Teachers Have Class! Issue #11/October 2010 October Teaching Resources and Ideas
Welcome to the eleventh newsletter of Teachers Have Class from Unique Teaching Resources!
I hope that you and your students have settled into the new school year. The month of October is usually one of my favorite months of school for many reasons:
the time consuming tasks of preparing for the beginning of a new school year are finished with for another year
my students are now use to my routines and expectations
the month of October typically does not require a lot of time consuming paperwork such as report cards
the leaves start to change color and the weather begins to cool off and this helps to set a wonderful mood and atmosphere both inside and outside of the classroom
Exactly a year ago, I sent out the very first edition of my monthly newsletter, Teachers Have Class. I had less than 30 teachers who had signed up to receive my monthly newsletter at that time. This current edition that is being sent out will reach over 1,500 subscribers who have signed up to receive Teachers Have Class during the past year.
I want to thank the teachers who received my August/September newsletter and helped me to start trying to advertise and promote my website. The best kind of advertisement for a small and new website like mine is word of mouth and personal recommendations. Last month I asked for your help in trying to spread the word about Unique Teaching Resources and you did an amazing job!
On a daily average, I had 300 more teachers visit my website each day during September than during the previous months. I know that this increase in visits to Unique Teaching Resources is because of personal recommendations and teachers sharing my website with their colleagues. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so very much for your help and support!
Special Reminder:
Reminder: The links to download the free teaching resources that are found in this edition of Teachers Have Class will only be available for 5 days.
After 5 days, the links to these free Halloween and October teaching resources will be removed. Then, I will post this newsletter on my website so that teachers who visit Unique Teaching Resources will be able to read old editions of Teachers Have Class.
Although teachers who visit my website can read all of the previous editions of my newsletter, I only provide these free monthly resources to the teachers who have signed up to receive Teachers Have Class. These free resources are my small way of thanking these teachers for their support and interest.
So, be sure to download your free Halloween and October resources promptly!
P.U.M.P.K.I.N. Acrostic Poetry Set
The above 5 page bulletin board display banner is included in this free set of Halloween poetry teaching resources.
Pumpkin Acrostic Poems: The month of October is a fun time to introduce some poetry writing activities into your language arts lessons.
For this creative writing poetry lesson, students write an acrostic poem with the letters that form the word "P.U.M.P.K.I.N."
Students cut out the pumpkin templates along the thick black border, and then they will have unique pumpkin shaped poetry templates.
These finished pumpkin poems will make a colorful bulletin board display of your students' work during the month of October.
This Halloween themed poetry set includes:
first draft writing worksheet
black and white pumpkin poem template
color pumpkin template
matching 5 page bulletin board display banner
Everything that you need to complete this Halloween poetry assignment is included in this teaching resources set. All that you will need is scissors and coloring pencils.
For creative writing assignments, I believe that it is important for students to go through the steps of the writing process.
For this reason, my students never begin writing their poems on their final draft pumpkin templates, instead they write on first draft worksheets. Then, they edit and revise their poems on their own, with a partner, or in individual writing conferences with me.
Below is an example of the first draft worksheet that is included in this Pumpkin Acrostic Poems teaching resource set.
After students have edited and revised the first drafts of their pumpkin poems, you should give them their final draft pumpkin templates.
The pumpkin templates measures 7 inches in length and 7.5 inches in width.
These pumpkin templates have thick border lines, so it is easy for the students to cut out their pumpkin poem templates themselves.
As I am introducing this poetry assignment to my students, I like to begin by sharing my pumpkin poem with my students.
At the front of the classroom, I display an example of what the final draft pumpkin templates look like. By providing a visual example at the very beginning of this lesson activity, my students know what their poetry assignments will look like when they have completed their final drafts.
For final draft poetry assignments, when I give my students fun templates to write on, I have found that they tend to use their best effort, and they are more careful to not make careless spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
I have included a color pumpkin template for you to use as a visual example to share with your students, so that you don't have to spend time coloring this pumpkin template yourself.
