I always love returning to school in January after the break to see how my students have grown over the course of the year. With my upper elementary kiddos, they always seem more mature than when we left school just a few weeks prior. While it fun to be back in the classroom, it is also time to get down to business. Having fun ELA activities for your upper elementary students is a must to keep them engaged and learning in January.
RING IN THE NEW YEAR
This folding activity is fun for students to reflect on how they spent the New Year. Students can also make a list of resolutions if they have not done so already. The foldable serves as a pre-writing activity, with graphic organizers and paper (lined and digital) also included for an extension lesson.
NEW YEAR’S FOLDING ACTIVITYCELEBRATE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Since we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the month of January, I also like to use the folding craft as a research project. The students are able to work in groups or alone to find out facts on MLK. If there is time, graphic organizers and paper are included for an extension lesson. I like to think about these January ELA activities for your upper elementary students’ kind of like hiding vegetables in your kid’s food. The lessons are fun and have learning hidden inside.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. FOLDING ACTIVITY
ALWAYS TIME FOR READING
Using poems with my upper elementary kiddos is always fun. I use this monthly poetry unit each week of the school year to be able to see the growth in student comprehension. Inside the January poems are a variety of poem styles, ranging from lyrical, narrative, free verse, rhyming, and acrostic. Using poetry helps me to be able to hone in on skills that students may need help with like main idea, vocabulary, making predictions, and so forth.
JANUARY POETRY READING COMPREHENSION
JANUARY ELA ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR UPPER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
It is easier for kids to get back into a routine when there are engaging lessons for them to complete. These lessons are low-prep and self-explanatory. Teachers will be able to work with struggling students while other students work independently. For the homeschool parent, or students learning virtually, all of the lessons mentioned are available digitally. Having fun ELA activities for your upper elementary students in January makes the transition from coming back to school from the break run smoother.