1-2-3 Come Do Some Halloween Shape Activities With Me.
October is filled with all sorts of fun shapes, so with that in mind, I designed this cute, haunted house, 2D-shape review.
I don't know about your students, but my kiddos get super-excited over doing any sort of activity that I can tie in with Halloween.
So when I ask, "Does anyone want to make a haunted house shape booklet?" they are all over it.
“Open the door if you dare” and you will find 6 pages of “spooky-shaped” (real life) things to greet you.
The basic 2D shapes covered are: circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle & hexagon.
I find that while most of my students can identify these shapes, many of them have a bit of difficulty identifying them, when looking at "real" items.
This booklet helps reinforce that in a super-fun way.
There are 5, different page set-ups, for you to choose from, so that you can easily diversify to fit the various skill levels of your students, while still having everyone work on the same thing.
OPTION #1: Students simply color the shapes on each page.
OPTION #2: Students write down the name of the shapes on that page & color them.
OPTION #3: Students get an additional strip of paper with one extra shape on it.
They color the single object on their page, as well as all of the objects on this strip.
Afterwards, they cut the objects out & glue them to the matching shape page.
OPTION #4: Students color all of the objects on their extra worksheet. (This is a half sheet.)
They cut each of the 6 sections out (following the dashed lines), then glue them to the matching labeled page.
OPTION #5: These pages are all blank.
Students write the name of the shape on the bottom line, then draw one “spooky shape”.
As always, I’ve included black & white patterns for your students, as well as full-color templates, so that teachers can quickly and easily make a sample to share.
After students color their haunted house, & the pages you have chosen for them, they trim and collate their booklet.
You decide if you want students to glue the "door" pages together, or simply staple them.
If you're looking for something educational and that “something different” for your Halloween party day, this works well.
I’ve also included several other related activities, so that you can extend the lesson and cover more standards. (Woo Hoo!)
There’s a quick, easy & super-fun “Spooky Shapes on a Roll” dice game, which practices life skills, as well as subitizing.
This is an easy-peasy and fun activity for your Halloween party day too.
The "Tell me an answer" question page is a simple, whole-group assessment, you can use after students complete their haunted house.
To extend the lesson, and practice graphing, I've also included several additional worksheets.
Completed projects make an adorable Halloween bulletin board as well.
I’ve included several posters to add some extra pizzazz to your display.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of fall graphing worksheets.
They are great for early finishers, a fun homework assignment, or something for your sub tub.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
We're having our third day of rain, and while that certainly fits the mood for designing Halloween activities, a little ray of sunshine would certainly boost my energy level.
Wishing you a wonderful week.
"I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion." -Henry David Thoreau
1-2-3 Come Practice Place Value With Me
Put some “Woo Hoo!” into studying place value, by creating a super-cute PVP (Place Value Pumpkin).
This is an especially fun activity for your students and a nice alternative to worksheets; making it that “extra special something” you can do on party day or for October math practice.
Completed projects turn out absolutely adorable and make an outstanding bulletin board or hallway display.
I’ve included 2 posters to help decorate, as well as header cards that show the total value of the pumpkin.
You’re sure to get lots of compliments, as the results definitely have that “Wow!” factor.
The packet is very versatile with lots of creative options for your students to choose from, which allows you to diversify your lesson.
Appeals to a variety of ages and abilities.
The versatility allows younger kiddos, as well as older students, to create a pumpkin that will have a two, three or even 4-digit number value!
Keep things simple for little ones and limit the number of pieces and options, as they create a Place Value Pumpkin "head".
Challenge older students to add arms and legs which will add to the total value of their pumpkin, as well as increase the cuteness factor. I’ve included hats, gloves and shoe patterns too.
Once children have finished their PVP they figure out the value of their pumpkin.
I’ve provided several worksheet options for students to complete, as well as a whole-group activity.
Pick which of the 3 worksheets is the most appropriate for your students.
Each practices a variety of place value math standards.
On the one pictured here, students write the various forms of their number. Students also pick a partner and compare and contrast their Place Value Pumpkin Pal with another classmate's to practice even more math standards.
Pumpkin head patterns take up a full page, so there's plenty of room for creating a nice sized Place Value Pumpkin head.
To show you how tall these creations can get I took a picture of my husband's personal favorite next to a ruler.
Limited time? This makes a super-fun homework assignment, or another idea is to have students work with a partner or create one PVP in a small group of three, which will divide up the work.
Here’s a fun challenge: Give the small group a total pumpkin value, and see how close they can get to hitting that number.
Create extra pizzazz and 3D pop, by giving students the option to add wiggle eyes, glitter, a pipe cleaner vine, bow, rhinestones, or a pom pom topped cap.
I had an absolute blast using all of these "extras" in my samples. They really added that "finishing touch".
Today's featured FREEBIE is also perfect for Halloween party day.
It's an "oldie but goodie" that I created a few years ago before I honed my computer graphic skills, but my kiddos absolutely love cutting out a "Spooky Spiral", which look pretty awesome swirling and twirling from the ceiling.
