Elf Mini Unit including

verb activities writing prompt

scrambled sentences word problems

my gift to my followers. Thanks for your

support. by Kimberly Saylor

saylorslog.blogspot.com

using Verbs

With elves

Review or introduce verbs by reading: If I Were a Verb by Michael Dahl. Read Ollie the Elf and have students act out the actions as you read (drawing attention to the fact that verbs are action words. I have no ideas of the origin on this story, but it has been around for a long time. After reading the story, complete a bridge map of analogies of things that Ollie did. For example he bends over, lifts up, picked up toys; he waved, hopped and walked with his legs; he stretched, rubbed and folded his arms; he both closed and opened his eyes; and he grabbed, held, climbed on, and hopped on the sleigh.

Ollie the Christmas Elf

It was Christmas Eve and Ollie Elf was hurrying; he was bending over a pile of toys and lifting the heavy load carefully so as not to break any. He stretched to reach the top of the pile and walked carefully to Santa’s sleigh with the delicate presents. Back and forth, Ollie walked from the pile to Santa’s sleigh, from the sleigh to the pile. Soon the hill of packages dwindled and Olli sat down to rest, breathing deeply. He had to finish his work and time was running out, so back to the pile he went, and continued the walking, running, bending, lifting, stretching, and puffing. His muscles ached so he rubbed his arms and back. Ollie was very tired so he sat on the runner of the sleigh to rest. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. Suddenly he was cold. He shivered and folded he arms around himself to keep warm. He opened one eye and then the other, and turned his head all around. It couldn’t be! He was flying through the air, but how? He tried to stand up, but fell off the iron runner into the air. Fortunately, Ollie grabbed it quick enough to stop his fall. He shouted for help, waving his legs and holding on tight. Abruptly he felt ground under his feet and he opened his eyes wide to see Santa looking down at him. Santa helped Ollie sit down and gave him a blanket to stop shaking. Ollie had fallen asleep on Santa’s sleigh and Santa, not seeing him, had started on his flight delivering Christmas gifts. Ollie climbed on hands and knees into the back of the sled. It was too late to go back so he would help Santa throughout the night.

The reindeer and sleigh sailed across the sky and landed on a rooftop. Ollie and Santa hopped out of the sled. They bend over and picked up the packages they needed. They stuffed everything into Santa’s sack and carefully put one foot in front of the other, walking across the slippery roof. Down the chimney they slid with toys, landing on the hard floor. Quickly Ollie and Santa unloaded the stocking hanging on the chimney. Ollie had to stretch high to the opening and then drop the presents down into them. When they were finished they crawled back up the chimney and hopped into the sleigh to sit down. Ollie and Santa continued throughout the night delivering Christmas presents. It was a long tiring job, so when they returned to the North Pole, Ollie crawled from the sleigh and hopped right into bed, falling asleep instantly.

Name ________________________

Write an action that Ollie did with each part listed.

legs sleigh eyes

RF: what Ollie did

________________________ ________________________ ________________________

as

as

Read Elf on the Shelf by Carol V. Aebersold and Chanda A. Bell. Ask the students what some things the Elf on the Shelf does in the story: flies, laugh, report, tell, take, hide, listen, wish Have them write a short story telling at least three things they think the Elf on the Shelf will do tonight. Have them underline the verbs in red. Spend the next couple of days on the Read/Think/Write prompt. Help the students make the circle map and begin the quick write. Write an example as a class and then let them write their own letter to Santa explaining why they would be a good elf.

Name ____________ Tonight I think the Elf on the Shelf will

_______________ _______________ _______________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

THINK: Think about all of the jobs the Elves do. What skills do Elves need to be successful? WRITE: Write a letter to Santa telling him the things you can do that would make you a good elf. Persuade him to hire you by giving him examples.

READ: Elves are Santa’s helpers. They do many jobs at the North Pole. Some jobs are related to making things and others are related to taking care of important chores.

jobs Elves

do

Quick Write: Skills Elves need:

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

Introduction:

I would make a good elf because

can have will

______ ______ ______

______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Conclusion:

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Dear Santa, _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ _ ____________________ Your New Elf, _ _____________

Finish your elf unit by letting students make a cute elf. Go to this site and grab the pattern. http://www.mathwire.com/seasonal/elfpatterns.pdf Use scrapbook paper or red and green construction paper and let students draw stripes or dots. I used various kinds of Christmas scrapbook paper. I will post pictures when the students make them on Wednesday. There are some great Elf units out there that I will use parts of as well. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-on-a-Shelf-

Classroom-Resource-Pack

http://www.eduperry.com/2010/12/elf-mini-unit.html

Elf Sentences

for students to find Verbs

The elf makes lots of

things.

The elf gave the reindeer food.

Elves play at the end

of the day.

An elf helps Santa

with the gifts.

The elf is very busy in

December.

Did you see the elf walking to the toy

shop?

The elf naps after lunch.

The elf was jumping up and down when he

saw Santa.

An elf likes to be busy.

The elf tastes Mrs.

Claus’ cookies.

Elves go on vacation in

January.

Elves learn how to write at school.

The elf wrote many tags for gifts.

Did the elf ride with Santa on the sleigh?

The elf went to his home at the end of

the day.

The elf cried when Santa gave him his

gift.

The elf was too little

to climb up the chimney.

The elf wore colorful

clothes.

The elves take the

gifts to the sleigh for Santa.

The elf put the

finished toy on the table.

Elf Scrambled Sentences

this is

Ollie the

elf

he makes

toys and

games

Ollie is

good at

wrapping gifts

he gives

the reindeer

food

eat

to

Ollie puts

the ball

in

the box

you do

think the

box

for

is

me

Ollie

elf

is

ever

the best

Elf Word

Problems

Santa is shopping for new socks for his elves. If he has 12 elves, how many socks will that be? Tell me how you know your answer is correct. .

Santa is shopping for new socks for his elves. If he has 12 elves, how many socks will that be? Tell me how you know your answer is correct. .

Santa is shopping for new socks for his elves. If he has 12 elves, how many socks will that be? Tell me how you know your answer is correct. .

Santa is shopping for new socks for his elves. If he has 12 elves, how many socks will that be? Tell me how you know your answer is correct. .

Santa is shopping for new socks for his elves. If he has 12 elves, how many socks will that be? Tell me how you know your answer is correct. .

Santa is shopping for new socks for his elves. If he has 12 elves, how many socks will that be? Tell me how you know your answer is correct. .

The elves are feeding the 9 reindeer. Each reindeer gets 5 kernels of magical corn and 2 kernels of regular corn. How many kernels of corn in all?

The elves are feeding the 9 reindeer. Each reindeer gets 5 kernels of magical corn and 2 kernels of regular corn. How many kernels of corn in all?

The elves are feeding the 9 reindeer. Each reindeer gets 5 kernels of magical corn and 2 kernels of regular corn. How many kernels of corn in all?

The elves are feeding the 9 reindeer. Each reindeer gets 5 kernels of magical corn and 2 kernels of regular corn. How many kernels of corn in all?

The elves are feeding the 9 reindeer. Each reindeer gets 5 kernels of magical corn and 2 kernels of regular corn. How many kernels of corn in all?

The elves are busy making candy for class parties. Each class has 20 students. Each child gets 10 candies. How many candies will the elves need to make? What if two new students move in, how many more candies will the elves have to make? What is the new total of candy?

The elves are busy making candy for class parties. Each class has 20 students. Each child gets 10 candies. How many candies will the elves need to make? What if two new students move in, how many more candies will the elves have to make? What is the new total of candy?

The elves are busy making candy for class parties. Each class has 20 students. Each child gets 10 candies. How many candies will the elves need to make? What if two new students move in, how many more candies will the elves have to make? What is the new total of candy?

The elves are decorating the tree. They are making a growing pattern of abc, aabc, aaabc using red, green and yellow lights. If they have 35 lights, what is the last light in the pattern? How many more lights do they need to end their pattern on a c?

The elves are decorating the tree. They are making a growing pattern of abc, aabc, aaabc using red, green and yellow lights. If they have 35 lights, what is the last light in the pattern? How many more lights do they need to end their pattern on a c?

The elves are decorating the tree. They are making a growing pattern of abc, aabc, aaabc using red, green and yellow lights. If they have 35 lights, what is the last light in the pattern? How many more lights do they need to end their pattern on a c?

The elves are decorating the tree. They are making a growing pattern of abc, aabc, aaabc using red, green and yellow lights. If they have 35 lights, what is the last light in the pattern? How many more lights do they need to end their pattern on a c?

Elf 1 made 5 bikes. Elf 2 made 7 balls. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 5, 7, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 3 bikes and Elf 3 made 11 balls? Tell whether 3, 11, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 9 bikes and Elf 2 makes 5 balls. Tell whether 9, 5, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?

Elf 1 made 5 bikes. Elf 2 made 7 balls. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 5, 7, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 3 bikes and Elf 3 made 11 balls? Tell whether 3, 11, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 9 bikes and Elf 2 makes 5 balls. Tell whether 9, 5, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?

Elf 1 made 5 bikes. Elf 2 made 7 balls. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 5, 7, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 3 bikes and Elf 2 made 11 balls? Tell whether 3, 11, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 9 bikes and Elf 2 makes 5 balls. Tell whether 9, 5, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?

Elf 1 made 4 dolls. Elf 2 made 8 jump ropes. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 4, 8, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 6 dolls and Elf 2 made 10 jump ropes? Tell whether 6, 10, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 6 dolls and Elf 2 makes 12 jump ropes. Tell whether 6, 12, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?

Elf 1 made 4 dolls. Elf 2 made 8 jump ropes. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 4, 8, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 6 dolls and Elf 2 made 10 jump ropes? Tell whether 6, 10, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 6 dolls and Elf 2 makes 12 jump ropes. Tell whether 6, 12, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?

Elf 1 made 4 dolls. Elf 2 made 8 jump ropes. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 4, 8, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 6 dolls and Elf 2 made 10 jump ropes? Tell whether 6, 10, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 6 dolls and Elf 2 makes 12 jump ropes. Tell whether 6, 12, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?

Elf 1 made 4 dolls. Elf 2 made 9 bikes. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 4, 9, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 6 dolls and Elf 2 made 7 bikes? Tell whether 6, 7, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 10 dolls and Elf 2 makes 5 bikes. Tell whether 10, 5, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?

Elf 1 made 4 dolls. Elf 2 made 8 jump ropes. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 4, 8, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 6 dolls and Elf 2 made 10 jump ropes? Tell whether 6, 10, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 6 dolls and Elf 2 makes 12 jump ropes. Tell whether 6, 12, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?

Elf 1 made 4 dolls. Elf 2 made 8 jump ropes. How many toys did they make altogether? Tell whether 4, 8, and the sum are odd or even numbers. What if Elf 1 made 6 dolls and Elf 2 made 10 jump ropes? Tell whether 6, 10, and the sum are odd or even. Try one more: Elf 1 makes 6 dolls and Elf 2 makes 12 jump ropes. Tell whether 6, 12, and the sum are odd or even. Do you see a pattern here? Can you make a generalization?