This page is for parents, students and educators. I will add websites and activities you may want to try. (This page was updated on September 17, 2020).
As you know this is an important election year. Below you will find links for students to learn about the government and elections. If you complete any of the writing activities, share them with me and I will post them on my website. Click on the icons to go to the web pages.
Storybooks About Being President
NOTE: The flashcards were created on the Quizlet website. To view the flashcards, click on Flashcards. (Dismiss "Sign-In".)
There is an audio component and practice activities. Scroll to the bottom of the page to listen to the words and definitions.
The Nearpod Quizzes are self-directed and give immediate feedback.
There is an audio component and practice activities. Scroll to the bottom of the page to listen to the words and definitions.
The Nearpod Quizzes are self-directed and give immediate feedback.
These lessons were updated on August 23, 2020 and will be available to May 2021.
Click on the pictures to view the videos.
Grace for President (9:24)
This is realistic fiction about a girl who wants to be president of her class. You can listen to the book while you view the text. You can also listen to the story narrated by my 2011 library class. (You may have to turn up the volume to hear the narrators.) What would you do if you were president? NOTE: These are You Tube videos.
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If I Ran for President (8:07)
This is a great book for teaching students about what it takes to be the president. The book is narrated by the young actors from This Is Us. It is part of the Storyline Online series. TEACHERS/PARENTS: Click HERE to download the Activity Guide for the book.
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Duck for President (8:59)
Duck is fed up with his chores and wonders who put Farmer Brown in charge. He decides what the farm needs is an election and a new leader. Duck campaigns, wins the Presidency, and quickly realizes running a country is no fun at all! A fun way to teach younger students on how an election works. Check out teaching mama.org for some fun activities for your child. (Grade PreK-2)
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Facts About the Government
I Spy - Find out about the U. S. government. You can also type in the name of any politician in the United States and see their positions on various categories.
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Scholastic Elections - Lessons and ideas for students in Grades 3-5 regarding elections and how they work.
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Read-Along Mondays with Michelle Obama
Our first lady, Michelle Obama read some of her favorite children's books every during the months of April and May. I have embedded the videos onto this Working at Home page.
You can click on the player to just listen to the story or you can choose the Nearpod Lesson. The Nearpod Lessons include the reading of the books, Before You Read and After You Read questions, a quiz and a bonus activity or video.*
If you need help with the Nearpod Self-Directed Lessons, click on the icon below for a quick tutorial.
Recommendation for the Kahoot Quiz. The parent/teacher opens the quiz on a device (smart phone, computer, or tablet.) Each student should have a device to respond on or students can work as a team on one device.
The Gruffalo
You can view both videos and take a quiz if you select Nearpod Lesson. *This lesson includes another story by the author. Click here to just see an enhanced video of the story.
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There's a Dragon in Your Book
You can listen to the story and take a quiz if you select Nearpod Lesson. *This lesson includes a video about Kimodo dragons. Craft: You can create a "dragon" using a paper towel roll. View this VIDEO.
Teachers/Parents: Click on this Kahoot Quiz. Sign in with your account or play as a guest.
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Miss Maple's Seeds
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
You can listen to the story and take a quiz. Select Nearpod Lesson. *This lesson includes a video about how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. |
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Giraffe Problems
You can listen to the story and take a quiz. Select Nearpod Lesson.
*This lesson includes a video about how giraffes. Crafts - Enjoy these giraffe crafts and an online jigsaw puzzle. Click here.
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The Bear Ate Your Sandwich
You can listen to the story and complete a vocabulary activity. Select Nearpod Lesson.
*You can download and print the a vocabulary sheet. Click here. Try this: Listen to another version of the story that highlights text as it is read. Click here.
Teacher/Parents: Click on this Kahoot Quiz. Sign in with your account or play as a guest. |
Oh The Places You'll Go
You can listen to the story and take a quiz. Select Nearpod Lesson.
*This lesson includes a video about themes in literature. Crafts: Try some of these art projects inspired by the story. Click here.
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Can I Be Your Dog?
You can listen to the story and take a quiz. Select Nearpod Lesson.
*This lesson includes a video about persuasive writing. Writing Activity: You can access a letter writing generator if you click here. It is also available at the end of the Nearpod Lesson.
Teacher/Parents: Click on this Kahoot Quiz. Sign in with your account or play as a guest. |
In the next section you will find some indoor scavenger hunts that are fun for the whole family. There are five scavenger hunts with six clues on each page. You can cut up the sheets of paper and make cards. You can do as many as you want to do a day. After finding the answers to the clue, have the students take a photo or draw a picture of the answers. NOTE: You may not have some of these items in your home. (I have hidden the answers keys on some of my other website pages. Click on the answer key links at the bottom of the page and hunt for the answer keys.) Use your pictures to post around the house or make a digital book. (I found this activity on The Spruce website.)
