Family is one of the bigger topics that we cover at the beginning of the year. We start talking about “Me” and then try to move the attention away from “Me” to family because it is a topic that students feel like they know. The first oral presentation I have my students give is about their family because it is something they know a lot about.
I created a new unit {yay me} to go along with our study about families.
We have been reading books and using this unit for the past couple of days. Here are some of my favorite activities from the past few days:
I read the book “Me on the Map” and the students created a family tree. They write each family member on an apple and glue it to the tree. I used die cut apples, but I have apples that you can print and cut out if you do not have access to a die cut machine.
Another great family book to read is “The Relatives Came”. It helps to lead the discussion about other parts of their family. It also gives them a new vocabulary word to use besides famiy. There is a text-to-self connection {not sure we are ready for that yet…} to go along with this story in the unit, but I had them illustrate a family portrait and write the number of family members that lived with them in their house.
“All Kinds of Families” was another story that we read to discuss families. We created a pictograph together about their brothers and sisters after we read this story.
I’m saving my favorite for last…”Weird Parents”.
Hilarious.
I asked the kiddos to illustrate silly or “weird” things that their parents do. One of them raised their hand and said, “My Mom and Dad are so silly because they run around and spank each other.”
Oh. my.
Not expecting that one…
If you do read this book, PLEASE tell me what your kids respond with. They hold nothing back…as we all know.
We also read the family poem and did this emergent reader. They highlight the “picture word” to identify the word that changes throughout the book. Then, I had them partner read. You can let them color if you are in to that sort of thing…
I wasn’t really expecting to put that much in to this unit…but of course….I kept getting ideas and adding on. Here is everything that you can find in this family unit.
So enter to win! If you don’t win, then at least it’s on sale 🙂
I would love this for my room!
My favorite book to read this time of year is First Day Jitters
This would be a great addition to any part of the year. I can’t wait to read Weird Parents!
I love to read Officer Buckle and Gloria
Love this unit, what a fun idea! I love hearing all of the different stories that students share about their families.
I love to read My Mouth is a Volcano, a great book to teach students about the power of words!
This unit would be perfect! We always start with All About Me and talk about their family and friends. My favorite book for the beginning of the year is always First Day Jitters, they never guess it to be the teacher. I’ve never read Weird Parents, I’ll have to check it out.
I’d have to agree with Kate – my favorite book to read at the beginning of the year is First Day Jitters. However, Weird Parents sounds pretty hilarious! It may become a new favorite!
I just read “I don’t want to go to school!” yesterday and the kids loved it 🙂 Your family unit looks great!!
I love to read, “Look Out Kindergarten Here I Come!” By Nancy Carlson.
I love reading First Day Jitters and Don’t Squeal Unless It’s a Big Deal!! The kids love them!! Thank you for the opportunity to win this awesome resource!!
I love to read the There Was an Old Lady books, at this time it’s the Swallowed some Books. Pete the Cat Rockin in My School Shoes was a big hit this year along with the scavenger hunt we did along with it.
A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue is super fun to read at the start of the year!
I love to begin the new school year reading The Kissing Hand. Kids can relate to the story and there are so many great activities to go along with it.
I LOVE this unit, especially all of the little readers. I like to read all of the Pete the Cat books.
Well, I am currently on strike BUT…..if I was in my classroom, I would be reading Robert Munsch’s We Share Everything. Kids love it and it never gets old for me!
I love to read The Kissing Hand.
My favorite books to read this time of year are Pete the Cat Rockin in my School Shoes and Pete the Cat I love my White Shoes.
One of my favorite books is First Day Jitters
There are so many books I love to read during the first weeks of school. I like First Day Jitters, and Chrysanthemum. This year, I also had the opportunity to read to my new parents on Meet the Teacher day. I read, The Night Before Kindergarten and then I had a little gift for them to take home. Several of them were crying when I finished the book. It was the sweetest sight!! Its something I will try to do every year. Great job on your Family Unit!!