Here are a variety of student activities that revolve around their name.
Additional Resources
My Mommy Doesn’t Know My Name by Suzanne Williams
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Helen Lester
Andy (That’s My Name) by Tomie De Paola
Invitation to Learn:
As teachers enter, have them fold a sheet of cardstock in half and write their
own name on each side of the cardstock (with a marker). The name is placed on
the table where they sit.
Game 1: Name Card
I’m going to give you a word that will be very special to you. When you
I give you your word read it to yourself then to your neighbor. Compare the
length of the names, compare the first letters of the names, and find letters
that two names have in common.
Name Puzzle—Number Graph—Alphabet Name Graph
Make a name puzzle from the name card. Cut two names apart, cut up one name to form a name puzzle. Students assemble their name puzzles, and then place their puzzle under the corresponding numeral on the laminated floor graph.Using the other half of your name card, graph the beginning letter of your first name as we sing “Who has a name that starts with /J/?” (to the tune of “Someone’s in the Kitchen with Dinah”). Then stand up on letter that your name starts with as we slowly sing the alphabet song.
Game 2: Phonemic Awareness with Names
Phonemic awareness song to the tune of the first two lines of “Twinkle”
Bippity Boppity Bumble Bee,
Tell me what your name would be!
(Say first name and clap syllables
Clap syllables only while mouthing name.
Clap syllables and count syllables.)Willaby Wallaby Name Song
Willaby Wallaby Wally, an elephant sat on Sally.
Willaby Wallaby Wason, an elephant sat on Jason.
Willaby Wallaby Wave, an elephant sat on Dave.
Willaby Wallaby Wasmine, and elephant sat on Jasmine.
Name Spelling Songs
Pass out copies of name spelling songs and ask each teacher to sing his/her
name song to a partner.
3-Letter Name Song (Three Blind Mice) A-m-y spells my name. A-m-y spells my name. I can spell my name so fine. I can spell it all the time. Whenever I sing this little rhyme. A-m-y |
7-Letter Name Song (Mary Had a Little Lamb) R-i-c-h-a-r-d, That’s my name, that’s my name. R-i-c-h-a-r-d, I can spell my name. |
4-Letter Name Song (Are You Sleeping) B-r-a-d, B-r-a-d, Spells my name, Spells my name. I can be so clever At home or school whatever, By myself, By myself. |
8-Letter Name Song (Are You Sleeping) M-a-r-i-a-n-n-e That’s my name, that’s my name. I can really spell it, I can really spell it, By myself, by myself. |
5-Letter Name Song (Bingo) There was a mom who loved a girl And Becky was her name oh! B-e-c-k-y, B-e-c-k-y, B-e-c-k-y, And Becky was her name oh! |
9 or 10 Letters (Row, Row, Row) J-o-h-n-a-t-h-a-n I can really spell my name. Listen one more time. J-o-h-n-a-t-h-a-n I can really spell my name. Listen one more time. |
6-Letter Name Song (I’m a Little Teapot) S-t-e-v-e-n that’s my name, Listen very carefully I’ll spell it again. S-t-e-v-e-n that’s my name, That spells Steven, That’s my name! |
11 or 12 Letter Name Song (Little Tom Tinker- slowly!) - - - - - - - - - - - - I can spell my name - - - - - - - - - - - - I’ll spell it once again! |
13-Letter Name Song Choose a nickname!!!! |
Game 3: Names and Safety Discussion
Divide into small groups and discuss what names are useful for safety purposes.
Share ideas. For example:
Sample Case Studies
Each group will brainstorm the common development problems of incoming kindergarten
students and corresponding strategies that would enable children to be successful
(refer to background information).
Share strategies for creating a barrier-free environment that would allow ALL students to access the curriculum and feel the joy of success.
Possible Extensions/Adaptations
Glue Gun Names
Write each child's name, placing a green dot on correct starting position.
Trace over letters with glue gun. Students make a rubbing with glue gun name
by laying a sheet of paper over the top of the glue gun name, rubbing with a
peeled crayon, then tracing over each letter using correct starting positions.
Writing names in salt trays, over writers, light table, peanut butter clay dough, etc.
Write each letter of name in a box on one-inch graph paper. Graph by the number of letters in name.
Name Sort Game
Prepare an envelope with photos of two children in the class. Write the name
of each child below the photo. Write each child's name on 12 cards. The
game is played by sorting the name cards below the pictures. It is especially
helpful for children who have the perception that any word that begins with
the first letter in their name must be their name!
Advanced students will enjoy sorting the names of others, learning to write the names of family members, and identifying the letter names as other children write letters in their own names.
Getting to know Classmates Poem:
I Am Special
______ is my hair (color)
____are my eyes (color)
I'm _____ years old (age)
Just the right size!
My name is ______ (name)
And as you can see,
I'm very happy to be me!
Write a few additional sentences about a featured child. Ask students to draw a picture of the child and write his name on their picture of him. Bind the pictures and script about the child into a book for him to keep. (Continue featuring a child a day until all children have had a turn.)
Names of Classmates
Select child to stand with back turned to class. Sing (to the tune of Six Little
Ducks)
"Turn Your Back and Close Your Eyes,
Turn Your Back and Close Your Eyes,
Turn Your Back and Close Your Eyes,
And guess who says your name."
Hold up a name card. The child whose name is on the card calls out the name of the child with facing backwards in front of the class. The child who is backwards listens carefully and tries to guess who said his name.
Family Connections
Send home name sort game, name puzzles, name spelling songs etc. for families
to use at home to help each student learn to read, spell, and write his/her
name.
Save name writing for portfolio. Date name samples.