Gross motor literacy activities that get kids moving. Combining literacy and movement together is a great way for kids to have fun while learning.

Hi everyone! It's Bex from Reading and Writing Redhead. Before my school vacation started, I had been thinking a lot about movement. In New England we had a VERY long winter in which we rarely went outside for recess. I had come up with new ways to get my kids moving and new brain breaks, but I had been thinking of ways to get movement involved during the academic blocks. Why save it just for breaks? Today I have compiled a resource of some activities that will get your kiddos moving while they are working on their reading skills. Sometimes it is just a little movement, but if you want to really go all out, some of them require you actually going outside to the playground! Most of the ideas are not mine - many have been around for years, so I have no idea who came up with the ideas originally. Some I found recently so I will share with you where and give you a link and a few I thought up myself, although I am sure the idea came from somewhere - someone did something similar or with the same material but I am using it in a different way. You also may have your own great ideas or ones that are not here so please comment and let us know! Phonemic Awareness and Phonics Catch it! For this, students stand in a circle (or sit) and the teacher says a one syllable word. She tosses a bean bag or small soft ball to a student, who catches it and says the initial sound, tosses it to another student who says the medial sound, and tosses it to another student who says the final sound. The whole group says the whole word again as the bag gets tossed back to the teacher and she picks a new word to try. Dribble the Sound or Syllable: Dribble a ball (and say each phoneme in a word or each syllable in a word. Dribble ball, switch from left to right hand, as say phonemes in a word or syllables in a word for extra challenge and brain work, switch hands as you say each sound or syllable). I'm Going on a Camping Trip: You know the song! Sit in a circle and clap with a steady beat. Go around the circle and everyone repeats the sentence - "I am going on a camping trip and I am going to bring (fill in blank)". At each student's turn, he says the word of what he is bringing. Each student could think of a word with the same initial, medial or final sound as a word you are working on, or a rhyming word. Twister with Blends: I have found phonics and other reading games for Twister all around the web, but this is a new "twist" (haha!) on it. Head over to Apples 4 Bookworms to get the simple and easy (and really fun) directions! Walk this Way: The teacher says a simple sentence like"The lion roars". Students repeat it and take one step forward for each word in the sentence. Then, students say how many words or steps there are in the sentence. It might help for students to hold up a finger for each word to help them count the number of steps/words. A variation is that students can also walk backwards or sideways for this activity. Sight Words Move, Groove, and read: This game is from the blog Mom to 2 Posh Lil' Divas. She has some terrific, creative ideas for learning games. Head over to her blog for details but it involves target words, music, and lots of moving. I want to play this one! Word Family Slam: This one was spotted over at the blog Toddler Approved, but I think kids well into elementary school would enjoy it. You could even do it indoors with a free wall and a soft ball. Head over to get the info. Twister Sight Words: A variation on the Twister game I mentioned that would work well for phonics skills. You use sight words instead. I am not claiming this idea either - A Year as a Reading Teacher has a great post on it. Head over to her blog to read it. Beach Ball Sight Words: You probably have seen or heard of this idea before, but grab a beach ball, a permanent marker, and write your target words. Toss the ball and read whichever word your finger (or thumb - choose one in advance) lands on! Hopscotch: Have hopscotch on the playground? Why not use chalk and on each spot, write a sight word, then toss a pebble, read the word it lands on, and hop away, skipping that space. Bean Bag Toss: If you have bean bags and one of those bean bag toss goals with the holes in it, try labeling each hole (with a taped on sticky or index card) with a target word and kids have to read the word they are aiming for and then read the word (it might be a different one!) that they actually toss the bag into. What else could you use if you don't have something with holes in it already? I bet someone has a creative and easy idea - let us know! Sight Word Bowling - use dry erase markers to write sight words on an indoor bowling set, and after knocking pins down, students read the words on the pins they have to stand back up for the next player. Grammar Jump Roping Rhymes: With your group, create a jump rope rhyme with antonyms, synonyms, homophones etc. (or words from a word family you are working on), then go outside and try it. Kids can teach their classmates at recess, too! Step Forward/Back: Group could line up and students could suggest antonym pairs (students would take one step forward and one step back for each word in the pair) or synonyms (2 steps forward) Syllables Sound Marching: Teacher says, "We are going to say some words that have more than one syllable. We will march as we say each part of the word." Model by saying the whole word, such as "doorknob" , marching first with your right foot as you say "door" and then with your left foot as you say "knob." Practice together and then try some words with students. After each ask them "How many marching steps did you take for the word? That is the number of syllables." Raise Up: Teacher says a two (or more) syllable word. Students repeat the word as they raise both their arms above their heads. Students drop one arm as they say each syllable. Vocabulary and Comprehension Students move like the animals in the story they are reading Teaching prepositions using movement Using body language to show how characters are feeling in the story Playing charades to review main ideas Role play or pantomime to retell important story parts Letter Recognition Alphabet Hunt on the Go: With clipboards, pencils and papers walk around the school looking for examples of each letter of the alphabet. Kids could write the letters as they see them or you could provide them with a checklist. Also, any of the Read the Room and Write the Room activities you see all over the web, at TPT and so on are great for getting students up and moving. Here are a few other resources I found with some terrific ideas: RMC Health - great post on the importance of exercise and movement based learning opportunities in schools Reading.org - useing movement andmusic to improve insttuction Ascd.org - resources on movement and learning Pbs.org - lesson plan resources that involve movement Dr. Martha Eddy's resources for incorporating movement in the classroom Please comment and let us know how you use movement in your language arts lessons. The more ideas we have, the better our instruction can be!

