1-2-3 Come Do Some More Pete The Cat Activities With Me

Since Pete the Cat stories are so popular with students, I decided to design a “getting to know you” cat-themed writing prompt.

I think building a community in your classroom is one of the most important things teachers can do to ensure appropriate behavior, kindness, camaraderie and a team spirit.

One of the easiest ways to do this, is for your students to get to know their classmates. Thus the reason for “Check Meowt!”

Although this is a super-fun icebreaker for the first week of school, I continue to do “getting to know you” activities throughout the year.

No matter what grade I taught, whenever I tossed in a bit of craftiness to the lesson, my students were excited to get down to the business of writing.

They particularly enjoyed sharing things about themselves, interests, opinions, likes and dislikes.

In this packet there are several options.
Children can make the cat head, then complete that worksheet and attach it under the “Check Meowt!” header, or they can simply fill in and color the worksheet.

If your kiddos are crazy over Pete the Cat, then run the pattern off on blue paper, if not, a variety of crazy colored cats makes for a vibrant display.

There’s an easier version for younger students, as well as one with more questions for older children.

PK kiddos can dictate their answers to a reading buddy, classroom aide or the worksheet can be completed at home with the help of a parent.

The inspiration for this craftivity came from the song “I’m a Cat”, which is on YouTube. The link’s in the packet.

If you like it, why not play it while children work on their “Check Meowt!” writing prompt, or use it to introduce the lesson.

Completed projects make a cute bulletin board.

I’ve included several posters to use for the center of your display, as well as a color copy of the worksheet so you can easily make a sample to share.

While I was in the "creating cats" mood, I thought it would be fun to learn about, and practice the 5 senses with a cat theme as well.

This packet includes an Itty Bitty “My Cat” booklet, as a fun way to reinforce the 5 senses as this cool cat sees, hears, smells, & tastes things as he moseys along. When you pet him, how does he feel?

Children color their cover, complete the prompt by writing one or two words of what their cat saw, heard, tasted etc. then draw a picture.

Encourage older students to write short, but descriptive sentences and turn this activity into an emergent reader.

When students have completed their worksheet, they cut out the pages, put them in any order they want, then staple them to the “purr-fect” section on the cover of their booklet.

There are pages with word prompts for K-1, as well as ones with picture prompts for PK kiddos.

I’ve also included pages that go along with the story “Pete The Cat’s New White Shoes”.

Besides the booklet, the packet also includes:

* A colorful cool cat 5 senses poster.

* 2 “Label the cat’s senses” worksheets, with write-in, or cut & glue options. There are 2 size choices as well.

* For more practice, students can also think of one more thing their cat could see, hear, smell etc. and write those answers on the bookmark-size worksheet.

* There’s also an “I listen with my whole body” classroom management poster, as well as one for students to color. 

Today's FREEBIE also features Pete the Cat. 

Even before Pete the Cat made the saying "It's All Good!" popular, others felt the same way, like Glennon Melton, so I used her quote to make a cat-themed poster.

There's one in black and white for kiddos to color, as well as a colorful one for you to introduce the writing prompt with, then hang in the center of your display of students' work.

Using the worksheet, children write whether they agree or disagree with the quote and why. 

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Praise the Lord that the 90 degree temps have flown the coop to be replaced with a wonderfully sunny, 70 degree day. 

Time to clear my brain and walk Chloe (my poodle pup).  Wishing you a fun-tastic day filled with everyone and everything you enjoy the most. 

"There is no elevator to success.  You have to take the stairs." -Unknown

  1-2-3 Come Do Some Pete The Cat Activities With Me

Are your kiddos crazy over a blue cat named Pete? Mine are; and one of their favorite stories is “I Love My White Shoes”.

With that in mind, I designed a variety of Pete-themed activities to practice an assortment of standards.  I'm featuring 2 of them on the blog today.

First up is a whopping 125-page jumbo literacy packet which I just finished this morning! Woo hoo. Thrilled to be done is an understatement!

It's chock full of a huge assortment of activities for you to choose from.

The packet includes:
* A variety of Worksheets
* Writing prompts plus a class-made booklet

* “Sentence writing” activities, which practice beginning capitalization and end punctuation, along with . . .
* Graphic organizers, plus 2 graphing activities, as well as . . .
* Helpful Literacy Posters to introduce and explain things. 

All of my literacy packets include at least one, quick, easy and fun craftivity.

* The “My Shoes Are . . .”  kitty craft is a personal favorite.

Completed projects make a really cute bulletin board or hallway display.

