1-2-3 Come Do a Place Value Christmas Tree With Me
I am so excited to share my latest place value craft that I just finished.
As you know, studying place value can be a bit tedious for some students, so I designed this "decorate a Christmas tree" craft, to put some “Woo Hoo!” into practicing place value.
Creating a super-cute PVT (Place Value Tree) is an especially fun activity for your students, and a nice alternative to worksheets; making it that “extra special something” you can do for the month of December.
Completed projects turn out absolutely adorable, and make an outstanding bulletin board or hallway display.
I’ve included 2 posters to help decorate.
You’re sure to get lots of compliments, as the results definitely have that “Wow!” factor, as mixing math concepts with an artistic twist is truly interesting.
The packet is very versatile, with lots of creative options for your students to choose from, which not only results in a nice variety of Christmas trees, but allows you to diversify your lessons.
A place value tree appeals to a variety of ages and abilities.
The versatility allows younger kiddos, as well as older students, to create a Christmas tree that will have a two, three or even 4-digit number value!
Keep things simple for little ones and limit the number of decorative pieces and options, while challenging older students to create a bigger value for their trees.
The sample on your right uses "ones" blocks for ornaments, with a tree trunk made out of two, "10s" rods; giving it a total value of just 32. Perfect for students working on two-digit numbers.
The sample on the left, has a value of 769. This tree has no trunk (However, there are 4 trunk options to choose from), while the 1st tree, at the beginning of my post, not only has a 100-block trunk, but a decorative tree stand pot as well. Notice the "holly berry" is a ones block.
A 10s rod can also be a fun decoration. Make them look like a peppermint stick, by coloring an AB-AB (red-white) color pattern with a red marker or crayon.
Check out the last sample tree at the end of this article, to see how I made a 10s rod look like a candlestick, with a ones block glued on diagonally, for a "flame".
I had an absolute blast designing my samples, so I can safely say, that I think your students will also have a great time making their own place value Christmas tree.
Thirteen tree patterns, 4 stars and 2 angel tree toppers to choose from; plus endless ways you can mix and match the ones, tens and hundreds block ornaments, provides a lot of variety to your classroom's creations, making for an awesome display.
Once children have finished their place value tree, they figure out how much it is “worth”.
Solving this “mystery math” problem is also a ton of fun.
I’ve provided several worksheet options that will help students figure this out, as they practice and reinforce the various concepts of place value.
I've put a worksheet next to the matching tree in the photographs below.
Choose which worksheets are most appropriate for your kiddos.
Each of the 3 is different enough, so that you can do all of them.
"Showing" their math of how they came up with their total, and explaining any conversions that they had to make, is a simple way to assess comprehension too.
The half-page worksheet on the left, is great for practicing a variety of math skills associated with place value.
Picking a partner and comparing their tree with a classmate's, provides practice with "greater, less than and equal to", math standards as well.
A worksheet can also be part of your display.
Students can write their total on the star or angel tree topper, or so that the place value really shows up, you can run off the 6 different elf tags, for children to write their name and the value of their tree on; placing the tag next to their Christmas tree on your bulletin board.
I've also included several present patterns, if you'd like to add some gifts under the tree.
These are decorated with a ones block in the bow, a 10s rod on the ribbon, or a 100s block as a gift tag.
The trees look pretty with a black, blue or purple, construction-paper background, with the gifts glued underneath.
There are also several whole-group activities for graphing, data collection and analysis as well.
Limited time? This makes a super-fun homework assignment.
Another idea is to have students work with a partner or create one PVT in a small group of three, which will divide up the work and expedite completion.
Here’s a fun challenge: Give the small group a total tree value, and see how close they can get to hitting that number.
Today's featured FREEBIE is a "Sweet Tweet"; which is an interesting and fun way for students to practice writing.
Students color, cut and glue the bird to the top of their writing prompt paper, then each day (for 10 days) they jot down (tweet) something sweet that they've done. (After all, Santa and the elves are watching & very interested in this information!)
