January/Winter Lesson Plans

I Have A Dream!
Materials: White, red, yellow, green, blue, and orange construction paper
Directions:  When celebrating Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday our first grade team of teachers take a different approach. Individual classes have a group discussion about what it is like to have a dream and the necessary steps you have to take to accomplish that dream. Each child makes a large cloud out of white construction paper. On the cloud they write "I have a dream" and their name. Then, each child will have five squares of construction paper (red, yellow...). On each square the student will write about a dream they have and what they need to do to accomplish their dream. Example: I have a dream to go to college. I will do my best at school and graduate high school so that I may go on to college. Each colored square is hung from the cloud making a rainbow affect. This is a wonderful way to brighten up the hallway and to encourage children to do their best and dream of their future.
Tara Schweiger
Chattanooga, TN

Martin Luther King and Dreams
Materials: black construction paper, white pencils, overhead projector, writing materials
Directions:
After reading stories and doing some internet research about Martin Luther King, we talk about his dreams and our dreams. I have the children write three dreams: a dream they have for themselves, a dream they have for their family and dream they have for the world.
We talk about how dreams don't really have to be about money or material items. They can be hopes, goals, changes for the better, etc. As they write about their dreams I do the old silhouette on black paper idea. The child sits in a chair, the black paper is stapled to the wall and the overhead light makes their silhouette. I trace their silhouette and cut it out. Then we paste the writings onto the silhouette. I hang the dream silhouettes from the ceiling or you could put them on the wall. It is very cute and it is amazing how the silhouettes really look like your students!
Kris Damon
Long Beach, CA

Coffee Filter Snowflakes
The easiest way to make snowflakes with the little ones is to use coffee filters.   They are so thin and easy to cut.  They are also very cheap to buy!
Chris Gulotta
Tallahassee, FL

Sponge Painted Snowmen
Sponge paint snowmen on royal blue paper and then decorate with craypas.
Gail Beck
Augusta, Maine

Mukluks
Materials:  paper grocery bags (2 per child), cotton balls
Directions:  Roll down the tops of the bags.  Glue cotton balls around the tops.   Have children put feet inside(shoes on).  We do this activity during our Arctic Unit!!! The kids love making them. We always wear them to lunch!!!
Gail Beck
Augusta, Maine

Hand Snowflakes
Paint children's hand white and press onto paper in a circle with the palm of hand staying in the same place.  Add glitter to wet paint.  Cut out and hang with fishing line from ceiling.
Chris Gulotta
Tallahassee, FL

 Area of Snowman
Materials: Construction paper, compasses, scissors, glue stick
Directions: Create a snowman from three circles. Measure the radius of each snowman and calculate the area of circle. Find the total area of snowman by adding up the three parts. They make great winter decorations for the classroom.
Jacqueline Bonventre
 Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Snowflake Ornaments/Hangings
Glue popsicle sticks together to make a snowflake,  Paint with white paint.  Add silver or multi-color glitter.  add a string or fishing line to hang up.
Chris Gulotta
Tallahassee, FL