1-2-3 Come Have Some Apple Fraction Fun With Me
Since the Common Core rolled in, I've had several requests for some simple fraction activities that would be easy for a kindergarten child to wrap their head around. Because so many teachers also study apples at this time of year, I thought I'd design some fraction fun with an apple theme.
A quick and easy way to introduce the new fraction vocabulary is with a visual. You can make a fraction apple to help explain a whole, half and fourth, and then to really reinforce the concepts, have each student make their own.
Because I also teach the fact that apples can be three different colors, I chose red, yellow and green construction paper to show the different fractions. This really helps make them "pop" as well.
When students have completed their fraction apples, call out a fraction and have them flip to it, repeating the fraction word as they hold up their apple to show you.
You can whole group assess at a glance, and see who's having difficulty. To review another day, have students copy the information that's on the templates, (fourth, 1/4, quarter) writing their answers on the back of each section. Click on the link to view/download the apple fraction craftivity.
Another hands-on way to help students "see" and understand beginning fractions, is by cutting up an apple.
As you cut from whole, to half, and then into quarters, explain each fraction.
To further reinforce math vocabulary, students assemble their own apple fraction "flip up" booklet .
A trace & write mini apple fraction booklet is also included, along with matching apple fraction pocket or word wall word cards.
After they complete their booklets, read together to reinforce concepts of print. Click on the link to view/download the Apple Fraction Flip Up craftivity.
Another interesting fraction visual is done with an apple pie.
As with the above apple fraction packet, the apple pie fraction packet includes a flip up craftivity, mini apple pie fraction booklet, plus apple pie fraction cards to use in a pocket chart or on your word wall.
Click on the link to view/download the Apple Pie Fraction Packet.
Finally, culminate your apple fraction activities with the apple fraction spinner game, which not only reinforces the fraction vocabulary, but graphing skills.
Children can play individually or in a group of 2 or 3. They take turns spinning, and then mark an X under the fraction apple on their graph.
I've also included a whole-class graph to total up everyone's results. Click on the link to view/download the Apple Fraction Spinner Game.
That's it for today. Thanks for visiting. I'm off to water my flowers, to ensure it will rain later on. Blessings to you and yours.
"Teachers who love teaching, help students to love learning." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Do Some Apple Alphabet Activities With Me
If you've been following the various blog articles for "apple week" you know that I've covered apple art, apple science, and apple math. (Simply scroll down to grab all of those FREEBIES in the articles that follow.) It seemed only fitting to design some Apple Alphabet Activities... Wow! Try to say that alliterative tongue twister three times. Any hoo, you've come to the right place if you're looking for some apple-themed activities that help students practice their alphabet skills.
You've probably seen all the wonderful clothespin matching games all over Pinterest. They were my inspiration for this upper and lowercase letter apple game.
Whenever I design something, I make samples, so that I not only have a photo of what a completed project looks like, but as a way to jot down specific steps, so you can easily follow my directions. Making something, also irons out any kinks I may run across that I can share, so things run smoothly for you.
The big one here is to clip your clothespins onto the apple BEFORE you write the letters on the tips. I learned that the hard way. Because my Y5's are just learning letters, they are easily confused when the thing they are matching doesn't look exactly like the mate.
By clipping the clothespins first, you are able to write the letters in the proper direction. As you can see by the photo, sometimes the letter needs to be written vertically on the clothespin, other times horizontally You also won't have any letters appearing upside down when a child clips them.
Here's another TIP: When I got the uppercase set done, I thought it would be a good idea to write the lowercase letters on the back, so that there were several ways to play the alphabet apple game (uppercase to lowercase, as well as lowercase to lowercase etc.) So that children aren't confused, write the uppercase letters using a different color permanent marker, than the lowercase letters.
This will be easy for students to sort, and see which side they should be using for whatever game you want them to practice. Click on the link to view/download the wonderful fine motor skill game: apple alphabet clothespins.
While I was making the numbered apples from 1-100, in yesterday's article, it was easy to use that same template to make apple alphabet cards. (I really like when things match!) There's a set that shows the upper and lowercase letters on each apple, as well as a set with just the uppercase letters, and another for the lowercase letters.
Use them as a border, flashcards, and for a variety of games. I've included a tip list of ideas. Click on the link to view/download the apple alphabet cards.
I've had quite a few requests for simple alphabet worksheets. Some teachers need them for an option for early finishers, or their sub folder, while lots of visitors need them for "homework!" It amazes me that some schools make homework mandatory for such a young age. The caramel apple coloring worksheet has been very popular as a fun home-school connection.
