1-2-3 Come Do Some Polar Express Activities With Me
“All Aboard! The Polar Express is now leaving for the North Pole!”
Do you read this classic Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg?
It’s a personal favorite of mine, especially because Chris is from my home town here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so you can imagine how popular this book is with the teachers in my school.
With that in mind, I decided to make 3 Polar Express craftivities that would reinforce some language arts standards. First up, is the Lit Express.
As you can see by the pictures, I chose Christmas colors of red and green for my train, but you can run off a variety of colors of construction paper and give children a choice.
By the looks of the photograph the train appears small, but the pattern for each car takes up a full page. I purposely made the templates large, so that there's plently of room for wtudents to write.
Teachers can make the train, laminate & then do this as a whole-group discussion activity with preschool and kinders, writing their answers down with a dry erase marker, then reviewing the story.
Older students can make their own Polar Express.
I suggest doing this over a few days, making several cars each day, or sending part of the project home to be completed there, and then returned.
Not enough time, but still want to give this cute craft a whirl? Simply have students do just the engine along with the “stat” car, or a -3-piece train with the engine, stat car and caboose.
Completed projects make an absolutely adorable, hallway wall border.
I’ve included an “All Aboard For Literacy” poster for your display as well.
Gluing a child’s school photo peeking out the engine’s window, makes them the conductor, and adds to the “awww” keepsake factor.
Later, the entire train accordion-folds, making the project small and flat, which easily tucks in a backpack, then unfolded, one car at a time, to retell the tale of The Polar Express to their family.
The project helps reinforce the parts of a story: Author, Illustrator, Setting, Characters, Problem & Solution, as well as practicing the ”sequencing & retelling” a story standards, via the “Beginning, Middle & End” writing prompt train cars.
I've included extra page patterns, so students can write more if they want.
I have my kiddos write their rough draft on scratch paper, then after their final edit, then using red, black & green markers, they record their work on the approriate train car.
I’ve also included a “Here’s What Happened” worksheet, should you opt for a shorter train.
So that you can quickly and easily make an example to share, I’ve included the templates of my completed samples, plus plenty of photographs, with step-by-step directions.
Next up is a "Polar Express" storytelling wheel. This craftivity is another quick, easy and fun way to practice the "sequencing & retelling" a story standards.
There are 5 “print & go” cover options to choose from. Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.
There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.
When everyone is done, practice retelling “The Polar Express" using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that the boy in his pajamas appears in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to begin the story,
Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”.
For writing practice, and to assess & check comprehension, and reinforce the “sequencing a story” standard, I’ve also included a “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet.
Besides BW, there’s a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.
I’ve also included a circular “Polar Express” puzzle. Use the colorful patterns for an independent center, and the black & white version so students can make their own puzzle to take home.
The base, which students place the puzzle pieces on, includes ordinal numbers so you can practice that standard as well.
Finally, my personal favorite is this Polar Express "flip-the-flap" Train Engine booklet. It too, is a super-fun way to practice the "sequencing & retelling" a story standards.
Run off the engine on construction paper.
I chose the Christmasy colors of red & green, but you could print on a variety of colors and give children a choice.
Students color, cut & sequence the “window pages” and then glue them to their train.
Gluing a child’s school photo peeking out the Engine’s window, makes them the conductor, and adds to the “awww” keepsake factor.
Another way for students to sequence the story, is with the “Let’s Sequence The Polar Express” worksheet.
Children color, cut and glue the “picture tiles” in the correct order on the train car “windows”.
I’ve included a full-color version for teachers. You can do this as a whole group with little ones, as well as make up some independent, reading center activities.
To assess and check comprehension, I’ve included a “Here’s What Happened” worksheet for older students.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a TICKET to ride "The Polar Express" in your classroom.
Besides the colorful ticket, I've also included a BW option, but I think it's more fun for children if they get a lovely and vibrantly colored ticket.
Also in the packet, is an "I Believe!" gift tag to attach to a Christmas jingle bell.
Sign your name on the back after the "A Merry Christmas Remembrance From", add a date, then run off.
