Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Drama Chronicles - Popcorn Movement Activity! POP!

I read the wonderful story Popcorn by Frank Asch to my class.  Afterward, I told my students that we were going to turn ourselves into POPCORN!  Before playing the classic instrumental song Popcorn by Gershon Kingsley, I TALKED the group through the activity!  This is a very important step to keep them focused on using their imagination WITH the music.  It is also a great technique to keep control of your class!

I asked the group to find a spot and squat down.  This is what I shared with them to TALK them through the activity: "Everyone is a piece of corn.  The floor is a big pan, and we're going to make popcorn.  We S-L-O-W-L-Y start heating the pan.  As the pan gets hotter, you start to get a little bigger, then bigger, bigger.  You POP by jumping up and clapping your hands above your head and say POP.  Make sure your POPPING starts S-L-O-W-L-Y.  When the music ends, all the POPPING should stop.  Here we go!"  Now put on the music and you are ready to go.

My class asks to revisit this activity throughout the entire school year!  It is one of their favorites!  It is a great brain break and movement activity to use after your students have been sitting working or listening for a period of time.


This is the Album I Use!!  


Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles Thematic Literacy Unit - Hot Rod Hamster


After reading the fantastic book Hot Rod Hamster by Cynthia Lord we had a class discussion about what a junkyard is.  We then discussed the types of things the used to build a Hot Rod.  I told my class that they were going to build their own Hot Rod.  Instead of going to the junkyard for their parts, they will use the shapes on the shape papers I gave them.  They used four or more shapes to build their Hot Rod.  They also drew themselves, the hamster, or another driver in the Hot Rod, include the checkered flag and their fans in the audience.  Their creations were SO creative!!  They had a blast with this activity!



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