THE LETTER X

Show the children a real x-ray. Share with them that an x-ray is a picture of human bones. The human skeleton consists of 206 bones. These bones support your body and allow you to move. Bones contain a lot of calcium (an element found in milk, broccoli, and other foods). Bones manufacture blood cells and store important minerals.

The longest bone in our bodies is the femur (thigh bone). The smallest bone is the stirrup bone inside the ear. Each hand has 26 bones in it. Your nose and ears are not made of bone; they are made of cartilage, a flexible substance that is not as hard as bone.

PASTA SKELETON

This pasta skeleton is easily made from a few different types of pasta and dried beans glued to a piece of black construction paper. They can write the word X-ray on the bottom of the "X-ray".

THE X POEM

X is the Roman name for ten,
X is the mark of many men;

X means a crossing, as drivers may note,
X in a square also counts as a vote;

Xmas is Christmas, a season of bliss,
X in a letter is good for one kiss;

X is for xylophone music renowned,
X marks the spot where the treasure is found.

Make a xylophone paper craft!

1. Cut out eight various size color bars for a xylophone.
2. Discus and identify each color bar. Example: Hold a color bar and say: What color is this? Yes, yellow. What other things are yellow. How about the sun or a lemon.
3. Shape - The rectangle. For this activity we can focus on the rectangle shape of each color bar. Discuss that the color panels are rectangles (two long sides and two short sides). Have the children find other things around them that are rectangles - a door, a refrigerator, window, area rug or table.
4. Alphabet Letter X- Each color bar displays two letter X's, discuss and identify the X. Display the Xylophone poster and say that xylophone starts with the letter X.
5. Counting & Sizing: Have the children count and organize the color bar rectangles in size sequence from shortest to longest. Ask which bar is the shortest? Which is the longest?

Make a Water and Rainbow Colors Xylophone

Many of you are probably familiar with the water xylophone in elementary school. This one has one additional element: color mixing

1. You need six to eight glasses or glass jars (I use jam/jelly jars) the same size.
2. Line them up next to each other but not touching. Gradually add water to each jar from a little to the last one close to the rim.
3. Add a bit of tempera paint or food coloring showing children how mixing the primary colors will yield the secondary color - start with red, then mix red and yellow to get orange, the third glass is yellow, and so forth in the same order of the rainbow.
4. To keep the glasses steady make a base with play dough and press the glass on the base.
5. Give children new pencils or regular metal spoons and have them tap the glasses to hear the different sounds that are produced. The glasses with more water will produce a lower pitch sound, and those with less water will produce a higher pitch sound.

X SOUND POEM

By crossing two lines
this letter called X
Can sound like K-S
If it comes at the end of
A word such as flex