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Getting to the Core

Reviewing Springtime Shapes

1-2-3 Come Make Some Bunny Shapes With Me

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, As with many of my other activities, the Shapely Bunny packet took many more hours than I thought it would.  It's two days later, and I'm finally done! Woo hoo.

Since the other Shapely Animal packets have been such popular downloads, I decided to add another one for spring.  If you missed the Shapely Slick Chick packet I published earlier this month, click on the link to grab it. 

The Honey Bunny packet follows a similar format. I've included large shapes that students can add details and ears to, to make their shapely bunny, as well as a set with bunny features drawn in.  Make a set, laminate and then use as a sweet spring bulletin board. 

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, Have children pick out their favorite shape and make one of their own. 

If you want to turn their work into a bulletin board as well, toss the shape cards into a container and have them choose one.  Whatever shape they pick is the Shapely Bunny that they'll create.

I've included a big bunny poster that you can personalize with your name and the caption: "Mr(s) ____________'s class is really shaping up... or "Somebunny" knows their shapes.  Hang this in the center of your bulletin board. 

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, Use the other poster to make a "What's the secret shape?" game.  Draw a question mark on an index card and tape it to the laminated poster so that it's a "hinged" "flap" door. 

Using a dry erase marker, draw a shape underneath.  Call on children to guess what shape is hiding?

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, There's also an easy reader booklet that covers quite a few standards.  Students read the simple sentences, underline the capital letters and add end punctuation. 

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, Children trace and write the shape words, as well as trace and draw the shapes and then draw details on the first shape to make it look like a bunny. 

The last page asks them which Honey Bunny was their favorite.  A graph is provided to record this data.

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, I've included bunny shape cards in color, along with their matching shape word cards. 

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, These are perfect for Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games. 

Add the bunny Kaboom cards to your game to make things even more fun.  

There's also a set in black and white, which includes a cover, so that students can make an Itty Bitty Shape Booklet. 

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, Students can also play a funny bunny spinner game.  Children pick a partner and take turns spinning. 

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, Whatever shape they land on, they color the matching shape on their funny bunny.  The child who completes their worksheet first is the winner.  

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, Finally, I've also included a worksheet with spatial directions, one for listing a shape's attributes, plus a match the shape to the shape word. 

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, When everyone has completed whatever projects you want them to do, pass out the certificate of praise.

bunny crafts, spring crafts, spring activities, common core spring, common core shapes, shape activities, shape posters, shape booklet, shape crafts, bunny crafts, shape worksheets, attributes worksheets, shape graph, graphing favorite shapes, bunny shapes, shape animals, Click on the link to view/download the Shapely Bunnies Packet.  Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.

"I've never been a social bunny.  I thrive on work." -Michelle Ryan

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Spring Into Reinforcing Standards

1-2-3 Come Do Some Bunny Activities With Me

The last week of April was sort of a catch up week for my Y5's.  I would plug in anything my kiddo's still needed to work on and simply give it a spring twist.  It was also a nice time to review and reinforce things that they should already have learned. 

As you may have discovered, just because you taught something in the first 9 weeks of school, and everyone passed those assessments, doesn't mean that they retained what they learned by the last 9 weeks of school.  Because there is so much to cover, in such a short amount of time, we seem to always be moving on to the next thing.

bunny activities, alphabet activities, number activities, color activities, shape activities, contraction activities, compound word activities, synonym and antonym activities, spring centers, spring games, common core bunniesIt's imperative though, that you continually reinforce standards throughout the year.  A quick, easy and fun way to do that is via centers, and games that students can do independently.  With that in mind, I designed the "I'm All Ears" packet. 

I think you'll enjoy the versatility of this packet, as you can program the bunny "ears" (craft sticks) with just about anything you want to continue to review. 

There's a large as well as small bunny template.  Choose one or make up a variety.  I used the large craft sticks for the bigger bunny, and the smaller Popsicle sticks, as well as spoon-shaped crafts sticks, for the smaller bunnies.  Program them with whatever and keep each set in their own Baggie. 

bunny activities, alphabet activities, number activities, color activities, shape activities, contraction activities, compound word activities, synonym and antonym activities, spring centers, spring games, common core bunniesThink of things that you teach that can be divided up into pairs, so that you can write/draw them on the craft sticks. 

Here are some of the ideas that I came up with:

  • uppercase-lowercase letters
  • number-number word
  • number-group/set
  • contraction-words that make up the contraction
  • compound word-two words that make up the compound word
  • word-antonym
  • word-synonym
  • shape-shape word
  • color-color word
  • equation-answer

bunny activities, alphabet activities, number activities, color activities, shape activities, contraction activities, compound word activities, synonym and antonym activities, spring centers, spring games, common core bunniesIf you think of anymore, I'd enjoy hearing from you diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to leave a comment below. 

To expedite things, I've also included a list of contractions, as well as a list of synonyms/antonyms to help you program those Popsicle sticks. 