* The “Let’s Text!” activities are for “Making Connections“: (text to self, text to text, text to world).

I've included BW patterns for your students to fill in, as well as matching colorful posters to use to help explain things. There are also . . .

* “Cat Comprehension” activities that include a cute "Popsicle Stick Pete Puppet", which children make & manipulate to answer "Yes!" and "No!" questions about the story (28-question sheet included).

* Lots of super-fun “Word Work” and vocabulary-building activities, games, worksheets, and a word booklet, as well as 50+ word cards for all of the words in the story, most of them are Dolch sight words! 

For more word practice there's the...
“Feed The Face” Cat Craft as well as a
* “Syllable Sorting” word mat. 

"I Love My White Shoes" is perfect for teaching "Cause & Effect" so I've included...
Cause & Effect activities with black and white worksheets for students, a full color version to use as a whole group, plus an answer key. 

* There are Activities comparing “I Love My White Shoes” with “Rockin’ In My School Shoes” plus more

* Comparison-Contrast activities with Venn diagrams.

* Another literacy standard is . . .”Sequencing the events of the story”, so I designed a variety of worksheets, including an ordinal number booklet along with a set of colorful pocket chart cards.

I’ve tried very hard to include a variety of materials suitable for PK-2nd, so you can diversify for the various skill levels of your students; helping the strugglers, while challenging others.

Simply choose which activities are appropriate for your students, then “print & go!”  For PK kiddos do the activities as a whole group.

Use the packet for morning work, table top lessons, centers, early finishers, homework or a sub tub. 

As a back to school special, this packet is on sale for just $8. That's $3 off.  If you'd like to purchase it, please send me an e-mail at dianehen@teachwithme.com as the packet is not available in my TpT shop. (Just click this LINK and my e-mail request will pop up.)

Finally, Pete's "I Love My White Shoes" is also great for teaching and practicing "how to sequence and retell a story", since this packet was already huge, I decided to make the Pete's Story Telling Slider a separate item.  This too, is not available in my TpT shop. If you'd like to purchase it for $2.50 click the LINK to let me know.

There are several slider options:
* Check comprehension by having older students color, cut and glue the pictures in the correct sequential order on their slider.

* For PK kiddos the picture "cards" are in the correct order, or skip the cutting and gluing steps and have little ones simply color the slider with the pictures already on the strip. 

Besides the water graphic option, there's also a slider with a picture of bucket.

I’ve also included a full-color copy so that you can quickly and easily make a teacher’s sample to share with your students, helping to explain what you want them to do.

As children pull on the end of the “slider” the various pictures go through Pete’s “neck window”, so that students can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take Pete home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

I’ve also included a color as well as BW “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing.  

Today's featured FREEBIE is also a Pete the Cat craftivity.

This one's sure to become a keepsake as I’ve included a heart pattern that says: “This is the hand you used to hold when I was only _______ years old.”

Children write in their age, trim and glue it to their hand print paper, which says: “We read ‘I Love My White Shoes.’ Please ask me to tell you the story.” 

The head is glued to the top of their (traced then cut out) blue hand, with their thumb being the "tail".

The colorful shoes glued to the cat's "legs" (their fingers), will help them sequence the story in the correct order.  

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

It's another rainy morning, but I'm glad for the respite from the super-hot and humid days all week long.  Wishing you a refreshing day.  

"When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles."

1-2-3 Come Do Some "Getting To Know You" Activities With Me

Today I'm featuring 2 quick, easy and interesting craftivities that are a super-fun way to welcome and get to know your students.

Whether you do this activity at the beginning of the school year for a back to school icebreaker, or in fall, for October or November, this owl craftivity is a wonderful way to get to know your students, and for students to get to know their classmates better.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board.  I’ve included a poster to use for the center of your display.

For those finishing touches, have students cut out their owl, fold the wings inward, add some highlights with crayons and perhaps a pair of wiggle eyes.

Where they place the eyes really changes the personality of this cute little critter.

Gluing on a school picture adds that sweet, “keepsake-touch”.

There are two writing prompt options: Students can make an owl for themselves: "Owl" About Me…” or have children pick a partner and make one for that student: "Owl" Be Your Friend.” 

Another interesting way to get to know your new students is with this welcome glyph.  No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs.

They are a simple and fun way to practice and assess listening and following directions.

As with the owl above, completed glyphs make a wonderful back to school bulletin board, as each one will be different!

I’ve provided two “Welcome to school” glyph posters to use for the center of your display.

Because this glyph involves letter recognition, I’ve included a preschool version, as well as one for students who can recognize letters.

