Graphic Organizers

 Graphic organizers help students make connections between ideas and information. They can be used at any grade level and with any subject.

Yes, your first graders can complete a graphic organizer! It takes a little training and instruction but once they understand the concept it requires very little process instruction and your firsties will be organizing and synthesizing their thoughts with ease.

Types of Graphic Organizers that can be used with lower elementary students:

1. Comparison/Contrast Example: Venn Diagram. Perfect for comparing and contrasting characters, subjects, animals, etc.

Create for free Here.

2.  Descriptive Example:  T-Chart. Easy to use to describe certain characteristics.

       Create for free Here.

3. Webbing Example:  Use for brainstorming ideas around a central idea. I love to use webbing graphic organizers when we create anchor charts.

Create a Thought Web Here

I love to tie in a craft with my graphic organizers. Lower elementary students want and need to use their scissors, glue and crayons. It's IMPORTANT!  It's important for fine motor skills, creating and fun! When my district went 1:1 digital there were so many mandates about students doing the majority of their work digitally. So....as a complete rule follower, I complied.  IT WAS MISERABLE. I was miserable. The students were miserable and I will NEVER forget the day one of my precious students looked at me and said, "Mrs. Wrenn, are we ever going to get to use our crayons and scissors?" That day we closed our iPads, got out the scissors and crayons and we didn't look back.  We used the iPads in moderation, but I knew my students needed a way to synthesize what they were learning.  Graphic organizers and crafts became some of their favorite activities. 

Below you will find my Frog and Toad Craft and Graphic Organizer.  Read your favorite Frog and Toad story, have students complete one of the three graphic organizers included and create the frog craft. I promise they will love it and will be so proud of their creation. If you need a Frog and Toad story. Check out the list below.

Frog and Toad Craft and Graphic Organizer

Frog and Toad Stories:

Frog and Toad Complete Collection

Frog and Toad are Friends

Frog and Toad Together

Frog and Toad All Year

Days with Frog and Toad

I also have several graphic organizers that are easy and quick to use for any text. Help your students organize their thoughts with these Graphic Organizers for Reading.

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February Theme Teaching

Where do I even begin??? February is prime time for theme teaching.  There are never are enough days in the month to squeeze everything in, but it such a fun time in the lower elementary grades.  The things they learn this month will go with them throughout the rest of their lives.  I still remember those important themes because of my first grade teacher and how much fun we had learning about them.  I've gathered some of my favorite activities and want to share with you.  Some are free and some are paid. I'm pretty frugal so nothing extravagant!

Ground Hogs Day - who doesn't remember the excitement?  Help your students find the excitement with this fun activity:

Classroom Freebies Groundhog Freebie

Valentines Day - Oh My Goodness!!! Valentines Day Parties are HARD on teachers but children sure do get excited about them.  I know with Covid this year Valentines Day will look different.  Let's try to bring some separated excitement with a pancake breakfast in the classroom.  Bring in your griddle, some pancake mix, and syrup.  Cook some heart shaped pancakes for your sweet babies.  They can eat them socially distanced with a smile. They will love it!  If you are virtual, spread a little love by having them wear their Valentine finest to their virtual class and teach them how to cut out hearts from construction paper to decorate their room at home.  You may need to have parents drop by school earlier in the week for construction paper. 

Presidents Day - For a few years in our district Presidents Day was not a holiday, so we made it a day of first grade fun with rotating stations.  We had 3 first grade classrooms and rotated all first grade students through stations in all the classrooms and hallway.  With Covid this year we can't work together in person on projects but they can absolutely work through individual activities. Make it a full day of learning about our presidents, past and present.  Some ideas: presidential writing, presidential math, Lincoln and Washington, and presidential reading (gather as many books as you can find about the presidents and designate a time for some quiet reading) Several ideas can be printed from the freebie below.

Bethany Gardner's Freebie President's Day Printables

Teeth - What first grader doesn't LOVE to learn about teeth?? They are all about the tooth fairy!  My all time favorite author Robert Munsch has a great tooth book, Andrew's Loose Tooth. I loved to read this book and then let my firsties write their own story about the tooth fairy.  I would conference one on one with each student to help develop and edit the stories. Once the stories are complete students can share with a buddy and those that want can share with the class. They'll have a blast and be completely engaged in writing! Perfect for virtual or face to face teaching.

Black History Month - There is so much to share about black history that I taught it throughout the year. However, I made sure to make it the spotlight of our month with books, projects, videos, and discussions.  First graders understand more than we give them credit for and have amazing discussions around the events in our history.  Three of my favorite black history activities are below:

                                                           

                                                    Martin Luther King Jr.

                                                           Ruby Bridges

                                              George Washington Carver

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