1-2-3 Come Make A Keepsake Butterfly Craft With Me
Are you studying butterflies for spring? This was one of my Y5's favorite units. Because butterflies are such a popular theme, I designed this keepsake butterfly card your students can make for their mom for Mother's Day.
If you're all set for Mother's Day, the packet is very versatile, as I’ve included 3 stationery templates to choose from to glue a butterfly to: Fluttering by with a Mother’s Day Hi; Fluttering by with a Father’s Day Hi; and Fluttering by with a friendly Hi.
Students take off their shoe and trace it on their color choice of folded construction paper. When they cut out their “butterfly wing” they will have two. These sweet little feet become the "wings"of a butterfly that they decorate.
So that children know where to glue their butterfly’s wings, make a sample to share with them. So that their "wings" are not too far apart or too close together, explain that they should use the thorax as a guide before they glue everything down.
Because we had already studied butterflies, my students were familiar with the science vocabulary. If yours are not, this activity is a fun way to learn.
Show students several ways they can arrange their butterfly. I think gluing them at a diagonal is pretty cool, and offers another teachable moment to introduce that spatial direction word, to help grow their vocabularies.
Beforehand, cut a variety of colors for the butterfly’s body and fold them. I made a template for 3 different size thoraxes to accommodate the different shoe sizes of students. Next, they glue only the head and bottom tip of the thorax down, so that it is 3 dimensional.
For extra 3D pop, cut a small slit around the top of the btterfly's head. (I use an Exacto knife). Students bend a pipe cleaner in half to make a V-tip, and then curl the ends around a pencil.
Insert the tip into the slit and tape the end on the back. Students make adjustments by bending the antennae forward a bit. If you don't want to fuss with this step, have children draw antennae on with a crayon or marker.
Run the little heart poem template off on a variety of colors of construction paper. "I made this card especially for you. The butterfly's wings were traced from my shoe." There are 6 on a page, so rough cut them. Students choose one, trim and glue it to the corner of their card.
Discuss symmetry and have children decorate their butterfly’s wings, by drawing shapes or designs on them, dotting with a bingo dauber, or Q-tip, or using stamps or stickers.
For that finishing touch, I added some dashed lines to look like the flit and flutter path of a butterfly. Glitter and wiggle eyes would also add pizzazz. Click on the link to view/download the Fluttering By Butterfly craftivity.
Thanks for visiting today. If you'd like to see some more Mother's Day FREEBIES click on the link to zip on over to that section of my site, where you'll find 30 more options! I also have an entire board on Pinterest designated for more free Mother's Day ideas, activities and crafts.
Well that's it for today. My feet have hit the floor running this morning, as I'll be flitting to the vet with my poodle pup Chloe, along with a toddler and baby. Hopefully this won't be too crazy...LOVE being a grama! Wishing you an energy-filled day.
"As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people." -Joseph B. Wirthlin
1-2-3 Come Give A Hoot With Me
Are you looking for an activity for Earth Day (April 22nd)? If you're into owls, then I think you'll enjoy the "Give a Hoot; Don't Pollute!" writing prompt craftivity. Take a close look and you'll see that I used 2D shapes to design the owl, which provides a teachable moment on Earth Day to review shapes, as well as ways your students can take care of the earth.
The packet includes the owl poster pattern pieces and a writing prompt for older students. They can glue this to the back of their poster.
Completed projects look wonderful suspended from the ceiling.
I set this up as a listening and following directions-whole group activity, so that I could assess how my students were doing with that life skill.
Everyone got a large sheet of blue construction paper at their desk, along with the owl body and caption to cut and glue to their poster.
When everyone accomplished that, I passed out the shapely owl pieces.
To expedite this, I had set all of them out in student piles ahead of time. From there I'd hold up a piece and glue it on my sample and my Y5's would do the same.
We continued "monkey see-monkey do" 'til everyone had their poster done, which took us about 12 minutes. If you have older students, they can simply get their supplies and work away.