A room helper can cut the tags out, fold them in half and glue the front and back together.
Punch a hole at the top, insert a piece of ribbon or yarn (curling ribbon is inexpensive & adds extra pizzazz) then tie on a bell. The entire thing can be hung on a tree. Pass out to your kiddos as they leave for vacation.
Well that's it for now. Thanks for breezing in.
As usual I'm off and running today. This Santa's elf has much to accomplish.
Wishing you a very merry day filled with the wonder of Christmas.
"The true magic of Christmas, is not in the presents, but in His Presence." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Make a Nativity Craft With Me
Would you like your kiddos to be able to sequence & retell the Christmas story? With that in mind, I designed 2 simple & fun craftivities, which will help them do just that.
First up: “Follow the Star”, which is a nativity “flip-the-flap” booklet,
If you do a "Christmas Around the World" ed-venture, this craftivity makes a nice addition to your travels.
The stable is the base of the booklet and is printed on card stock to make it sturdy.
Once the booklet is complete, it is free standing and makes a cute decoration.
The “doors” of the stable open, to reveal graphics of the major events that take place; from Mary & Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem to the birth of Jesus.
Besides black & white patterns for students to color, cut & glue, I’ve also included colorful templates so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.
There are several page options as well.
I’ve provided pages with text for beginning readers, as well as pages without words for younger kiddos.
You can also use these pages for older students, so they can write about what is happening and explain the graphic, or find a matching Bible verse to record on the appropriate pages.
To use for extra writing practice, I’ve also included a completely blank page.
On the back of the stable, students can write “Jesus loves me.” or “Jesus is the reason for the season.”
There are add-on graphics included as well: 4 star patterns for children to choose from, plus a cow & donkey they can glue to the back of the last, opened pages, so that when the doors are completely open, the animals flank the manger.
Brushing some Elmer’s glue on the star, then sprinkling with gold glitter adds extra pop & pizzazz.
The "looking down" photo on the right, shows how the pages support the stable.
When everyone is done, read the booklet together as a whole group, calling on students to explain the various events taking place. Encourage children to sequence & retell the story of Christ’s birth to their families, as they share their nativity booklet at home.
Next up is a nativity "storytelling wheel".
Since my storytelling wheels have been so popular, I thought it would be fun to design one for the Nativity.
Great for parochial schools, Sunday school, Christmas Around the World activities, or simply for your own child.
Storytelling wheels are a quick, easy & fun way for students to practice the “retelling & sequencing” a story standards.
There are 3, “print & go” cover options to choose from. Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.
There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.
After students have completed their wheel, practice retelling the nativity story using the manipulative.
Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that Mary & Joseph, who are traveling to Bethlehem, appear in the “pie-slice window”.
Call on a child to begin the story. Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”.
Afterwards, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their nativity wheel with each other. Sometimes we do this with our older reading buddies.
This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.
For more sequencing & retelling practice, I've also included a nativity puzzle . There are two "base" options, which will help practice ordinal numbers as well as reading.
For writing practice, have students complete the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, then color it.
There’s a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a "Wishful Thinking" writing prompt craftivity.
Students finish the prompt: "If money were no problem and I could have 5 super-fabulous gifts for Christmas, I'd like..."
Completed projects make an adorable December bulletin board.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
Two of my nine grandchildren are coming over today, so my feet have hit the floor running this morning.
I've planned some "merry making" Christmas crafts. Wishing you a day filled with warm hugs and happy giggles.
"Christmas is the kindling for hospitality." -Washington Irving
1-2-3 Come Do A Gingerbread Man Craftivity With Me
This “flip-the-flap” storytelling craft, is a super-fun way to practice the sequencing & retelling a story standards, using the popular tale of the “Gingerbread Man”
Simply run the fox pattern off on orange or brown construction paper.
Students trim & add a few highlights with crayons.
The “head” of the fox, is the “cover” of the booklet that flips up to reveal 6 oval pages, which feature graphics that help students recall the story, so they can retell the tale.
I purposely did not number the pages, so you can check comprehension, when students sequence the story.
Children color, cut & collate the oval-shaped pages into a little booklet, which is then glued to the fox’s face, making it a “flip-the-flap” activity.
Besides the black & white patterns, I’ve also included colorful ones, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.
Since there are two versions of the fairy tale, I’ve also included page options with both endings of the story, as well as a gingerbread man pattern, to use as an extra manipulative.
As children finish retelling the story, I thought it would be fun for them to place the gingerbread man inside the fox’s mouth, to tell the version where the cookie is eaten, then hold the gingerbread man and have him scamper off, to explain that he escapes in the other story.
For extra pizzazz, I used white puffy paint to add realistic-lookig "frosting" to the gingerbread man.
My students absolutely love this "finishing touch", which really adds to the "way cool" cuteness factor.
For writing practice, have students complete the extra “last” page, where children circle the ending they liked best, then explain why.
To check comprehension & further reinforce the sequence of the story, older students can explain “What Happened?” on the writing prompt worksheet.
When everyone's done, have children pick a partner and take turns telling the story of “The Gingerbread Man” to each other.
We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies.
Today's featured FREEBIE isa set of gingerbread-themed "Parts of Speech" posters.
Thanks for stopping by. I have a long "To Do" list of "must do" activities, so my feet have hit the floor running this morning.
It's all Christmas related, so especially fun, at the same tiime exhausting.
Wishing you a "merry & bright" day.
"Christmas isn't a season; it's a feeling." -Edna Ferber
1-2-3 Come Sequence & Retell a Story With Me
I guess a lot of teachers and homeschoolers read the book “The Scarecrow’s Hat” by Ken Brown because the flip booklet craftivity I blogged about last week, was a big hit.
It’s one of my personal, all-time favorite scarecrow stories too.
Because of all the “swapping” going on with the various characters in the story, “Scarecrow’s Hat” is perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.
Those of you who follow me, know that I enjoy designing storytelling "sliders" and wheels, which have also been very popular, as a super-fun way to practice these standards.
However, because the story has a lot of retelling parts to it, a slider would get too long, and the graphics on a wheel too small, so I wanted to think of a different kind of sequencing activity and came up with this “flip it over” 3D hat craft, that’s made out of a yellow bowl.
Run the hat brim off on yellow construction paper. Students assemble and glue the bowl face down, on top of the brim.
There are two options for sequencing and retelling the story.
Students can color, cut and sequence the “beginning of the story” graphics gluing them to the front of the hat; then color, cut and sequence the “end of the story” graphics and glue them to the “back” of the hat, which is now the chicken’s nest. OR …
Children can glue all of the graphics around the front, then simply flip the hat over to reveal the chicken on her nest to tell the end of the story.
I personally like gluing all of the graphics to the front, then for a “big finish” and “wow” of an ending, flip the hat over to reveal why the chicken wanted the scarecrow’s hat.
The chicken is 3-dimensional and “rocks” before you put her inside the base of the bowl.
For my sample, I ran 2 sheets of various shades of brown construction paper through a shredder, to make the lining for hen’s “nest”.
For some more 3D pop, you can also add a jute bow or small, silk sunflower to the base of the bowl, which is the “top” of the scarecrow’s hat.
I’ve included black & white patterns, as well as colorful ones, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.
When everyone is done, have children pick a partner and take turns retelling the story of “The Scarecrow’s Hat” to each other.
We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies.
To further check comprehension as well as practice sequential writing, I’ve included a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet.
There’s a black & white template for students to fill in, plus a colorful pattern page so you can do this as a whole-group activity with little ones.
Today's featured FREEBIE switches from scarecrows to turkeys. Its titled, "Thanksgiving Shape Up!" and is filled with a nice variety of games, activities & crafts, which all help reinforce 2D-shapes.
Thanks for visiting. The scarecrow on my porch is watching the leaves swirl and twirl.
Even though it's a bit dreary, a brisk walk is in order. Wishing you a warm and cozy afternoon.
"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I'm going to change myself." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Do Some Activities For The "Room on the Broom" Story
Do you read the story ”Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson?
Click on the book cover or this LINK to zip on over to YouTube to see a really cute animated version. (10-minutes).
The TV film was nominated for the Best Animated Short Film at the 2014 Academy Awards!
It’s one of my students’ all-time favorite Halloween stories and perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.
With that in mind, I designed this quick, easy and fun ”Room on the Broom” slider craftivity, which will help your students retell the story in the proper order.
There are 2 outside slider options to choose from. One is a square for easy-peasy straight cutting, which is perfect for little ones.
While the other choice is a "cut me out" larger witch, for more advanced cutters.
I made some "broomstick" ends for the "slider strip" for the larger witch, as well as included a "broom straw" pattern to glue on, which results in the slider looking like a broom that the witch is riding on.
Run these patterns off on brown construction paper, then add some shading details with a marker.
For extra pizzazz you can tie on a jute bow.
I make the big one for myself, and run the square craftivity off for my little learners.
Students color the story elements on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together.
As they pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window” on the witch’s cape, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take their craftivity home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.
I introduce the lesson by reading this rhyming Halloween tale, then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.
So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, full-color patterns are included.
After we read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
They guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.
My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a “Room on the Broom” craftivity of their own.
Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.
I’ve included a “Let’s Sequence the Story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet. There’s a larger, full-color option so you can do this as a fun whole-group activity with younger students.
There’s also a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions. You can use the colorful template to do this as a whole group activity with younger folks.
Woo hoo! There are two featured FREEBIES today. The first one is a set of Halloween safety tips.
The tips are loaded with Dolch sight words, providing great reading practice and review. Read the list together as a whole group, calling on different children to read a tip. Afterwards, they can color the picture, then take it home to read to their parents.
The second FREEBIE is a set of "Happy Halloween!" note cards, with 6 on a one-page template.
They come in color as well as black and white.
Attach one to a treat bag, or tuck in a folder, lunch box or backpack.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
It's dark, damp, dreary and raining outside, providing the perfect backdrop for creating some more Halloween "stuff".
Stay tuned for several more activities to go along with the "Room on the Broom" story. "Witching" you an easy-breezy day filled with lots of memorable moments.
"There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow in moonlight." - Unknown
1-2-3 Come Do Some Sequencing and Retelling a Story Activities With Me
Do you read the story “Big Pumpkin” by Erica Silverman? It’s one of my all-time favorite Halloween stories. My students love it too.
With that in mind, I designed 3 different “Big Pumpkin” storytelling craftivities, which are a quick, easy & fun way for children to practice the “retelling & sequencing” a story standards.
The gist of the story is that a witch has grown a gigantic pumpkin, which she cannot get off the vine. Even her spooky friends ( a ghost, vampire, and mummy) can't budge the pumpkin. So how does a little bat think he can succeed where the other stronger characters could not?
Read the story, then pick your favorite crafty option from these 3:
1. A "Big Pumpkin" storytelling wheel, which is in the shape of a pumpkin. Run the pattern off on orange construction paper.
Students trim, then using a brass brad, attach their picture wheel, which they've colored to the back.
2. A "Big Pumpkin" storytelling "slider" which is also in the shape of a pumpkin.
Students color the graphics on the strip of paper, then insert it into the pumpkin to retell the tale, and finally ...
3. A 3 dimensional pumpkin "flip the flap" booklet.
This craft is not as easy as the wheel and slider crafts, so I recommend it for older students.
The pages of the pumpkin booklet fan out so the witch and her "Big Pumpkiin" are free standing, creating a nice wow factor, which makes a cute Halloween centerpiece.
All 3 options have full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus black & white templates, so students can make their own.
When everyone is done, practice retelling the “Big Pumpkin” using the manipulative.
For the pumpkin "slider", children pull the various graphics through the "window".
For the wheel craft, everyone starts by turning their wheel so that the witch with her pumpkin, appears in the “pie-slice window”.
For the flip-the-flap booklet, children begin by flipping the first page to where the witch is seen with her big pumpkin.
Call on a child to begin the story by turning their wheel, pulling on their slider strip, or flipping a pumpkin page.
Continue turning, sliding or flipping, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”.
