Pick A Pinwheel- CVC Word Fun



It may be March, but here it is like May!  We have been so lucky with our weather.  These last few days have been close to 80 degrees- wonderful!  So who wouldn't enjoy some pinwheel fun right now?  These colorful pinwheels were found at everyone's favorite place to shop- Target!  Only a dollar each!  I saw these and knew they would be perfect for our cvc word learning.  My classes have been working on  breaking works into beginning sounds and chunks.  Then on to blending them back together. 
Here we have our all important pocket chart that we use ALL the time!  I put a chunk in the pocket chart and hand out beginning sound cards to the students.  When it is their turn to come up to the chart, I have the student be the teacher.  They show their letter, tell the class the name of their letter, and then the sound their letter makes.  Next the letter card goes in the chart, but separtated from the chunk.



Then I have the student practice saying the beginning sound and the chunk as they slide the beginning sound to the chunk to make a new word. 

Now, back to the pinwheels!  Since we have practiced so hard learning to break words and blend them back together, it is time to have some fun!  After finding the pinwheels, I found some Scrapbooking tabs for the chunks and sounds.  It took no time at all to stick the tabs on the pinwheels.  That in itself makes me happy!  Now students can practice at their tables in a fun and colorful way making cvc words.

And because I am all about transfer, after having fun blowing the pinwheels and blending the sounds into words, students will then choose 2 of their cvc words to write and illustrate on paper.  I like to know that the students really are understanding what they are building.  That is why I have them write the word and then illustrate it.  I can check for understanding that way.  A way of differentiating this is to have students who are ready not only label their picture, but write about it too.  Can't you just see how much fun they will have with these eye catching, twirling, spinning things? 

Jeannie from Kindergarten Lifestyle has so graciously chosen to share about my blog on her blog today!  I am so excited about this!  Please go check out her wonderful blog where you can find so many great and fun ideas.  Don't forget to follow her if you aren't already!  :)