October Creative Writing Stationery Teaching Resource Set
Each month I provide a free stationery and worksheet set in my newsletter because many teachers are often looking for thematic worksheets for each month, especially for creative writing.
Below is my October Creative Writing Stationery Set and the link to download it. The title banner is 5 pages long, which you can assemble and use on your bulletin board display. There are color and black and white copies of the stationery for you to choose from. There are 7 pages in this free PDF October Creative Writing Stationery Set.
In my opinion, word search puzzles are not instructional or learning activities. On the other hand, I have found that my students always enjoy these mental challenges and enjoy completing types of worksheets.
For this reason, I usually have a printed set of these seasonal puzzle worksheets on hand during a month for an unexpected time that I need a filler activity that will keep my students on task and quiet.
Below are just a few examples of why it is useful to have a quick and quiet filler activity ready on hand so that you are prepared for the unexpected.
the P.E. or music teacher has suddenly gone home sick and you learn that you have lost your only free preparation period of the day
a school wide assembly that was scheduled to last for 1 1/2 hours has only taken up one hour
an unexpected fire drill has occurred and upon returning to the classroom your students are very energetic
your students are excited and full of energy due to a Halloween party or wearing costumes and you want to settle your students down before starting a new learning activity
Each month I provide a free calendar set in my newsletter. These free calendar sets could be displayed on a bulletin board or placed inside a pocket chart. Below each calendar set, you will find a list of writing prompts for that month that may spark an idea that you could use with your students.
Below is my October Calendar Set and the link to download it. The October title is a 2 page banner that should fit in most standardized monthly pocket charts that many teachers use. I have designed large October days of the week that you may find useful. The calendar number dates also fit in pocket charts, and I have included a blank square and a birthday square to use. There are 11 pages in this free PDF October Calendar Set.
Below you will also find some ideas for writing prompts to use during the month of October.
October Writing Prompts: Are you looking for a creative list of writing prompts and journal ideas to use during the month of October?
Below, you will find a list of general Halloween and October writing topics and a list of specific calendar dates for October with corresponding creative writing ideas and topics.
I have created this list of Halloween and Octobe writing prompts and ideas for elementary school teachers and students, but many of these creative writing ideas and topics would also be appropriate for other grade levels.
You will find October writing prompts below that contain underlined links. If you click on an underlined link:
You will be directed to another page on Unique Teaching Resources that contains detailed lesson plan ideas for this writing prompt idea.
You will be directed to another website that contains useful information related to this writing prompt idea.
General October Writing Prompts:
Inside the haunted house Ghostly tales A scary ghost was chasing me One spooky night In the pumpkin patch Meet my new friend, Frankenstein “Witch” story do you like best? A spooky character Tales from the graveyard The old graveyard was filled with... What’s brewing? Write a recipe A magic spell The witch’s hat The old witch was mixing her brew The scarecrow I’m batty about …. The scariest thing I ever saw I was really scared was when... As the clock struck twelve... The mysterious footprints led to... Safety tips for going trick-or-treating
October Celebrations, Events, Holidays, and Dates in History:
National Book Month October is National Book Month. This annual event encourages readers of all ages to enjoy books.
What is a book that you recommend that other children your age should read during National Book Month? Explain why this is one of your favorite books.
What is a book that you recommend to read to kindergarten students during National Book Month? Explain why you recommended this book.
National Pizza Month National Pizza Month is in October and we began celebrating National Pizza Month in 1987.
Write a persuasive essay explaining why there should be a day off from school in October to celebrate National Pizza Month.
Using the 5 senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste), describe your favorite type of pizza to eat.
Write a recipe for how to make your favorite pizza. Include the ingredients needed and the directions for each step in the recipe.
National Crime Prevention Month October is National Crime Prevention Month. In 1984, the National Crime Prevention Council designated October Crime Prevention Month.
Write an essay explaining why you admire police officers and the difficult jobs that they have.