After the sixth picture (a slice of pie) is revealed and explained:(The witch made pumpkin pie and everyone ate a piece. After her guests left, she went back into the garden and planted some more pumpkin seeds.) in unison have everyone yell “Happy Halloween!”
To further reinforce the retelling, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their wheel or slider with each other.
Sometimes we do this with our older, reading buddies. This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.
For writing practice, all three options include a “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, which students complete and color.
There’s also a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do this activity as a whole group with little ones.
Since this story has a moral to it, I take time to define this language arts term.
I’ve included a poster in each packet for you to hang and use as a guide.
As you can see by the photographs, each packet's writing prompt worksheets and posters are different.
There’s also an additional writing prompt worksheet, where students explain the moral of the story.
Use the colorful pattern as a whole group activity, asking little ones what they learned from the bat, then write their answers down on the paper, which you’ve attached to your white board.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a candy corn-themed packet.
Use it to reinforce circles, the concept of small, medium and large; or have students write whatever you want them to practice, on the individual sections of the candy corn pieces.
I've made examples to give you some ideas, such as CVC words, upper and lowercase letters, shapes, showing a number, counting to 30, color words, writing down examples of things that are those colors etc.
If you're also working on fractions, I've included pocket chart cards for a quick review that you'll find helpful.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for popping in.
It's going to be a chilly, rainy and damp day... perfect for creating some more Halloween activities.
Wishing you a satisfying and snuggly kind of day.
"Acting is like a Halloween mask that you put on." -River Phoenix
1-2-3 Come Do Some Halloween Storytelling Crafts With Me
Do you read ”The Spooky Wheels on the Bus” by J. Elizabeth Mills?
It’s put out by Scholastic and a new favorite of mine.
Perfect for counting, introducing onomatopoeia, and practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.
Click on the book photo on the left, or this LINK, to see it being read by a librarian on YouTube.
Since my students are familiar with and really enjoy singing “The Wheels on the Bus”, having an alternate version for Halloween fun is particularly enjoyable.
With these things in mind, I designed a quick, easy and fun ”Spooky Wheels on the Bus” “slider” craftivity, which will help your students retell the story in the proper order.
For educational fun on Halloween party day, read the story, sing the song, and make the slider craft. Woo hoo for easy-peasy!!
Choose the simple square cut pattern for little ones, or the "cut me out" bus template for children with better scissor skills.
Students color the story elements on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together. There are two options for these as well.
I use the numbered strip because my Y5s are learning number recognition, plus how to count and sequence.
You could also use the strip with just the graphics, and have students number their own to get in even more practice.
As children pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window” of their bus, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take their craft home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.
I introduce the lesson by reading the book ”The Spooky Wheels on the Bus”, then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.
So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included a full-color slider pattern.
After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider. I have children guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.
My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a “Spooky Bus” storytelling slider of their own.
Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.
I’ve included a "Let's sequence the story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet.
There's also a colorful, bus answer key poster, which you can use in various ways, including as an independent puzzle center.
A “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, is another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions.
Since the story is about the WHEELS on a spooky bus, I also made a story wheel craft as well.
This option provides another way to sequence and retell "The Spooky Wheels on the Bus" story.
Like the slider craft, I've included a "Here's What Happened" writing prompt.
There's also another fun writing option, where students continue the story by thinking of an 11th thing that might be riding the spooky bus.
They fill in the blank, compleete the sentence with some sort of onomatopoeia then illustrate their worksheet.
My example has 11 black bats, which go flap, flip, flap all through the town. Students will enjoy sharing what they've come up with, and completed projects make a cute bulletin board.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of apple-themed time cards for practicing telling time to the hour and half hour.
There are blackline patterns plus a cover, so that students can make their own "Itty Bitty" Telling Time Flip Booklet, along with two assessments I think you'll find useful.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for dropping in.
I'm absolutely loving the Indian Summer weather we've been having here in Michigan, so it's time to go rake a few leaves out of my flower beds, before the rain that's brewing changes my plans.
Wishing you a fun-filled day.
