1-2-3 Come Do Some Veteran's Day Activities With Me!

I think it's extremely important to do some sort of patriotic activity with students on Veteran's Day.  I realize that there is so much to cram into a day, and that time simply flies, but if you incorporate an activity with your writing or reading blocks it's do-able.  These activities also work well for Daily 5 or an independent center.

There are 15 "craftivities" in the Veteran's Day packet.  Click on the link ot view/download it.  They are simple, quick and use items you already have. 

The packet includes, poems, roll and color games, worksheets, a bookmark, + 4 crafts.  I especially like the "Poppin' Poppy."  It's made from mini-cupcake wrappers. 

I've also included a few writing prompts with 4 graphic organizers to help with the pre-writing.

The Camouflage Alphabet Cards packet includes upper and lowercase letters, a 3-page tip list of what to do with the cards, Kaboom cards that make ABC games even more engaging, + 2 trace and write worksheets. Click on the link above to view/download it.

I also made a set of patriotic number cards from 1-120.  They too have a tip list, Kaboom cards + 3 trace and write worksheets. Click on the link to view/download the Patriotic Number Cards packet.

Practice more number skills, including counting backwards from 10 to 1, as well as skip counting by 10's to 100, with the Patriotic Puzzles packet. Click on the link to view/download it.

Finally, review 2D shapes.  You can set this up as an independent center, where students place laminated pieces on their matching  soldier cards, or have children choose a partner and take turns spinning the shape spinner. 

Whatever shape they land on, is the one they place on the card.  Click on the link to view/download the Veteran's Day Shape Games.

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you and yours have a wonderful Veteran's Day, forever keeping in mind those who served.  

"We owe our Veterans a debt we can never repay." -Doc Hastings

Remembering To Be True To The Red White And Blue

Are you looking for an appropriate activity to plug into your lessons for the Friday before Memorial Day?

The My Flag booklet is perfect for your Daily 5 or a whole group reading/writing activity.

Students TRACE and then WRITE key words; learn important facts about the flag as they cut and glue matching pictures to the appropriate sentences.

Numbers that are associated with the flag are also reviewed and practiced.

There are 3 endings to the booklet, which allows you to make it appropriate for a variety of patriotic holidays including Memorial Day.

I’ve also included:

• 36 word-wall word flashcards, that you can use as such, or have students make into Itty Bitty booklets.
• 2 certificates of praise.
• 2 different graphing extensions
• An achievement poster
• A flag coloring page and
• 12 skill sheets

Click on the link to view/download My Flag booklet/packet

Also helpful, is the Flag Activities Packet, which covers the history of our flag, information about the flag, and includes links, articles, art projects, worksheets and writing activities, perfect for a patriotic-themed activity for the Friday before Memorial Day.

Click on the link to view/download Flag Activities Packet

Whatever you’re planning, I hope you have some extra time for yourself, so you can rest, relax, and rejuvenate, as well as reflect on the importance behind this special holiday.

Do you have an activity you'd like to share? I'd enjoy hearing from you. diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to leave a comment here, especially if you use one of my ideas. 

Thanks in advance for your time and visiting today.

Feel free to PIN away if you find anything on our site you think might be helpful to others.

"Encourage spontaneity...by regularly scheduling creative activities." -Art Peterson

Yahoo! Red White and Blue...

More flags than usual will be flying soon.

Memorial Day is coming up, followed by Flag Day on the 14^th of June and then 4^th of July.

It’s time to think of reasons why you are proud to be an American and pose that question to your students as an interesting writing prompt.

I’m not a world traveler, but I have friends who are, + others in the mission field. 

When they share their stories of the deplorable conditions in some countries, where people are thrown into jail for no reason, or worse yet, shot or beaten, it makes one not only proud to be an American, but extremely grateful.

I’m proud to be an American for all of the wonderful freedoms we have, yet so many take for granted.  Dreams really do come true in America; one can aspire to be anything they want to be.

We’re free to be whom we want, dress how we want, come and go as we want, believe as we want and express our feelings and opinions openly without trepidation.

I’m proud to be an American because we are a caring country that defends human rights and comes to the aid of hurting countries in their time of need.

I’m proud to be an American, where we get a say, we get to vote, we have a president, not a dictator, and although things are far from perfect, we don’t live in constant fear.

I’m proud to be an American, because we are a diverse melting pot of many cultures, rich in diversity.  We strive to live peacefully, treat everyone equally and stand united.

Why are you proud to be an American?

Here's a writing prompt template to give your students an opportunity to answer that question.

Run off 2 sets of your students’ school photos; cut them into ovals.

Have children glue their picture + a friend’s to their  page and color it.

Brainstorm with students why they are proud to be an American.

Write their answers on the board.

Pre-cut 3-4 yellow stars for each child.  Have them write why they are proud to be an American on the stars.

Students glue the stars to their “Proud To Be An American” page.

Everyone shares their “pride page” with the class. You can send them home or collage them on a bulletin board.  Caption: Remember to be proud! Happy Memorial Day.

Click on the link to view/print the Proud To Be An American activity.

Another quick "crafivity" that you can do,  is this patriotic windsock.

I like making windsocks throughout the year.  They are an excellent way to show children what a cylinder shape looks like and reinforce that 3D shape vocabulary word.

Click on the link to view/download the Patriotic Windsock.

I hope you can flit on over tomorrow for more fun.

Feel free to PIN anything from my site or blog that you think others might find helpful. Thanks for visiting!