[andiebeer]

This will be my second year teaching Pre-K and I have decided to do take home bags with activities that students can do with their parents. They will be allowed to take a bag home each day (I'm still deciding those details) I have a few ideas so far: "There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly" activity, math activity using dice and counting the numbers, a felt story. Does anybody have any additional ideas, which are very cost efficient and do not have a lot of materials or easily replaceble materials? I work in an at-risk school, so I will probably encounter non-returned materials and need to be able to recreate the bags if needed. Thanks for any help.

[mrssimon2gr]

my goal was to make 30 this summer...
I got bags from Oriental trading...I got 60 for about 40 dollars....I am painting them with each theme myself. I got foamboard at the dollar store and stickers too....I want to make a gameboard for each one too...I will make a game to go with each one...this year I will probably only be able to put one book in each bag but I'd like to be able to put in 2 or 3 on each subject.....I teach 2nd gr. Each child will get a bag/ week....due on Fri so I can check them over and send out new ones on Monday....
So far I have 6 done....I'm worried....to do a good job it takes a while...
what are your ideas????

Kym

[andiebeer]

Mine are going to be pretty simple considering the age level. So far I have:

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly - read the story and then act it out. I have a paper cut out of the lady (about 11X16) and then the animal pieces for it, so students can act out the story.

5 Little monkeys book and a felt story set that they can act out.

Big dice counting - I found big dice, students will roll the dice, count the dots, and then find the number flashcard that it corresponds with.

Meet My Friends - Matching classmates pictures with their names, then count letters, see who has the longest/shortest name...identify letters.

Thats about all I have for now. Mine are only going home one day because the longer they are at home the less likely they may come back. This past year I had about half of my students hardly return things. So any other suggestions for my age range would be great.

Last year my coworkers and I wrote and received a grant to purchase materials for take-home literacy backpacks. Most of the activities and materials I included in the backpacks I found for free online, or was able to use school materials to make (construction paper, laminating, etc). The backpacks were a huge success with the families and students and we plan to continue the program this year. I have Reading Backpacks for the following books:
Three Little Kittens
3 Bears
Jamaica's Find
Jamaica Tag Along
3 Little Pigs
Rumplestiltskin

Since I am still a "New Member" I can't post with attachments, but feel free to email me directly and I'll send you my activities

[andiebeer]

That would be wonderful, can I have your email?

Hello,

Do you mine sending me the info you use for your backpacks. I'm looking to make some for my prek class. I think its really important to get the parents and even the other siblings involved even at this young age.

Thanks
touch_ohs@yahoo.com

Hi, can you e-mail me that information about the
backpack also.

pulliaml@bellsouth.net

[CookieGirl]

I'm teaching kindergarten this year and I wanted to send home literacy bags as well. Of course the issue is always how to make the best learning experiences on a tight budget! Any ideas or links to activities would be greatly appreciated! I work in a district where many of the students do not speak English and receive free/reduced lunch.

[andiebeer]

Ok, I have been working on my take home bags. For those of you looking to make some, check out this website:

http://www.kidscount1234.com/

Scroll down on the left and there are some take home activity ideas.
Hope that helps!

[CookieGirl]

Thanks for the site! There were some great ideas on there. If anyone else has any sites, I'd love to explore them!

[njdknd]

Hi-

I know that your post is from last year, but I thought that I would take a chance. I am new (today) to this site. Was wondering if your offer of having activties emailed to me would still there.

Kelly