Need a creative idea for teaching money to kids? The Money Game is a fun hands-on way! Inspired by the Beth Kobliner Book- Make Your Kids a Money Genius

Prepositions are about my favorite concept to teach. It really doesn’t get more fun than playing hide and seek, barking directions at each other and dancing around in the therapy room. If you haven’t checked out my other posts in this movement series, you’ll want to head HERE (or click “series” in the menu […]

With this integrated health lesson plan students will learn about pathogens, focusing on bacteria and viruses. Students will learn about how pathogens enter our bodies and how our immune system protects us from disease. >> This resource now includes a digital version of the student pages created in Google Slides << This resource includes detailed lesson plans, lesson objectives, opening activity, informational article, and closing activity. The article, in a brochure format, includes vocabulary, before reading task to activate prior knowledge, code the text key for close reading of the information, and comprehension questions based on the lesson objectives! Already have a health curriculum? This brochure and companion activity would make great non-fiction literacy station activities to support your existing health curriculum! This is lesson #2 of three companion lesson plans: Lesson #1 - DISEASE Lesson #3 - HEALTHY HABITS This is also part of a bundle which includes all three lessons, an end of mini-unit assessment, and a grade book page which shows the objectives from all three lessons. HEALTH Mini-Bundle More For The Health of It lesson plans available: SWEAT! BOOGERS DENTAL HEALTH =========={WHAT'S INCLUDED}========== •Detailed lesson plan •Lesson Objectives •Anchor Chart Graphics •Opening activity - True or False Review from Lesson #1 •Informational text brochure - includes vocabulary, before reading task, code the text key, vocabulary task, comprehension questions related to the lesson objectives. •Wanted Poster art activity •DIGITAL Student Pages ============================== → Thank you for downloading this product! ============================== ♥ Want to save money on resources? Follow me by clicking the green star under my store name. You will receive email notification whenever I add a new resource to my store. All new resources are offered at 50% off for the first 48 hours! ♥ ♥ Want to save EVEN MORE MONEY? Leave feedback and ratings on purchased products for TpT Credits. Use these credits toward discounts on future products. ========={MORE RESOURCES}========= Figurative Language Scoot and Sort Themes in Literature Poster Set Tall Tales Writer's Handbook Student Reference Resource

It’s my first day of school! I love this time of year, all fresh starts and possiblities! Team builder games are one of my favorite things to do in the classroom during the first few weeks …

Print This CraftIt is important to encourage physical activity in young children at an early age. They are bombarded with ... Read More

Ready for one more? I bring them to class most of the time and use one when we need a break from regular work. It practises vocabulary within many areas. - ESL worksheets

These movement activities for preschoolers will build gross motor skills while having fun. Try these ideas at home or at school.

This article will highlight the benefits of exercise for people with Alzheimer's disease and dementia. You can also find some suggested workouts

Wütende Kinder können eine wahre Naturgewalt sein. Wir haben 5 gute Alternativen zu absoluten No-Go-Sätzen, die euer tobendes Kind bestimmt beruhigen.

This post features literacy center ideas and printables for 4th-grade classrooms. It includes reading centers for fourth grade.

Amazing activities to practise English alphabet - ESL worksheets

Where is it from? How can I use it in class? When should I use it? Why should I use it in the classroom? A few useful variations Are there any disadvantages with using TPR? Where is it from?

PRIMARY PHONICS - UNIT 6 We are ready to tackle digraphs ! I can’t believe we are already here. My kiddos were just starting school it seems like, and I remember most students couldn’t even identify their letters. Now we are reading sight words , CVC words , short stories and MO

One of our OT’s was so excited last week to show us the new activity she was doing with a few of her kiddos. She had just started it so she hasn’t had time to embellish it for pictures…

Are you looking for a fun hands-on activity for teaching quadratic trinomial factoring? A factoring activity we did in class using cereal is described in this post as well as links to other fun quadratics activities.

We are back!!! Actually, we have been back several weeks and the days are flying by. I always struggle with what to do with my students on ...

Using these animated shorts, students will practice four different summarizing using different methods.

Picture dictionary on some similes phrases. - ESL worksheets

A friend shared this puzzle on Facebook and I thought it would make a nice challenge to keep the kids thinking during their time off of scho...

The Reading Recovery program uses a sentence cut apart activity. I do something similar with my Kindergarteners to teach phonics and concepts about print.

High school and middle school writers thrive when studying mentor texts! Get lesson ideas for using picture books to teach voice in writing.

Free printable Olympic summer games themed I spy game for kids

Even my students who “don’t have time” for homework spend 2-3 hours a day on Facebook, YouTube, and Netflix. Our students consume media in amazing quantities, and it’s said that traditional advertising doesn’t work on their generation. As advertisers become more and more savvy in an attempt to break through to their younger listeners, it’s important that students understand how to identify the ways in which a speaker could be manipulating their emotions and instincts. Here are some activities for helping students develop an awareness of persuasive techniques. You can use these to start a larger conversation about being an informed viewer (and citizen!) in today’s media-driven climate. 1. Introduction to Rhetoric Use this activity to introduce (or refresh) ethos, logos, and pathos. Students watch two videos and complete a Doodle Notes worksheet, eventually synthesizing the concepts. My students really enjoy watching these short, animated videos a couple of times in order to make sure they “get it”, and the Doodle Notes provide a nice visual to help them remember the important ideas! You can grab them here. 2. “Buy My Pencil” In this activity, students try to convince each other to buy a pencil. They will employ a variety of persuasive techniques, even if they do not yet have the names for all of them. This is because students absorb persuasion constantly, and demonstrate various techniques on a hunch. After a few minutes of letting them try to sell a partner their pencil, call students back together and have them describe the techniques they used. To extend this, you can have students perform these impromptu skits in front of a larger group or in front of the class. This is a great way to get some informal public speaking practice, and I’m always a proponent of making public speaking less intimidating. 3. Introduction to Persuasive Techniques I use this interactive PowerPoint will help students put names to the techniques they’ve grown up hearing and using. Students will be able to identify techniques in context and apply their knowledge of ethos, logos, and pathos. To break up the term-definition monotony, I have students “buzz in” to identify the techniques in some example ads. I also include Think-Pair-Share to get them to generate more examples of various techniques they’ve seen in recent commercials. 4. Persuasive Tweets A fun bellringer or exit slip activity for practicing persuasive techniques is Persuasive Tweets. In 140 characters or less, students can use one persuasive technique to sell something. I’ve had success giving all students one item (similar to “Buy My Pen”) and having them draw a persuasive technique from a hat. You can download my list of persuasive techniques for this activity here. 5. News Literacy Project The News Literacy Project is a new tool that I would like to integrate into my curriculum throughout the year to help students determine the credibility and levels of bias in various news reports. I’m still in the early stages of exploring this project, but they have online modules that take students through the steps of developing media literacy. According to their site, “As students progress through the checkology™ platform, journalists from The New York Times, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, NBC News and other news outlets are joined by experts on the First Amendment and digital media to guide them through each lesson’s core concepts. These e-learning experiences use real-world examples of news and information that test students’ emerging skills and lead them to mastery.” This has huge potential to help our students become informed, discerning citizens! Wow! 6. Commercial Analysis My students really enjoy applying their new knowledge to commercials! This is a perfect activity to use in this post-football time of the year. Students are still talking about commercials aired during the Super Bowl, and you can find a “top ten” list of commercials to bring to class (vetted first by you for content). Have students choose a commercial, and follow this step-by-step analysis of persuasive techniques. They can complete this alone or in pairs, and can present in small groups. For an added bonus, let them show the commercials in class. Persuasive Techniques are a great way to get students engaged and thinking. You can help develop their media literacy and challenge them to consider the incoming messages. 7. Pop Culture Analysis I LOVE implementing short texts, like music, songs, video games, and more. I simply can't stand the hours of research it entails to find the right short text...so, we've done that part for you with a Pop Culture Analysis Bundle that features... 🎵 15 short texts (see the titles below) 📽️ 15 easy-to-implement standards-aligned lesson plans 📺 Options for discussion strategies 🎮 Editing capabilities to personalize & differentiate This resource also includes the first digital escape game of Terminus and a week of Poetry Bell Ringers. Each Pop Culture Analysis lesson plan includes… ✨ Background information on the short text ✨ Any pre-knowledge (if applicable) ✨ An objective to guide their learning ✨ An anticipatory activity ✨ A group analysis ✨ A wrap-up activity ✨ Extension ideas to continue the learning You can learn more about this resource and even find a FREEBIE of one lesson over at this blog post! Check out these great resources by other Coffee Shop authors: Logical Fallacies by The Daring English Teacher Media Literacy/Advertising Activities by Addie Williams Analyzing Music Videos by Stacey Lloyd What are your favorite resources and activities for teaching persuasive techniques? Pin this article for future reference. :)

