Reading and art projects work well together because you can always create a new art project inspired by a recent book or story. For instance, if the class is currently reading Charlotte's Web, have the children take turns reading passages and summarizing chapters to ensure reading comprehension. Engage them with questions and projects such as crossword puzzles or word searches which help with vocabulary and spelling. Once the book is complete, have the class work together to create a play based on one of the themes from the story, such as friendship. Make handmade paper bag puppets for the play or have the students create their own web using glue to draw the web and glitter.
A fun game to get students to learn their math is Math Bingo. Depending on their math abilities, you can use this lesson for addition, subtraction, multiplication, division or all four combined. Create a table with a total of 25 squares so that it measures five squares horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Have each student write one random number in each square. You can allow them to choose the numbers or limit the numbers from 1-50. Once all the numbers are in place, say a math equation such as 8+2. The student with the number 10 in a square gets to circle the square. The student with five circles in a row wins the game.
Students can learn a great deal about social studies just by learning more about their classmates. Have each student research their ethnic background, which could be Hispanic, Chinese or German. Give them some guidelines of things they should look for, such as cultural traditions and holidays, favorite treats, and common phrases or terms in the native language. At the end of the research project, have each student present their heritage supplemented with homemade treats for the class to try, old photographs or a map of where the country is located.
Students can learn the process of collecting scientific data and recording observations through this blindfold activity. Bring some chopped-up edible products for the children to sample, such as a pear, apple, orange, cheese, bread or carrots. Have the students work in pairs of two. Blindfold one child to sample each product. The other child must write down the observations before coming to a conclusion. Encourage the children to be as detailed as possible with their observations, using terms such as "sweet," "tart," "crunchy" or "soft." Explain to the students that this type of data is what scientists use when they conduct research.