"Autumn, the year's last loveliest smile." -William Cullen Bryant
1-2-3 Come Do Some Little Red Riding Hood Fairy Tale Activities With Me
One of the many themes I do with my students is fairy tales, they absolutely love this genre.
No matter what time of year you slip in a fairy tale or two, I think your students will enjoy making these "hands-on" craftivities, which will help students practice the sequence & retell a story” standards.
Today's blog features 3 of my latest storytelling crafts for the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood".
For consistency, I wanted all of my storytelling WHEELS, SLIDERS & FLIP-the-FLAP booklets to have the same format.
My Y5s absolutely love making & collecting them so much, that after story time, several children will often ask "Can we make a 'tell the story' craft for this book?"
First up is a "flip the flap" booklet, where the wolf’s “mouth” tells the tale, as students color, cut & collate the “muzzle-shaped” pages into a little booklet, which is then glued to the wolf’s face, making a “flip-the-flap” activity.
I've included black & white patterns, as well as colorful ones, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.
I purposely did not number the pages, so you can check comprehension.
This also allows you to choose less pages for preschool students, who can easily sort beginning-middle-& end, then retell the story with a limited number of “picture prompts”.
Simply run the wolf pattern off on construction paper or card stock.
Students trim & add a few highlights with crayons.
For some 3D pop, have children bend the tips of the ears forward.
I also drew a completed face of the wolf pattern, should you want to make a mask.
For all of the projects, when everyone is done, have children pick a partner and take turns telling the story of “Little Red Riding Hood” to each other.
We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies.
Next up is a "Little Red Riding Hood" storytelling slider.
Here students sequence & retell a story by sliding the "picture prompts" through a "window".
There are 3, “outside picture” options to choose from: grandma in bed, Little Red Riding Hood, plus the wolf.
Pick your favorite or give children a choice.
I’ve included simple, rectangular cutting templates for PK kiddos, as well as “cut me out” patterns for more experienced, scissor-skilled students.
Children color the story elements on the “slider strips” then cut and glue them together.
As they pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window”, so that students can take turns retelling the story
I introduce the lesson by reading "Little Red Riding Hood", then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.
So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included full-color slider patterns, along with the black & white versions for students.
After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
I have them guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.
My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a slider of their own.
Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.
I’ve included a “Let’s “sequence the story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet.
There’s also a, “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheets, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions.
Finally, another option you have for practicing these standards is the "Little Red Riding Hood" storytelling WHEEL craft.
Unlike some of the other stories we read, fairy tales have a few more story elements, so retelling them takes more "picture prompts".
With that in mind, I designed a front & back wheel, so that the graphics are larger on a "slice" from a 6-piece "pie"circle, than they would be on a circle divided into 12-pieces.
I find that my little ones choose only one color & tend to scribble, when graphics are small, whereas they do a much better job coloring in the graphics on these patterns.
There are 2 “print & go” options to choose from: A circle wheel, which features Little Red Riding Hood, as well as a basket-shaped wheel.
Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.
There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.
When everyone is done, practice retelling the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that her face appears in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to begin the story,
Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story explaining the “picture prompt”.
When you get to the sixth-pie slice, showing "grandma in bed", have children unfasten the brass brad and flip their wheel over, to reveal the last half of the story.
I’ve also included a “back” pattern for both the circle wheel and the one shaped like a basket, where students simply flip their wheel up & over to finish telling the rest of the fairy tale, without having to take their wheel out.
There's a blank-circle pattern, for the back which you can leave as is, or use the empty space for a writing prompt: "What was your favorite part in the story?" etc.
I've also included a pattern with the headings: beginnning-middle & end, as well as my completed sample. (See photo)
Just like the slider craft, you can check comprehension with the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet.
Besides the black & white pattern, there’s also a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.
Another way to check comprehension, and reinforce the “sequencing a story” standard, have students do the “color, cut & glue” sequencing worksheet; this too can be done individually or as a whole group.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a super-simple, end-of-the-year writing prompt that makes a quick and easy memory book, or class book you can share with your next year's kiddos. I hope you find it useful.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
Nature decided it would thwart the rainy forcast and play nice today, providing a bit of sunshine & wonderful spring temperatures in the 70s! Woo hoo.
