cut it in half vertically. Place one rectangle on a plate for the fire truck’s body. Cut the other rectangle in half, forming two squares. Place one square at the front of the rectangle for the truck’s engine. Place the other square on top of the rectangle as the truck’s cab. Tint some cream cheese red and spread onto the trucks. Add two round candies, crackers, or sliced carrots for wheels. Use pretzel sticks to create a ladder on the truck’s side. Finally, place a red gumdrop on top of the cab for the truck’s siren light.
YOUR WORD CORNER
Here are some words you will need.
See them, say them … hey, you can read!!
funny
find
foot
Write the words on a chart and review them. Then read aloud each sentence that appears below. Try each word in each sentence. Let children tell you which word fits.
That clown is so _______________!
I kicked it with my ___________.
Can you help me _____________my shoes?
Check out the following Web sites for additional background and activities.
Beginning Consonant Sounds
Print this out for letter f-f-fun.
http://www.kidzone.ws/prek_wrksht/learning-letters/f.htm
Alphabet Action
Kids will enjoy this interactive site. They click on a letter to hear its sound.
http://www.learningplanet.com/act/fl/aact/index.asp
Fall Trees
With children, visit this site to see a tree with its fall-colored leaves.
http://urbanext.illinois.edu/trees1/flash/12.html
F Is For…
Stuck for more F words? We like this picture dictionary –- both colorful and handy!
http://www.littleexplorers.com/Fisfor.shtml
F Songs
Get a whole bunch of fun here.
http://www.everythingpreschool.com/alphabet/F/songs.htm
Plan Letter F Activities
Try any of these simple activities to reinforce the letter F.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4822606_plan-letter-f-activities.html
COMING NEXT ISSUE
October 26, 2009
The Letter G
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Shakespeare: To Teach or Not to Teach -- Teaching Shakespeare Made Fun From Elementary to High School
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Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace One School at a Time
Greg Mortenson is an American who tried to climb K2, the world's second-tallest mountain, but didn't make it. Dangerously ill after this effort, he was sheltered for seven weeks in a Pakistani village and promised to return to build its first school. This grew into the Central Asia Institute, which has built more than 50 schools across Pakistan and Afghanistan. An engaging story about reaching across cultures through education.
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- Concentration Review Game (All Subjects, grades K-12)
- The Dictionary Game (Language Arts, grades 3-8)
- Play Ball: A Major League Review Game (All Subjects, grades K-12)
- Friendly Feud (All Subjects, grades K-12)
- Plus 35 more games!
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Cheaters Get Their Due
A seventh-grade teacher was giving a test that was right out of the Teacher's Manual. Two students had managed to snitch the manual and made copies of the answer key for the test. They were well on their way to making good grades on the test until the teacher read the answer “Answers will vary” on both their papers. Needless to say, both students earned zeros for their efforts.
More (Politically-Incorrect) Report Card Comments
Since our last conference, this student has reached rock bottom and has started to dig.
Works well when under constant supervision and when cornered like a rat in a trap.
When she opens her mouth, it seems it is only to change feet.
He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle.
This young lady has delusions of adequacy.
He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.
This student should go far, and the sooner he starts the better.
He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier.
The Correct Answer
Teacher: Now class, whatever I ask I want you to all answer at once... How much is 9 times 3?
Students: At once!
Little Johnny Strikes Again
Teacher: What are the Great Plains?
Little Johnny: The F-16, the 747, and the Concorde!
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