Language Arts K-2

Rhyming words: As students listen to the CD, ask them to pick out the rhyming words. For K and 1st grades, do the activity as a whole group lesson, writing the words on the board.

Discuss how some rhyming words are spelled differently, and how some have the same spelling, but different beginning consonants.

Pick out two rhyming words that have the same endings. Show how these are word chunks or word families. Ex: hop-bop

Brainstorm with the students for other words that end with ?op: Cop, mop, pop, etc.

Create a word family guide on chart paper. Invite the students to practice reading this list, reinforcing beginning letter sounds, and word chunk phonemic awareness.

Vocabulary: Discuss the definitions of words: footloose, bonafide, abode, mortar, measly, yardbird, mosey, ragtag, cholesterol, raving, ranting.

Language Arts 3-5

Rhyming words: As students listen to the CD, ask them to pick out the rhyming words. Discuss the rhyming words that have different spellings. Ex: cruel-school

Discuss how different spellings are based upon different word origins, as English is a combination of Germanic, Old English, Greek, and Latin languages.

Meter: Discuss how some phrases have similar syllabic meter, allowing for the phrasing of rhyme. Discuss different kinds of meter: iambic pentameter, showing how rhyme and rhythm are connected.

Invite the students to create their own rhymes about favorite things. Students can illustrate their rhymes and a class book can be created.

Vocabulary: Have the students look up the definitions of words: footloose, bonafide, abode, mortar, measly, yardbird, mosey, ragtag, cholesterol, raving, ranting. Discuss how some words are colloquialisms: ragtag, yardbird, mosey.

Math K-5th

When creating the props, such as, the sticks and straw bundles, explain how to use a ruler or yardstick. As different children create the various props in small groups, insist that they measure everything.

When creating the bricks, be sure to use the precise measurement of 3" x 5". For 3rd-5th, explain how the symbol stands for inches.