Winter is Here... In Ms. Hampton's Room

Winter wonderland has come to Ms. Hampton's Room

Well, Christmas break came to an end yesterday. Back to the classroom for two days of in-service and preparing for the new theme. I was fortunate to have almost the entire two days free to re-arrange and transform my dramatic play center into a winter wonderland. I really wanted to make a milk jug igloo but didn't have enough milk jugs. I backed up and "punted!" I went to Pinterest.com for some ideas. I found a PVC fort that didn't look too difficult to make. I also added milk jug penguins, a "cradle" sled, a snowman for the students to make, ice fishing for letters, shapes, numbers, and colors; ice blocks to sit on, and a fire to roast marshmallows. Inside the "ice" fort the students can make alphabet soup and words using the magnetic letters. There is also a life size Emperor penguin for the students to measure themselves against. I can't wait for the kids to see it and explore the different areas.

Snowman, penguins, campfire oh my! So many choices.

All About the Letter I - Letter of the Week Activities

 Letter Hunt: Go on a Letter Ii hunt around your home. Encourage your child to see how many objects he can find with names beginning with the /i/ sound like in ice cream and itch. Support your child’s writing process by encouraging him/her to write the word on an index card. Then have him/her tape it to the object.

Odd Sound Out: Say three words, two beginning with the /i/ like in itch sound and one sound that is different. Have the student repeat which sound does not belong.

• in, itch, hat
• iguana, hot, igloo
• goat, ill, if
• it, is, food
• inch, ink, hotdog

I Listening Game: Read the following sentences. Have the students repeat the words that begin with the /i/ sound like in ice cream.

• Irene likes to eat ice cream.
•  I like to plant ivy.
• Watch out for the iceberg.
• McGee is an Irish name.
• An island has water on all sides.

Fill in the Missing Word:  All of your guesses should begin with the /i/ sound like in igloo.

• You can build this out of blocks of ice. It is round. You can sleep in it. It is an ________. (igloo)
• I can be a pet. I am cold blooded. I am usually green, and I like to eat insects.  I am an  ________. (iguana)
• It is sweet and made out of milk and cold. You can make a banana-split with it. If you leave it out of the freezer it will melt. It is   _______. (ice cream)
• When I sneeze and run a fever I am sick. Another word for sick has just three letters it is _____. (ill)

Circle and Find: Have students practice reading environmental print. Use newspapers, junk mail, and/or sales flyers and have them highlight all of the letter Ii’s using a highlighter.

Songs

Ii

(to the tune Clementine)

In an igloo on an island

in a sea of icey water

lived an inchworm named Ignatius

and his itsy bitsy daughter.

She was smaller than an inkblot

and her name was Isabelle.

She didn't need a cradle

cause she slept in a seashell.

If You're Happy and You Know It

If you're happy and you know it,

Scratch an itch “i” “i”

If you're happy and you know it,

Scratch an itch “i” “i”

If you're happy and you know it,

Then your face will surely show it

If you're happy and you know it,

Scratch an itch “i” “i”.

Where is the Alphabet?

(Tune: "Where Is Thumbkin?")

Where is I? Where is I? (Children repeat.)

Here I am! (Hold up the manual sign for I.)

Here I am! (Children repeat and copy sign.)

What do you say I? What do you say I?

/ĭ/ /ĭ//ĭ//ĭ//ĭ/

Literacy Activities 

Body Letters - Challenge children to make different letters with their bodies. Can you make an "I"? Can you make the letter that you hear at the beginning of "ice cream”?

Air Writing - Write letters in the air using the index finger and middle finger. Keep your elbow stiff. Note! The teacher will need to reverse the movements or turn around while demonstrating in front of the class.

Things to glue on the Alphabet

• plastic insects
  
• pictures of insects
• insect stickers
• draw ice cream cones, or icicles
• ink
• Make I's out of fingerprints and add legs and eyes for insects

Snacks

• ice cream
• ice
• icing
• ice pops
• Italian food
• Indian food

Credits:

www.MyCuteGraphics.com

All About the Letter I - Letter of the Week SMARTBoard Activities

YouTube.com Educational Links:

I have put together a collection of songs and read a-loud books about the Letter I.

GO TO>> YOUTUBE PLAYLIST

Note: All books and songs are copyrighted by original owners. Youtube links change periodically. If you find a broken link please email me at:lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com

There are over 20 pages of interactive activities to promote and reinforce letter, critical thinking, and math concepts. All About the Letter Ii is perfect for whole group, small group, and individual practice on the SMARTBoard or on a computer with the SMARTNotebook software installed.

DOWNLOAD>> All About the Letter I - Letter of the Week SMARTBoard Activities

All About the Letter Ii file contains the following activities:

• Letter I Vocabulary Words
• Where is the letter I? Circle the upper and lowercase letter out of a random group of letters. Then count and write how many uppercase and lowercase I’s you found.
• Where is the letter I? Circle the upper and lowercase letter I’s from the nursery rhyme, “I Had a Little Nut Tree.” Then count and write how many uppercase and lowercase I’s you found.
• Let’s write the letter Ii. Direct teacher-led instruction on how to write the uppercase and lowercase letter I.
• Let’s write the letter I. Individual practice for students.
• Write the missing letter. Students write the missing letter of words beginning with the letter I.
• I is for Iguana. Help Izzy Iguana find her ice cream. Draw a line from Izzy Iguana to her ice cream  by following the path of upper and lowercase letter I’s.
• What comes next? Drag the picture and or letter which come next in the pattern.
• What does not belong? Write an I on the letter and or picture that does not belong.
• Sort uppercase and lowercase letter I. Upper and lowercase letters are printed on ice. Drag the ice on to the matching ice cube trays.
• Beginning Letter Sort. Sort beginning letter /i/ sound like in ice cream and igloo. Drag the pictures that begin with the /i/ sound into the igloo.
• Find, Graph, and Tally. Find the letters, count the letters, and color in the correct number of squares. Then practice using tally marks to count the letters. Then determine which letter had the most and which had the least.           
• Find, Graph, and Tally. Find the picture, count the pictures, and color in the correct number of squares. Then practice using tally marks to count the pictures. Then determine which picture had the most and which had the least.
• Let’s Play a Game. Word Search. Use the word list. Use a highlight marker and find the letter Ii words.
• Write the Beginning Letter Sounds.
• ABC Order. Write the missing uppercase letter.
• ABC Order. Write the missing lowercase letter.
• Read! Write! Make! Practice tracing, making, and writing words beginning with the letter I.
• Let’s Build the Letter. Construct the upper and lowercase letter Ii out of straight and curvy lines.

Directions: It is recommended NOT to save the file once you have downloaded and extracted. This way the game does not have to be re-set.

Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards:

Approaches to Play

APL2.4a  Demonstrates eagerness to learn about and discuss new topics, ideas and tasks.

APL1.4a  Takes initiative to learn new concepts and try new experiences. Initiates and completes new tasks by himself/herself.

Language and Literacy

CLL1.4a  Listens and responds on topic to conversations and group discussions for an extended period.

CLL1.4b Listens to and follows multi-step directions.

CLL1.4c Extends/expands thoughts or ideas expressed.

CLL6.4c Isolates the initial (beginning) sounds in words with adult guidance.

CLL7.4a  With prompting and support, recognizes and names some upper/lowercase letters of the alphabet.

Mathematics

CD-MA4.4b Sorts and classifies objects using one or more attributes or relationships.

CD-MA4.4c Creates and extends simple, repeating patterns.

CD-MA2.4b Counts at least 10 objects using one-to-one correspondence.

Cognitive Process

CD-CP3.4b Uses both familiar and new strategies to solve a problem.

CD-CP3.4c With adult guidance and questioning determines and evaluates solutions prior to attempting to solve a problem.

Contact:

If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

If you find a mistake or typo in the packet, please email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com so I can fix the error and send you a revised packet.

Credits:

www.KevinandAmanda.com (Free Fonts)

www. teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Commercial-Font-License-SINGLE-FONT-348256 (Fonts)

www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ashley-Hughes-38 (Graphic Images)

www.MyCuteGraphics.com (Graphic Images)