Page 1 It s Halloween Shiver, shiver this very cold night Dressed in costume to give someone a fright The moon is full lighting your way Scaring all the goblins so you won't become their prey Knock, knock on that door for a treat The door opens slowly, who knows who you will meet Standing at the door is a ghoul and a queen Who give you candy and shout, "Happy Halloween!" Hurry, hurry it's getting late Pitter, patter feet behind you, who knows who may await Boo, it's Halloween the night has just begun A treat, a scare there is something for everyone It s Halloween Activity (Grade Level: Pre-K- Second Grade) Materials: Overhead Projector, or SMART Board, copies of poem (Pre-K and Kindergarten Teachers do not make copies of poem), copies of writing and
Page 2 drawing activity and pencils. * Note* If you choose to use the SMART Board you may go to Mightybook.com and pull up this lesson online. **PreK Kindergarten Teacher Note** There are some activities that are difficult for your students. Make sure to follow the Teacher Notes to guide you. **1 st 2 nd Teacher Note** There are a few Teacher Notes for you to use as a guide. But you will complete each of the poetry activity steps below. **Hanging Pumpkin Activity** At the end of the writing activity there is an optional activity for students to make a Hanging Pumpkin to use as a decoration for the classroom or to take home. Goal of Activity: The rhyming poem can be used as an additional resource to reinforce rhyming words and sharpen listening skills. Students will write the rhyming words, discuss poem, and practice listening to others speak. 1. Picture Walk: Oh, my, it s Halloween! How exciting this lesson will be for students. Before you begin, you might ask students one question about Halloween to allow them to release their wiggles and giggles. For example, you might go around the room and ask each student about the costume they will wear for Halloween. When you have finished discussing their costumes, turn on your Overhead or SMART Board and begin the picture walk, by asking a few sample questions about the picture. Such as, What do you see in the picture, what kind of costumes are the children wearing, etc. 2. What is Poetry: Explain to students you are going to read a rhyming poem about Halloween. Ask them if they know what a rhyme is. Below are two examples that you may want to use. **PreK Kindergarten Teacher Note** Start here for this activity. Make sure to use very simple words when discussing rhymes. For example, you might say, hat and cat rhyme. What else rhymes with hat and cat? If students are doing well, you may try more simple words like pig and wig, etc. This exercise should help students get their rhyming brain valves moving. At the end of the discussion move on to number 2. ** 1 st 2 nd Grade Teacher Note** Start here for this activity. Discuss the definitions with your students below using examples to get their brain valves moving.
Page 3 Rhyming Poems: use repetition of the same or similar sounds for two or more words at the end of the lines. Give students an example, such as the cat smelled a hat or the pig wore a wig, etc. This should help them begin to think about rhymes. Poems: Explain that poems are when people juggle their words, patterns and rhythms together to make them exciting. They come in many different forms and can be about anything you want. You might add that songs start as poems, etc. *This is an Optional Lesson for further discussion about Poems* You might want to check out a book of poetry for kids at the library. There are many great poetry books that you may be familiar with. Two recommendations are, The Random House Book of Poetry for Children, and Ride a Purple Pelican by Jack Prelutsky. This is a book full of exciting rhymes that are fun and age appropriate. Ask students if they know what a poem is. You might explain that poems are fun when you juggle your words, patterns and rhythms together to make them exciting. They come in many different forms and can be about anything you want. Below are a few examples of poetry types to discuss with your students. Rhyming Poems: use the repetition of the same or similar sounds for two or more words at the end of the lines. Free Verse Poetry: written in either rhyming or unrhymed lines that have no real rhythm or pattern. If you decided to check out a book, this is a great time to read one very short poem (for this age group) to your students. This way you can get their brain juice valves warmed up for rhymes. 3. Rhyming Poetry Warm-Up: Reinforce that It s Halloween is a rhyming poem as you and your students have discussed. You might say, for example, this means that we will look and listen for rhyming words at the end of each line. First, choose a simple word to write on the Overhead or SMART Board. Then ask students for a word that rhymes with the one you wrote. For example, you may write mat. A student might answer with sat or hat. Pick two more words that you make up and repeat the step above. Make sure to call on students whose hands are not raised so you can see who may need a little extra support with the lesson. 4. Pass Out Copies of Poem: **PreK- Kindergarten Teacher Note ** This poem has a lot words and will be difficult for your students. Do not make
Page 4 copies of poem to hand out to your students. They will benefit from the lesson as a group exercise with your lead. Move on to number 5, to read the poem to your students. ** 1 st 2 nd Grade Teacher Note** Ask a student to pass out the poem It s Halloween. As they are distributing the poem remind all students they will need to listen very closely for rhyming words. This poem has a lot of words and will be a good challenge for your students. Reinforce: voices are off, and listening ears are turned on. Move on to the next step, remember you will complete each step below. 5. Read Poem: Read It s Halloween and ask students to follow along with you. Pause at the end of each line for a few seconds and look around the room to see if students are following along. Have fun reading this to your students and be very entertaining. **PreK Kindergarten Teacher Note** As you read be sure to be amusing, energetic and use your drama skills. For example, at the end of the first line, this very cold night, you might wrap your arms around your body and shiver as if you are cold. Keep them engaged by being entertaining. By the time you are finished reading you will need an Oscar! ( for the best drama interpretation of a Halloween poem the Oscar goes to ) When you have finished reading the poem move on to number 6. 6. Students Read Aloud and Circle Rhyming Words: **PreK Kindergarten Teacher Note** Using your Overhead Projector or SMART Board, ask your students if night and fright rhyme. When they agree circle them, and continue this lesson until you reach the end of the poem. If students are picking up the rhyming words, you might add a challenge by reading 3 to 4 words and asking them which words rhyme. ** 1 st 2 nd Grade Teacher Note** Using your Overhead Projector or SMART Board, have students read along with you the second time. Students may use a pencil, or crayon for circling the rhyming words. You may want to challenge your students to read one line at a time. Challenge your students reading skills and ask one student at a time to read the first line. Then ask another student to read the second line. Have those two students work together to decide which words rhyme. When the two students agree on the rhyming words ask the class if they are correct. Once everyone agrees ask the class to circle the rhyming words together. Ask another student the meaning of the rhyming words. For example, What do night and fright mean?
