Looking at November

I'm looking at the calendar, and I just can't believe we're approaching November already!

 

There's a lot going on in November, but no need to fear, I've got your teaching needs covered!

 

Here are a couple of resources to start off November:

 
November Morning Meeting Greeting Activities

 

 

Parent Communication Brochures - November Edition

Here is one of my favorite November resources: Science and Social Studies Activities for November!

 

Don't forget Election Day!

I'm sure I'll be having the kiddos vote for something, but they won't be voting for president... far too controversial! This one's a freebie! Election Day Graphing Option for Little Kids

 

  Veteran's Day is November 11th! 

Here's a fun activity to help the children understand what a Veteran really is! This will spark some great conversations! See the image for the link! Veterans True or False

 

Once they figure out what Veterans are, they can write thank you notes to Veterans using this freebie! See the image for the link. Thank You Veterans!

 

Since Election Day and Veterans Day are both Patriotic holidays, enjoy these Patriotic Brain Breaks! See the image for the link to this freebie! Patriotic Brain Breaks

 

Of course, everyone's favorite November holiday is Thanksgiving! Check out these Printables!

 

Here's a math game to practice +9s! Turkey Nines  (Oh my goodness, they LOVE this game! It works like "Old Maid")

And guess what... there's a freebie version!  Turkey Nines Freebie!

 

Just one more: The Thanksgiving Story: an informational text for children to illustrate. This has a primary level recount of the Pilgrims from all those years ago. The children can visualize the story, then draw their images. See the image for the link! 

The Thanksgiving Story for Visualization and Illustration!

 

I hope you find something your students will love for the month of November!

Don't Be a Turkey!

Second graders are expected to add and subtract within 20 fluently. This is no easy task, but this game helps them master the 9s trick!

I find, once the kids catch onto the tens trick, the nines trick is easy! I first use a number grid like THIS ONE to show them how easy it is to do "ten more". From there, it's pretty easy to figure out "nine more". 

Once they have a good understanding of the 9 more trick, they're ready to play Turkey Nines!  It works like "Old Maid", so they pair off all the addends and sums with nines, and one of your little turkeys will end up being the "Thanksgiving Turkey".

This is one of those games that "even the losers are winners" because there's something about cooking a turkey that makes the little ones giggle.  Plus, they're getting better at that mental math!

When they've mastered the plus nines up through 20, there's a more challenging version of the game to work on this standard: Turkey Nines:

Have fun practicing mental math, and don't be a turkey!  (At least, don't be a cooked turkey!) 

Here's a little movie about how the game works: