Monday, September 16, 2013

We Fit Together

Here's a little something that I do with my kids at the beginning of the year to help cultivate classroom culture.  I believe I found it in the Mailbox Magazine years ago.

It all starts with 25 puzzle pieces like these.

I trace the puzzle pieces on two poster boards.  One poster board gets cut apart and numbered on the back of each piece.  The other poster board is left intact.  Each piece is numbered on the front.  

After each child draws themselves on a piece (on the side that isn't numbered), they bring it to the intact poster board, find the matching piece using the shape or number as help, and then glue it on.



When complete, we fit together pretty well.  

20 comments:

  1. I LOVE this. We did it one year as a faculty when I first got to my school and the Principal made it into a bulletin board display just like yours. I'm pretty sure she bought the pieces but I like how you cut them yourself.

    Your firsties sure are blessed to be under your loving care!

    Barbara

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    1. Thank you Barbara. That's clever how your faculty did this too.

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  2. Cute idea! Until you get a new. Friend and his puzzle piece sticks off the side...not quite fitting in ...lol....saw that happen on Pinterest , poor guy!!!

    Looks good!

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    1. Renee, new little people are definitely important too, huh? :)

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  3. Love this idea! Great way to build community:)

    Tara
    The Math Maniac

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  4. Wonderful! We were going to do "beginning of the school year self-portraits" tomorrow (to put in their portfolios). I am now off to Target to find poster board so we can incorporate them into a classroom puzzle. Thanks!
    Lyn

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  5. Such a fun way to build classroom community! I bet they had a lot of fun doing this activity!
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, at the end of the year, it goes home with someone. It's always a coveted souvenir. :)

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  6. I have seen something similar, and I love the idea! Pinning for later. :-)

    Crystal

    Teaching Little Miracles

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    1. Crystal, glad it might be useful in the future. :)

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  7. Our make it/take it center has a die cut of a puzzle piece - so I'm thinking this would be easy-peasy to do. And I think I could just add a row for any newbies. Fun idea - and I like how some of them are sideways or even upside down. :)
    Sara

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    1. Sara, some of their reactions to the fact that they're upside down or sideways are funny. :)

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  8. Tammy, I love this, I would love to make this with my class. Please, Email me the 25 puzzle pieces? Thank you? Ann Schupp

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  9. I want to make this on Friday 2-19-2021, please email me the 25 puzzle pieces?

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  10. love this want to try with my kids for a team work activity. Can you email me.
    thank you

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