1-2-3 Come Do Some Penguin Activities With Me
I designed the Penguin Emergent Reader packet to go along with my Silly Shaped Penguin craft. The craftivity is today's featured FREEBIE.
For your convenience, I’ve included them in the packet.
You don’t have to make the Silly Shaped Penguins, but I really think they get children excited to make this short emergent reader booklet, which includes 50 Dolch sight words!
Children read the sentence, add end punctuation ( ? . ! ), trace & write the shape word, then trace, draw and color the shape.
I've included an extra page with the hexagon, pentagon & octagon if you study those as well.
The last page is also optional. “This penguin is in the shape of my shoe. It’s a special keepsake that I made for you.” where children trace their shoe, and add details to make it look like a penguin.
There are 2 size options for the booklet: full-page (great for a teacher’s edition), plus a 2-on-a-page half size, to conserve paper and ink.
The packet also includes:
* A set of trace & write the shape word cards, which can be turned into an Itty Bitty booklet, or used for a Memory Match or “I Have; Who Has?” game. I’ve also included a full-color set as well.
* A graphing extension
* A “Roll & Color” the shapes game, where children choose a partner & take turns rolling the dice. Whatever number they roll, is the matching numbered shape that they color.
* And finally, an “I Spy a Shape” game worksheet, which is a quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess. You can use the worksheet 5 times too!
Well that's it for today. I hope your kiddos have as much fun with the silly shaped penguins, as I did creating them.
Who knew? "Penguins have only one mate, and "propose" by giving then a pebble."
1-2-3 Come Do Some More Snowman Activities With Me
Whenever I toss in a bit of craftiness to our learning, I grab my kiddos' attention and they can't wait to get down to business. It's an absolute joy to see them so happily engaged.
The little bit of extra prep time is well worth the effort, as everyone is focused and on task, with no wasted time with discipline problems or re-explaining things to students who were not listening.
Plus, completed projects make wonderful bulletin boards and hallway displays, which promote pride in their work and increased self-esteem.
With this in mind, I designed a variety of snowman-themed activities, that practice a variety of standards.
"The Snowman's Nose" is a quick, easy and fun way to practice: upper & lowercase letters, numbers to up to 20 or backwards from 31, plus skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s and 10s, and can also be a way to whole-group assess.
There are 8 different snowman heads to choose from. Simply choose which one is appropriate for your kiddos.
"Snowy's Nose" by Kelly Asbury, is a sweet book to read before or after this craft.
Another way to practice upper and lowercase letters, counting forwards and backwards, as well as skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s, is with Pete the Puzzling Snowman.
Print, color, laminate and trim a set, keeping each puzzle in its own Baggie, and use them for an independent center activity, or do as a whole-group craftivity.
Children can color my snowman face, or they can draw one of their own, on the blank pattern.
After children cut up their puzzle template, they arrange the pieces on a blue sheet of construction paper, leaving a little gap in-between each strip, creating a cool mosaic effect.
For more alphabet practice, try my Dollar Deal Alphabet Wheels, which build the vocabulary needed to give an example of a word, with that beginning sound.
They feature 6 nouns that begin with that letter, and come in black and white, for individual word work, as well as color, so that you can use them as an independent center activity.
I've also included a worksheet where students trace & write the words in alphabetical order.
We revisit the letter Ss in January, with the Ss is for Snowman alphabet wheel.
To practice 2D shapes, make a set of "Shapely Snowmen".
Look closely at the photo, and you'll see that the snowman's facial features match the 2D shape of his head.
I put a sprig of holly on my hats, but a paper punched snowflake would also look cute.
Use them as giant flashcards, (Hold one up. Children call out what shape it is, along with its attributes, like the number of vertices), use them as a 2D bulletin board display, independent math center, or do as a craftivity, and have students make one of their own.
You can also play a variety of games with them. I've included directions in the packet.
My kiddos absolutely LOVE playing "4 Corner Freeze" .