If you'd like a list of compound words, I just finished updating a comprehensive alphabetical list of 3,317 compound words! Click on the link to view/download it. 

bunny activities, alphabet activities, number activities, color activities, shape activities, contraction activities, compound word activities, synonym and antonym activities, spring centers, spring games, common core bunniesClick on the link to view/download the I'm All Ears Bunny Packet.   Thanks for visiting today.  As always, you may PIN away.

"I wish I could be more resilient like the Energizer Bunny; after all my students are."

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I Can Make A Difference Earth Day Writing Prompt Craftivity

1-2-3 Come Make A Difference With Me!

Are you looking for a quick, easy and fun writing prompt for Earth Day?  You've stopped by the right place. 

earth day crafts, earth day writing prompts, reduce reuse recycle activities, writing prompts for aprilDepending on the age of your students, there are several ways they can put together  their "The 3 R's" Earth Day dangler.  

Run off double copies for younger students, so that they can glue them back-to-back, or if you don't need these double-sided, simply hang them as a border up against a wall.

earth day crafts, earth day writing prompts, reduce reuse recycle activities, writing prompts for aprilOlder students can write how they plan to make a difference on the back of the eye rectangle.  Add some color and a school photo for that finishing touch. 

The packet also includes certificates of praise for a boy and a girl.  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. 

earth day crafts, earth day writing prompts, reduce reuse recycle activities, writing prompts for aprilThanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.

"The ultimate test of man's conscience, may be his willingness to sacrifice something today, for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." - Gaylord Nelson 

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities

1-2-3 Come Do Some Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities and Crafts With Me

My life seems to be flying by!  Can anyone else out there relate?  I had planned to get these cute little caterpillars done the first week of April, but the past few days filled up with so many other responsibilities, that the caterpillars had to stay in their "chrysalis state" 'til now. 

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsI hope you can still use them, or as the life of a pack-rat teacher goes, tuck these ideas away for next year.  Since so many people read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I wanted to use Eric Carle's cute litter critter as a spring board to studying a variety of other things. 

I created the caterpillar template and made a list of all sorts of ways I could use it, then set about to design the details.   You can choose which one you want your students to do, or give them a choice.  A friend of mine liked them so much, that she plans to make 3 (a different one each week).

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsIn The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats the Alphabet, students trace and write upper and lowercase letters.  I've also included a set where a bit of the butterfly's life cycle is also included with the letters. 

For example, for the Zz letter, I added:  Zzzzzz sleeping in a chrysalis, and then included a butterfly pattern with the letters all over her wings to be cut and glued on the last section.  

I glued just the thorax portion to the last "body" circle and bent the wings up so that the butterfly looks like she's flying.

Older students could also make a list of a food the caterpillar could eat that begins with that letter.  You may want to read Lois Ehlert's book Eating the Alphabet (Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z) to give students some ideas.  Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats the Alphabet packet. 

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsIf you'd like to review just the life cycle of a butterfly, you'll want to take a look at The Life Cycle Of The Very Hungry Caterpillar packet.  Students trace and write the words, then color, cut and glue the pictures. 

If you look closely, you'll see that I glued down just the thorax with this butterfly too, so it looks 3 dimensional, like the larger one above.  Click on the link to view/download it. 

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsThe Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats a Rainbow, reinforces colors as well as the days of the week.  Before hand, brainstorm what kinds of things the caterpillar could eat that are the various colors.  Write these words on the board to help children with spelling.

Students trace and write the color words and complete the sentence with something the caterpillar ate that was that color.  Adding end punctuation reviews another standard.  

Children then draw and color a picture.  I've included my sample so that you can quickly make one to share with your students. Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats a Rainbow packet.

You may also want to read one of the following books for some great examples of rainbow-colorful food: I Eat A Rainbow, by Bobbie Kalman;  Can You Eat a Rainbow? by Anastasia Suen;  and/or  I Can Eat A Rainbow, by Annabel Karmel.   

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsThe Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Some Numbers includes counting from zero to ten, where students trace and write the numbers as well as the number words.  I've  included a butterfly pattern to glue to the last section if you want.

There are also caterpillar "body" circles for skip counting by 2's 3's, 5's, and 10's. 

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsIn all of the packets there are patterns for the caterpillar's head if you want it to be made out of construction paper, as well as a pattern that students can color, like the "Skip count by 10's" caterpillar in the photo.

Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Some Numbers.

Since I have many requests for shape craftivities, particulary 3D shapes, I thought I'd make The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Some Shapes. 

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsThis is the largest packet, as I've included a caterpillar that reviews 2D shapes, as well as the days of the week.  For this caterpillar, students trace and write the shape words, as well as draw the shapes. 

I've included a butterfly pattern with the various shapes sprinkled on the wings, if you'd like to include that on the last "body" section.  For a cool 3D effect, fold the wings up and glue only the thorax portion down.

Another caterpillar, is a cut and glue the 2D shapes on the "body" circles.  Besides the standard 2D shapes, you can also choose to include the hexagon, pentagon, & octagon, and/or the pattern block shapes: rhombus and trapezoid. 

There's also a separate caterpillar that simply eats all of the 3D shapes. As with the above activity, students cut and glue the 3D shapes to the "body" circles.  Click on the link to view/download The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Some Shapes.

