Yesterday I shared some tater activities we use to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in our class. After we finish up our potato investigations we get ready to walk the runway! For homework, my kids have to create a potato person using various craft supplies, food, or found objects from around their house. When they bring their snazzed up spuds to school we have a Potato Pageant. To enter, each potato contestant must fill out a Tater Trait sheet that will help the audience get to know their special spud. Click the pic to download a tater traits freebie!
As they walk down the runway I MC the event by reading the traits using my best Ryan Seacrest voice. Each contestant goes home with a ribbon denoting their stand out quality (prettiest eyes, best dressed, most heroic, etc). I'm always amazed to see what the kids can come up with! I love how they can turn this...
Into this!
Is that the cutest little tater tot you've ever seen or what?
St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner and of course we'll be lovin' all things green that day but to add a little twist (think curly fry) to the festivities here are some tater activities for your little tots. I know...the puns are bad. I have issues. I can't help myself.
Here are some of my favorite potato picks!
I love reading the Irish Folktale Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato to my class. This tale about a lazy man and his potato problem is one the kids always love. It is a great text for discussing character/problem/solution and covering these CCS:
RL.2.1. Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.
RL.2.2. Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.
RL.2.3. Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
RL.3.2. Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
RL.3.3. Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
Kathy over at First Grade a la carte make an adorable game to go along with the book! Head on over there to download this great freebie!
The non-fiction book From Eye to Potato is great for covering non-fiction text features! We use it as a springboard into our potato investigations. We measure, weigh, describe, and EAT potatoes! Click the picture below to download a copy of our Meet My SPUD-tacular Tater booklet that we complete during our investigation. This is just the beginning of the potato palooza...check in tomorrow to see some lovely potatoes ready to walk the runway at the Potato Pageant.
To make your book copy the cover on brown paper. Copy pages 4 & 5 and 3 & 6 double sided. Copy pages 2 & 7 and 1 double sided. Then you should be able to fold these pages together and tuck them right into the cover. The last page of this document gives you some graphics to use for your class potato tasting graph! I think your kids will love this a-peeling potato activity!
