At the start of a school year, I want to help my kindergartners become comfortable as soon as possible! The best way is by letting the kids share about themselves! We do activities to get to know each other including our likes. This helps me get to know them and they get to know me!
We do 4 GET TO KNOW YOU GRAPHS and WE PLAY a 4 Corners Game about their interests!
Get to Know You Graphs
These graphs are designed to help students to identify traits about themselves and that others have similarities and differences. It is a FUN get to know each other math activity. The graphs we are their gender, hair color, eye color and their favorite color! I don’t love always having posters saved, so I just taped mine together and laminated. I pull them out of the easy and small storage folder and either put on a white board or tape to a large piece of butcher paper.
Lessons Taught
I use these graphs to show and practice MATH TALK! When I do a graph, I teach all of the following:
Vocabulary: graph, most, least, equal, pictograph, bar graph,vertical and horizontal, writing numbers, comparing
Concepts: 1. One to one correspondence – counting each part of graph 2. Writing the correct number 3. Identifying most/least by guessing just looking at the graph. 4. Identifying most/least/equal by counting AND by looking at the written number 5. What does a graph do? 6. How to read a graph 7. Graph names (pictograph, bar graph)
8. Graphs can be created to the side, top, bottom
We also talk about differences between each of us and how that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. It helps my class open the conversation.
4 Corners Game: Get to Know Likes
The 4 Corners Game is a game where you put the 4 symbols in the corners. (I use shapes in the 4 corners.) Then you read the various sentences and the students choose which corner to go to. Looking at this sample: I made these as easy readers. Most of my kindergartners cannot read these the first week of school, but because they are repetitive they can start to read them and build their confidence. These are great for 1st grade readers at the start of the year. (2nd grade would enjoy the activities as well, but are probably easy to read for them!)
Sum up the Fun
These Beginning of the Year Activities are great ice breakers that include reading and math skills! Plus use this opportunities to get your students practicing routines as well when transitioning and doing the activities. These are sold together on my TeachersPayTeachers store.
*4 Corners Game is a READ ONLY – just click read only. You don’t need a password to play.
