The Extensions Page

Phone Number Work
For each child in class, print their name in large letters and phone number. Avant guard font works well in bold and 36-48 size. Make a large phone book, having only one child's name and number per page. Make a 911 page also. Put this in a basket or on a tray along with tracing paper, paper clips or clamps, pencil, and a real (unplugged) phone. Children can practice dialing their number or can trace their name and number on the paper. A further activity would be to have rubber number stamps, stamp pad and paper with a line and 7 boxes on each page. Children write their name on the line and stamp their phone number. They can also copy all the pages and have a class phone book.

Texture Matching Work
Get a funnel and fill pairs of deflated ballons (do't blow the ballons up) with matching materials - 2 have flour (this has an interesting texture), 2 have rice, 2 have pinto beans, 2 have marbles, 2 can even have a liquid if you dare, 2 have a tiny bit of air, etc. Squeeze out any air trapped inside the balloons with solid material - in fact, you could carefully suck out the air on some - trapped air makes it difficult to fully feel the material inside. Tie the ballons off and place on a tray or in a basket. You could have 1 set red and the matching set blue like the sound cylinders.
Demonstarte the work as you would the sound cylinders or touch tablets - if you are not familiar with this procedure (you are homeschooling or whatever), write me at Pattypre@aol.com. The child finds the matching pairs.

A data book about Ourselves: Math and Language
The children brainstormed interesting and fun questions to ask each other and then selected those they wanted to investigate. Their data was then interpreted using the following types of methods: bar graphs, pie graphs, charts, tables or Venn diagrams. While working on the collection of the data, they wrote autobiographies. The data book was organized into three parts:

1. In our Classroom : How questions: How tall are you? How many siblings?
2. Autobiographies
3. Favorites: What's your favorite....movie, sports, prehistoric animals?

Insect Zoo: Science
The children collected insects from the outdoor environment. They used recycled jars and created a small habitat for their specimen to live in for one day. They researched their insect and prepared signs and illustrations. They then set up their presentations and invited the entire school to their presentation.
This work provides an outlet for those days when children need to get outside. They examine their environment, research insects and practice their public speaking.

Meg says that the young children who move up into her room remember visiting and learning about the insects and that it is a favorite work for them.

Meg also suggests we investigate the public libraries to display the work of our children. She says her class displayed some masks they had made from imaginary cultures. The library was very excited and the display even made it into the newspaper.

Extension for Time Line of Life
Claire suggest laying fossils out on the timeline to concretely show the child the physical sizes of early life. The trilobites on the time line are drawn the same size as dinosaurs.

Stinky pen work: Grammar
The children use smelly pens to do their grammar. They use pens the color of the grammar symbols to write the words on the grammar cards - or their own. The color of the symbol and the function of the word are then interrelated.

Botany
Materials: 3 pots of wheat berries in 3 stages of growth, a container of wheat berries and stalks of harvested wheat (can be dried from a craft store)

Begin by exploring the wheat berry . Is it alive? Describe it.

Present wheat just sprouting - about 2 inches tall. Describe it. Show the wheat berry shell attached to the root. Does it still have life? Good discussion opportunity.

Present the wheat in all stages along with the dried wheat. Compare. Note how many berries come from one wheat berry - hopefully a child will note this.

This lesson is adapted form the Catechism of the Good Shepard. It can provide an exploration of life and death, an exploration of movement through life, a simple botany lesson or good math extensions on seeds versus plants.

Music
Kristen encourages us not to forget to use music to support the different areas of the curriculum. Her students developed a group of songs about different areas in the curriculum and then went out and sang them at nursing homes. It was very successful. Be sure to use songs from differing cultures.

Kristen also suggested forming an after school geography club. ( jeopardy of geography and trivia cards generated by the students are some of her ideas)

Math: percentages
Students each receive a small bag of M & M's. The students count the total number of M & M's and then separate them by color. They then count how many of each color and find the percentage. Percentages from different bags are then compared and of course the M & M's are eaten.

This project can be adapted to holiday fun by using items such as valentine candy. Young children can just graph the number for each color.

Jane also suggested getting aerial shots of the area around your school - often free or very inexpensive from the city or county. The children can then find the places around their school.

Math: measurement and graphing
Students choose an event or characteristic to measure: longest fingernail, who can hold the heaviest amount of bricks, etc. They then choose a measurement tool and system. A class book with photos and graphs can then be made.

Barbara also shared with us that Peace Corps Volunteers will write and/or come talk to your class.

Language: poetry
Soozi suggests having each child find their favorite poem These poems are then typed into the computer by the child or the teacher. The child illustrates and decorates their poem and they then put into a book. They memorize their poem if possible or practice reciting them with feeling. The parents are then invited and have a poetry party. An extension might be for the parents to bring their favorite poems as well.

Soozi also had her children make a peace flag after exploring Ursula Thrush's peace curriculum. They brainstormed ideas and then voted on the most popular. The class then choose three artists to actually put their artwork on the flag. They hung it outside the front door.

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