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
'Tis the season for attending all sorts of activities, so time to go see the school Christmas play. Three of our 10 grandchildren are old enough to be in it this year.
Wishing you a delightful December, filled with many memorable and love-filled moments.
"Christmas, gives us time to pause and reflect on the most important things around us." -David Cameron
1-2-3 Come Do Some More 2D Shape Activities With Me
Each month I like to have a little review of all of the 2D shapes, so this information stays stuck in my students’ heads.
With that in mind, I designed the "Shape Up!" turkey-themed packet, with a variety of games and activities that provide a fun way to review these shapes: circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, heart & star.
There is an assortment of (12-on-a page) cards which can be used for “Memory Match” and “I Have; Who Has?” games.
I’ve included a 3-page “tip list” of ideas and other games you can use the cards for, such as: “Flip It”, “What’s Missing?” “Speed” & “Kaboom!”
Games can be played independently or as a whole group, then put in your math center.
There are also 2 sets of black & white game cards, so that students can make a game of their own to take home for further reinforcement.
Game sheets like “I Spy a Shape” are a super-fun way to whole group assess. The same worksheet can be used 5 times!
There are puzzles, dice & spinner games, as well as 2 graphing activities.
An emergent reader booklet, packed with Dolch words, practices a variety of standards.
The booklet can remain a whole page, or students can cut in half on the dashed line, creating a "just the right size" smaller booklet for little hands.
There are cover options for both. Students read the sentence, underline the capital letter and add end punctuation.
You can do this as a whole group activity, with "monkey see-monkey do" directions.
Children also trace the shape word then write it, then trace the shape and draw it. Afterwards students cut and glue the appropriate shape to the empty box, then color the "shapely turkey" at the top of the page.
This is a fun activity for the week of Thanksgiving, where you can do one or two pages each day; or send home over the holiday, as an interesting homework assignment.
This packet pairs perfectly with last week's “Shapely Turkeys” craft. Click the LINK to take a look.
Today's featured FREEBIE is "Oh Feathers!" a turkey-themed spinner game, which is also a fun way to practice 2D shapes.
Thank you for stopping by.
A dusting of snow has put me in the Christmas mood, so time for a little early shopping.
Wishing you a peaceful day filled with wonder.
"When snow falls, nature listens." - Unknown
1-2-3 Come Do Some Shape Actiities With Me
“Shapin’ Up With Turkeys” provides a quick, easy and super-fun “print & go” craftivity, that will help review 2D shapes in some interesting & engaging ways.
The 2D shapes included are: circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, trapezoid, rhombus, heart & star.
The packet includes patterns for the above shapes, so that children can make a “Perky Turkey Pal” of their own.
There are a variety of turkeys to choose from; for example, the “keepsake” turkey’s head is traced from your students’ shoe, which makes a nice keepsake.
"This turkey's head was made by tracing my shoe! My way to say Happy Thanksgiving to you."
I wrote the poem to be placed on the turkey's tummy. I discovered, that unless a child told their parents that the head was their shoe print, many of them didn't realize this!
There are also 10 other head patterns to pick from. Choose your favorites, or give children a choice.
Shape templates come in a large, full-page size, as well as a smaller, two-on-a-page pattern, allowing you to make just a “shapely head”, or a “full body” turkey.
I recommend making just the head with little ones, as it's the easiest craftivity.
Keep things extra simple by adding just a beak and wattle. However, I've also included two, one-piece feather patterns, which can be glued to the back of the head or body.
Feathers add an opportunity for students to color, while practicing making a pattern: AB-AB, ABC-ABC etc.
Large wiggle eyes add extra pizzazz, but I've also included several pages of other eye patters, including eyeballs where the pupils match the shape of the turkeys head/body.
Check out the photographs to help you decide what’s most appropriate for your students
To add even more variety to your turkeys, there are also 3 wing patterns.
Create different looking turkeys by placing the wings rightside up or upside down. To make the wings "moveable", instead of gluing them down, attach with brass brads.
Hat, shoe, leg & feather patterns also add variety. Pick your favorite pieces, or give students a choice.
Accordion-folding the leg strips, is a fun way for students to strengthen their finger muscles, while adding to the cuteness factor of their turkey.
If your kiddos are like mine, they will enjoy the “boing-boing” effect.
Besides making a turkey with one of the more traditional heads, students can also match their turkey's head to its body shape.
To help practice the “positional words” portion of the 2D shape standard, I’ve also included a “Corn Cob” whole group, assessment game.
Use the shape posters and pocket chart cards to introduce your lesson.
I’ve also included a “Shapely Turkeys” bookmark for your students.
Completed projects make an adorable display.
Dangle them from the ceiling as a border in your hallway.
I’ve included several posters to add extra pizzazz.
To add to the fun, encourage children to name their turkey, then fill out a "turkey tag", which can be glued to the middle of their turkey's tummy, or displayed next to their turkey on your display.
Older students can write down the attributes of the shape that they chose.
Today's featured FREEBIE is also about turkeys.
"It's Turkey Time!" is a set of turkey-themed pocket chart cards, that will help your students practice analog and digital time to the hour and half hour.
I've also included a whole group assessment worksheet, plus a black and white "turkey time" pattern, so that your students can make a telling time booklet as well.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
I have to put my "Nana" hat on, as my daughter's dropping off my granddaughter for a few hours. She's one of 10; so we are truly blessed.
Wishing you a love-filled and carefree afternoon.
Turkey Talk: "Hey turkey, what are you thankful for?" "Well, this month, I'm especially thankful for Vegans!"
1-2-3 Come Do a Place Value Turkey With Me
November is fast approaching, so I've been working on some interesting turkey activities.
You can put some “Woo Hoo!” into studying place value, by creating a super-cute PVT (Place Value Turkey).
This is an especially fun activity for your students, and a nice alternative to worksheets; making it that “extra special something” you can do for the entire month of November.
Completed projects turn out absolutely adorable, and make an outstanding fall bulletin board or hallway display.
I’ve included 2 posters to help decorate.
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 not only results in a nice variety of turkeys, but allows you to diversify your lessons.
These place value turkeys appeal to a variety of ages and abilities.
The versatility allows younger kiddos, as well as older students, to create a turkey that will have a one, two, three or even 4-digit number value!
Keep things simple for little ones by limiting the number of pieces and options, while challenging older students to create a bigger value for their turkeys, by gluing on more place value blocks and rods.
Students can draw in their own face or pick one of the "head patterns" with a variety of eyes.
To add some 3D pop, add a beak and wattle, and bend the wings up a bit.
Children can also add a Pilgrim hat or bonnet or a bow.
There are also 2 patterns for the legs; one with regular turkey "feet", as well as one with Pilgrim shoes.
There are pattern pages with 2 sizes of "ones" and one hundred "blocks", as well as 2 sizes for the "10s" rods.
Students color and trim, then use the pieces to decorate their turkey with.
After they have arranged the pieces to their satisfaction, they glue them down.
Look at the photographs and you can see how I glued some "ones blocks" to the turkey's legs, his Pilgrim shoes, and on the back of the feathers.
I tilted the 100s blocks to make a diamond-shaped design on one sample. You can also see a 100s block inside the buckle on the hat, as well as on the bow tie.
For other examples, I glued 10 rods to the wings, hat, and legs.
There are also a variety of "belly" options.
I had an absolute blast making my samples and hope your kiddos enjoy creating their own place value tureky too.
You can also opt to use the feather patterns that have a variety of place value pieces already on them.
I thought using a 10s rod for the shaft of the feather looked terrific. This will save time cutting and gluing.
Shading and adding highlights with crayons gives a splash of extra pizzazz and makes the turkeys more vibrant.
I made my turkey's bodies with shades of brown paper, then did a rainbow color pattern of feathers on one of my turkeys, plus showed an AB-AB pattern, as well as an ABC-ABC color pattern, on two of my other examples.
