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| Didax "Class Ideas" Newsletter Archive |
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I don't know about where you are, but summer has flown by here at Didax! September is here and the temperature is dropping quickly; my daughter has survived her first few days at a new school and our sweaters are out of storage and ready to keep us toasty warm.
This issue of Class Ideas honors the change of season and is filled with resources and practical ideas to help you celebrate Fall. Perhaps you'd like to use our easy ideas to welcome Fall into your classroom. Or maybe you'd like to check out the internet resources on interesting topics such as Fall bird migration, why leaves change color in Fall and celebrating National Grandparents Day. Of course, there are some downloadable activity pages and even a special offer on our popular Spelling Success series. Give them a try, there are sample pages waiting for you.
I hope these features kick start a great Fall for you and your class. Please feel free to email me if you have success with any of the included ideas or if you have any suggestions for future Class Ideas issues. I love to hear from you!
Anna Mullen, Editor |
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| Bring Fall Into Your Classroom |
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 To help you get your students excited about Fall, we've come up with some fun and educational ideas for your class. Give them try and watch the kids get excited about the changing seasons!
Arts and Crafts
Use magazine pictures or other materials to create collages of the colors of Fall.
Paint one image four times using colors that relate to each season.
English
Collect pictures/drawings of things used in Fall. Make into Fall mini-books.
Brainstorm Fall words under the headings "see," "hear," "taste," "smell" and "feel." Use to write a shape, acrostic, or other poem.
Describe trees and how they change throughout the different seasons.
Mathematics
Graph the daily temperature. Find out if it's above or below the season's average.
Use seeds, small leaves, or other arbitrary measures to find the area of large Fall leaves.
Investigate symmetry in living things such as leaves, animals, insects, fruit and people.
Measure and compare leaf shapes. Draw around them on graph paper to find area and perimeter.
Science
Discover how plant growth alters according to the seasons.
Discuss why we have seasons. Use a globe and a flashlight to demonstrate each season. |
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| Crafty Idea: Crunchy Fall Leaves |
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 Are you looking for a creative way for your students to enjoy the crisp feel of fall? Make some crunchy fall leaves to display under a bare tree made from a collage of bark and twigs.
Materials and Instructions
You will need: brown paper, soapy water, colored dye, charcoal
Hand out pieces of brown paper to the children. Have children fold the paper in half and draw a ?half? leaf design with the center vein of the leaf at the folded edge. Children then cut out their leaves and unfold them to reveal their results.
Dip the paper leaves into a solution of warm, soapy water (red or orange dye can be added to the water for an extra colorful effect) and lay in the sun to dry. As the leaves dry, they will curl, crinkle and become ?crunchy.?
When the leaves are dry, the children can use charcoal to mark the veins. The leaves are now ready for display! |
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| Free Fall Activity Pages |
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| This month we've collected activities related to Fall and the seasons from some of our popular reproducible books. The activities range in grade level, so simply flip through and choose the ones that are appropriate for your students. |
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| Great Fall-Related Internet Resources |
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 We have found some great resources to assist you in preparing for your Fall-themed instruction. From learning about why leaves change colors and starting a school garden to celebrating National Grandparents Day and International Literacy Day, we are sure you will find these sites packed with fun facts and activities your students will love. |
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| Spelling Success: Our Prices are "Fall"ing |
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 For the month of September, Didax is offering this great series at a special price. Each Spelling Success book, available for grades 1 through 7, is only $5.95. That's a savings of 25%! |
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| October Newsletter Theme: Problem Solving |
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| Look for next month's issue of Class Ideas. It will be filled with resources, ideas and tips for teaching Problem Solving in your classroom. |
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