It's easy-peasy for me, and only takes a few minutes, so it’s perfect for the end of the day, or when you want to give your students a brain break or get the wiggles out.
Finally, if your kiddos need some review with color and color words, the Colorful Snowman Games packet is an interesting and fun way to practice.
Students can play the color-matching game as an independent center, or choose a partner and play a spinner game.
Make an extra set and glue the puzzle hat and scarf pieces to the appropriate snowman and use them for your winter word wall, or a bulletin board display.
I’ve also included a plain set, for students to draw in their own snowman face, if you want to do this as a whole-group craftivity, where each child makes their favorite color snowman. The packet also includes a “Colors on a Roll” dice game.
The other snowman color activity is Snowman Colors, which features an emergent reader that covers lots of standards, as students read the repetitive sentences, circle capital letters, add end punctuation, trace and write the words, and color the pictures. Days of the week + color words are also reinforced.
The packet includes 3 graphing extensions, a game, bookmark and a worksheet, plus a cute snowman craftivity, where the “scarf” is a little flip booklet, featuring color words.
The featured FREEBIE today is a set of "I Spy" snowface worksheet games, which help reinforce upper and lowercase letters + numbers from 1-20.
I did "I Spy" daily, as a fun way for my Y5's to practice, as well as a quick and easy way for me to whole-group assess.
Well that's it for today. Hope you found something here that tickled your fancy. The sun is shining outside my office window and making the snow sparkle.
As Mr. Rogers used to say: "It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood." Wishing you a carefree day filled with Brrrrr-illiance!
"Some people are so much sunshine to the square inch." -Walt Whitman
1-2-3 Come Do Some Gingerbread Activities With Me
Looking for some gingerbread-themed activities that practice a variety of standards? You've come to the right place. Hopefully you'll find something useful in today's assortment.
No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs.
They are a quick, easy and fun way to practice listening and following directions.
They also provide a "hard copy" to use as proof that a child does or doesn't.
Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different.
To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students try and figure out who made some of the gingerbread glyphs.
Click on the link to zip on over to Diane's Dollar Deals in my TpT shop to have a look:Gingerbread Glyph.
Another Dollar Deal is this 6-piece gingerbread man puzzle. It's a quick, easy and fun way for your kiddos to practice numbers 1-6.
Print off the numbered, "color me" gingerbread pattern, along with the base. Students color, cut him apart, then choose a partner to play the puzzle game.
Children take turns rolling a dice. Whatever number they roll, they glue that piece of their gingerbread man to their worksheet.
You can also skip the gluing part, so that students can continue to play the game at home, or make this a center activity that you can use every year and run off on brown construction paper, laminate & trim.
Are you studying digital and analog time to the hour and half hour? Then "It's Time For Gingerbread" might interest you.
Use the clock cards as flashcards, puzzles & games.
There are also 3 options for an analog gingerbread clock to use as a spinner game, or for whole-group assessing.
If you're going to use the gingerbread man as a clock, have children attach a large and small paperclip with a brass brad.
Simply call out a time. Children manipulate the paperclips to show that time.
I've also included an assessment worksheet, a "Kaboom!" game, plus 2 cover options to make an Itty Bitty "My Telling Time" booklet.
Finally, since 2D shapes is also a standard for us, I designed a gingerbread house craftivity, as well as a gingerbread cookie game and put them in a "Shaping Up With Gingerbread" packet.
For that finishing touch, we sprinkled colorful confetti on the rooftop.
Today's featured FREEBIE also has a gingerbread theme. It's a set of number puzzles. I hope you find them useful.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. My grandchildren are due any minute, so it will be a day filled with crafts and giggles.
Wishing you lots of love-filled moments.
"Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Make Some Thanksgiving-Themed Emergent Readers With Me
I've been super-busy tweaking and revamping some oldies, at the same time designing quite a few new Thanksgiving items as well.
Today I'm featuring 3 of "Diane's Dollar Deals" that are quick, easy and fun emergent readers.
They are great for Daily 5, or your reading-writing centers.
First up is the "Thanksgiving Emergent Reader Strip Booklet". I call these “strip booklets”, because I can fit five pages or "strips" on a one-page template, for easy printing.
Trimming the pages provides nice fine motor practice strengthening those finger muscles, as children make a “just the right size” Itty Bitty booklet.
Students read the simple sentences packed with 27 Dolch sight words, trace the words, add end punctuation, then rewrite the sentences, remembering proper capitalization, spacing and end punctuation.
Afterwards, children color, cut and collate the pages.
Next is a "Snip and Flip" Emergent Reader Counting Booklet, that reinforces numbers and number words.
I call them this because students snip the top number pages to reveal the group/set of Thanksgiving-themed items underneath.
Students trace and write the numbers and number words; they read the simple sentences and add end punctuation, then color the pictures in the group/set.
Review adding plus one more to complete the next grouping, as students count from 1 to 10.
For more reinforcement, and to practice another standard, have students count backwards from 10 to 0 by reading their booklet in reverse.
Finally, the last Thanksgiving-themed Dollar Deal is "Shapely Buckles" a Pilgrim Hat craftivity, where the buckle is actually a little shape booklet.
Choose which shapes are appropriate for your kiddos and have them color, cut and collate into a mini buckle booklet.
When everyone is done, use it as a creative way to whole-group assess.
Call out a shape. Students flip through the pages, find the correct one and hold their hat up.
You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. Jot yourself a note and work with these kiddos later.
I’ve also included a set of 2D pocket chart cards to use as a review.
There’s also a matching cover, so that your students can make an itty bitty booklet, as unlike the buckle activity above, these pages also include the shape word, which they trace and write.
Finally, there’s a set of picture cards, as well as word cards, so that students can play a Memory Match and/or an “I Have; Who Has?” game.
Today's FREEBIE. "A Feast of Fictional Fun" is an oldie but goodie, designed years ago before I had all of the clip art, fonts, and design programs that I use today.
However, I think your kiddos will enjoy the creative writing prompts. I've also included a class book, travel journal and diary pages.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. I hope your kiddos enjoy practicing a variety of standards with the Pilgrims.
I got up early to get this posted, but now it's time to get ready for church. I'm thankful for the Pilgrims who paved the way for our religious freedoms. Wishing you a peaceful day.
"It's not enough to attend church and pray every Sunday; you have to act." -Abbe Pierre
1-2-3 Come Do Some Monster Activities With Me
Ever since Disney came out with Monsters Inc, monsters have gone from something scary to something sweet, helpful and rather loveable.
Because these cute creatures are super-popular with children, I decided to design a few monster things for my October activities.
Thus, "Shapely Monsters" was born, and like Disney, my monsters are adorable.
This emergent reader, packs a lot of Dolch punch, as students practice color and number words, as well as 2D shapes.
Children read the simple sentences; trace & write the shape, color & number words associated with that monster, then color the “shapely monster” the matching color, adding the appropriate number of eyes.
For the last page, students design their own monster, using their favorite color, and draw on as many eyes as they are years old.
To cover another math standard, I’ve also included a graphing extension, featuring Marvin the marvelous monster who is helping to search for, count & color the various 2D shapes.
Besides the full-page booklet, to conserve paper & ink, I’ve also included 2-on-a-page templates to make a smaller emergent reader. You can use the larger one as a teacher's edition.
When everyone has completed their booklet, read it aloud as a whole group to practice concepts of print, then encourage children to share it with their family when they get home, to further reinforce colors, numbers and shapes.
Shapely Monsters is one of Diane's Dollar Deals in my TpT shop. Click on the link to zip on over.
Today's FREEBIE also has to do with shapes, and features an assortment of fall-themed pictures. I hope you enjoy it. Fall Shape Matching Game.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. There's a huge MOPS sale at a nearby church today!
I'm excited to search for some bargain-priced clothes and goodies for my grandchildren. Wishing you an exciting day.