You can get a bit more creative, and print the turkey's body patterns on a variety of neon colors like hot pink, turquoise, purple and lime green, which will make for a wild and whacky turkey display.
Wiggle eyes, and a splash of glitter on the tips of the feathers, are more fun options.
Once children have created their place value turkey, they figure out how much it is “worth”.
I’ve provided several worksheet options for students to complete, which helps break things down.
Several will help students show how they came up with their total; as most students get carried away with decorating, and will have to make "conversions".
For example if a student has glued on 14 ones blocks, they'll have to convert 10 of them (on their worksheet), then add one more to their 10s place, to correctly figure out the value of their turkey.
Choose which worksheet is most appropriate for your students.
They are different enough, so that you can actually do all of them.
If you're displaying the turkeys, you can also hang up students' worksheet(s), which will show the math.
There are also several whole-group activities for data collection and analysis.
Limited time?
Place value turkeys make a super-fun homework assignment, or another idea is to have students work with a partner or create one PVT in a small group of three, which will divide up the work.
Here's a fun challenge: Give the small group a total turkey value, and see how close they can get to hitting that number.
The featured FREEBIE is something you can have students color, then send home the day before Halloween .
This "color me" Trick or Treat list of Halloween safety tips, is loaded with Dolch sight words, so take a moment to read it out loud, calling on students to take a turn to read a tip, then send it home as a reminder for parents.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.
The sun is shining and there's nary a whisp of wind, so nature is beckoning me. Wishing you a fun-filled day.
"The truth is, the Super Bowl long ago became more than just a football game. It's now part of our culture, just like turkey at Thanksgiving and lights at Christmas; and like those holidays beyond their meaning, a factor in our economy." - Bob Schieffer
1-2-3 Come Do Some More Pumpkin Activities With Me
“Show Me the Number” is a super-fun, “print & go” booklet, which will help students practice a variety of standards that involve numbers 1-10, as well as 2D shapes.
The pumpkin’s eyes have these shapes:
circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus and trapezoid.
I’ve included the latter shapes, as we do a lot of activities with pattern blocks.
Having different eye shapes, makes things more interesting and allows you to cover another standard. Woo hoo!
So that you can diversify your lesson, I’ve also provided two booklet options.
There are 6 pattern pages, with 2 pages on a one-page pattern; which provides a “just the right size” booklet for children to make.
I have a room helper run off, cut and collate the booklets for me.
On the first day, my students color the cover, write their name at the bottom and do pumpkin #1.
When they’re done, I collect the booklets, then pass them out the next day, when they complete pumpkin #2.
You can also space things out, and do every other day.
This is a quick, easy and fun “table top” activity for my young fives.
Since the prep has already been done, it’s easy-peasy for me, and I have a lesson for two weeks!
My students feel empowered, and can get right down to business. I’ve already given directions the previous day, so they know what to do.
On the last day, I do pumpkin #10 as well as the last page, where students trace and write the numbers.
I try to time things, so that they are finishing up on Halloween party day, which can be rather hectic, so this is one less thing I have to make.
Afterwards, children have a nice little keepsake to take home.
I’ve also included a (full page) set of colorful pumpkin posters.
Use them to introduce the lesson, as a sample for when students are working on that matching page, as a border, bulletin board, flashcards, or sequencing center.
Today's featured FREEBIE also has a pumpkin theme. Are your students working on transitions and "how to" "directional" writing?
"How to make a pumpkin pie" is a quick, easy and fun activity to help them practice.
The packet includes printable patterns, completed sample, recipe, list of transitions, transition poster, a graphing extension, Venn diagram activity, plus an adjective worksheet.
Well that's it for today. Thanks for popping in.
I'm contemplating whether I should buy another pumpkin today...
We weren't sure what was eating holes in our pumpkins, then today we caught the culprit.
An obviously hungry squirrel happily chomped away, with no fear that we'd fuss.
I just peeked out the window and the baby pumpkin is pretty much gone, except for the stem and a few bites.....hmmmm.
"When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam; may luck be yours on Halloween." - Unknown