To reinforce the 3 colors of apples, students color the uppercase letter A's red, the lowercase a's yellow and the rest of the apples green. Click on the link to view/download a copy of the caramel apple coloring activity.
The "I spy" an apple letter on the apple tree, is a quick and easy way to whole group assess upper or lowercase letters in a fun way. Teacher starts the game by calling out a letter. Children search for that "apple" on their paper, and then trace it. When they are done they raise their hand.
You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. Play continues 'til all of the letters have been traced. Students can play this game again at home, by coloring the "spied" letters. They can play it a 3rd time, by X-ing out the letters. Click on the link to view/download the Apple Tree I Spy game.
Finally, for a variety of other apple-themed activities and games, including ones involving the alphabet, click on the link for a 33-page Apple Activities packet.
Thanks for visiting today. I hope you found something useful here, to help get your kiddos excited about learning. Just a reminder, if you're looking for an activity that I don't have, feel free to e-mail me at diane@teachwithme.com Some of the things I design are special requests, and I'm glad to help out.
I'm off to meet a friend for lunch. Will be nice to catch up and share our excitement over teaching. I hope you have a lovely day too.
"What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child." - George Bernard Shaw
1-2-3 Come Do Some Apple Math With Me
The last few articles have covered apple art, some apple science (apple facts and the apple life cycle) plus a bit of writing, so I thought it was time to throw in a little apple math. I've designed some numbered apples from 1 to 100. You can put them up all at once, or add one each day of school, as you count up to your 100th day celebration.
Another fun way to reinforce counting, is with Willie the Worm. His body is a numbered "slider". Children trace the numbers and then insert Willie into their apple. Call out a number, students slide the worm to that number.
This is a quick and easy way to whole group assess, as you can see at a glance who is having difficulty. I've also included strips for skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's for a non-boring way to practice.
For just-the-right-size number fun, with an apple theme, click on the Apple Number packet. The packet includes: Smaller numbered apples (1-120) that students can easily sequence. Use these as anchor charts or a help poster for your students' math folders. The apple 1-120 individual strips, can be cut to form a number line.
I've included 16 "What's Missing?" activity sheets, that are especially helpful for those toughy teen numbers. Run them off for students to fill in, or laminate and have children place number tiles on empty spaces. The apple math symbols, allow students to use the apples to create and solve addition and subtraction equations, as well as show greater and less than.
Apples with numbers as well as number words, help with reading comprehension. Use them for games, pocket charts, or your word wall. Skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's is also included, plus 4 games, with the ability to create many more. Click on the link to get the 35-page comprehensive Apple Number packet.
For more addition and subtraction activities, you'll enjoy the apple-themed 10-frame packet.
If you teach little ones just learning to count, or ESL students, they'll enjoy the 1-to-1 correspondence apple game. I've included full-color cards, as well as black line masters if you want your kiddos to color their own.
I used red, yellow and green pony beads as manipulatives. This provides great fine motor practice as well.
Puzzles are also a fun way for students to practice sequencing numbers.
I've included an apple as well as a pumpkin shaped puzzle in this packet. Run the apples off on red, yellow and lime green construction paper; give students a choice of what color they want for their apple.
Children can simply put the puzzle together, or have them create an interesting mosaic picture, by gluing the pieces to a sheet of black construction paper. (Make sure they leave a little space inbetween the pieces.)
For that finishing touch, add their photo to the leaf. To make it more of a keepsake, have students trace their hand for the pumpkin leaf.
There are 7 more apple-themed puzzles in another packet. Use the skip counting by 10's puzzles for older students.
Finally, when doing apple math, one can't forget to include shapes as well as graphing. Both are accomplished in the Shapely Fall Graphs packet.
I hope you found a few things here that you're excited about sharing with your students. Do you have an apple activity that you could share with us? I'd love to hear from you. diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to leave a comment below.
It's a rainy day, and although it's tempting to venture into some time-sucking fun on Pinterest, I'm off to higher priorities. (Perhaps curling up with a good book!) Wishing you an apple-icious afternoon.
1-2-3 Come Do Some Apple Investigations With Me
Yesterday's articles featured all sorts of apple craftivities. Today's apples incorporate a bit of science and math. Whenever I started a themed unit, I always began by reading some interesting books.
To cover all sorts of genre, I included fiction as well as non fiction stories, and sprinkled in some poems and songs too. To get a list of my apple books, click on the link. Another thing I did, was to do some research of my own.