"The monster was the best friend I ever had." -Boris Karloff
1-2-3 Come Review 2D Shapes With Me
As we prepare our rooms for back to school, it's nice to have a few posters to create instant bulletin boards or wall displays.
With that in mind, I designed a set of 2D posters, which match the 3D shape posters I posted a few days ago.
They come in a variety of sizes, so that you can use them for anchor charts, flashcards, centers, & games.
The packet includes the following shapes: circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, star & heart.
I included the rhombus & trapezoid because I use pattern blocks as manipulatives, so my kiddos might as well learn the names of these shapes.
The star & heart are also part of the packet because our preschool teaches those shapes too. Simply print out the shapes that you teach.
For your convenience, I've also made a full-page poster showing all of the shapes, as well as one featuring just the standard 6.
There's a one-page set of cards so that you can play Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games, along with a sheet of bookmarks that students can tuck into their math journals.
One shows all of the shapes, the other bookmark the standard 6.
Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to pick up the 2D Shapes packet. I hope you find it useful.
While you're there, why not make a "wish list" for tomorrow's special one-day site-wide TpT sale. (August 19th) My shop will be 20% off.
Save an additional 10% by typing in the MORE15 coupon code.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. I can't believe how fast August is flying. It always does (heavy sigh...) but this year more so than ever!
Anyone else relate with end-of-the-summer August Anxiety? Wishing you a carefree day.
"August is the Sunday of summer." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Chew On Some Common Core With the Very Hungry Caterpillar and Me
Since so many people read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I wanted to use Eric Carle's cute little critter as a spring board to studying a variety of Common Core Standards.
I created the caterpillar template and made a list of all sorts of ways I could use it, then set about to design the details. You can choose which one you want your students to do, or give them a choice.
Teachers could also make up their own set and laminate to use as spring anchor charts. Make an extra set to use for independent sequencing centers or to play games with. Don't glue the body-segment circles together, and you could also use them to independently or whole group assess the various standards.
In The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats the Alphabet, students trace and write upper and lowercase letters. I've also included a set where a bit of the butterfly's life cycle is also included with the letters.
For example, for the letter Zz, I added: Zzzzzz sleeping in a chrysalis, and then included a butterfly pattern with the letters all over her wings to be cut and glued on the last section.
I glued just the thorax portion to the last "body" circle and bent the wings up so that the butterfly is 3D and looks like she's flying.
Older students could also make a list of a food the caterpillar could eat that begins with that letter. You may want to read Lois Ehlert's book Eating the Alphabet (Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z) to give students some ideas. Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats the Alphabet packet.
If you'd like to review just the life cycle of a butterfly, you'll want to take a look at The Life Cycle Of The Very Hungry Caterpillar packet. Students trace and write the words, then color, cut and glue the pictures.
If you look closely, you'll see that I glued down just the thorax with this butterfly too, so it looks 3 dimensional, like the larger one above. Click on the link to view/download it.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats a Rainbow, reinforces colors as well as the days of the week. Before hand, brainstorm what kinds of things the caterpillar could eat that are the various colors. Write these words on the board to help children with spelling.
Students trace and write the color words and complete the sentence with something the caterpillar ate that was that color. Adding end punctuation reviews another standard.
Children then draw and color a picture. I've included my sample so that you can quickly make one to share with your students. Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats a Rainbow packet.
You may also want to read one of the following books for some great examples of rainbow-colorful food: I Eat A Rainbow, by Bobbie Kalman; Can You Eat a Rainbow? by Anastasia Suen; and/or I Can Eat A Rainbow, by Annabel Karmel.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Some Numbers includes counting from zero to ten, where students trace and write the numbers as well as the number words. I've included a butterfly pattern to glue to the last section if you want.
There are also caterpillar "body" circles for skip counting by 2s 3s, 5s, and 10s. If you are practicing counting backwards from 10 to 0, simply have children put the caterpillar in reverse order.
