Back to School Centers, Word Work, and Activities!

Thursday, July 16, 2015

It's finally finished!  Whew!  I've just uploaded this Mega BACK TO SCHOOL kit!  65 pages of easy to implement centers, word work and activities.  I have this geared towards K-2 because many of the activities are easy to differentiate for different levels.  I wanted to have centers/activities that were easy for students to understand and didn't need a lot of front-loading.  Things are crazy enough the first week or two of school!!!!  I've also included some busy work   time-fillers, (dare I say it?) well, activities that take time and keep students engaged, busy, and independent.  You know how those unexpected things just seem pop up the first week of school that take a LOT of time to handle when you don't have time for them.  New students showing up that weren't on your roster, beginning of the year assessments, transportation issues, parents "stopping by", things that need to be handled right then and there, YOU KNOW!  In addition to all of the activities, I've also added in some of my favorite first week of school activity ideas and some free download links of back to school resources.

There is a LOT included in this kit.  I will post a full description below (it's long!).  You can also click here to go to Teachers Pay Teachers to view the free PREVIEW file and see more of what's included.













 AND SO MUCH MORE!


This kit includes the following activities:

“School Words” Picture Chart: Use this chart with many of the activities in this kit.

Read and Write the Room: Includes 18 cards and a recording sheet. Hang the cards throughout the room. Students will search for the cards and write the word from the card next to the picture on their recording sheet. Pointers and clipboards can also be provided for students to use in their search for the words.

Crayon ABC Order: Includes 26 lowercase crayon letter cards and 26 uppercase crayon letter cards. Cut out crayon cards and mix them up. Students will put the crayon cards in order from A-Z. Optional recording sheets are included—choose which will work best for your class/grade level. I have also included labels that can be printed and adhered to 6x9 envelopes to store the crayon cards.

Read It, Trace It, Write It, Draw It: Three pages included—use some or all of the pages. Students will use the “School Words” Chart to help read the words that are listed. After reading the word, students will trace the word, write the word, and then draw a picture of the word (again using the “School Words” Chart for reference, if needed). Extension ideas for this activity are also included.

Back to School Clip Cards: *Use with clothes pins. Students will use clothes pins to clip the beginning sound for each picture. Two optional recording sheets are included. These can be used during the activity to record the answers students have clipped or can be used after for a follow-up activity. Students may use the “School Words” Chart to self-check their answers.

Word Building Cards: Build the school words by matching the letters on the word building cards with individual letter cards (included). You could also use plastic letter tiles, plastic/magnetic letters, or dry erase markers for less prep. Word building cards will need to be laminated if used with dry erase markers.

School Words - Color and Label: Use with the “School Words” Chart, if needed. Students will label the pictures with the correct word. A word bank is listed at the bottom of the page. After labeling the words, students will color the pictures. Extension ideas for this activity are also included.

Painting Word Families: Print and cut on the lines to separate the paint palettes from the brushes. You can cut around the shape of the brush to make it look more like a paintbrush, but this is not necessary. Students will touch the brush to the paint colors and blend the sounds together to make words. There are 5 paint palettes/brushes and 5 recording sheets for the following CVC word families: at, et, ig, ot, ug.

Back to School Word Search: This is a great activity for a center, to have on students’ desks when they enter the classroom on the first day of school, or for any time that you need a time-filler to take care of some business the first week of school - you know how little issues seem to pop up unexpectedly! Words are straight across or down (no diagonals or backwards words). An answer key is also provided.

I have also included some of my favorite first week activities and free downloads of more great first week activities.

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