ant activities

1-2-3 Come Do Some Anticipatory Writing With Me (Say what?)

All the while I was working on the ANTicipation packet, the 1979 Heinz ketchup commercial "Anticipation is making me wait" and the tune that accompanied it, kept running through my head; sort of like Disney's "It's a Small World" tune that plays incessantly even after you exit the ride. It's still there; buzzing through your brain like a pesky mosquito. 

ant activities, end of the year activities, end of the year crafts, end of the year writing prompts, picnic basket pattern, ant crafts, picnic crafts, end of the year bulletin boards, writing activities for june, writing activities for the end of the year, writing prompts for juneAny hoo, as my frequent visitors know, I love putzing with word play, so anticipating the summer naturally led me to an ant craftivity.  Run the ant's head off on black construction paper.  Mine was light enough so that I could still see the graphics, which I embellished with crayons. 

Using and old file folder, make a template from my "body part" patterns.  Trace once and then cut 3-6 pieces at a time.  Students cut out the head and then glue the two body segments together. 

Wiggle eyes and black pipe cleaners added that extra bit of pizzazz.  I bent the pipe cleaner in half and spread it into a V and then bent up the ends to make the "feet." I attached to the back with Scotch tape. 

Explain to students that the definition of anticipation has to do with hopes and expectations for the future.  I've written a sample for you to share if you want, or create one of your own.  Children love hearing about their teachers.   Younger students can simply make a list.

ant activities, end of the year activities, end of the year crafts, end of the year writing prompts, picnic basket pattern, ant crafts, picnic crafts, end of the year bulletin boards, writing activities for june, writing activities for the end of the year, writing prompts for juneStudents complete the writing prompt: Some of the things I'm anticipating doing this summer . . .  glue it to a sheet of construction or scrapbook paper, and then attach their ant to the bottom. 

ant activities, end of the year activities, end of the year crafts, end of the year writing prompts, picnic basket pattern, ant crafts, picnic crafts, end of the year bulletin boards, writing activities for june, writing activities for the end of the year, writing prompts for juneYou can leave it at that, but for a bit more hands-on and that finishing touch, add the picnic basket to the top.  (There's one for summer and a generic one as well) To add a bit of 3D, you can cut brown strips of construction paper for the handles and attach them with brass brads. 

To give students another option, they could choose to write about what they are anticipating in the next grade that they'll be going into, or something else that they have expectations or hopes for.  

Completed projects make an awesome hallway display.  Hang up a plastic, red and white checkered tablecloth (they sell them at The Dollar Store) to use as a background.  Your caption can simply be ANTicipations!   Cut your letters out of brightly colored construction paper and add some clip art ants. 

ant activities, end of the year activities, end of the year crafts, end of the year writing prompts, picnic basket pattern, ant crafts, picnic crafts, end of the year bulletin boards, writing activities for june, writing activities for the end of the year, writing prompts for juneClick on the link to view/download the ANTicipation Packet Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.

"It takes a big heart to shape little minds." -Unknown

Read To Succeed!

One of the most requested items from teachers is “easy readers.”  mother's day activities, mother's day card, mother's day booklet, mother's day ideas, ant activities, ant booklet, ant lessons, ant ideas, daily 5 activities, may daily 5 activities, spring daily 5 activities, easy readers, class made books, 4 season activities, 4 season books, 4 season projects, 4 season lessons, 4 seasons booklet, 4 seasons tree, the seasons of arnolds apple tree lessons, 4 season tree project, 4 seasons tree template, 4 seasons tree pattern, 4 seasons writing prompt, writing prompt for may, writing prompt for mother's day, writing prompt for spring, early elementary writing prompts, They say that they need more little booklets for students to work on during Daily 5 as well as ones to send home so that students can practice reading them to their families.

I like to make up easy readers that also reinforce additional standards like math, science, colors, etc. so that I get more “bang for my time buck” so to speak.

I also want my students to have an opportunity to write some of the main words in the easy readers to get practice with those skills too.

mother's day activities, mother's day card, mother's day booklet, mother's day ideas, ant activities, ant booklet, ant lessons, ant ideas, daily 5 activities, may daily 5 activities, spring daily 5 activities, easy readers, class made books, 4 season activities, 4 season books, 4 season projects, 4 season lessons, 4 seasons booklet, 4 seasons tree, the seasons of arnolds apple tree lessons, 4 season tree project, 4 seasons tree template, 4 seasons tree pattern, 4 seasons writing prompt, writing prompt for may, writing prompt for mother's day, writing prompt for spring, early elementary writing prompts, I dabble with goofy endings, or ones with a unique twist, and sometimes allow students to think of an alternative ending, so that they can use their imaginations.