Time to take a much-needed break and get this old body outside. Maybe a little gardening perhaps? Wishing you an awesome day filled with everything you enjoy the most.
"If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need." -Marcus Tulleius Cicero
1-2-3 Come Do Some Fairy Tale Activities With Me
One of the many themes I do with my students is fairy tales. It’s a great unit for “March is Reading Month” complete with a super-fun parade of “book characters” or a nice theme to wind down with at the end of the year.
One of our favorite fairy tales is "The Three Little Pigs". There are zillions of versions of this popular story out there, which make for wonderful comparison-contrast discussions. Click on the link for a cute YouTube video of a contemporary version:"The 3 Little Pigs"
Fairy tales are not only enjoyable, often leaving us with a "moral of the story" to ponder, but they are simple and short, making it easy for students to remember. They're perfect for practicing the “sequence & retell a story” standards.
With that in mind, I designed 3 different crafts for "The 3 Little Pigs" fairy tale, which make it extra fun to practice these standards. Choose either a storytelling WHEEL, SLIDER or a "Flip-the-Flap" face craftivity.
All of the patterns come in black & white for students to color, as well colorful templates so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share to help explain things.
First up is the "flip it" piggy. Simply run the pig pattern off on pink construction paper or card stock.
Students trim & add a few highlights with crayons.
For some 3D pop, have children bend the tips of the ears forward.
The pattern already has eyes, but for added pizzazz, attach a pair of wiggle eyes with glue dots.
The pig’s “nose” tells the tale, as students color, cut & collate the oval pages into a little booklet, which is then stapled to the pig’s head.
Another interesting "hands-on" way to sequence & retell the fairy tale is with a "turn & learn" wheel.
There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, plus a black and white pattern, so students can make their own.
When everyone is done, practice telling “The 3 Little Pigs” using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that the little pig who built his house of straw, appears in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to tell what happened.
Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story.
When you get to the sixth-pie slice, where the wolf blows the stick house down, have children flip their pig over to reveal the rest of the story.
Afterwards, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their wheels with each other. Sometimes we do this with our older, reading buddies.
This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.
For writing practice, have students complete the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, then color it.
To check comprehension, and reinforce the “sequencing a story” standard, I’ve also included a “color, cut & glue” sequencing worksheet.
Finally, my "sliders" are also a super-fun way to retell and sequence the story.
There are 3 outside slider options to choose from: A pig, the 3 pig's houses, and the 3 little pigs grouped together. Pick your favorite or give children a choice.
Little ones can do the easy-peasy rectangular shape for simple cutting, while older kiddos can opt to cut around the pigs and houses.
Students color the story elements on the “slider strips” then cut and glue them together.
As they pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window”, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take their “Three Little Pigs” slider home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.
I introduce the lesson by reading the ”fairy tale”, then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.
So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included full-color slider patterns.
After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
I have them guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.
My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a slider of their own.
Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension. I’ve included a “Let’s “sequence the story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet.
There are also 2, “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheets, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions.
Since the end of school is just around the corner for many teachers, and some are getting ready for a preschool or kindergarten graduation, today's FREEBIE is a list of over 150 songs appropriate for end of the year slide shows, graduation ceremonies and performances.
Since I spent countless hours compiling it, I thought other teachers might be needing the same thing, so to save you time and help you check one more thing off your "to do" list, click on the link. Hope you find it helpful.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for popping by. Two of my 8 grandchildren are coming over, so time to put my Nana hat on.
Hopefully the rain will hold off 'til we've had some outdoor fun. Wishing you a carefree day filled with lots of hugs and snuggles. I know I'm looking forward to mine!
"We may not be rich and famous, but our grandchildren are certainly priceless." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Do Some Activities For "Polar Bear What Do You Hear?"
Bill Martin's ”Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear?” is one of my Y5s all-time favorite stories.
With that in mind, I just finished designing some quick, easy and fun activities children can transition to after you read the tale. I'm featuring 3 on the blog today.
