raccoon activities

1-2-3 Come Do Some Kissing Hand Activities With Me

My kiddos LOVE the story The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.  Little ones identify with the anxious feelings of Chester the raccoon, when he doesn’t want to go to school.  The warming kiss from his mom, resonates in comfort for them as well.

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementaryWith that in mind, I created a whopping 102-page Kissing Hand literacy packet.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved designing it.  

The packet has a ton of super-fun activities to help reinforce a variety of standards and includes the following:

* A note home to parents to provide a family photograph for a special We are loved” bulletin board.
* 2 posters to help create the bulletin board.

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementary* A tiny welcoming note for your students with a place to put a Hershey Kiss. ("Hooray!  Hooray!  So glad you're here today.  To show you that it's true, here's a little kiss for you!")
* Graphing activities

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementary* Parts of a book poster & worksheet
* Pocket Chart cards for: character, setting, events
* Literacy Graphic organizers
* Beginning-Middle-End of the story worksheets & activities

* A who, what, where, when, why worksheet
* Venn diagrams comparing: 2 books, 2 characters, the child with Chester, Chester’s school & their school, plus some completed samples to share.

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementary* Games: “How many words can you make using the letters in raccoon?” Includes an answer key; “Rr is for raccoon and….” race;  plus a Nocturnal Animal Memory Match game.

* A variety of worksheets for various levels.
* Lot of creative & fun writing prompts
* Several class-made books, with covers and inside pattern pages to make them.

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementary* Nocturnal animal activities, including an interesting facts sheet, an alphabetical list of 34 nocturnal animals, a classroom poster, with a matching “color me” one for students, plus several games.

* Sign Language activities (The last page of the story, is a picture of Chester’s hand “signing” I love you.) Includes a poster and worksheet.

* Skidamarink a-dink-a-doo I love you song, poster & bookmarks.  My Y5s LOVE singing this sweet song.

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementary* Retell the story bookmarks
* “Color me” first day bookmarks

* Comfort discussion poster and matching class-made book

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementary* “I had a great 1st day” slap bracelet.
* 12 pocket chart cards for reviewing the story.  They double as a punctuation and capitalization activity too.

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementary* Feelings activities
* Raccoons "Are, Can, Have" worksheet

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementary* Craftivities: A raccoon mask; a hand print fold out note; and a  “red, white & blue I love you” sign language heart.  Both make a wonderful keepsake.

* I also designed a sweet full-body raccoon on a 1/2 sheet of paper, with 2-on-a-page for quick printing.

Little ones can simply color him, then color, trim & glue the tail to the bottom. 

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementaryOlder students can write 3-4 things they liked about school or 2-3 emotions they felt during the first day or week. 

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementaryThe larger raccoon is just a head & tail.  I call it "A Tale About Me!"  With a play on the word "tale/tail".

It's an interesting alternative to the "All About Me" booklets.

The tail of the raccoon provides simple writing prompts for kiddos to finish: name, birthday, an interesting fact about themselves; what they want to be when they grow up, plus favorites: color, candy, activities, animal, foods, & TV show, all written on the raccoon's tail. 

This craftivity is a super-fun way to learn about your new students, and completed projects make an adorable bulletin board

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to grab this comprehensive Kissing Hand Literacy Packet. 

In celebration of getting ready for back to school, I've knocked 2 dollars off for a limited time, so this 102-page packet is just $5.95. 

kissing hand I survived craft, Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementaryThe featured FREEBIE today, also involves The Kissing Hand. I actually have 2 for you that are featured in the packetThe first one is the quick, easy & fun "fill up the hand with feelings" craftivity.  Click on the link to grab it.  

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementaryThe second one is the Comfort Class-Made Book.  There are two writing prompt options to choose from, a color cover, with full & half page options, plus the discussion poster.  After children share their page, collect, collate, add the cover & place it in your classroom library. 

Be sure and set your student-made booklets out during Open House as well as Parent Teacher Conferences. 

Kissing hand activities, raccoon crafts, raccoon activities, literacy packets, audrey penn, kissing hand crafts, back to school activities, back to school books for elementaryI hope your kiddos enjoy creating this one.  Well that's it for today. 

Thanks for stopping by.   It's a lovely sunny day in the 70's.  My grandchildren are coming over, so it will be especially enjoyable.  Wishing you a love-filled day as well.  

"Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation." - Lois Weis  

1-2-3 Come Do Some Kissing Hand Activities With Me

Since all of The Kissing Hand Activities have been such popular downloads, I decided to make a few more activities to review all sorts of Common Core State Standards

The first packet has to do with the alphabet.  I've included large 5x7 upper and lowercase letter cards that you can use as flashcards or for Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games. 

Make an extra set; cut them apart, and use them for an ABC puzzle center.  I've included a tip list of all sorts of other things you can do with the cards, including a "Kaboom" game.  

alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsThere are also mini cards.  Run them off and have students arrange them in alphabetical order, or don't cut them apart, and make the lowercase worksheet into an "I Spy" game board. Students color their uppercase heart-tiles and cut them apart. 

alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsChoose a student to call out a letter.  Students find the uppercase letter heart-tile and place it over the lowercase letter hand on their game board.  You can also have them glue them down. 

I've also included several assessments, a recording sheet, plus 2 trace and write worksheets

alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsClick on the link to view/download The Kissing Hand Alphabet Game packet. 

The next packet is all about numbers.  There's a counting booklet for numbers 0-10, with a blank sheet to program with larger numbers. 

alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsHave students show "how many" with stickers, or X's (kisses) to show the group/set for each number. 

Students trace the numbers and number words.   If you want to extend the activity, have them practice writing the numbers and words on the back of the pages. 

I've included large and small "lipstick-ers" for your students to cut and glue the appropriate amount to the hands.

alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsThere are also large 8x10 number posters that you can use as flashcards or for games.  There's a blank hand for this activity as well, so that you or your students can make cards for those teen numbers and beyond.

alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsAs with the alphabet packet, this one also includes several trace and write worksheets. Click on the link to view/download The Kissing Hand Number Packet.

kissing hand alphabet slider, alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsFinally, I wanted to toss in a "craftivity," so I designed some number, shape and letter sliders

kissing hand shape slider, kissing hand alphabet slider, alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsThere are two different "Chester" raccoons to choose from, as well as upper & lowercase letter strips, plus a shape strip.

If you want to reinforce numbers, choose a slider with numbers to 20, or practice skip counting with strips to count by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's. 

kissing hand alphabet slider, alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsClick on the link to view/download The Kissing Hand Slider packet.  Do you have a Kissing Hand activity that you could share with us?  Would love to hear from you: diane@teachwithme.com or leave a comment below.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you found something here that you can use to help make learning even more fun. As always, feel free to PIN away.

kissing hand alphabet slider, alphabet games, alphabet activities, alphabet cards, alphabet assessments, number cards, skip counting activities, counting booklet, shape activities, shape games, raccoon craftsIt's steamy outside, as the gentle rain splashed all over the hot asphalt.  Time to pretend to be two again, as I go puddle jumping with my little grandson.  Hope you have a refreshing day!

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky." -Rabindranath Tagore