THE NAME GAME

We begin to learn about letters and letter sounds right away in Kindergarten!  We do this by beginning to learn about our classmates' names.  Every day we play the Name Game.  We start with "round one" of the Name Game and work our way through the class list.  Once all students have had a chance to be the "name" of the day, we then move onto "round two" of the Name Game.  This continues until we have finished all rounds.  Scroll down for further information about each activity.  Throughout the first months of school, we also read books about names.  

The Name Jar  by Yangsook Choi	My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvitz	A My Name is Alice  by Jane E. Bayer	Mommy Doesn't Know My Name  by Suzanne Williams
The Name Quilt  by Phyllis Root	Andy That's My  Name  by Tomie de Paola	Chrysanthemum  by Kevin Henkes	Christopher Changes His Name  by Itah Sadu
Letter Links: ABC Learning  by Debruin-Parecki	More Than Letters by Sally Moomaw	Teaching with Kids' Names  by Bob Krech	http://www.mynamestartswith.com/

 

What's In a Name on the Kinder Korner Web Site

Teaching with Names on the Pre-K Pages Web Site

Names on the Virtual Vine Web Site

Name Activities from Hubbard's Cupboard Web Site

Name Centers from Hubbard's Cupboard Web Site

It's the Name of the Game on Cherry Carl's Web Site

Names Nook from Cherry Carl's Web Site

Names Literacy Corner Ideas from my Web Site

Mrs. Meacham's Name Game

Round One:

 

• Select student of the day. 

• Write student's name on sentence strip, cut it apart, place each letter into pocket chart

• Do the name chant  - - "give me an ___, give me a ____, etc."  

• Write name at the bottom of white copy paper.  

• Have students do the same.  

• Then draw a picture of the student.  Use skin color crayons.  

• Make a name bottle for the student.

• Add name bottles to NAMES Literacy Corner, when done.

• Name bottles - - Baby Soda Bottles - 

• Baby Soda Bottle Alternative - - visit a Dollar Tree store to see if they have 4 pack bubbles in a jar (resembling test tubes), then empty the bottles and use those - - KTEACH's Name Bottles

Round Two:

• Select student of the day.  

• Write student's name on sentence strip, cut it apart, and place each letter into pocket chart.

• Identify letters in students name.  Count the number of letters in the name.  

• Add name and photo of student (digital) to classroom names graph.  

• Using the cut apart name, make a name puzzle envelop for the student.  

• Name tins could be created instead of name envelopes.  (use magnetic paper to print names)

• Place envelope and/or name tin into Names Literacy Corner (center).

Round Three:

 

• Select student of the day.  

• Write student's name on sentence strip, cut it apart, and rebuild the name.  

• Add student's name to “Our Big Book of Names" class book.  

• For example, the name "BAILEY" would be written on the B, A, I, L, E, and Y pages of the book.

Round Four:

 

• Select student of the day.  

• Write student's name on sentence strip, cut it apart, and rebuild the name. 

• Distribute “Fun Font Name” baggies.

• Model how assemble student’s name onto colored construction paper.

• Glue Fun Font names (student’s name in fun fonts) onto student’s page in the “Our Big Book of Fun Font Names” class book.  

Round Five:

• Complete “About Us” and "Name Math" book page for the student.  

• Student of the day completes the page (taped to the teaching easel).

• Other students practice writing name, numbers, words, sentences on whiteboards while the student of the day completes the page.