You can also simply hold up an unfinished sample and point to the letter you want them to color.

Afterwards, older children can pick a partner, and try to guess which glyph is theirs, by asking them a few key questions, which will narrow down the field.
I’ve included a recording sheet questionnaire for this.

While your students are working on the investigative extension, snap their picture. 
Make a small thumbnail, class composite and print it off, so that students can glue their little photo to the end of the exclamation point to make your “Welcome!” display extra special.

Glyphs also provide a collection of data, so they’re an interesting way to introduce or practice graphing.
Based on the information in the glyphs, I’ve included 4 graphing extensions you can complete as a whole group activity.

Since my kiddos are practicing writing their name, I read the graph and have them write their name in the blank of the appropriate section. 

Today's featured FREEBIE (I Made Lots Of New Friends Today!) is a wonderful sanity-saver for the first day of school. 

Use it as an autograph-coloring page for young children, or a writing prompt for older students, where they write about a few of their classmates that they've made friends with.

If you don't have time for everyone to sign everybody's paper, have children sign the master copy, and run off during recess or your lunch break.  Pass out at the end of the day, to allow yourself a few moments of peace to get things done before dismissal, while students work independently.  

Well that's it for today. I hope you found something useful.

It's my mom's last day of her visit with us; some of the grandchildren are coming over, so it's time to put my party hat on.

Wishing you a fun-filled day with lots of memorable moments.

"Grandchildren complete life's circle of love." -Unknown

1-2-3 come Do Some Chrysanthemum Activities With Me

“Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes, is one of my all-time favorite back to school books.

It’s perfect for a variety of ages, and especially wonderful as an introduction to name activities, as well as discussions about teasing, bullying and “filling buckets”. 

With that in mind, I enjoyed making a variety of Chrysanthemum-themed activities appropriate for PK-1st grade. I'll be sharing 3 of them in today's blog along with a sweet back to school FREEBIE. 

Because I like to mix math with literacy, I designed the Chrysanthemum Name Comparison Math Craftivity, where students compare their name with Chrysanthemum’s.

I’ve included a simple PK version which can be done as a whole group, with an older elementary buddy, or done as homework with the assistance of a parent.

There’s also a template suitable for kindergarten, 1st and 2nd, which involves some easy math, where students can show how they figured out their answer.

Use the vowel, consonants and syllable posters to help explain things, then hang up for students to refer to.

These can also be used as part of your display, as completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, or hung as a border on a hallway wall. 

I’ve included 2 “Mixing Math & Literacy” display posters for this as well. 

For extra pizzazz, punch a hole at the bottom and tie on a yarn "tail", or curl a white pipe cleaner and attach.

There are 10 border options to choose from.

Give your students a choice, or run off 2-3 of each of the worksheets so you have a nice variety in your display.

Girls can add a bow to their mouse, and boys can opt to leave it off if they want.

For an added splash of color, mount the worksheet on a variety of colors of construction paper before students glue their mouse head to the top. 

Next up, is another quick, easy and fun “print & go” name craftivity. I call them "sliders".

Simply choose which name slider you want your kiddos to make. There are 6 options.
I like my students to get some practice in making choices, so I run all of them off.

I’ve included black and white patterns for kiddos to color, as well as templates in color, so that you can quickly and easily make examples to share.

Mounting them on construction paper gives a splash of color and makes them sturdier.
Run off the boxed “slider strips”, as well as the blank strips and trim.

Children color Chrysanthemum, then write their name on the “slider” strip, by writing a letter in each box.

If you have PK kiddos who don’t know how to write their name, you can have slider strips already written for them, or provide a name card for them to copy.

I’ve included 6 matching name cards if you’d like to use these. 

Finally, I designed a Chrysanthemum-Inspired Class Name Booklet.

At the beginning of the story, her parents explain why they named her Chrysanthemum, so I thought it would be fun to send a note home and ask parents why they chose their child’s name.

Parents fill out the worksheet and their child colors it.  After everyone has shared their page, collate the contributions, add the cover and you have a very interesting class-made book.

Run off the "inside" pages and give children a choice. There are 7 girl-themed pages, plus 7 for boys.

I share Dr. Seuss’s story “Too Many Daves”, then include those pages, along with the rose-quote poster in our booklet as well.

We make several class books each month.  They are always a favorite in our classroom "book" basket, and a big hit with parents at conferences.

Adding a school photo to each page makes things extra special. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is also perfect for back to school. I not only give my students a little surprise treat on the 1st day of school, I do a little something extra special the entire week.  

