Are you searching for an exciting alternative to the ever-boring elementary book report forms?  Let students create a cereal box book report that incorporates not only story elements, but art in literature.  Here are the steps for children to make these fun book reports:

1.  Choose a book on which to report–this should be quality elementary or middle school literature.

2.  Get an empty cereal box.

3.  Cut off the top of the box.

4.  Cover each side of the box (except the bottom) with light-colored construction paper.

5.  Draw and color the cover of the book on the front of the cereal box, including the title of the book.

6.  On one side panel, list the characters and setting.

7.  On the other side panel, describe the plot of the story.

8.  Here’s the fun part:  On the back of the cereal box, create a puzzle such as a maze, word search or crossword puzzle that relates to the story.

9.  Finally, here’s the very best part:  Put a toy surprise inside the box to show to the class when you present the report.  This could be a small toy spider for Charlotte’s Web, a little dog for Sounder, a small money for Summer of the Monkeys, or as easy as a rock for Stone Soup.  Be creative!

10.  Present your book report to the class explaining every side of the cereal box.  Then, show off your toy surprise!

One of my most successful New Year activities for kids is to incorporate the holiday into goal setting.  Research shows that when children are involved in setting their own personal and educational goals they are more likely to succeed.  The students are eager to put forth more effort because they don’t want to be the only one who isn’t a team player.

In my classroom, we average our spelling, reading, and math grades to post on large graphs.  Each child also has a graph in his or her binder on which to chart personal progress.  It’s very important to celebrate any success in the classroom, as well.  This can be as simple as extra recess, giving each other a round of applause, or dancing around for a few minutes.

In addition, help each child set up a goal journal.  There can  be pages for personal goals such as being more organized, doing neater work, and cooperative collaboration; educational goals could include an improvement in grades, always doing their homework, or increasing their reading levels; and character goals could be helping others, volunteering, and treating classmates with respect.  In addition, parents enjoy seeing the journals on special occasions or at the end of the school year.

You can’t go wrong with this lesson.  Teaching a child how to set personal goals is a skill that will last a lifetime.  Happy New Year!

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Getting a copy of Doris TheSaurus would be appreciated by any elementary school teacher who teaches language arts, especially writing lessons.  Doris has a way of engaging students in discovering vocabulary that will enhance their essays and stories, and the mini-thesaurus at the back of the book will be referenced by students over and over again. This colorful, student-centered, rhyming adventure will be a favorite for years to come, and it’s a popular teacher gift.

You can’t go wrong by giving books to elementary school teachers.

Purchase:   http://www.amazon.com/Doris-TheSaurus-Maria-L-Corkern/dp/1438914369/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260937496&sr=8-1

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Santa Claus letters are a fun way to include the holidays in teaching children to write using the components of a friendly letter.  This will reinforce writing a paragraph, as well.  Another use is for a persuasive essay, and/or to teach the proper use of commas in a letter.  There are many websites from where you can download letter templates.  Have children think of the gift they most want for Christmas and ask Santa for that item explaining why they want it so badly.

The components of a friendly letter are:  

* Heading:  date and address

* Salutation:  Dear Santa,

A common error is when children put the comma after “Dear” instead of after the recipient’s name.

*Body:  the informative part of the letter in paragraph form

*Closing:  the place where they write ”Your friend”, “Sincerely”, “Yours truly”, etc.  Note that the first letter is capitalized, and that there is a comma after.  Children will then sign their names under the closing.  Line up the heading and closing about halfway across the page.

Extension:  If the children know cursive handwriting, have them use it in their letter.

Connections:  A Santa art connection is to let students draw and color around the border of the letter with things like candy canes, Christmas tree lights, and holly.  A Santa language arts lesson can be to have them use a thesaurus to replace their overused words with higher-level vocabulary.

A fun thing to do with the letter is to send it in the mail to each child’s parent.

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Santa Personal Narrative Writing Prompt for Elementary School Students: 

Imagine that you are Santa Claus working very hard along with your elves in the North Pole workshop to get presents ready for all the boys and girls of the world.  The presents not only have to be ready by Christmas Eve, they also have to be delivered to every home! 

Write a story from Santa’s point of view about this annual event.  Your story must have a solution to the problem of how to get all of the presents finished and delivered on time.  How will you do this?  What part do the reindeer play in the delivery process?  Explain in detail the setting of your story.  Make sure you use descriptive language so that your writing is vivid to the reader.  Develop your story using sequencing/time order words, and include dialog.  Have a strong lead and closing sentence, as well as a great title.  Use a dictionary and thesaurus to check your spelling and use higher-level vocabulary.  Have fun!  “Ho, ho ho!”

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