Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Opinion Writing in First Grade

Opinion writing in first grade is a little tricky. It's not because kids don't have opinions. They have plenty. And if you've been a teacher for even two minutes, you already know this. It's because they're also storytellers and they can't help themselves from sharing all their comings and goings with anyone who will listen. Even though you've taught umpteen opinion writing lessons, there are … [Read more...]

Christmas Science Activities for Kids

Christmas science activities are one of my favorite ways to spend the week before winter break. When I first started teaching, eons ago, we all planned holiday activities just for the sake of the holiday itself. Now, I make sure standards are at the heart of my teaching so there's added purpose to our play. MAKE YOUR OWN SNOW Making snow from a baby diaper is one of my students' favorite … [Read more...]

Thanksgiving Math Activity for Kids

A Thanksgiving math activity that starts as art? Yes, please. Settle in with a few of your favorite Thanksgiving read-alouds to set the stage for this turkey art lesson! There are so many good books about turkeys, but our hands-down favorite is 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey. Every time we get to the page where the kids plan to save the turkeys by stuffing them in their … [Read more...]

Landform Models Kids Can Make

Crayola makes an AIR-DRY CLAY that's so easy to work with, it's perfect for making landform models with kids. The clay typically dries in about 48 hours and then it can be finished with acrylic paints. According to Crayola's directions, the hardened clay can even be carved, although we haven't tried that. Sounds cool though! I've always been a teacher who believes art should be an integral part … [Read more...]

Activities for Landforms

Planning children's activities for landforms is a really fun and creative process. I don't recall learning about landforms when I was a kid though. I grew up in Florida near the beach, occasionally paddled a canoe down a nearby river, and spent quite a few fall holidays on a cattle ranch I guess some people might call a plain. I thought the hills in north Florida were pretty decent, but now I live … [Read more...]

How to Teach Writing in First Grade

I think a lot about how to teach writing in first grade. When I was a beginning teacher, I would read through the writing standards and wonder if they were even reachable for kids who were only six ... kids who pretty much just learned how to use letters to write their own names ... kids who were still drawing pictures to communicate most of their ideas ... kids who would rather hear a story than … [Read more...]