For a quick, easy and inexpensive treat bag, fill up a Snack Baggie with Lucky Charms cereal and include my little note.  There's also 2 "header" options if you want to put 1 at the top of your bag.  

Well that's it for today. My mom's visiting from Wisconsin, and I hear her stirring on this beautiful morning, so time to switch gears and go play outside.

"Tears of joy are like the summer rain drops pierced by sunbeams." - Hosea Ballou

1-2-3 Come Practice Shapes With Brown Bear And Me

Brown Bear Brown Bear is one of my students' all-time favorite stories.

With that in mind, I designed a super-fun Brown Bear's Silly Nose packet.

It's chock full of cute, brown bear craftivities & games, which practice the following shapes: (3D) sphere, cone, cube & cylinder; plus (2D) circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, star, heart & crescent.

The packet includes:

* Pocket chart cards
* A large and small "Bear's Shapely Nose" slider craft, which is also a quick, easy & fun way to whole-group assess.

* Whole-group graphing extensions
* Bookmark writing prompt
* 4 worksheets (graphing, attributes, spatial directions, shape words)

* "Spin & Graph" game.
* "Roll & Color" dice game.

* 3 sets of "Memory Match" or "I Have; Who Has?" game cards.

* "Pin the Nose on the Bear" game.
* "Brown Bear What Do You See?" whole-group chant activity, with different shaped noses, a poster & pocket chart chant cards. 

I have two featured FREEBIES for you today. Both have a shape theme as well. 

The first one is a set of 2D shape posters. The 2nd is a matching set of 3D posters.  I hope you find them useful. 

Well that's it for today. I imagine, like most of you, my summer is flying by, with still so much left to do. 

Wishing you a productive and fun-filled day; and hoping you have lots of relaxing moments.

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Brown Bear Activities With Me

Do you read the story Brown Bear Brown Bear as part of your back to school activites?  If so, I think you'll enjoy these 3 Brown Bear packets, which practice a variety of standards.

First up is a set of number puzzles featuring all of the characters in the Brown Bear story.

Number strip puzzles, are a quick, easy & fun way for your students to practice sequencing numbers, counting from 1 to 10, counting backwards from 10 to 1, as well as skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s & 10s.

There are 11 different character puzzles, plus a grouping of all of them.

Each character comes in a 1-10 numbered puzzle, as well as a skip count by 10s to 100 puzzle, plus an assortment of puzzles that count backwards, plus skip count by 2s, 3s, and 5s.

There are puzzles in full color, so you can use them for an independent math center, as well as black & white, so that children can make their own puzzles. 

Next up, is  a “Brown Bear’s Colors" booklet.  There are two black & white booklet options, which feature all of the colorful characters in the Brown Bear story.

There’s a blank square with lines in one version, where older students can think of 3 items that are also that color, then write them in the space provided, while younger students can simply trace the words with the matching crayon or maker, in the other option.

I’ve provided pages in color as well, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share.

Besides using the patterns to make a booklet, you can also cut the 4 sections out and then glue them on a matching sheet of construction or scrapbook paper.

These can be hung up as a single poster or put together like a quilt. 

Finally, I made a Brown Bear Literacy Packet.  After reading the story, review each sentence using the pocket chart cards.

Don’t have a pocket chart? You can also put magnets or Velcro dots on the back and use on your white board or flannel board.

Make an extra set and use these for a sequencing game.

You can also pass this set out to students while you read the story. When you come to that character, the child holding that card places it on the board.

For more word work practice, I’ve included 6 worksheets where students read, trace, write, color, cut & glue, character and color words.

These are great for Daily 5 word work, homework, or early finishers too.  I’ve also included a “Which was your favorite character?” graphing extension.

For an individual center, or whole-group activity, print, laminate & trim the individual word cards. There’s a large set to use for your center, as well as a smaller set, to make for your whole group.

Children play “Build a Sentence” by arranging the cards in appropriate order, which will help reinforce beginning capitalization and end punctuation.

When they’ve “built” their sentence, they record it on their “construction” worksheet. (There are 5 options, which include BW & color versions).

For a job well done, give children a “We read Brown Bear. I can retell the story” bookmark, as a prompt to share the tale with their families. 

This is also my first packet that I've made a Spanish version for!

The bundle is just a dollar more, so woo hoo if that helps you out too.  

Today's featured FREEBIE includes back to school treats and a bulletin board, as it will "o-fish-ally" be that time all too soon. 

Until then, wishing you a super relaxing summer. 

Gotta dash; time to go buy some fireworks! 