One of my favorite things about the Internet, is the incredible amount of material on the web. People have spent hours sharing their knowledge and ideas, and I'm grateful.
I absolutely LOVE doing research and finding out interesting information about the things my students will be studying. I'm always amazed at the amount of "cool stuff" that I also learn along the way.
While doing research for my apple unit, I compiled a list of 125 interesting facts about apples, and thought I'd share it with you.
Highlight the facts you want to share with your students. After you read the information, test students' comprehension, by having them write 3 facts down on the recording sheet that's provided.
They could also add facts to some of the art projects discussed yesterday, like writing information on a paper chain for the 3D apple "dangler" activity. Click on the link to grab your copy of the 125 Interesting Apple Facts.
A quick, easy and fun way to get some science into your lessons, is to cover the life cycle of an apple.
For hands-on learning, I've designed 4 different "craftivities" to show the life cycle of an apple.
Completed projects make awesome bulletin boards, or decorations for your hallway. (Suspend them from the ceiling, as a border along a wall.)
The first packet features an apple, apple pie, and apple tree option.
You can choose which you feel is most age-appropriate, or give older students a choice. Click on the link for the Life Cycle of an Apple packet.
This packet will be FREE for an entire year (!) after which time, it will be up-dated and rolled into my 33-page Life Cycle of an Apple Activities packet in my TpT shop. 
The fourth option, is an apple "dangler" because once completed, it looks terrific dangling from the ceiling.
I made it 3 dimensional by doubling up on the tree and apple cut outs (folding and gluing them together) and making the apple blossom out of a coffee filter that I edged with pink marker.
Click on the link for the Life Cycle of an Apple Dangler craft.
Finally, for some apple math activities, I designed the apple investigations packet. It will help your students learn about measurement.
Children measure height, weight, width and circumference of their apple. They trace and write vocabulary-building words, predict, answer questions, plus collect and analyze data.
As you can see, a lot of standards are covered in this simple booklet. Click on the link above, to grab your FREEBIE.
Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away. For another fun writing prompt "craftivity" scroll down to the next blog article to take a look at the Johnny Appleseed packet.
I'm writing this early Saturday morning so that it will automatically go live on Sunday. I really try to limit my computer time on the weekends. Having family coming over for a day of swimming, certainly helps me "behave". I'm off to get ready for some memory-making fun.
"You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can't count the apples in a seed." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Study Johnny Appleseed With Me!
I've had several requests for some activities about Johnny Appleseed, so I designed this 10-page packet, which will help your students develop their writing skills.
The Packet Includes:
- A fact sheet about Johnny Appleseed that the teacher reads.
2 Johnny Appleseed's Pot Hat "craftivities" to test comprehension. Run off the template on card stock. Students cover it with aluminum foil. They write in their answers on the "pot handle" strips, trim and staple to make a "flip for facts" booklet about Johnny Appleseed.
- If you'd like to make this extra special, take a head shot of each child and enlarge it to 8x10. Students glue their cooking pot to the top of their head. If you don't want to use a photo, have students draw a self-portrait. Instead of Johnny Appleseed on the hat, they write their name + Appleseed.
- To further test comprehension, I've included a "Tell me 3 facts about Johnny Appleseed" writing prompt.
A "Write 5 adjectives describing Johnny Appleseed"graphic organizer will also show what students have learned.- A Johnny Appleseed graphing extension reinforces other standards and allows children to share their opinions, as well as get to know each other better.
Click on the link to view/download the Johnny Appleseed packet. If you're looking for other Johnny Appleseed activities, I spent several hours searching for some interesting things for my readers.
To help learn some basic facts, and include singing into your day, there's a Johnny Appleseed song on YouTube that's under 2 minutes. A while back, Disney came out with a Johnny Appleseed movie. It's only 17 minutes long and can be viewed on YouTube. This would make a nice culminating activity to your Johnny Appleseed studies.
I use coloring pages to make worksheets with letters, numbers, shapes etc. I also turn them into math sheets and connect the dots via skip counting. When my students are done with the task at hand, they can color the picture. I'm always on the lookout for coloring pages that fit my theme. A Johnny Appleseed coloring page can be found at this link. Martin also has a Johnny Appleseed coloring page, as well as education world.
Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away. If you'd like to take a peek at all of the awesome educational items that I spend a portion of my day pinning, click on the heart button to your right.
"I keep six honest serving men; they taught me all I know; their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who." -Rudyard Kipling