I've also included some "Give a hoot" bookmarks in full color as well as black and white for your kiddos to color. Click on the link to view/download the Give a Hoot Earth Day Owl packet.
Well that's it for today... Short and sweet, or at least I'm trying. Thanks for visiting. I have my grandchildren Kaitlyn and Kaiden today. (5 months and 2 years)
Hopefully the weather will warm up, so we can go for a nice long stroller ride. Regardless, it will be a day filled with snuggles and giggles. Wishing you a love-filled day too.
“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"... "It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...” -Frances Hodgson Burnett from The Secret Garden
1-2-3 Come Make Some Earth Day "Craftivities" With Me!
Earth Day is April 22nd. I feel it's very important to do a little something to make students aware that they too can help take care of the earth.
After studying the importance of taking care of our earth and discussing the fact that even little children can make a difference, I’d give a few directions, and tell my Y5’s that they were going to be part of Mrs. Henderson’s Kids Care Cleanup Crew.
Each child got a pair of non latex gloves (You can buy a pack of 50 at The Dollar Store.) and armed with their own plastic grocery sack to put litter in, we’d hit the playground when no one was using it.
Because their hands are so little, I also bought a pack of soft ponytail holders and slipped those around their wrists to hold the gloves on.
It’s amazing how much garbage gets caught up against the fence! My kiddos absolutely LOVED running around picking up all sorts of debris. This only took about 15-minutes and was certainly worth it. We’d head to the dumpster and toss our sacks and gloves in. They felt important, empowered and very happy with their accomplishment.
This "good feeling" and pride in themselves truly helped build their self-esteem. I made sure that the principal knew what we were doing and he always thanked our class over the P.A. during the announcements the next day.
Afterwards, we’d wash our hands really well and then settle down to watch a short and educational Earth Day video. One of my favorites is an awesome 6-minute clip of the paper recycling process at the Staten Island Paper Mill.
For more interesting Earth Day YouTube videos, click on the link for the Pinterest board: "Favorite Earth Day Videos on YouTube" .
The “craftivity" that day was “I can lend a hand.” Children chose a partner and took turns tracing each other's hand.
Afterwards, they cut out their print and glued it to a variety of colors of construction paper. For young children, you could have a room helper do this for you the day before.
Even the boys enjoyed decorating their hand posters with "tatoos" and jewelry. To add a bit more pizzazz, have students paste on some flat-backed jewels over their "rings" using glue dots. Some craft stores also sell them with adhesive backs, so they can simply peel and stick. My girls absolutely loved this little extra.
Older students can complete the "Pitch in" writing prompt and glue that to the back of their poster. Punch a hole in the top and suspend from the ceiling.
My students enjoyed discussing the many different ways little kids can "pitch in" to make a big difference.
At the end of the day have students color their certificate. These always prompted parents to ask their child about the cleanup activity, which I also mentioned in our newsletter.
Click on the link to view/download the Lend A Hand Earth Day activity.
Another Earth Day craft that you can choose, or give students a choice, is the "Helping Hands Dangler". Like the above poster, students pick a partner to help them trace their hand, or they can do it themselves.
There are several options for "dangling" these mobiles from the ceiling. I've taken a photo of both samples to help explain this.
Students can glue all 4 circles together in such a way that they make a 3D sphere (like the earth) or they can glue the circles vertically to a length of yarn. Both writing prompt options, dangle from the child's hand.
For the latter option, give students 3 of the "I can help" writing prompt circles. They write 3 ways they can lend a helping hand and then glue them back-to-back on to the other circles. Punch a hole at the top and suspend from the ceiling. Click on the link to view/download the Helping Hands Dangler.
Thanks for visiting today. To see more Earth Day FREEBIES, click on the link to pop over to that section of my site. I also have more free ideas, activities, and crafts on a Pinterest board devoted to Earth Day goodies.
