THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF "WEARABLE WORK"

So, we are rounding that final bend and "home plate" is in sight. With this said, y'all know that keeping engagement high, while still targeting those standards gets a tad trickier.  Well, I have two little words for you . . . WEARABLE WORK. Yep. It's that simple.  If primary kiddos can put an activity some place on their little bodies (head, arms, back, face, etc.), I promise that they will be "all in."

Okay, so let's be honest here. Paper hats and flip book arm bands are not new concepts. However, these simple ideas are the gateway to oodles of NEW and oh so FUN ways to get our kiddos interacting with standards.  We just have to step out of the box a little bit when it comes to all of those grade-level concepts. It also helps if we simultaneously slip ourselves into the shoes of our babes. I said it before and I'll say it again.  If a kid can wear it, engagement goes through the roof. Case in point . . . take a quick moment and think about all of the projects that we do that are NOT wearable. Yet, somehow our little sweeties figure out a way to "put it on."

Here are a few ideas for you today . . . most are very little prep and can be used with any standard under the sun.  

PAPER BAG VESTS

So this activity is ALWAYS a hit with students. Heck, I even like making one every year and tossing it on as we walk out to the pick up line.  

This simple idea can be used for just about any standard.  I typically use them for short e words as I dig the connection (vEst . . . hehehe).  However, I have used these for fact families and I see them working oh so well for vocabulary definitions and/or a story retell.  

I typed up the directions to this one and made a handful of templates for you to take with you today. (((FIST PUMP))) Grab these HERE.  

**Please note that I typically make the vests on a day with a parent helper or during a big buddy session.  However, my mommy cancelled on me this year and I ran with it anyway . . . SOLO (GULP).  I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome.  My first graders were able to cut the bag on their own with me modeling and assisting every step of the way.  However, we had to break up the cutting and actual vest making into two sessions as it took a little longer than it normally would.  Don't let this scare you though . . . the kids were so delighted with the idea making their own vest that I had them eating out of the palm of my hand :)    

SENTENCE STRIP HATS

Hats are one of my all time favorite types of wearable work because the possibilities are endless. You can use these in so many different ways and they NEVER get old. 

Here are just a few of the hats I have used in the past.  

• Main Idea will never be the same now that you can slap it all over your noggin - it's one of my favorite activities all year. The kids get SO into pulling a main idea card and developing supporting details. This also can be used in conjunction with any literature piece. You simply need a space for the main idea, three supporting detail cards, and a sentence strip.  If you want all the pieces and parts, this hat is part of my Main Idea Packet. 
• 100th Day hats are not new, but how about if we toss in ten frames and facts to ten?  I ran with this one the year I taught kinder.  They were all about it.  See it in action, HERE.
• Pronoun Power Bands are my latest idea. Students are asked to come up with corresponding nouns for some of the top pronouns (he, she, it, they, and we). This is in the plan for an upcoming week.  You can bet that we will take the time to cruise the room and read each other's creations. You can read more about them, HERE.    

**Before I move on, let me post a quick disclaimer as seeing a photo collage of me is somewhat unnerving. I do not make a habit of taking photos of myself in silly hats.  Actually, I am utterly selfie challenged and I have to ask my hubs to snap shots for me (which I never live down).  However, when I come out with new ideas or "wearable work," I want to show the piece in action and I don't have children.  Therefore, you always tend to get my ugly mug making some sort of dippy face. Reason 4,245 as to why I need to get on the kid thing . . . if not solely for silly hat wearing purposes ;)  

The hat making fun doesn't stop there in my classroom.  Check out BIG Silly Wigs.  This phonics based "wearable work" lets the kids rock out a particular spelling sound, while unleashing mounds of their creativity.  In year's past, I have had kids come up with everything from pigtails and ponies to mohawks. (All complete with short i words.)  You know it's a winner when the kiddo who NEVER dances, sings, or draws attention to himself slaps on his new hairpiece and proudly marches out to the bus :)  You can use these wigs for all sorts of things.  I like the short i connection, but this can be morphed to fit what you are currently serving up in class.  

Speaking on word family and phonics work, the one and only Susan Jones from T.G.I.F has a great hat freebie. I know my class loved being KINGS of ING :) Check out her mini phonics pack, HERE.

SUPER CAPES

I have used wearable capes for a variety of different standards, but my favorite is detailed sentence writing. The kids always go above and beyond, because of the super hero angle.  And, yes . . . I know you are thinking it . . . I let them fly around the room before we go home.  BUT, I definitely make them read each other's sentences :)

To roll with this one, all you need is a large piece of construction paper, markers, and lined sentence writing templates. I like to have kiddos choose noun and verb cards so that all of the capes are different, but you could post a whole class topic on the board or provide a menu of subjects and predicates. If you follow me, you know I encourage silly sentences with stellar details as they buy-in even more. However, you could have your students roll with more straightforward sentences that encompass a non-fiction topic or vocabulary words that you happen to be targeting.  

If you want all the templates and word cards that are specific to my super sentence capes, they are part of my Super Sentence Writing Packet. (This collection is filled with out of the box ideas that work to foster a love of writing in our primary kiddos.) 

Alright, so there you have it.  A little post dedicated to "wearable work."  I am sure I will be back for a second installment down the road as I am a HUGE proponent of slappin' standards on kids bodies.  If you have any questions or want to share an idea you roll with in your classroom, post a comment below.  

Thanks for taking the time to visit me today.  I will be back with some end of the year fun in the near future.