ELA Educator Preparation
Water Wall Display Create a large wall display about water that includes different sections. Here are some ideas:
- Water, Water, Everywhere! Feature a collection of pictures showing where water is found on Earth and how it is used. Have a variety of examples, including rivers, oceans, and streams; water in glasses, fishbowls, swimming pools, and bathtubs; water used to put out a fire; watering a lawn; washing machines; and more! Encourage children to talk about where the water is and how it is used.
- Water Animals Display pictures and/or photos of a variety of water animals, from ducks in a pond to goldfish in bowls, from trout in lakes or rivers to whales and dolphins in oceans. Label the pictures with the animals’ names. Encourage children to talk about how the animals are alike and different in characteristics as well as in their habitats (whether they live in salty or fresh water).
- Water Transportation Display pictures and/or photos of a variety of forms of water transportation, including toy boats, ocean liners, ferry boats, barges, rowboats, canoes, motorboats, and sailboats. Label the pictures and encourage children to talk about how the vessels are alike and different.
Rhyming Clothesline Hang a clothesline in a corner of the room. Supply clothespins and an assortment of clothes. Also provide rhyming objects or rhyming picture cards (e.g., cat/hat, pen/hen) for children to hang up on the clothesline.
Book-Browsing Boxes Create a water book-browsing box with fiction and informational books about rain, boats, rivers, washing, or anything else relating to water. Label the box with words and a matching picture or symbol, such as a glass of water, so children can identify the contents and browse on their own. Add new alphabet books to the ABC book-browsing box.