Well that's it for today. So happy to be done with this whopper of a packet chock full of so many fun options.
Time to take a much-needed break. Despite crashing temps from 70s to 50s it's a pretty day.
The sun is shining and fall has definitely arrived. Wishing you a joy-filled day.
"Piles of leaves; Crisp autumn breeze; Pumpkin pie; Oh My!" - Unknown
1-2-3 Come Do Some Pumpkin-Themed 2D Shape Activities With Me
Since pumpkins are carved with all sorts of shapely features, I thought it would be fun to make some "pumpkin eye" activities to practice 2D shapes. Today's blog features my "just finished" packet, along with today's featured FREEBIE.
The packet includes:
* 2 sets of picture cards featuring pumpkins with the various shaped eyes: circle, oval, rectangle, square, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, heart and star.
These can be used as flashcards or for Memory Match, or "I Have; Who Has?" games.
* There’s also an emergent reader craftivity: “Pumpkin Eyes", with 3 options:
* One option features pages with simple sentences using words from the Dolch lists, especially pronouns: “My pumpkin has rectangle eyes.” There is space underneath for students to draw that shape.
* Option 2 includes the sentences as well as the shapes. The 3rd option, for little ones, doesn’t have sentences, just the picture shapes for them to color.
Students cut the pages and staple the "Pumpkin Eyes" booklet to the eye-section of their pumpkin.
* I’ve also included a whole group chant written on a poster. Read and point to the words on it:
“Oh my! We’re wise. We spy a pumpkin with ____________ eyes!”
When you get to the blank, place a shape word card on the poster.
To start the game, pass the various shaped eye cards out to your students. The child holding the called-for shape, puts that eye-card on the pumpkin poster.
Continue the chant ’til you have used all of the shape word cards.
My Y5s absolutely LOVE practicing shapes this way.
* Make an extra set to be used as an independent center. Children place the shape word above the pumpkin, then put the matching eyes on. To make this self-checking, draw the shape on the back of the word card.
* This activity can also be used as a fun tool for individually assessing 2D shapes.
* Afterwards, graph which pumpkin eyes everyone liked the best using the “Graphing Time” poster.
* Another fun way to whole-group assess 2D shapes, is by making a “Pumpkin Eyes” slider craft.
There are 2 pumpkin patterns to choose from, as well as two slider strip options featuring the various 2D shapes.
* I’ve also included 2 pumpkin patterns where students draw a shapely face, which makes for a sweet bulletin board.
Place the “Welcome to our patch” poster in the center of your display. This poster is today's FREEBIE. Click on the link to grab your copy.
* Finally, a great “go along” story to read with these activities is Denise Fleming’s “Pumpkin Eye”.
The story is about all of the things the pumpkin’s eyes see on Halloween, so I’ve included a class-made book activity as well.
Class books are wonderful to share at Parent-Teacher Conferences.
Each child completes the prompt: “My pumpkin’s eyes are ___________. (shape) He sees ____________________.
Students draw those shaped eyes on the pumpkin, then illustrate their page of what their pumpkin saw. Collect the pages, collate, then add the cover.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for popping in.
It's time to put my "Nana hat" on, as I'm watching two of my favorite little "punkins" today. Wishing you giggles galore and lots of warm snuggly hugs.
"There's nothing quite like a grandchild to put a smile on your face, a lump in your throat, and a warm, loving feeling in your heart." -Unknown
Attention-Getting Fall Glyphs!
Glyphs are a quick, easy and fun whole-group listening and following directions tool that can be used for assessments.
During conferences, if you have to prove to parents that their child is not listening and following directions, glyphs are a perfect example to haul out and share.
Since listening and following directions is a standard on most report cards, glyphs are a fun way for students to show you that they can do that.
Completed glyphs also make an interesting bulletin board or hallway border display. By having students write their names on the BACK of their glyph, you can challenge them to try and figure out whose glyph belongs to whom.
Have children interview their classmates, collecting and then analyzing their data, which is also a standard for many. This 18-page packet includes graphing and tally mark extensions, so you can cover these math concepts as well.
The pumpkin glyph is also a nice review of 2D shapes. Click on the link to view/download the pumpkin glyph. If you have a scarecrow theme going on, I think you'll enjoy this cute scarecrow glyph.
My Young Fives LOVED doing glyphs, so I dreamed up one for just about every month. To view other glyphs, click on the link. More Seasonal Glyphs
Thanks for visiting today. Do you have a glyph you could share with us? I'd enjoy hearing from you diane@teachwithme.com or take a moment and leave a comment here.
It's a gorgeous fall day! Outside my office window, I can see some of the trees starting to turn and a few yellow leaves floating in the breeze, as they spiral to the ground, seeming to avoid the busy squirrels scampering willy nilly.
I think it's time for a break. Chloe, my poodle pup, will enjoy a brisk walk too. Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have done." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow