Second graders at Hearst Elementary recently showcased their growing literacy skills through a seasonal “Scarecrow of Words” project. Each student created a scarecrow filled with high-frequency words and vocabulary featuring the special sounds they focused on that week—such as oo in “good” and ea in “near.”
As part of the activity, students underlined the targeted sounds in their words, reinforcing phonics, spelling, and word recognition in an engaging and meaningful way. Once their scarecrows were complete, students turned them into puppets and used them to help read their favorite books from the classroom library.
The project supported not only ELA development, but also fine motor skills, listening and following directions, and oral language as students described their scarecrows to classmates. The result was a fun, creative learning experience that helped build confidence and enthusiasm for reading.