Gotta run...my poodle pup Chloe, was just diagnosed with Addison's disease last week, so we're off to the vet this morning. Breaks my heart to see her so sick. :-( But... the sun is shining, the birds are chirping and spring is FINALLY in the air! Wishing you a keen-green day.
“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” —John Muir
1-2-3 Come Do Some Common Core Activities With The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Me
Happy TBT (Throw Back Thursday.) Today I'm featuring a popular download to go along with your butterfly studies. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats 100 Things! is an emergent reader packet, that makes for a wonderful extension activity after reading Eric Carle's book.
I enjoy covering at least 3-5 Common Core State Standards when I design a lesson. This one covers quite a few CCSS: RF.K1a, RF.K.1c, RF.K.3a, RL.K.10, RF.K.4, L.K.2a, L.K.2b,L.K.5a, K.OA.1a, K.MD.3 K.CC.1a, K.CC.5, 1.NBT.2c, 1.NBT.5, 1.MD.3
Since the original Very Hungry Caterpillar goes through the days of the week, I decided to have this starving caterpillar eat through the hours in a day, so that I could cover telling time, while also covering end punctuation, skip counting by 10s, addition and the life cycle of a butterfly.
The packet includes
- The Hungry Caterpillar Eats 100 Things emergent reader, 2 caterpillar craftivities, a food sorting idea, + 64 circle pictures of food.
Children choose 10 to make a cute "very full" caterpillar. Completed project make a cute bulletin board, as each one is different.
Students trace and write numbers & number words, as well as the time. They draw the appropriate hands on the clock as well.
Children circle the capital letters and add end punctuation to the simple sentences. I've used as many sight and Dolch words that I could fit in, that still sounded appropriate.
Students cut and glue the groups of 10 pieces of food to their matching numbered boxes, as they count by 10's to 100. When everyone has completed their booklet, read it together as a whole group to reinforce concepts of print.
Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats 100 Things.
Thanks for visiting. It's another rainy and chilly day; perfect for snuggling by the fire with a good book. Wishing you a cozy-stress free day.
"Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid ddrops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby." -Langston Hughes
1-2-3 Come Make An Earth Day Craftivity With Me!
Are you looking for a quick, easy and fun writing prompt for Earth Day? Then I think you'll enjoy this "I can make a difference!" craftivity.
Depending on the age of your students, there are several ways they can put together "The 3 R's" Earth Day dangler.
Run off my patterns. Students add some color, trim and mount the "I can make a difference" square, on construction paper. They cut out the letter R, punch a hole at the top and attach it to the bottom of the square.
Older students can write how they plan to make a difference on the back of the eye square.
If you want little ones to make a ceiling dangler as well, run off double copies, so that they can glue them back-to-back.
Otherwise, simply display them as a border against a wall.
I've also included a heart-shaped earth template you could glue to the back of their work.
Because I glued a school picture behind the hole in the letter R, I glued the heart over the back of it to finish things off.
The packet also includes two certificates of praise. One for a boy to color, and one for a girl. These act as a pledge or promise to do their part too.
I truly believe that breaking stuff down for young children, by showing them simple things they can do to help the earth, empowers them. Just making youngsters aware of the necessity for conservation is important.
Click on the link to view/download the I Can Make A Difference Earth Day writing prompt craftivity.
To see more interesting Earth Day activities, click on the link to pop on over to that section of my site to grab even more FREEBIES.
I also have an entire Earth Day Pinterest board. Click on that link to find more ideas and activities. I pin LOTS of educational FREE stuff, which is a wonderful time saver.
So before you spend a ton of time reinventing the wheel, or searching for materials, make this your first pit stop; you'll hopefully find some goodies.
Well that's it for today. I know that April showers bring May flowers, but rainy days sort of zap my energy and give me a sleepy feeling. My long "to do" list might have to wait. Wishing you a peaceful day filled with relaxing moments.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtfully committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