First up is a story wheel craftivity, which is an interesting and simple way to assess comprehension and practice the sequencing and retelling a story standards.
There are full color patterns to use for centers, plus a black and white pattern so your students can make their own.
When everyone is done with their story wheel, have children pick a partner, and take turns retelling the story.
We sometimes do this with our older "reading buddies".
As a comprehension-assessment tool, and for fine motor practice, another option is to make the “Polar Bear Pie Puzzles”, which have BW & color templates.
In order to practice a variety of standards, there are 5 different puzzle-base options.
Simply choose which is most appropriate for your kiddos.
There's also a writing prompt worksheet, where students write what happened in the story, which will further check comprehension and reinforce chronological writing.
Next up is the "Polar Bear What Do You Hear?" SOUND packet.
Because the characters in the story hear different sounds, the tale is perfect for explaining onomatopoeia & reinforcing the 5 senses.
Since most of my students have never heard the sound of these animals, I’ve included links to real animals roaring, hissing, snorting etc. (One for each animal in the story!)
My kiddos absolutely LOVE this activity, and are truly amazed how animals “speak”.
The packet also includes:
* 3 writing prompt worksheets.
If your students are like mine, even your most reluctant writers will enjoy contributing their page to 3 class-made books.
1. “Animals Animals What Would You Like To Hear?”
( Fill-in-the-blanks & illustrate worksheet page).
2. “Chit Chat With The Animals”
( If a _______ (animal) could talk what are some things they might say?” Color-me worksheet pages featuring a variety of animals for children to choose from).
Younger students can dictate or write one simple sentence, encourage older students to do a bit of research on their animal and write sentences that incorporate that information. "The zookeeper measured me today and I weigh 5 tons and an 11 feet tall."
3. “Children Children What Do You Like To Hear?”
(When it comes to awesome sounds, here’s a list of my top ten favorites: color-me worksheet pages). Includes girl & boy options.
Completed work makes a wonderful bulletin board.
I've included 3 posters to use for the center of your displays.
Later, add the covers to make class-made books, which are great for parent-teacher conferences. There's also . . .
* A set of puzzle cards where students match the animal section to the sound section. Fun for Daily 5 word work, or a vocabulary-building activity.
* 2 graphing extensions.
* A set of pocket chart cards, which helps reinforce the onomatopoetic vocabulary in the story.
Make an extra set for an independent center activity, where students match the sound card to the animal/zookeeper card.
These can also be passed out prior to reading the story.
As you read “Polar Bear What Do You Hear?” the child holding that card brings it up and places it on your flannel or white board.
Afterwards, pass the animal cards out and see if children can arrange them in the correct sequence of the story. Grab that teachable moment to practice ordinal numbers.
* I’ve also included a mini-set of the cards for “Memory Match” & “I Have; Who Has?” games. Children can sort, sequence & alphabetize these smaller cards, as well as use them to make up sentences.
Toss them into a container and have children choose an animal card then make that noise, or choose a sound card and tell which animal made that noise.
Finally, the farm unit, is one of our preschoolers favorites, so I wrote “Farmer Farmer What Do You Hear?” as a fun, parody-like writing prompt, for them to transition to after we read “Polar Bear What Do You Hear?” Instead of wild animals, this story features animals on the farm.
Even beginning writers will enjoy filling in the blanks, then illustrating their page for a sweet class-made book. PK kiddos can simply dictate their answers.
Completed projects also make an adorable bulletin board. I’ve included a poster for the center of your display.
Later, collate the pages and add the cover to make the booklet, which is perfect for parent-teacher conferences.
Besides the class book, I’ve also included an emergent reader.
There are 3, BW options, making it suitable for PK kiddos as well as kindergarten and first grade, or to diversify within your classroom.
I've also included colorful teacher templates as well.
The featured FREEBIE today is a cute "5 Senses" anchor chart poster. I hope you find it useful.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
I'm watching 2 of our 8 grandchildren today, so it's time to switch to my "Nana hat"; we're going to make Valentines.
Wishing a day filled to the brim with blessings.
"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." - Doug Larson