1-2-3 Come Do Some Kite Craftivities With Me      

Kites is a theme that my kiddos enjoy in March.  With that in mind, I created some quick, easy & fun lessons that involve kites and cover a variety of standards. I'm sharing 4 of my all-time favorites today, along with a kite-themed FREEBIE.

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs, and since the shamrock glyph that I posted a few days ago has been so popular, I decided to create a kite one.

Glyphs are a quick, easy & interesting way to practice & assess listening & following directions.  Since this is one of my report card standards, glyphs also provide a "hard copy" to use as proof that a child does or doesn't.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different! Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students.

To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students pick a partner to "interview", to help them figure out which glyph is their partner's.

I've included a data collection worksheet for this, challenging students to try and solve the "mystery" with the least amount of questions.

I've also included 6, whole-group graphing extensions, so you can practice another math standard. 

Next up is my latest alphabet wheel: Kk is for Kite. Dollar Deal-Alphabet Wheels, are a super-fun way to practice letters, and build the vocabulary needed to give an example of a word, with that beginning sound.

They feature 7 nouns that begin with that letter, and come in black & white, as well as full-color, so that you can use a colorful one for an independent center and use the black & white pattern for a whole-group or individual word work activity, where kiddos make their own.

I've also included a worksheet where students trace & write the words in alphabetical order. 

Next is a set of 18 print & go, “Can Do!” Common Core kite worksheets, that cover a nice variety of standards.

There are full-page patterns, as well as 2-on-a-page templates, plus an "I Spy" game cover, if you want to collate them into a little workbook for your kiddos.

Fun for your students and easy-peasy for you! 

This is an interesting little something, that you can send as homework to do over spring break. 

Finally, practice analog and digital time with the "Time Flies" Game Packet.

There are several options for this kite craftivity. Children can simply make a kite clock to practice digital & analog time.

You can also use this as a whole-group or individual assessment tool. 
Call out a time. While sitting at their desks, children arrange the paperclips to show that time. You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.

Students can also play the “Time Flies” kite game.  After children have made their kite clocks, complete with 12-digital time “kite ties” glued to a string, (no times are put on the ties yet) they begin the game.

Students pick a partner and take turns rolling first one dice, to get the 1 to 6 O’clock times.
Whatever number they roll, is the number that they write on their analog kite clock. They also write the digital time on the appropriate digital kite tie.

When they have all 6 numbers done, they roll two dice, adding them together to get the 7-12 O’clock times.
The first one to complete their kite clock, or the one with the most times filled in when the timer rings, is the winner.

I've also included an assessment worksheet, a "special note" poster, plus 4 clock face options. 

Today's FREEBIE also features a kite. It's a "High Flying With Patterns!" Game, Craft, & Whole-Group Assessment Tool. 

Use as an independent math center, run off the patterns on a variety of colors of construction paper, laminate, and trim.
Punch a hole in the bottom point of the kite and add a yarn tie.

Students pick a card and show that pattern by arranging the various colored kite ties on the string.

Another option is to do this as a whole group "craftivity", allowing each child make their own kite.

You can whole-group assess, by choosing cards and having children arrange their “kite tail strips” appropriately. You’ll be able to see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

Later, have students pick their favorite pattern and glue the appropriate colored kite strips to their yarn tie.  

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  I have a few more kite activities to finish up, then it's on to some "wind stuff". 

Wishing you a day filled with luscious, fresh air and happy nature-filled moments. 

"Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." -Hans Christian Andersen 

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

Looking for some gingerbread-themed activities that practice a variety of standards?  You've come to the right place. Hopefully you'll find something useful in today's assortment.

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs.
They are a quick, easy and fun way to practice listening and following directions.

They also provide a "hard copy" to use as proof that a child does or doesn't.
Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different.

To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students try and figure out who made some of the gingerbread glyphs. 

Click on the link to zip on over to Diane's Dollar Deals in my TpT shop to have a look:Gingerbread Glyph.

Another Dollar Deal is this 6-piece gingerbread man puzzle.  It's a quick, easy and fun way for your kiddos to practice numbers 1-6.

Print off the numbered, "color me" gingerbread pattern, along with the base.  Students color, cut him apart, then choose a partner to play the puzzle game.

Children take turns rolling a dice. Whatever number they roll, they glue that piece of their gingerbread man to their worksheet.

You can also skip the gluing part, so that students can continue to play the game at home, or make this a center activity that you can use every year and run off on brown construction paper, laminate & trim.

Are you studying digital and analog time to the hour and half hour? Then "It's Time For Gingerbread" might interest you.

Use the clock cards as flashcards, puzzles & games. 
There are also 3 options for an analog gingerbread clock to use as a spinner game, or for whole-group assessing.

If you're going to use the gingerbread man as a clock, have children attach a large and small paperclip with a brass brad.

Simply call out a time. Children manipulate the paperclips to show that time.
I've also included an assessment worksheet, a "Kaboom!" game, plus 2 cover options to make an Itty Bitty "My Telling Time" booklet. 

Finally, since 2D shapes is also a standard for us, I designed a gingerbread house craftivity, as well as a gingerbread cookie game and put them in a "Shaping Up With Gingerbread" packet. 

For that finishing touch, we sprinkled colorful confetti on the rooftop. 

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a gingerbread theme.  It's a set of number puzzles.  I hope you find them useful. 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by. My grandchildren are due any minute, so it will be a day filled with crafts and giggles.

Wishing you lots of love-filled moments. 

"Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting." -Unknown