Teacher’s Brain

Category: Teaching Tips

How to Teach Social Studies in Kindergarten and First Grade

Teaching Tips

Social studies is such an important topic for students to learn about starting at an early age. However, there are so many components included, that it can be hard to know where to even start. 

social studies

What are the topics of social studies in elementary? 

In kindergarten and first grade, we introduce our students to the basics of things like civics, community helpers,  geography, history, and economics. Each of these elementary social studies topics are big and can seem a little overwhelming to younger learners so it’s important to introduce them in a fun, engaging, and easy-to-understand way. 

What are some elementary social studies lessons and resources?

If you’re looking for social studies ideas or activities for your classroom, you’re in the right place! To make it easy to teach this subject in a fun way for early elementary students, I created my massive Social Studies Bundle. 

This year-long comprehensive social studies curriculum is perfect for Kindergarten or 1st Grade students that are just getting started. This bundle includes 9 weeks of American History, 9 weeks of Geography, 9 weeks of Community Helpers, and 9 weeks of Civics and Governments. 

social studies
social studies
social studies
social studies
social studies
social studies

Here’s what’s Included

►Unit 1 (9 Weeks) American History. (Timelines, History, Past, Then and NOW, Long Ago – Today, American Holidays and Celebrations, Honor, Holidays Around the World, American Symbols, George Washington, Lincoln, MLK, George Washington Carver, Ruby Bridges)

►Unit 2 (9 Weeks) Geography. (Maps, Globes, Landforms, Cardinal Directions, Write the Room Activities, Bodies of Water, Seasons, Me on the Map, Positional Words, Personal Informations)

►Unit 3 (9 Weeks) Civics and Government. (Primary Sources, Days of the Week, Months, Chronology, Calendar, Laws and Rules, Conflict vs Violence, Write the Room, Posters)

►Unit 4 (9 weeks) Community Helpers (Community Helpers, Songs, Crafts, Interactive Notebook Pages, Home Connection)

Each unit hits both Kindergarten and 1st Grade standards with detailed plans and 9 week at a glance guide. Each week follows the same routine so students get used to procedures after a couple of weeks. There are extra crafts and activities as well as home connection activities. 

Bonus: 

  • 1-week plan for Money
  • 1-week plan for Wants and Needs

These social studies worksheets and activities are engaging enough that your students will love learning! Check it out here!

For more ideas, check out my blog post here for fun ways to teach social skills! 

What are your favorite ways to teach this subject in kindergarten and first grade? Let me know in the comments! 

Why You Should Keep A Large Visual Schedule in Your Classroom

Classroom Behavior Management, Classroom Decor, Teaching Tips

With the new school year starting, many teachers are looking for ways to improve their classroom routines and procedures for a smoother year. Things like classroom management systems and classroom job charts are great for helping students understand what to expect, behavior guidelines, and how they are expected to contribute to the classroom community during the year. 

Classroom visual schedules are also great for helping students understand what to expect which leads to a smoother transition. When I was in the classroom, a large visual schedule was a must. 

visual schedule

What does a visual schedule do? 

Visual schedules are schedules of your day that are created with a visual element to help communicate to students the sequence of events for the day. This is especially beneficial to students who struggle to read. They will be able to find out for themselves where and when they will be doing activities. 

Why are visual schedules helpful? 

As teachers, we have likely all experienced situations where students struggled with transitions. Having a schedule so that students can see for themselves what the plan is for the day is empowering. It allows them to understand what is coming up next so they can manage and predict their own day independently because it helps them understand time. 

This means they don’t feel the need to repeatedly ask what they’re doing next. It also helps keep you on track when things get a little hectic. If a student is still struggling, you can allow them to hold the card while transitioning to ease their stress. 

How do I make a visual schedule? 

Teachers are busy people. They don’t all have time to create custom visual schedules for their classrooms, and that’s okay! You can easily find a great visual schedule template or visual schedule printables that you can easily edit and use in your classroom. There are tons of options online if you simply search around. 

If you’re looking for the perfect visual schedule template for your elementary classroom, make sure to check out this Boho Visual Classroom Schedule Resource! 

boho visual schedule preview

This editable Boho style Powerpoint is easy to use and perfect for a boho-themed classroom. Use these cards on a pocket chart, wall, or magnetic board to easily edit and move your schedule around. 

visual schedule

What is in this download?

  • 50 Editable PowerPoint Slides (*Make sure you have PowerPoint)
  • BOHO Rainbow with Clocks (moveable hands and text boxes provided) Also, without clocks.
  • Cursive and Print for Intermediate or Primary Classrooms
  • Blank Cards
  • 2 Editable Individual Daily Schedule Cards
  • Directions with Suggested Fonts
  • Pictures Cards include ( A+, apple, backpack, chalkboard, books, bell, lunch, milk, glue, globe, clock, crayons, owl, grad hat, paint pallet, paintbrush, bookworm, bus, pencil, pen, check, bell, stars, scissors, beaker, music, paper airplane, protractor, data journal, music, magnets, locker, glasses, light bulb, ruler, flask, heart, sun, tent, music notes, tie, flashlight, plant, tie, test tube)
visual schedule

For even more visual schedule options, check out my post from last week here! 

What are your favorite ways to help students transition? Let me know in the comments! 

Simple Steps To Beginner Letter Practice

education, kindergarten survival, Math, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips, Writing

Letter writing is an important skill for early elementary or kindergarten students. They not only have to learn to recognize the letters and the sounds they make, but they also have to learn how to write them. This sounds simple, but to little learners, the fine motor skills needed for writing is something they are still perfecting. 

