Bucket Fillers


1-2-3 Come Have Some Fun With Chrysanthemum And Me

I thought I had finished up designing some quick, easy and fun activities to go with the story "Chrysanthemum", 'til I had a request from Erin in Idaho.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersHer preschool has adopted the "Bucket Filling" program and she wondered if I could tie that concept in with the "Chrysanthemum" story. 

Great idea Erin, and easy-peasy to do, as the theme of "Chrysanthemum" is all about being kind, and careful with the things you say.  Thus "Bucket Filling With Chrysanthemum" was born. 

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersAfter reading the story, children transition to making a list of “bucket dipping” moments in the story, as well as “bucket filling” times on the 2 worksheets.

I’ve also included color copies so you can do this as a whole group activity as well.

The packet also includes several posters: “We are a bucket-filling classroom”, “Easily Fill A Bucket By . . .” plus a “Please Don’t Be A Dipper”.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersThe “Chrysanthemum’s ABCs of Bucket Filling” worksheets help build vocabulary while practicing letter sounds.

These can be done individually, or use the colorful ones with a whole group.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersI’ve included answer keys with lots of alliterative options: “Aa: aid, applaud, ask, award, advise, affirm, acknowledge…”

Finally, students can use the little Chrysanthemum "bucket cards" to encourage each other.  There’s a set in color so that you can leave your students a compliment or note as well. 

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersI was now in the Chrysanthemum mode again, so I also designed some Chrysanthemum-Themed Alphabet Number Puzzles.

Because the story is all about this little mouse’s name, I like to transition my kiddos to some name writing activity afterwards.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersThese puzzles provide a super-fun way to do that, plus children get in some uppercase alphabet practice too.

They're a real “sanity saver” as children are happily engaged coloring, cutting, then putting their puzzle together.
While they work independently you are freed up. Woo hoo!

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersThe puzzles mix math with literacy, as they help practice sequencing numbers from 1-10, working on those toughie teen numbers, as well as skip counting by 10s.

Simply choose which number concept is most appropriate for your students.

Chrysanthemum posterFor a fun back to school bulletin board, have children mount their puzzle to a sheet of construction paper leaving a little gap between each strip, which will create an interesting mosaic effect.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersI’ve included 2 “ABC 1-2-3 Look Who’s In The Class With Me!” posters to use for the center of your display. (Plus preschool, kindergarten and 1st grade as well).

There’s also a colorful Chrysanthemum puzzle (1-10, 11-20, & counting by 10s) to use as an independent math center, plus an additional name writing worksheet where children finish drawing Chrysanthemum.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersFinally, while I was putzing with this, another name activity popped in my head, so I created a quick, easy & fun "color, cut & glue" name craft, which provides wonderful fine motor practice, plus assists children in learning how to spell their name as they begin to recognize those letters.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersCompleted projects make a sweet back to school bulletin board too.  Besides the name craft, the packet also includes:

* Separate upper & lowercase letter cards, as well as a set of cards with both the upper and lowercase letter on one card.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, free classroom posters, classroom management ideas, classroom management posters, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersUse them for Memory Match and “I Have; Who Has?” games. 

I’ve also included a 4-page tip list of other ideas for the cards, including the “Kaboom!” game as well as . . .

* A variety of letter worksheets plus…
* Some simple letter games like "What Letter Did Chrysanthemum Hide Today?" and "What's Missing?", as well as several dice worksheet games.

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, free classroom posters, classroom management ideas, classroom management posters, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersToday's featured FREEBIE is a set of 10 Classroom Management PostersI hope you find them useful.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. Time to move on to another theme. 

bucket filling ideas, bucket filling ideas, free classroom posters, classroom management ideas, classroom management posters, chrysanthemum activities, bucket filling activities, chrysanthemum crafts, skip counting by 10s, number puzzles, alphabet crafts, alphabet puzzles, alphabet games, alphabet centersHmmm... shall I start working on "Chicka Boom" or "If You Take A Mouse To School" stuff? Stay tuned.  I'll be doing both before August disappears.

 Wishing you a carefree, happily lazy kind of relaxing day.   

"Children must be taught how to think, not what to think."-Margaret Mead

13 pages.

Often teachers are so busy teaching, that sometimes they can miss important things that are happening in their students' lives.  Putting up a tweet board on a door, wall or bulletin board, helps you stay informed and builds community.  A more caring classroom will be created. This is a special FREEBIE in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to grab your copy today:Sweet Tweets.

9 pages.

This "craftivity" packet is very versatile. I have templates that you can use at the end of the school year, where students write about the"souper" summer they are looking forward to, or the "souper" year they had, or they can make one for your next year's kiddos explaining why they are going to have a "souper" year in __________ grade.

21 pages.

Use this "craftivity" for the beginning of the school year and have students complete the summer writing prompt, or use it at the end of the year and have students make the "Taco" 'bout a great year ___________ (fill in grade) was excelente." template. 

20 pages.

This "craftivity" is very versatile, as it includes templates for an end-of-the year memory book, with covers for preschool through 6th grade, plus a blank template.  If you already have a memory book, have students write why they think this grade was terrific.  You can also use this as a self-esteem builder (fill a bucket) activity (use the ______ is "T"-'rrific!" template) and have each classmate write a compliment in everyone's booklet; or fill in the blank with My Dad, or Grandparents and use for Father's or Grandparent's Day.  It also works for back-to-school. Have students write about why their summer was terrific.

5 pages.

Help build your students' self-esteem, with this sweet end-of-the-year activity.  Students color their cat, glue on the blank template(s) to include a space for X number of students to write a compliment on, and then accordion fold it.  Includes bookmarks.

2 pages.

Define what an adjective is and have your students describe themselves at the beginning of the year.  Collect and save 'til the last week of school and have them use adjectives to describe themselves now.  Have they changed? 

1 page.

A "makes your think" poster that can be used as a writing prompt. "Is this advice true? Good? Why or why not? How can changing places with someone help you understand them better?" This is a great poster if you're doing the "Fill A Bucket" program.

8 pages. Motivate your students and build self-esteem, with these star certificates. Also includes a poster to hang to show who the star student of the day/week is.  This packet works well with the "Fill a Bucket" program too.

10 pages. Common Core State Standards: RI.K.5,RI.K.6,RI.K.9,RI.K.10,RL.K.2RL.K.3,RL.K.6, RL.K.9, L.K.1d, RI.1.9, RL.1.2, RL.1.3 A variety of fun reading and writing activities to go along with Kevin Henke's Chrysanthemum, that will help reinforce the

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