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🍎 APPLE DAY β€” Special activities this afternoon Β· Morning routine unchanged
September Β· Week 4 Β· A Practical Year in Kindergarten

Thursday, September 25

Phonics M1 L18 Β· Math U1 L18 Β· Writing U2
πŸ”΄ Phonics: Short a β€” CVC reading and building Β· letterbo πŸ”΅ Math: Apply counting β€” Apple Day math Β· c ⚑ Snap: to 🍎 Apple Day!
Independent teacher-created resource. Not affiliated with HMHβ„’, Pearson Envisionsβ„’, or any curriculum publisher. All scripts original.
Color Code
πŸ”΄ Only you β€” cannot be skipped🟒 Can happen simultaneously🟑 Get ahead β€” do on prep
Day at a Glance
πŸŒ…
Morning Work
Math practice page at seats
πŸ”΄
Phonics
M1 L18
πŸ”΅
Math
U1 L18
🟣
Writing
Unit 2
🟒
Read Aloud
After lunch Β· Every day
⚑
Snap Word
to
πŸ“‹ Prep Box
πŸ”΄ Before Students Arrive
  • Math practice page at seats ready at every seat
  • Sheep timer set and counting down
  • Phonics M1 L18 slides on smartboard
  • Letterboards + tile bags at rug spots
  • 🍎 Apple Day supplies staged in afternoon area
🟒 Another Adult Handles
  • Circulate during morning work
  • Confirm letter tiles in bags
  • Restock supplies
🟑 On Prep Today
  • Log reading observations
  • Check unanswered parent messages
  • Preview Monday's lesson before you leave
πŸŒ…
Arrival Β· Thursday Β· Math practice page at seats
9:20 Β· Work at seats Β· Sheep timer counting down
9:20–9:40
πŸšͺ
Stand at the door. Greet every student by name. Eye contact. Every single one.
SAY: "Good morning [name]! Math practice page at seats is at your seat β€” go get started."
⭐ SHEEP TIMER: Already counting down. When it goes off students must already be at bumblebee spots β€” not walking there. Already there.
πŸ”΄
Morning Meeting + Phonics Β· Module 1 Lesson 18
Short a β€” CVC reading and building Β· letterboards Β· cat-hat-sat-map-nap
~50 min
RF.K.2aRF.K.2bRF.K.3SL.K.1
Phonics Focus
Short a β€” CVC reading and building Β· letterboards Β· cat-hat-sat-map-nap
πŸ‘
Sheep timer β†’ bumblebee spots β†’ Thursday greeting β†’ PA 1 β†’ PA 2 β†’ sing to smartboard β†’ morning message β†’ letter cards β†’ phonics β†’ brain break β†’ math.
⭐ THURSDAY β€” LETTERBOARDS: Letterboards and tile bags at every rug spot before students arrive. 'Eyes on me β€” when I say go, you may open your tray. Not yet.'
⭐ SAME ORDER EVERY DAY: Predictability is the behavior plan. Students who know what comes next do not act out.
🎡
PA Activity 1 β€” bumblebee spots β€” 2 minutes.
SAY: "Blend fast: /h/ /Δƒ/ /t/ = HAT. /m/ /Δƒ/ /p/ = MAP. /s/ /Δƒ/ /t/ = SAT. /n/ /Δƒ/ /p/ = NAP. /r/ /Δƒ/ /t/ = RAT."
🎡
PA Activity 2 β€” bumblebee spots β€” 2 minutes.
SAY: "Segment fast β€” students tap on fingers: MAP, SAT, HAT, NAP, RAT β€” each student taps independently. Teacher circulates to check."
πŸ“‹
Sing to smartboard β†’ morning message β†’ letter sound cards.
🎡 SING: "Smartboard spots, smartboard spots, find your smartboard spot!"
MORNING MESSAGE: "Today is Thursday. We will use letterboards. Our snap word is [to]. Let's check our schedule." [Point to every block on the posted schedule and name it out loud.]
Letter sound cards β€” every card β€” every day β€” 3 minutes β€” non-negotiable.
πŸ”΄
Phonics β€” Short a β€” CVC reading and building Β· letterboards Β· cat-hat-sat-map-nap
Alphablocks β†’
SAY: "Quick letter sound card review β€” then: 'Today is a special day β€” Apple Day! But our morning routine is the same. Sheep timer, bumblebee spots, morning meeting, phonics β€” all of it. Apple Day happens this afternoon. Right now β€” letterboards.'"
Today's words β€” tap sounds, then read:
HATMAPSATNAPRATCATBATVAN
SAY: "'Letterboards open. Find your vowel A first β€” it is the most important letter today. Put it in the middle of your board. Now we build around it. HAT: H on the left β€” A in the middle β€” T on the right. H-A-T. Read it.' Build MAP, SAT, NAP with students building independently. 'I am only going to say the word once. Tap the sounds. Build it. Show me.' Last two words β€” RAT and CAT β€” no support. Students build and read independently."
🧰 WAIT TIME: Ask the question. Count silently to 10. Then call on someone. 10 seconds. Every time.
⚑
Snap Word β€” "to" β€” T β€” O β€” introduce and add to the wall.
SAY: "'Build TO on your letterboard β€” T, O β€” show me.' [scan] 'Good. TO is a direction word. I am going TO the apple station. I want TO taste the apples. You will use TO today.'"
Snap words so far: I, see, a, the, and, we, to
🧠
Brain break β€” 2 minutes β€” before math.
