Name Study Lesson

Thursday, November 17
Kindergarten/ELA/Social
PM
BIG IDEAS/TAKE-HOME MESSAGE

Students are able to explore the meaning of names and how they make us unique through a
daily name study. Students will explore the letters in their own name and their peers’ names
and interview the name of the day student. Students already have a strong connection to their
own name making the name study an ideal way to engage learners and build on students’
knowledge of names.

CURRICULAR OUTCOMES

2.1 Use Strategies and Cues

● Copy scribed words and print texts to assist with writing
4.2 Attend to Convention​s
● Print own name, and copy environmental print and words with personal significance
● Demonstrate curiosity about visual features of letters and words with personal
significance
● Capitalize first letter of own name

K.1.3 examine what make them unique individuals by exploring and reflecting upon the
following questions for inquiry:
● What is the origin and/or the significance of my given names?

I can statements:
● I can print my own name or copy it.
● I can show interest in the letters of my name.
● I can capitalize the first letter of my own name.
● I can learn about the meaning of my own name and the names of my peers.

DIFFERENTIATION

● Provide names printed on paper for students to copy (students can choose to use it)
● Provide one-to-to support for students who need assistance making their letters
 ASSESSMENT

● Formative Assessment-ask students what was difficult at their table top.

● Observation and anecdotal notes, taking pictures of student work that cannot be saved
(ex. Sand table)

RESOURCES/MATERIALS

● Student names printed on paper with sheet protector

● Paper and writing tools
● Writing prompt for drawing table (I like _____because)
● Playdough
● Sand and tray

LESSON

Intro/Hook
TIME TEACHER ACTIVITIES LEARNER ACTIVITIES

10 Have students sitting on carpet. Students sitting on carpet listening.

minutes It’s time for our name of the day.
Invite a student to come up and
randomly choose name of the day.

Our first name of the day is Students interview their classmate.

________.
Write the name on chart paper, say
each letter as I write it.

Have students say the letters in the

name all together. Students say letters in name.

Trace the name of the day on the Students trace name.

carpet with your finger.

Examine the letters in the name.

What do you notice about the letters Students share what they notice about the
in this name? Are there more than name.
one of some of the letters? What’s
different about the first letter of the
name?
Count the letters in the name.
Stand up if your name also starts with
____.
Stand up if your name starts with a
capital letter.

Share the meaning of the name and

why it was given.

Now we are going to interview ____. Students interview name of the day
What does interview mean? student.
We are going to ask ___questions
about him/herself.

Encourage students to ask questions

such as:

What is your favourite color?

What is your favourite activity?
What is your favourite centre? Etc.

(Record students’ interview questions

and student’s answer)

Thank you for sharing with Students listening.

us_______. Tomorrow we will be
learning about a new name in our
class.

Remind students of the three Students listening.

tabletops.
1. Tracing your name and name
of the day in sand.
2. Making your name and name
of the day in playdough
 3. Typing your name and
username (numbers)

(Have each student’s name at one of Students find their name at one of three
three tabletops-these will be rotated tables.
each day). Call student names to
dismiss them to table tops.

Development
TIME TEACHER ACTIVITIES LEARNER ACTIVITIES

10 - 15 Teacher circulating and supporting Students working at table tops.

minutes struggling students.
Taking anecdotal notes.

Taking pictures of student work

(ex. At sand table, playdough).

Closure
TIME TEACHER ACTIVITIES LEARNER ACTIVITIES

5 Kindergarten 1-2-3 Students clean up.

minutes Time to clean up and come back to Come to carpet.
the carpet. If you are working at
the playdough, put the playdough
back in the containers. If you are
typing, put the keyboards back. If
you are at the sand table, leave
your sand and come to the carpet.

What were you good at at the Students share.

tabletops?
What did you find hard to do at
your table top? Were some letters
more difficult than others?

Transition into centres.

Centre Motto
Dismiss to centres.