One of my biggest pet peeves with many published easy readers was that they abruptly ended with no real conclusion.

This week I completed several.

My Mom is perfect for a Mother’s Day writing prompt and reinforces the use of adjectives and verbs.  Make it even more of a keepsake by having students glue their school photo to the last page.

Click on the link to view/download My Mom Mother’s Day booklet.

Several teachers wanted a booklet that reviewed the seasons.

Since many of you also study trees, I thought it would be nice to combine the two.

mother's day activities, the ants go marching, other's day card, mother's day booklet, mother's day ideas, ant activities, ant booklet, ant lessons, ant ideas, daily 5 activities, may daily 5 activities, spring daily 5 activities, easy readers, class made books, 4 season activities, 4 season books, 4 season projects, 4 season lessons, 4 seasons booklet, 4 seasons tree, the seasons of arnolds apple tree lessons, 4 season tree project, 4 seasons tree template, 4 seasons tree pattern, 4 seasons writing prompt, writing prompt for may, writing prompt for mother's day, writing prompt for spring, early elementary writing prompts, mother's day activities, the ants go marching, other's day card, mother's day booklet, mother's day ideas, ant activities, ant booklet, ant lessons, ant ideas, daily 5 activities, may daily 5 activities, spring daily 5 activities, easy readers, class made books, 4 season activities, 4 season books, 4 season projects, 4 season lessons, 4 seasons booklet, 4 seasons tree, the seasons of arnolds apple tree lessons, 4 season tree project, 4 seasons tree template, 4 seasons tree pattern, 4 seasons writing prompt, writing prompt for may, writing prompt for mother's day, writing prompt for spring, early elementary writing prompts, The Seasons Of My Tree (photo top right) does just that, with a cute twist at the end, that I’m sure your students will enjoy dreaming up.

Click on the link to view/download The Seasons Of My Tree

Who Invited The Ants To The Picnic? (photo bottom right) is a sweet pre-summer, easy reader that reinforces number words and counting to 10.  It provides an opportunity for students to write two alternative endings to the story.

Click on the link to view/download Who Invited The Ants To The Picnic

I just finished story cards for the old-fashioned tune, The Ants Go Marching.  So if you'd like to incorporated these with the picnic booklet, or teach your little ones this fun counting song, click on the link to view/download

The Ants Go Marching story cards.

I hope you enjoy these new booklets. If there’s something special you’re looking for, just shoot me an e-mail and I’ll see what I can whip together.  diane@teachwithme.com

mother's day activities, the ants go marching, other's day card, mother's day booklet, mother's day ideas, ant activities, ant booklet, ant lessons, ant ideas, daily 5 activities, may daily 5 activities, spring daily 5 activities, easy readers, class made books, 4 season activities, 4 season books, 4 season projects, 4 season lessons, 4 seasons booklet, 4 seasons tree, the seasons of arnolds apple tree lessons, 4 season tree project, 4 seasons tree template, 4 seasons tree pattern, 4 seasons writing prompt, writing prompt for may, writing prompt for mother's day, writing prompt for spring, early elementary writing prompts, I’ve found that if one teacher needs it, there’s sure to be many more out there who do too! i.e. I only had 1 request for some activities with an Angry Bird's theme and Angry Birds Activities & Angry Birds Shapes, are two of my most popular downloads!

mother's day activities, mother's day card, mother's day booklet, mother's day ideas, ant activities, ant booklet, ant lessons, ant ideas, daily 5 activities, may daily 5 activities, spring daily 5 activities, easy readers, class made books, 4 season activities, 4 season books, 4 season projects, 4 season lessons, 4 seasons booklet, 4 seasons tree, the seasons of arnolds apple tree lessons, 4 season tree project, 4 seasons tree template, 4 seasons tree pattern, 4 seasons writing prompt, writing prompt for may, writing prompt for mother's day, writing prompt for spring, early elementary writing prompts, Thanks for visiting; feel free to PIN anything that you feel might be helpful to a parent or teacher.

I hope you can stop by tomorrow for more tips.

Happy Reading!