SAY: "You are picking an apple from a very tall tree. Show us β€” how tall is the tree? How do you reach? What does the apple feel like in your hand? Show us the whole thing."
GoNoodle β†’
πŸ”΅
Math Β· Unit 1 Lesson 18 Β· Apply counting β€” Apple Day math Β· count, compare, and graph apple data
Hook β†’ mini lesson β†’ seat work β†’ 2 rotations Γ— 20 min
~75 min
K.CC.C.6 K.MD.B.3
Objective
Apply counting β€” Apple Day math Β· count, compare, and graph apple data
πŸ”΅
Hook on bumblebee spots β€” 3 min β€” spark curiosity β€” do NOT teach yet.
SAY: "Hold up a red apple and a green apple. 'Apple Day is today. We are going to use math to study apples. Which do you think most people will like β€” red or green? Make a prediction before we collect our data.'"
🎡 SING: "Smartboard spots, smartboard spots, find your smartboard spot!"
πŸ“
Mini lesson β€” smartboard spots β€” 8 minutes MAX β€” word for word.
SAY: "'We are going to collect real data today β€” that means real information from real people in our class. Everyone will taste both apples and vote for their favorite. I will record the votes on our class graph.' Create a simple T-chart or pictograph on the board. Each student places a sticky note or mark under their choice. After voting: 'Count the red apple votes: 1, 2, 3...' Count together. 'Count the green apple votes.' Compare: 'Which has more? Which has fewer? How many more does the winner have? Count on from the smaller number to find out.'"
🧰 8 MINUTE RULE: Hard cap. Everything else happens at small group table. Extended whole group = more behavior problems.
Numberblocks β†’
⏱️
Brain break β†’ seat work with visible timer (8 min) β†’ 2 rotations Γ— 20 min.
SAY: "Timer starts now β€” 8 minutes. When you finish β€” flip your paper face down, both hands flat on the table."
Teacher table Β· Adult 2 table Β· Math shelf Β· SuccessMaker
🟣
Writing Β· Unit 2 Β· Labeling β€” label the apple Β· draw an apple and label every part you can see
Mini lesson 5 min β†’ independent 15 min
~20 min
W.K.2W.K.3L.K.1L.K.2
Objective
Labeling β€” label the apple Β· draw an apple and label every part you can see
πŸ–ŠοΈ
Model on chart paper first. Then students write in folders.
SAY: "'Apple Day writing. You are going to draw an apple and label every part you can identify. What parts does an apple have? Let's brainstorm before we write.' [List student ideas on board: skin, stem, seeds, core, flesh] 'Now draw your apple β€” cut it open so we can see inside. Label every part. The more labels the better. Use arrows. Stretch the words out and write what you hear.'"
Conference with 3 students minimum. One question: "Tell me about your writing." One suggestion. Move on.
🍽️
Lunch Β· 12:33 Β· Ticket color dismissal Β· Hot lava line
12:33–1:30
🚌
SAY: "Red tickets β€” stand up, push in chair, line up. Blue tickets β€” up, push in, line up. White tickets β€” up, push in, line up. Lunchboxes β€” up, push in, line up."
🟒
Teacher's Read Aloud Β· After Lunch Β· Non-Negotiable Β· Every Day
1:30 Β· Bathroom train β†’ bumblebee spots β†’ read Β· Joy only Β· No questions
~10 min
🚻
Bathroom train first. Every student. Before the book. Every day.
⭐ BATHROOM TRAIN: Line up. First person in, comes out, taps next. No talking. No saving spots. Everyone goes. No interruptions during read aloud.
πŸ“š
SAY: "Sit on your spots. Get comfortable. All you have to do is listen."
September suggestions:
Ten Apples Up On Top β†’ The Apple Pie Tree β†’
πŸ“–
Guided Reading / Centers / Flex Block
1:40–2:05 Β· Pull whoever needs it most
~25 min
πŸ“š
Pull the students who need the most support today.
AT THE TABLE: "Look at the first letter. What sound? Look at the picture. Try the word. Don't skip it."
🎨
Centers simultaneously β€” another adult supervises. Library Β· Drawing center Β· Puzzles Β· When I'm Done chart.
🍎
Apple Day Activities Β· This Afternoon
Taste test Β· Class graph Β· Apple activities Β· Morning routine was unchanged
~45 min
🍎
Apple Day β€” back from specials β€” taste test, graphing, and apple writing.
Students taste red and green apples. Vote for favorite. Build and read class graph. Discuss: more, fewer, how many more. Connect to math vocabulary from this morning.
🍎
Shutdown β†’ Specials β†’ Dismissal
2:05 pack up Β· 2:25 specials Β· 3:30 dismiss by ticket Β· Never guess dismissal
3:30
πŸŽ’
SAY: "Pack up. Open zipper. Folder in. Close zipper. Backpack on. Push your chair in. Hot lava line at the door."
⭐ DISMISSAL: Any unclear dismissal β€” flag before 3:25 β€” call the office β€” hold the student β€” never guess.
πŸ“±
Class Dojo β€” Send Tonight
πŸ“± Copy + Paste Tonight
"Hello families! Happy Apple Day! 🍎 Today was a special day β€” we tasted red and green apples, made a class graph of our favorites, and wrote about apples in our writing unit. Ask your child: which did our class like more β€” red or green? In phonics we built short A words on our letterboards: HAT, MAP, SAT, NAP. Despite the fun day, we kept our full routine β€” same schedule, apple activities in the afternoon only!"