Just a simple set of exercises to reinforce the use of Simple Past. Hope it´s useful for you!! Big hugs! - ESL worksheets

A worksheet for young learners about different places they go for fun. Ss have to first write the name of the place in the picture, then answer the questions about things they can find at the different places. (Made to fit with the vocabulary from Tiger Tales 2 Unit 6 - On Holiday - but can be used for any students!) - ESL worksheets

A grammar chart demonstrating prepositions of place and a few questionsto reinvest with using the theme of Minecraft. 5 fill-in-the-blank spots within 4 questions. - ESL worksheets

Teaching syllables to children doesn't need to be an intensive experience. Check out some simple, no-prep activities for teaching kids about syllables.

Developing gross motor skills are one of the most important skills for the holistic development of the child or any individual. These are like the superpowers that give toddlers a sense of independence and enable them to perform their daily functions independently. These are not only about moving the

26 Printable Uppercase Playdough Mats Worksheets / Instant Download/Literacy/ kindergarten /preschool/ homeschool worksheets /pdf Great for homeschool preschool or homeschool kindergarten worksheets! ************************************************************************************ Use these preschool printables for your in-home childcare, daycare, or if you are a preschool teacher or kindergarten teacher. This INSTANT DOWNLOAD includes: 26 UPPERCASE LETTERS Note: These are vertical (portrait) pages. Just, print on cardstock, laminate or place in a sheet protector and have fun! **************************************************************************************** keywords: homeschool preschool curriculum, sight word kindergarten, sight word kindergarten worksheet, sight word printable ************************************************************* Policies: • All rights reserved. This file is for PERSONAL USE ONLY and is not to be resold or used for personal profit/benefit. • No part of this file may be reproduced, edited, or transmitted in any form by any means, including photocopying or the use of other electronic/mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of Teacher Helper Kits & Mommy is My Teacher. • Due to the nature of the product, no refunds or exchanges permitted for digital items. • Colors may vary depending on your screen. • Please note that this is a digital download. • You will not receive a physical product. • Download is intended for ONE USER ONLY, and transfer to a third party is strictly prohibited. • File cannot be downloaded to multiple users on a shared account.

As a teacher, I am always on the hunt for the perfect tools at the cheapest prices for my ELA classroom. Taking care of our students and keeping our learning

Check out these 4 geometry bulletin boards with mini lessons featuring picture books. Your upper elementary students will have a blast!

Toddler gross motor activities are easy to encourage with activities using bright scarves! Check them out!

Emma, Tom and their twins want to rent an apartment to spend their holidays in Spain. Emma sends her mum an e-mail with the description of the apartment they are going to hire and she attaches a photo. Students complete the e-mail with the words in the box. Then students write a reply letter from Emma’s mum accepting the invitation. Key provided. - ESL worksheets

This adapted book focuses on spatial concepts with friendly monsters. Students choose the correct preposition based on the picture. Can be used as an independent work task or direct instruction in your special education classroom. Includes both print and digital books.Examples:The monster is ____ the bed. *underThe monster is ____ the boat. *in  Contents: 11 page printable adapted book 11 page digital adapted book accessible on Google Slides™ - use for whole class discussions on an interactive whiteboard or students complete individually on devices 7 pages of corresponding worksheets (print only) Circle the picture Circle the word Fill in the blank Trace the answer ⭐ Teachers like you love this resource ⭐ I am able to use this resource with so many of my students! They are find it fun and engaging. I made the book interactive with velcro and it keeps them interested for a whole session. My students and families loved this activity! It was interactive and and engaging. This activity paired very well with our lesson on prepositions. Families and students had a easy time navigating through this assignment. Little ones seem to really enjoy anything monster themed. I was able to use this with preschoolers and kindergarten students with developmental delays. A great interactive book to add to your collection. Please note: This is a digital download.  You will download, print, and prep as needed. No physical items will be sent to you.

Do you want to keep your students engaged and reading during reading time? Read this post to learn about 10 reading centers for upper elementary.

The pencils are sharpened, your classroom is clean and the bell rings…gulp…here they come! My feelings on the first week of school are conflicted. On one hand, it’s one of the most important weeks. Explaining and practicing the class procedures and expectations sets the tone for the rest of the school year. Success is vital. On the other hand, I’m so excited to start teaching my historical content that waiting until all the expectations are explained requires a lot of patience! Every teacher has their own plan of action for that pivotal time. Here are 5 things I can’t live without during the first week of school: One: An Icebreaker. I aim to try and make kids feel comfortable in my classroom on day one. One of my favorite little activities is Fact or Fiction. Each student receives a small slip of paper and they’re instructed to write one fact and two fictions. Then each person (including myself!) introduces themselves and we all try to guess which statement is the fact! It’s a great way to quickly learn about each other. Two: Classroom Information and Expectations. This is every teacher’s staple, I know, but it had to go on the list because it’s a must-have! When you’re making your own, spell everything out – from the obvious grading procedures and late work policy to how to pass back papers and when to sharpen pencils and go to the bathroom. Trust me, leave no stone unturned. Your classroom will function much better if you set the tone from day one. (Oh, and don’t forget a seating chart!) Three: Fun and Games. On the second day of school, I love to start class with a little game. It’s a great way for the kids to start practicing our classroom procedures and expectations while getting familiar with their teacher and classmates. Here are some of my favorite games that I use during the first week of school: (P.S. Some of these activities can be found in my Back to School Activities resources! Click the grade level you’re teaching to check them out: Sixth, Seventh, Eighth) InstaFriend: This activity gets students moving around the room and interviewing fellow classmates! Their InstaFriend paper has a series of descriptions and characteristics. When they find a student who matches the description, they write their name in the box. Each name can only be used once! Right or Wrong: I love skits. LOVE THEM. I like to introduce students to the idea of skits during the first week by allowing them to create their own based on our class expectations. I first divide students into small groups of 2-3. Each group then randomly receives one of our class procedures or expectations. As a group, they have to work together to create two mini skits – one showing the RIGHT way to follow the expectation, the other showing the WRONG way. They get to be silly and I get to reinforce my class expectations. After each skit I happily point out all the positive behaviors as well as each time a class policy was violated. It’s a light-hearted way to grab their attention and create a positive atmosphere all while practicing the laws of the land. Classmate Bingo: I love to play this game at the end of the first week. I give each student a blank bingo board with a large selection of personal characteristics, hobbies, etc. at the bottom. The students choose 16 off the list and create their customized board. Then, I randomly select characteristics from the list. If a student has that characteristic on their board, they have to write down a student’s name that matches the characteristic – but no cheating! They have to use what they’ve learned about others during their first week of school to try and win the game. Four: A Pre Test. After a few days of class information and fun, it’s time to start getting down to business. Each year, I make a short pre-test on the information they’ll learn about that year. It gives me a chance to see what the kids already know and gives them a feel for what subject matter they’ll be learning about in the coming weeks. FYI: Your pre-test probably won’t take the whole class period. Make sure to have plans for other activities, too, on the day you give your pre-test! Five: A Writing Activity. True fact: when I tell kids they’re going to do a writing activity, they groan every time. It’s a signal that the “real work” is about to begin. Luckily, they’re always relieved when I assure them that this activity will require very little research because it’s about a subject they’re experts in – themselves! I have a few different activities to choose from each year. Here are some suggestions: Student Survey: What are your strengths? Weaknesses? What do you hope to learn in this class? These are just some of the questions I ask students in the survey. The more I know about my students, the better I can help them achieve success in my class. Write Away: A staple of many: write a letter to a future you! I ask students to write goals for the year, dreams they wish to see realized, and questions they want to ask their “End of the Year” self. I tuck these letters away and revisit them during the last week of school. I’m Ready: Like every middle school history class, we do a lot of writing and students always have to back up their reasons, statements, etc. with evidence to support their claim. In this writing activity, students have to identify which class rule or expectation they believe is most important and provide evidence to support their claim. This activity both reinforces my classroom policies and secretly gives me a preview of their writing proficiency. Have I left anything out? If you have any fun plans for the first week of school, share them in the comments. I’m always looking for new ideas for my classroom!