We hit the ground running the first week back from break and it was so nice to be back in a routine. We did a lot of mitten themed activities and the kids loved it! Hope you enjoy them, too!!
Of course, we started the week reading The Mitten, by Jan Brett. There was SO much to do with this book!! We created a flow chart to sequence the events, used puppets from the Jan Brett website to retell the story, discussed the story elements using a mitten themed story map, and lots more! {I kept forgetting to charge my camera, so I didn’t take many pictures :(}
We also read, The Hat by Jan Brett and compared it to The Mitten.
{click pic to download}
I included a few mitten themed word work activities in our stations for the kids to manipulate, too! We were working on blends last week, so that was our big focus. NO clue why that danged mitten below turned out gray, but I couldn’t fix the darn thing to save my life! Either way, the kids still loved putting the animals into their matching mittens
Graphics courtesy of DJ Inkers
The kids really liked this activity, too! I bought several pairs of gloves & mittens from the $1 spot at Target. I took three and stuffed each with different letter tiles and a word building mat. Each little mat was programmed with a different blend. The kids had to remove the tiles from the gloves and create words and then record them on the corresponding recording sheet.
Another one of our objectives was to get the kids writing with more detail and describing words. I set out a little adjective activity that really made the kids think! The kids had to choose a mitten from my little stash and use at least 5 words to describe it. Some of my babies only had to write 3 words 🙂 They had to complete three sentences using their bank of descriptive words. Finally, the kids had to complete a simile using The Mitten as their reference. My kids LOVE similes!!
We did some pretty fun mitten themed math activities, too!! Thanks to some FABULOUS teachers in blogland, I found some really great printables and ideas! THANK YOU for sharing, ladies!
I was so excited to find these printables from Heidi over at Swamp Frog First Graders. {If you haven’t checked her out, you should! She’s got TONS of rockin’ printables and great ideas!!} We were reviewing picture graphs last week, so this really came in handy. I had the kids survey all their friends in class…and me!…by asking everyone, “who was your favorite character in, The Mitten?”. They tallied the results and then colored in the picture of their favorite character. Then we created a picture graph and discussed the results! Love it!
I also found these fun activities on Heidi’s blog and I was thrilled because we were also reviewing probability last week, so this was perfect! I have 4 clusters of desks in my room, so I cut out 4 BIG mittens and had my kids reach inside, pull out the character pictures, and tally their data. They loved it! We also discussed the idea of “certain” and “impossible” and I had the kids make predictions as to which characters they thought they’d pick most.
I don’t have any pics of the probability spinner, but that was the kids’ favorite! Thanks so much for sharing, Heidi! Perfect timing 🙂
Here’s a little packet I put together with a few little math activities & writing ideas. I just didn’t get around to getting pics of everything in action…BOO for me 🙁 Hope it’s helpful!!
Graphics courtesy of Digi Web Studio
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Heidi Samuelson says
You are SO artistic! Love the mitten graph in the mitten shape. And I am SO using the mitten math…don't care that we already read the book…we'll find another mitten book to share 🙂
Thanks for all you share!
Heidi
Miss Elisabeth says
Wow! You are such an inspiration!!! I wish I could be as talented and creative! Maybe it will come with more years of teaching experience! Thanks for sharing all your great ideas!! I plan to do some of this mitten stuff if and when we ever go back from all this now we are getting!What do you use to make all your activities? Thanks again!!!! 🙂
Mrs. O'Brien says
Thanks again for sharing your creativity and talents with everyone. Wish my first grader was in your class!
Jodi says
These are great. I love all of your activities. I can't wait to read The Mitten with my students.
Jodi
http://www.fun-in-first.blogspot.com
t. ulch says
This is great! Of all the mitten activities I have seen, yours is the cutest and most useful! We have had two snow-days this week so hopefully next week I will be able to work this in with our R.S. unit!
Jody says
Thanks so much for sharing! I love, love, love, the animal blend matching center. I have never seen anyone do that. You are so creative!
Mrs. Sherry says
Wow! You are a wonderful creator! I absolutely love your ideas. I have used lots since I have found your blog. Please keep posting! Some of us are so thankful because it seems we do not have time to make these things!
Ms.M says
Thanks so much for the great mitten activities. I won't be reading The Mitten for a week or two so it's perfect timing.
Ms. M
http://www.msk1ell.blogspot.com
Sarah Stoll says
Thanks for all the great ideas!!
Ms. A's Class says
These activities are wonderful. We go back tomorrow after two snow days. Thanks for a great word work station!
mikey says
Fabulous ideas as usual…..love them!
Keita says
Great! Thx!
Renee S. says
Thank you so much for sharing all your ideas. I love the Mitten adjectives page. I am using it next week!!!
edegrote says
Thank you so much for sharing these fabulous ideas. I am looking forward to using your ideas.
Kim says
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I love all of your wonderful ideas! Thanks a million for your willingness to share all of your fun things with us less creative teachers!
Mrs. Ibarra says
So cute! You are so creative and wonderful for sharing!
stephaniekelly03 says
Thanks for sharing!
Cher says
Thanks so much!
Miss Pedrini says
Thank you so much for sharing! I am going to do an activity like this with my students for the winter season.
Sue says
Thank you so very much. Great activities.
Kristin Young says
I know I'm totally a year late on this but THANKS for sharing!! 🙂 I'm doing some planning over Christmas break (guilty!) and this will help me so much when we go back in the new year!
Little Miss Glamour Goes to Kindergarten
Kim says
Thank you very much for sharing these wonderful resources!
Crayons and Curls says
These are wonderful activities! I blogged about The Mitten on my blog too! 🙂
http://crayonscurls.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-book-picks.html
Cheryl
Crayons and Curls
Meghan says
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas!!
Ally says
Thanks for sharing this! Looks great!