In all of the packets there are patterns for the caterpillar's head if you want it to be made out of construction paper, as well as a pattern that students can color, like the "Skip count by 10s" caterpillar in the photo.
Since I have many requests for shape craftivities, particulary 3D shapes, I thought I'd make The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Some Shapes.
This is the largest packet, as I've included a caterpillar that reviews 2D shapes, as well as the days of the week. For this caterpillar, students trace and write the shape words, as well as draw the shapes.
I've included a butterfly pattern with the various shapes sprinkled on the wings, if you'd like to include that on the last "body" section. For a cool 3D effect, fold the wings up and glue only the thorax portion down.
Another caterpillar, is a cut-and-glue the 2D shapes on the "body" circles. Besides the standard 2D shapes, you can also choose to include the hexagon, pentagon, and octagon, and/or the pattern block shapes: rhombus and trapezoid.
There's also a separate caterpillar that simply "eats" all of the 3D shapes. As with the above activity, students cut and glue the 3D shapes to the "body" circles. Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Some Shapes.
Whew! That's a lot of Very Hungry Caterpillar options! I hope they help your kiddo-caterpillars blossom into smart little butterlies!
To take a look at all the butterfly-caterpillar FREEBIES on my site, click on the link. I also have a plethora of more free butterfly & caterpillar activities, crafts, snacks & ideas on my pinteresting PIN boards.
Thanks for visiting. The sun has actually ventured out today, so I'm going to bask in it for as long as I can tolerate the wind and 25 degree temperature. Wishing you a stress-free day.
1-2-3 Come Do Some Super-Fun Cat in the Hat Activities With Me
Since the Grinch Game in yesterday's blog, was such a huge hit, I decided to make one featuring Seuss's Cat in the Hat. "Feeding" cards to the Cat in the Hat, is a quick, easy and fun way to review all sorts of standards. Simply print, laminate and trim the "food" cards.
These are mini cards that include upper and lowercase letters, numbers from 0-120, 11 number word cards, twelve 2D shape cards, twelve 3D shape cards, 35 contraction cards, 20 at family word cards, and 11 color word cards!
I chose bright neon-colors, for that extra touch of Seuss-pizzazz. There's also a set of blank tiles for you to fill in with whatever else you want to review or practice.
I bought my red bucket from The Dollar Store, printed the cat off on card stock, then taped it to the inside. Easy Peasy.
I've included 4 little signs that you can use to decorate your container with, or sprinkle on a bulletin board.
Keep each set of "food" cards in Snack Baggies and store them in your container.
To play, simply pass out whatever cards you want to practice with, then call out a word, letter, number etc.
The child holding that card comes up, reads and shows it, so everyone can repeat what they said. That student then "feeds" the hungry Cat in the Hat.
Besides "feeding" the Cat in the Hat, make extra sets of the cards to play all sorts of games. I've included tip lists suggesting more activities, plus the "Kaboom!" game.
There's also a set of math symbols as well, so you can use the number cards for other math activities, like making up equations and solving them, plus showing greater & less than.
Students can also sort the number cards into odd and even piles and sequence them. Play Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games with the number word cards and their matching number cards.
The shape cards, as well as the color cards, work in the same way. You can also play these games with the letter cards, matching an uppercase letter to a lowercase one.
I've included an at word family worksheet in the packet at well.
After you're done playing, reward your kiddos with a Seuss bookmark.
There are 14 different designs in the packet. Eight of them feature favorite Seuss quotes.
For more Cat in the Hat fun, click on the link for 14 sweet Seuss-themed puzzles.
They will help your students sequence numbers, count forwards and backwards, plus skip count by 10s to 100.
I also designed a set of larger Cat in the Hat number cards with numbers 0-120.
Use them for different games, or add them to your "Feed the Cat in the Hat" review game.
There's a bigger set of alphabet cards as well. There's a separate set for uppercase and lowercase letters, then a set where both the upper & lowercase letter appears on one card, making them "purr-fect" for all sorts of Memory Match or "I Have, Who Has?" games.