More Scavenger Hunts (printable) on Primary Playground.
Here is a fun Scavenger Hunt for Easter. Print out the Clue Cards from the templates below. Template 1 has 8 clues and the answer key. Template 2 are blank clue cards where you type in your own clues. Template 3 are blank clue cards that you can print and write your clues. You can give out one clue a day or play them all at once.
Some suggestions for giving the clues to your children: 1. Cut out the clues and put them in plastic Easter eggs and have the child pick an egg. 2. Tape the clues onto the refrigerator or the mirror. If you don't have use of a printer, take pictures of each clue and show on a phone, tablet or computer. You can video record the clue with a voiceover. For the payoff: Of course, there has to be rewards when they find the spots. You can leave toys, money, or plastic eggs with toys and candy in them. You also can leave notes with rewards, like computer time, mommy or daddy time, time to go outside, etc. Be creative.
Some suggestions for giving the clues to your children: 1. Cut out the clues and put them in plastic Easter eggs and have the child pick an egg. 2. Tape the clues onto the refrigerator or the mirror. If you don't have use of a printer, take pictures of each clue and show on a phone, tablet or computer. You can video record the clue with a voiceover. For the payoff: Of course, there has to be rewards when they find the spots. You can leave toys, money, or plastic eggs with toys and candy in them. You also can leave notes with rewards, like computer time, mommy or daddy time, time to go outside, etc. Be creative.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Spring is here. Enjoy exploring nature as a family (and at another time you can enjoy this with your friend.) When children learn to appreciate and enjoy nature, they are more likely to grow into adults who value and protect our environment. Choose one of the checklist below or make your own. Prepare questions that you want them to answer when they complete the scavenger. (See example questions on Checklist 1.) In the drawing activity, students will look for things to draw. In the sound and color activities, they will look for certain sound and find things of a specified color.
Suggested culminating activities: 1. Write a story about the adventure. 2. Draw and label pictures of what you saw. 3. Make a Powerpoint presentation with pictures you draw or photos that you took on your trip. 4. Write a poem about nature using ideas you found on your trip. 5. Write a nature book (fact or fiction).
Sample game
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This is a "scavenger hunt" for toddlers. You need: card stock or paper, pencils or markers, familiar objects to the toddler. On the paper or card stock, trace objects like toy cars, the remote, spoon, etc. Place the objects on a table or on the floor. Have the toddler find the objects and place them on the matching cards. Variations: The bigger children can trace the objects. The objects can be placed around the room for the child to find with the help of the older children. You can play I Spy... to find the object and then place it on the puzzle. (I found this activity on toddlerapproved.com.)
Click on the picture for a larger view. |
Mo Willems activities are no longer available. You can visit the Mo Willems website to read about the author.
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Here are some online tools to express yourself. After listening to a story or taking a virtual tour, use these sites to express yourself. Sketchpad and Autodraw also have areas where you can type.
Quick Draw -Can the computer guess what you're drawing? You have twenty seconds to draw an object. Check out the data to see millions of doodles.
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Nick Jr. Free Draw - Free Draw allows children to interact with a variety of art supplies and different colors to create customized pieces of art!
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Click on the bus to go to my virtual tour page. (The link was updated 3/25/20.)
Ready to get out? Follow this link to my Virtual Tours page on this site. There you will find links to great websites for fun tours. Then try some of the fun activities. Respond to your experiences through writing or drawing. Please send me your creations: [email protected].
Take a Virtual Field Trip Lesson (Animals)
Worksheet: Animal Webcam Observation
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Worksheet: Animal Observation Summary
Worksheets: Zoo Scavenger Hunts
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I conduct the STEAM Lab for the first and second grade classes. Visit the two links below for special activities.
These sites have online activities for students. The students will need guidance from an adult to help them choose the activities that are appropriate for them.
Wide Open School aims to make learning from home an experience that is accessible to all and that truly engages kids and teachers, relieves family stress, and restores community in the face of long-term school closures and other shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Khan Academy - This website provides learn videos practice and quizzes for elementary grade math skills. This link is for grade levels. You can also search by subject area.
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Helping With Math - This website is for parents who want to help their children with math. It provides a large number of printable math resources and online resources that help students to practice what they are learning at school. Scroll down for links to each grade level. (Avoid advertisements.)
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