Sprinking Literacy Around the Classroom

In our classroom I look for opportunities to add literacy prompts in different spaces. After noticing that children spent a lot of time observing the aquarium, I hoped to capitalize on this interest and transform it into a richer experience. Next to the tank I added vocabulary cards, writing tools, and a clipboard with fishy outlines.

Children were encouraged to observe the fish in the tank and draw what they saw, or decorate the fish outline however they liked. Some recalled the book The Rainbow Fish and created that character using the template. Others were interested in the vocabulary cards and spent time reading them and then copying the print onto their fish papers. 

 

To reignite interest, I am adding papers with snail outlines this week as there are also brightly coloured water snails in our tank. As the days pass I will observe our classroom and see where else kids gravitate and add prompts and tools to those areas to further the literacy experiences. 

 

Click here for free downloadable copies of the vocabulary and templates to add to your own aquarium area.