The Day It Rained Nouns

This week we made a Valentine craftivity with a grammar twist.

 First, we read The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond. The students enjoyed trying to predict who Cornelia Augusta was making each valentine for.

Then, I taught about common and proper nouns. The students brainstormed nouns and we sorted them using a tree map. I use the correct terms even though they can be difficult for first graders. I don't believe in dumbing down the vocabulary. I've found if I reinforce it frequently the students can use the terms correctly.

Finally, the students were given an umbrella template to make. Then they cut out these noun hearts and glued them on the common or proper side of their umbrella. This was a quick assessment for me to see who was still having trouble sorting on their own.

I also had this idea to make an interactive bulletin board but I haven't had time to actually do it.

 I was going to cut a life-size umbrella and have the students come up with their own nouns and post them under the correct cloud. I even made the clouds 3d by stuffing them with scraps of paper and intended to do something similar for the umbrella. I kept those air pillows from my last Scholastic order thinking I could make the umbrella pop out, too.

I have included all the templates into one download for $2 if you are interested click {HERE}
As always, I'd like to give one away so enter via rafflecopter below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway