Amplify Grade 1 Knowledge Unit 1: Fables and Stories Celebration Ideas

Are you using Amplify's CKLA Knowledge program? It is a bit overwhelming when you are starting out. 

This was my 3rd year teaching Amplify's Knowledge and Skills programs. My students and I absolutely love both of them!

One of my favorite things is using the image cards to create an art gallery for every unit - it helps to keep them talking about it throughout the day!

My first graders always love the content they learn in each Knowledge unit, it really is amazing to see the connections they can make throughout the year! 

Now that I've had a few years to focus on how to best teach the content, I wanted to elevate the way in which we celebrate the end of each unit.

Here are some of my favorite activities that help enhance my first graders understanding, and make our celebration days even more entertaining!

Ambience

To set the mood, I like to hang backdrops on our windows that connect to our unit. Most of the Fables and Stories have a farm setting, so I used this farm backdrop.

They also help darken the room a bit too since we get so much afternoon sunshine - not that I'm complaining!

Videos

Another way to create ambience is with flyover videos for each country they hear a story from. It gives them some awareness of what the landscape is like for each country.

Click here if you would like a copy of these videos!

Maps

Since many of these stories take place in different countries, I bought a foam map we use to track all the locations we have "visited" throughout the year. 

I have a key to help them find each country easily. I also add to this chart during Unit 3 - Different Lands, Similar Stories.

Trade Books

After we finish the unit and the quizzes, we read the trade books, or any other book that aligns to the unit. They love to hear Anansi the Spider, since they heard the folktale in the unit.

Artwork 

Then, it is time for their art projects! 

Using Kwik Sticks and oil pastels, my students create an illustration for something they loved learning about from that unit. Then, they write a few sentences explaining why they chose it.

I display their artwork in our classroom until the end of the next unit. It makes for some great conversation pieces during break times!

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Celebration Ideas

For the celebration days, I set up 5-8  different stations around the room. 

Paper bag puppet station

They use jumbo lunch bags and coloring supplies to create puppets of their favorite characters.

Then, they take their puppets and act out their favorite stories with their friends!

Guided Drawings

I had a very artistic class this year, so I incorporated a lot of art projects into our celebration days. One thing they loved were guided drawings. I used easydrawingguides.com to find different animals and characters for many of our Knowledge units throughout the year!

I put them into dry erase pockets, so they could bring them over to the windows to trace. These were such a hit that they even used them during indoor recess in the winter!

Coloring Pages

One table had coloring pages from their favorite folktales.

Retelling Stories

They retold the stories 2 ways. One was orally, using the image cards, flip books and their puppets. 

Some also chose to retell their favorite story using one of these writing templates. 

There are charts and Venn diagrams for all the stories, as well as different blank writing templates, for your students who prefer to not use an organizer.

Loose Parts

The last area is a hands-on spot, where they can build anything from the unit. 

Some like to build the structures characters lived in, others like to use the parts to retell the stories.

I always change out the materials with the seasons - click here to read more about loose parts play.

This was my first time trying an end of the unit celebration, and there are definitely things I will be adding to it this year. I'll be sure to update this with all our new celebration ideas!

Don't miss the other posts in this series!

• Amplify Grade 1 Knowledge Unit 2: The Human Body - Celebration Ideas 
• Amplify Grade 1 Knowledge Unit 3: Different Lands, Similar Stories
• Amplify Grade 1 Knowledge Unit 4: Early World Civilizations Celebration Ideas