Howdy Book

Howdy, Friends! That's cowboy and cowgirl talk for "hello". That's what I teach my urban Pre-K students. I create a book with the students' name and photos. Glue a boot clip art or die cut to each page. (You need one per child plus one for the front cover.) Type and glue "Howdy, ____" at the bottom of each page. Type and glue "Howdy, Friends" & "featuring (Your name)'s (grade) class" to the front cover. Laminate and bind book. Velcro in photos and use an overhead marker to write the name. The book is ready to read! Pass out the photos and have children put it on the correct page as you read. Your students will say howdy to learning!

Party Math

This is an easy way to reuse extra birthday party decorations. I cut apart a Toy Story Banner from my son's 4th birthday. (He just turned 15 so I have had this game a while!) Tape numbers on the bottom. Use a theme appropriate manipulative for the children to count out the correct number. It's a fun way to practice making sets and reuse material that would otherwise be thrown away.

ABC Photo Book

This book is so easy to make but since the kids are the stars they will LOVE it! Place alphabet stickers in the bottom corner of index cards. Laminate and bind into a book. Tape in photos of the children under the appropriate letter. What an appropriate way to connect the children's names to the letters of the alphabet. It's learning with meaning!

Paper Strip Sculptures

This is an easy first of the year art project that my friend Janet showed me. (Thanks, Janet!) Cut strips of paper out of construction paper. Put out tape or glue and let the kids build. Encourage them to weave the pieces and make it more three dimensional. It's quick! It's easy! It's fun!

Kid Number Roll

This is a simple game that is perfect for the Math Center. I cut the kid pics out of a strip of bulletin border. (* Hint: Look in the sale room of the local teacher store or at the Dollar Tree for cheap border!) Then I wrote a numeral on the front of each child's shirt. After gluing it on a piece of construction paper, I wrote the number word under each child. Laminate and the game is done!

Roll one die and place a bingo chip, glass gem, counter, or other manipulative on the correct number. Keep rolling until all kids/numbers are covered.

Looking for ways to extend the game? Make the children wear the numbers 1-12 and use two dice. OR if you have more time, play the "never ending" version. The first time you roll a number, put a manipulative on. The next time the number comes up, take the manipulative off. Keep rolling until all the kids/numbers are covered.

Can You Find the Letter?

Can you find the letters? Your kids can with this fun big book and pointers!

The big book is easy. Type and print the words (below). Glue one set to each page. Laminate the words and several different die cut letters. Velcro the die cut letters into the book. As you sing the song, take off the letter and hand it to the child. Ask them to find that letter in the classroom.

Can You Find The Letter? (tune to "The Muffin Man")

Can you find the letter ___?

The letter ___?

The letter ___?

Can you find the letter ___?

Somewhere in our room

Build literacy even more by creating fun pointers. Child Care Land (www.childcareland.com) has a fun idea for using bathtub toys and sequins to make letter pointers. (You can also use a foam letter puzzle!) OR take inexpensive magnifying glasses (think Dollar Tree or Oriental Trading) and write a letter on each. Let the kids use these pointers to find letters throughout the room.

Cheap, easy, and full of literacy!

Homemade Tackle Box and Fishing Bobber Game

You can make this SUPER CUTE fishing game using an egg carton, pipe cleaners, and fishing bobbers. Start by getting a cardboard egg carton. Tie two pipe cleaners to create handles. Now you have a tacklebox. Write a number 1-12 on each of the fishing bobbers. Write the corresponding numbers in each section of the egg carton. You can also use letters or letters. What other ideas do you have? Post below!