Have your students visit McGruff the Crime Dog Child Safety Center Website and write a list of tips that they learned from this website.
First or Second Week of October Fire Prevention Week is during the first or second week of October.
Write an essay explaining why you admire firemen and the difficult jobs that they have.
Name some precautions that you can take at home to make your home safe from fires.
Have your students visit Sparky the Fire Dog Fire Prevention Website and write a list of tips that they learned from this website. You can find this website at: http://www.sparky.org
Have your students visit U.S. Fire Administration for Kids Website and write a list of tips that they learned from this website. You can find this website at: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids
National School Lunch Week National School Lunch Week is celebrated in October. It was created in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, 16 years after President Harry Truman signed the National School Lunch Act into law.
Why is it important for students to eat a healthy a lunch?
What is the best school lunch you’ve ever had?
Can you think of three ways to make the lunches at your school better that include healthy food items on the menu?
October 12 Columbus Day is a United States holiday commemorating the landing of Christopher Columbus in the New World on October 12, 1492.
Pretend that you are an explorer and want to take an expedition to an unknown land. You will need money to finance your adventure.
Write a letter to the President explaining why it would be worthwhile for the government to support your expedition.
October 14 National Dessert Day.
What is your favorite dessert?
Using the 5 senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste), describe your favorite type of dessert to eat.
Write a recipe for how to make your favorite dessert. Include the ingredients needed and the directions for each step in the recipe.
October 16 World Food Day is celebrated on October 16 and it was created to call attention to the shortage of food in many parts of the world. Even in wealthy countries, many people often go hungry.
Name three things you could do to help children in other countries on World Food Day.
Name three things you could do to help children in your own country on World Food Day.
For more information about world hunger statistics, the World Food Program provides this information that you could share with your students and then have them write a response to: http://www.wfp.org/hunger/stats
For answers to frequently asked questions, the World Food Program provides this information that you could share with your students and then have them write a response to: http://www.wfp.org/hunger/faqs
October 16 October 16 is Dictionary Day and is celebrated in honor of Noah Webster. He is considered to be the Father of the American Dictionary and was born on October 16, 1758. Webster began to write his dictionary at the age of 43 and it took him 27 years to finish it. The objective of this day is to emphasize the importance of dictionary skills and to improve your vocabulary.
Find 5 words in the dictionary that you were unfamiliar with and write their definition on your paper. Write a sentence using each of these 5 new words that you learned.
October 24 United Nations Day is celebrated on October 24 and it recognizes the United Nations organization and all of the people who participate and serve in this world organization. The United Nations delivers humanitarian aid to the neediest areas in the world. They vaccinate 40 per cent of the world’s children. They feed more than 100 million people and are helping more than 30 million refugees, most of them women and children fleeing war and persecution. People around the world look to the United Nations to help alleviate poverty and hunger, to keep the peace, to expand education, and stand up for human rights in every corner of the globe.
Write an acrostic P.E.A.C.E. poem.
Write a report about a country.
Research UNICEF and write a summary describing the purpose of this organization.
On this day, I often read my students The Way to Start a Day by Byrd Baylor (Caldecott Honor winning book).
If you are interested in viewing teaching resources that are specific to the month of October, please click on one of the pumpkins below.
If you are interested in viewing teaching resources that have a fall theme, please also check out the November teaching resources section of my website, as these web pages also contain fall themed resources.
Thank you for your interest in subscribing to my newsletter. Remember to download your free resources within 5 days of the date that it was sent.
Please be sure to check out the other pages on my website for a large variety of other teaching resources that will engage your students in learning and save you valuable time.
Sincerely, Heidi McDonald
Creator and Site Manager Unique Teaching Resources
P.S. My next newsletter will be my November Issue.
I plan to send out this newsletter around October 28, 2010.
If you are interested in viewing teaching resources that have a fall theme, please also check out the November teaching resources section of my website, as these web pages also contain fall themed resources.
