Using the Rainbow Pocket Chart

This guide contains hands-on activity ideas for use with the Rainbow Pocket Chart. The chart’s five different sections provide a wonderful opportunity to teach children about:

•Counting

•Reading

•Language mechanics

•Time

•Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing

•Science themes

•Social Studies topics, including timelines

Graphing

Help students build graphing skills with the Rainbow Pocket Chart. Start by surveying students on their favorite kind of animal. Select five different animals like a cat, dog, fish, hamster, and rabbit, and write the name of each animal on a card or glue its picture to the card. Then, place each card in a different colored segment of the chart. Have children write their names on a card and place it in the section of the pocket chart with their favorite animal. (For compatibility with the pocket chart, Learning Resources recommends

using word card sizes of 21⁄4" x 4" and picture sizes of 23⁄4" x 23⁄4".)

Ask questions such as: "Which animal is the most popular in the class?" and "Which animal

is the second most popular?" Explain to students that they have created a bar graph as a class. For older students, extend this lesson into other areas, such as math. For example, a survey of favorite animals can lead to discussions of percentages and fractions.