If you'd like to see more Dr. Seuss FREEBIES, click on the link to zip on over to that section of my site. I also have a Pinterest pin board of more Seuss ideas and free activities.
Thanks for visiting. Since winter is bitterly clinging to February, I wish everyone a safe and snuggly day.
"Be who you are, and say what you feel, because those who mind, don't matter and those who matter, don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
A 1-2-3 Come Do Some More Haunted House Activities With Me
I'm enjoying a bit of R&R time this weekend, so I wanted to feature 2 "oldies" but "goodies" for today's blog. They fit in perfectly with the 2 new haunted house FREEBIES from yesterday. If you missed that article, simply scroll down to check it out.
The 17-page Haunted House math packet, is a "craftivity" and game to help reinforce fact families in a fun way.
The Packet includes:
Click on the link to view/download Haunted House Fact Family Fun.
The other haunted house activity helps reinforce 2D shapes. These are quick, easy and fun games for your kiddos to play in an independent center, or as a whole group.
Click on the link to view/download the Spooky Windows Haunted House Shape Games.
That's it for today. Thanks for visiting. Wishing you a restful and relaxing weekend too.
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle
1-2-3 Come Do Some Common Core Activities With Me and Spot the Fire Safety Dog
Since the Common Core Scarecrow packet was such a popular download, I thought it would be fun to design a fire-safety themed one. Thus Spot the Common Core Fire Dog was born.
The packet includes patterns to make 4 Dalmatian matching games for: (upper & lowercase letters, numbers, shapes and colors). Students put a fireman's hat on the Dalmatian, then find the matching bone to put in his mouth.
For example, Sparky, the shape Dalmatian has a 2D shape on his fire hat.
Students find the matching bone with the shape word on it, and slide it under the slit of Sparky's mouth. For another matching game, and to cover more standards, write the shape's attributes on the back of the bones.
To complete the CCSS shape standard, and review spatial directions, have students place the dog bone above, behind, under, beside etc.
I've also included a spotless dog for you to program for other things, as well as a black and white spotted puppy so students can color it. (Use as a topper for writing prompts etc.)
There are also blank fire hats and blank bones for you to program with whatever. Use them for other games, name tags, or write a fire safety rule on each bone.
For even more practice, there are 16 "I Spy" worksheets.
Use them as a fun way to quickly and easily whole group assess: upper and lowercase letters, numbers, number words, colors, color words, shapes, and shape words.
I've also included 5 trace and write worksheets to practice writing upper and lowercase letters, plus numbers from 1-100.
Since so many fire safety rules begin with a contraction like "Don't play with matches." I've included these Dalmatian-themed contraction action activities: an alphabetical list of 72 contractions, 24 pocket cards with fire-safety sentences using contractions, plus 3 contraction worksheets.
To grab some fun, click on the link to view/download the fall FREEBIE: Common Core Fire-Safety Themed Puppy Packet.
If you'd like to make a Dalmatian sock puppet to use with these activities, or when you read some fire-safety books that feature a Dalmatian fire dog, click on the link. A little square of cardboard inside the toe of the sock, makes the "talking mouth".
I made these each year with my students. We used them to show spatial directions and share a fire-safety fact. My kiddos also had fun showing how to stop-drop and roll using their puppy puppet.
I've included a copy of our Puppey Pokey song, which was a great way to get the wiggles out! There's also a puppy adoption certificate. My Y5's enjoyed naming their puppies and then introducing them to the class.
We really enjoy the song: Who Let The Dog's Out, so we'd finish up our fire-safety day rocking out to that tune. Click on the link for a You Tube listen. LOVE the variety of dogs that they use in their animation. :-)
I hope you found something that your kiddos will enjoy. Thanks for visiting. Time for a little fresh air.
I love the crunching sound as I tromp through fallen leaves. The colors are looking pretty spectacular and there's a crisp coolness to the air this morning. Wishing you a sunshine-filled day.
"When the world says, "Give up," Hope whispers, "Try it one more time." -Author Unknown