Holiday Craft Ideas - Economics Unit

Each year we do a Holiday Themed Economics Unit.  To help the students understand our learning goals:

The students act as “Elf Factory” workers and make holiday themed crafts.  I explain to them that if they worked in a crayon factory they wouldn’t get to take home the crayons they made so they don’t get to take home the crafts they make, but instead they earn RR (school pretend) money.  Of course, I take in to account the quality of their work when deciding how much to pay each child.  I also offer bonuses to any student that helps others, has good behavior, or helps with additional clean-up.  After making the crafts, the students must pay their bills to help them understand that we first spend money on our needs.  Then with the money they have left over they are able to purchase items that were made in our workshop. 

Here is a look at some of the things we have made so far! (Just in case you need some ideas!)

I found these beads at AJ Moore in Red, Green, and Clear

Use 1 green pipe cleaner

Snowflakes: Use 3 Silver Pipe Cleaners, cut in half twist around each other in the middle, add beads

Grinch Pills - I found this idea on Pinterest!

Christmas Trees with Fruit Loops

I found these foam ornaments at Walmart $5 for 36!

Dog Theme - Triple Clusters, Math Tubs, Question Words FREEBIES

Last week our story was called Dog School, so our centers had a dog theme!  J

Phonics - Triple Clusters, Silent Blends

We learned about Triple Clusters.  Here is a match the dog to the bone.  After my students matched the dogs and bones they practiced using them in sentences.

Download HERE!

We also practiced reading words with silent blends.

Vocabulary- Question Words, Story Words

We also learned about question words.  I thought it would be fun to have a “fantasy” dog birthday party.  Here is the little invite and then the students practice answer “W” words questions.  I got this idea HERE from Sarah Cooley’s Quints Baby Shower Invite!

 

Download HERE! 

Story Words: Illustrate, use in a sentence.



Comprehension- Predicting and Sequencing

We practiced predicting with the story, Harry and the Dirty Dog.  The students had to predict where Harry would take the brush.  Then next day they sequenced the events in the story.  I found this sequencing page in the Teacher Helper Magazine.  We also sequenced the events in our main story, Dog School.

Math- Time to the Hour, Counting by 2s

This week for in Math we are practicing counting by 2s.  We also learned how to tell time to the hour!  Here is a look at our a few of our Math Stations.

 

 

 Download HERE!

and HERE!