Page 5 Continue this activity until you reach the end of the poem. Make sure that you are circling the rhyming words along with your students on the Overhead or SMART Board. 7. Poem Discussion: After students have read along with you and circled the rhyming words, discuss the poem with them. Here are a few sample questions you might use: What was this poem about? Yes, it s a loaded question. You are looking for answers that have to do with words that were used in the poem. To prompt them, you might ask, what time of day do you think it is? What are the children wearing? Is it a warm or cold night? Did you hear the rhyming words? Can you name some of the rhyming words? 8. Poetry Activities: You will find the appropriate student level in the upper right hand corner of each writing activity. **PreK Teacher Note** These little friends have a matching and drawing activity. To keep them interested, use crayons for students to match rhyming word pairs. Have them use a different color for each rhyming pair. Use your Overhead or SMART Board to help them follow along with you. You might ask, for example, do the words night, and fright rhyme? Once everyone agrees, draw the line to the words an ask them to do the same. Continue the same process for the next rhyming pairs. Once they have completed this exercise have them draw a picture of their Halloween costume. **Kindergarten Teacher Note** You may use this activity as a beginning skill building base to find out where your student writing levels are. The activity should be done as a whole group using your Overhead or SMART Board. It s the second month of school and many students may not be able to write or correctly grip a pencil, etc. Have students watch you as you say the rhyming words for them to write. You may assist your students by sounding the words out slowly and writing them on the board as you say them. If this is too difficult for some students, don t push them to write the words. Instead, use this as a progress comparison for additional writing exercises they will receive during the year. Then have them draw a picture of the costume they will wear for Halloween. ** 1 st 2 nd Grade Teacher Note** The writing activity for your students could be done as a small or whole group exercise. It will show you where your student writing and reading abilities are for the second month of school.
Page 6 ** When students have completed It s Halloween Poetry Activities, tell them to take a deep breath, not to forget to let it out, and to kiss their brains! Great work today! **
Page 7 Name It s Halloween Writing Activity Write four rhyming word pairs from the poem. First Second Grade 1. The word and rhyme. 2. The words and rhyme. 3. The words and rhyme. 4. The words and rhyme. Write two words that are the same in the poem. 1. The words and are the same. 2. The words and are the same. Draw a picture of the costume you will wear for Halloween.
Page 8 Kindergarten Name It s Halloween Writing Activity Write four rhyming word pairs from the poem. 1. The words and rhyme. 2. The words and rhyme. 3. The words and rhyme. Write two words that are the same in the poem. 1. The words and are the same. Draw a picture of the costume you will wear for Halloween.
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Page 10 Name It s Halloween Matching Activity Preschool Using a crayon to match the rhyming word pairs. Choose another color to draw a line to the next rhyming pair. night treat meet fright late await Draw a picture of the costume you will wear for Halloween.
Page 11 It s Halloween Hanging Pumpkin Activity Goal of Activity: Students will practice their gluing, cutting, and painting skills. The goal is for students and teachers to have fun being creative. Yes, Teachers must participate too. Your students love to see you working on the same activities as they are. Enjoy! Materials Glue Scissors Markers Crayons Paper Plates (try not to use foam if possible) Orange Paint Hole Punch: for Teacher to place hole at top of plate Yarn: to use to hang pumpkin Glitter: Optional (to bling the hanging pumpkin) Table Coverings: newspaper or plastic table cloth, etc. Copies of Pumpkin template (print these out on recycled paper if possible) Sponges: cut these up small enough for friends to use for painting Pumpkin Plate Drying Station Steps To Make The Hanging Pumpkin 1. Protect the furniture: Spread newspaper, recycled paper, or plastic table cloth on tables students will work on. 2. Small Groups: Have students work in small groups of four. 3. Table Items: At each table, place paper plates (write names on back of plates), glue, scissors, cut-up sponges, crayons, glitter (optional), markers and one paper plate of orange paint for all friends to share. 4. Pass Out Pumpkin Template: This is included with the activity. When students receive it have them begin cutting around the black outline of the pumpkin.
Page 12 5. Face the Pumpkin: Have students use the markers or crayons to make creative faces or other designs on the pumpkin. If you decided to use glitter for bling effect this is a great time for them to use it on the pumpkin. 6. Glue the Pumpkin: Have students glue the pumpkin to the middle of the paper plate. Make sure they are not using too much glue; some friends get a little glue happy. It will make the pumpkin sticky, icky, lumpy and bumpy. Yuck! 7. Let s Paint: Using the sponges at the table, students will dip sponges into paint and paint their pumpkin and the paper plate. Make sure to supervise this process. There will be friends who will get paint happy. Then there will be a pumpkin river of paint. 8. Pumpkin Plate Drying Station: After students have completed their pumpkins, ask them to place them on the drying station (table). 9. Complete the Pumpkin: When the pumpkins have dried, use the hole punch to place a hole on the top of the paper plate. Then, use the yarn and make a knot at the top of yarn to hang it in the classroom for decoration or have students take it home to hang. ** Students have completed Hanging Pumpkin Activity. Tell them to wash their hands then kiss their brains! Great work today! **
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