There is a correlation between letter recognition fluency and successful reading development. As students learn how to write those letters, they learn to recognize them easily!

Here are some simple steps to practice letter writing. 

  1. Teach the proper pencil grip. Many kindergarten-level students don’t yet understand how to properly grasp a pencil so this is the first skill. 
  2. Letter formation. While this part of writing becomes second nature eventually, it takes a lot of practice and patience in the beginning. 
  3. Next, perfect those skills and make them legible! We’ve all seen those sweet sentences before students get their letters figured out. Lots of practice will make handwriting more legible. 

So how do you practice writing letters? 

Perhaps the most straightforward way is with fun kindergarten worksheets like letter tracing worksheets. These are simple but incredibly effective! 

You can add some variety to students’ letter writing practice by trying out using markers and whiteboards, shaving cream on desks, sand, finger paint, and so much more. 

I shared tons of fun ways to practice the alphabet in kindergarten in last week’s blog post. You can check it out here! 

Looking for some letter writing and other kindergarten worksheets and activities? I have you covered! 

This Kindergarten Everything Mega Bundle has everything you need for a fantastic year with your students with minimal prep. 

letter practice activities preview

Not only will you get letter practice sheets, but you’ll also get everything you need to teach kindergarten all year! 

letter practice fluency book preview

You’ll get engaging activities for every subject area in Kindergarten. This endless curriculum bundle has a massive amount of materials made with kindergarten in mind! 

  • Year-Long Subjects
    • Guided Reading
    • Monthly Writing Themed Journals
    • Morning Work Journals
    • Kindergarten Math Centers
    • Science
    • Social Studies

Check out the YouTube tutorial below!

  • Reading Curriculum includes activities, lesson plans, and assessments for:
    • Phonics
    • Phonemic awareness
    • Comprehension
    • Vocabulary
    • Fluency
  • Kindergarten Math Centers include activities, lesson plans, and assessments
math salad bar set up
  • Science includes activities, lesson plans, and assessments
  • Social Studies includes activities, lesson plans, and assessments
  • Bonus – Butterfly Life Cycle Flip Book
  • Writing Journals for every month
  • Bonus – Silly Story Starters and Kindergarten morning work
kindergarten activities and letter practice worksheets preview

What are your favorite letter practice activities for kindergarten? Let me know in the comments! 

Fun Alphabet Practice Activities For Kids

kindergarten survival, Reading, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips

Alphabet writing practice is one of the most important parts of preschool or kindergarten instruction. Getting familiar and comfortable recognizing, writing, and using the alphabet is a foundational skill that students will use for the rest of their lives! That’s why it’s so important to make it as fun as possible! 

The more fun kids have, the more engaged in learning they will be! 

How can I make learning the alphabet fun? 

The sky is the limit when it comes to learning the alphabet. Here are some of my favorite alphabet activities for kids. 

  1. Stamp pads. Get some alphabet stamping supplies and let students have fun practicing letters with stamps
  2. Finger paint. Let students get their hands dirty and finger-paint the letters. 
  3. Sand tables. This one is great if you have the supplies. Simply have students write their letters in the sand. 
  4. Shaving cream. Simply spray some shaving cream on each desk, spread it out, and let students write letters in it! 
  5. Lego Letters. Get out some Lego blocks and have students build the letters with them.
  6. Pipe Cleaners. Twist pipe cleaners to make letters. 
  7. Dry Erase Boards. Practice writing and erasing letters with dry-erase markers and boards. 
  8. Sidewalk Chalk. Decorate the sidewalk with letters. 
  9. Have a letter scavenger hunt. 
  10. Play I Spy with the alphabet. 

There are so many ways to get creative with learning the alphabet. If you are looking for some traditional alphabet practice sheets or even alphabet tracing worksheets, I have you covered! 

This Alphabet Writing Practice Bundle comes with everything you need!

alphabet writing practice

It comes with alphabet worksheets, alphabet tracing, and alphabet crafts for every letter A-Z! 

These provide hands-on options as well as worksheets to help with busy mornings. Students will learn how to work independently after the first couple of letter sets are used because every unit follows the same pattern. There are plenty of things to choose from for the week if you are doing a letter a week. Students will practice fine motor skills with writing, cutting, and tracing.

alphabet writing practice

What is the download?

  • LETTER A: 16 printables which include 3 crafts, a spinning game, letter identification, forming letters, playdough letters, BINGO daubing, tracing letters (upper and lowercase), letter sounds, and beginning sounds of words.
  • LETTER B: 16 printables which include 3 crafts, a spinning game, letter identification, forming letters, playdough letters, BINGO daubing, tracing letters, letter sounds, and beginning sounds of words. 
  • LETTERS C-Z These will follow the same format as units for letters A & B, but with different crafts.
Alphabet practice
alphabet practice

Want to try it out for FREE? Check out my free Alphabet Worksheets and Crafts resource here! 

Let your students have a blast while they master identifying the upper and lowercase letters, reviewing the sound, writing letters, and creating crafts with these printable practice pages. These make morning work, literacy centers, small groups, or home reviews a breeze!

What’s in the download?

P. 1 Cover

p. 2 More Resources

P. 3 Letter Aa practice

P. 4 Letter B Mini Book

P. 5 Letter C Play-Doh Trace 

P. 6-7 Letter A Alligator Craft

P. 8-9 Letter T Tiger Craft

P. 10 Color by Code Letter L

P. 11 Answer Key

P. 12 CREDITS

What are your favorite alphabet practice activities? Let me know in the comments!