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsFinally, rather than make a caterpillar that covered story elements using this pattern, I made a graphic organizer - worksheet, to change things up a bit. 

To save you time, I included a template with the answers, so that you can make a quick sample to share with your students. Click on the link to view/download the graphic organizer for The Very Hungry Caterpillar's story elements. 

the very hungry caterpillar activities, the very hungry caterpillar crafts, graphic organizer for the very hungry caterpillar, the very hungry caterpillar bulletin board ideas, common core the very hungry caterpillar, alphabet activities, shape activities, 3D shape activities, 3D shape crafts, 2D shape activities, hexagon activities, pattern block activities, pattern block shape activities, skip counting activities, skip counting by 2's, skip counting by 3's, skip counting by 5's, skip counting by 10's, color word activities, color activities, color crafts, alphabet crafts, the life cycle of a butterfly activities, life cycle of a butterfly craftsThanks for visiting today.  As always, feel free to PIN away.   

 "Everyone is like a [caterpillar].  They start out ugly and awkward, and then morph into beautiful and graceful butterflies that everyone loves." -Drew Barrymore

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Teaching Compare and Contrast With Venn Diagrams

We Are “Some-bunny” Special

bunny activities, bunny crafts, spring crafts, Venn diagrams, activities with Venn diagrams, Venn diagrams for spring, Venn diagrams for preshchool kindergarten and first grade, compare and contrast ideas, writing prompts for April, writing prompts for spring, spring bulletin board ideas, april bulletin board ideas, Easter bulletin board ideas, math bulletin board ideas, bunny bulletin board ideas, Venn diagram bulletin board,compare and contrast activities for preschool kindergarten and first grade, compare and contrast writing activities for preschool kindergarten and first grade, I LOVE using Venn diagrams with kids.  They are so easy to make and are the perfect way to introduce the compare and contrast concept.

A Venn diagram is so simple that even my Y5’s easily understood them, plus they really enjoyed making them. 

bunny activities, bunny crafts, spring crafts, Venn diagrams, activities with Venn diagrams, Venn diagrams for spring, Venn diagrams for preshchool kindergarten and first grade, compare and contrast ideas, writing prompts for April, writing prompts for spring, spring bulletin board ideas, april bulletin board ideas, Easter bulletin board ideas, math bulletin board ideas, bunny bulletin board ideas, Venn diagram bulletin board,compare and contrast activities for preschool kindergarten and first grade, compare and contrast writing activities for preschool kindergarten and first grade, Even my college students like the concept.  One of their personal favorites: Comparing the classes' two favorite soft drinks. 

As they share which is their favorite, we narrow it down to two and then I bring the drinks in for the next class. Almost every semester Coke and Mountain Dew wins out.

They worked in small groups and made a Venn diagram comparing the soda, sipping as they worked.  Using their laptops they also found out differences via the Internet.  It’s my fun way to introduce them to writing a compare and contrast essay.

For little ones, I introduced the concept of a Venn diagram using 2 Hula-Hoops and index cards.  We brainstormed the differences and similarities of whatever we were working on.

Write these things on the board and give each student an index card to write one of the similarities or differences on.  Using clip art, you can also have two pictures to put inside the appropriate hoops along with header cards: similar and different.

bunny activities, bunny crafts, spring crafts, Venn diagrams, activities with Venn diagrams, Venn diagrams for spring, Venn diagrams for preshchool kindergarten and first grade, compare and contrast ideas, writing prompts for April, writing prompts for spring, spring bulletin board ideas, april bulletin board ideas, Easter bulletin board ideas, math bulletin board ideas, bunny bulletin board ideas, Venn diagram bulletin board,compare and contrast activities for preschool kindergarten and first grade, compare and contrast writing activities for preschool kindergarten and first grade, Lay the Hula-Hoops on the floor and intersect them to look like a Venn diagram. Put your picture and header cards in the appropriate sections, and then have students lay their index cards where they belong.

For spring, I wanted to make this into a “craftivity” so I chose bunnies.  Their bellies are the Venn diagram.  I call them Venn Friends because half the students choose a friend’s name out of the Easter basket who they then team up with. 

To make it a special keepsake, include their school photo.  There's a checklist of 40 ideas that students can find out about each other, discuss which are similarities and which are differences and then choose which ones they want to put on their Venn diagram.

These make an adorable spring or April bulletin board.   Later, each student can take their own bunny head home and the teacher can keep the Venn portions as examples.   Click on the link to view/download Bunny Venn Friends

bunny activities, bunny crafts, spring crafts, Venn diagrams, activities with Venn diagrams, Venn diagrams for spring, Venn diagrams for preshchool kindergarten and first grade, compare and contrast ideas, writing prompts for April, writing prompts for spring, spring bulletin board ideas, april bulletin board ideas, Easter bulletin board ideas, math bulletin board ideas, bunny bulletin board ideas, Venn diagram bulletin board,compare and contrast activities for preschool kindergarten and first grade, compare and contrast writing activities for preschool kindergarten and first grade, Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything on my site.  I'm all about sharing!  If you'd like to see another spring Venn friend, scroll down for a tulip one. 

"Happy Spring!  Happy everything."

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