"Our nation will remain the land of the free, so long as it is the home of the brave." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Versatile Writing Prompt Craftivities With Me 

Sometimes when I'm designing something for a particular thing, it turns out that I can also use it for something else; as once a crafty little pattern is made, it's easy to tweak the writing prompt portion, so that it fits for other times of the year. 

Such is the case for several of the Mother's Day craftivities I just finished; so I included patterns appropriate for the end of the year, as well as back to school. 

Today, I'm featuring 3 of them, along with today's featured FREEBIE.

First up is the "berry" versatile strawberry packet.     I’ve included a back-to-school pattern that says: “I had a ‘berry’ special summer because…” as well as an end of the year template: “This school year was ‘berry’ special because…”

Run the summer strawberry off on hot pink with lime green leaves; then see wonderful improvement in your students’ writing, when they complete the other prompt, at the end of the year.

I’ve also included another pattern to make a “Thank you ‘berry’ much!” card, which you can give to volunteers who’ve helped your class, the secretary or whoever gave you a helping hand throughout the year.

Flip the card up to reveal a picture of your class holding a thank you sign or letter cards spelling the words out, then have everyone sign it.

Another pattern is for a Mother’s Day card: “My (mom, mommy, mama, mum, grandma) is ‘berry’ special because…”  Have students make hand print “leaves” for that keepsake touch.

Finally, the "fruity treat" is a little gift you can give your students at the beginning or end of the year:
"I hope your summer is 'berry' special just like you." or . . . "I'm wishing you a 'berry' special year.

Attach the strawberry tag to a berry-flavored juice box or package of Skittles. 

Next up is the "....And That's Something To Tweet About!" writing prompt bird craftivity.    Just like the strawberry, you can use it for back-to-school, (“I had a great summer!), or at the end of the year (“I had a great year in school) and that's something to tweet about!"

I’ve also included a variety of writing prompt options suitable for Mother’s Day as well. “My (mom, mum. mommy, mama, grandma) is special and that’s something to tweet about!”

There are blank wing and “hang tag” patterns as well, so that you can write in something else.  These pieces, along with the accordion-folded legs, add special 3D pizzazz.

Older students explain why, by writing on the back of the bird. Completed projects really turn out adorable and look sweet suspended from the ceiling.

Finally, "Great Times!" also includes a variety of writing prompt options.   I’ve included 3 patterns for a Mother’s Day card, as well as templates for the end of the year: ”Time sure flies! I had a _____________ year in _____________!”

Plus there’s a “Fun in the Sun Summer Time“ pattern, where students can write about the fun times they are looking forward to doing during vacation, or use for back-to-school and have students write about a few of their favorite times that they enjoyed.

Besides the 3 “draw yourself” clock patterns for Mother’s Day, there are also 6 templates featuring 3 boys & 3 girls. Students simply color and cut.

Older kiddos “hinge” the writing prompt to the back with a piece of Scotch tape. 

There are black & white patterns for students, plus full color templates of the children holding the clocks, so that you can quickly and easily make samples to share. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is also versatile, as you can use it in February for Valentine's Day, as well as for grandparents, Mom or Dad on their special days.

I found this ABC "I Love You!" idea in various print forms on a variety of sites, so I'm not sure where the original idea came from. 

However, instead of making an 8x10 print to frame, I thought it would be perfect to design some cards, bookmarks and magnets, which children could make in school for various holidays. 

As for me, I tucked one in my husband's briefcase. Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.

If you get a minute, zip on over to the site-wide "Teacher Appreciation" sale going on over at TpT. 

My shop is participating.  Enter the Promo Code: CELEBRATE for an additional 10% off at checkout. 

"If you can read this, thank a teacher!"

1-2-3 Come Chalk Up Some Fun With Me

Woo Hoo!  I now have 500 wonderful people following my TpT shop, and as promised,  here's "Chalk Talk" a special milestone FREEBIE. 

A special thank you to all of my spectacular followers.  Please know that I'm grateful & appreciative.

Like most kiddos, I LOVE sidewalk chalk.  You can buy 6 to a dozen sticks at The Dollar Store, so I always had a big bucket on hand, for those crazy days when everyone has had enough, and you just need to take a break and get outside. 

Keeping in mind, that just about everything we do has to be "educational" and include the "standards", I'd have my kiddos start by practicing writing their names, letters, numbers and drawing shapes.  After we got that out of the way, they enjoyed creating "mess-terpieces" 'til it was time to go in. 

For quick kid-cleanup, make sure you bring some wet wipes with you, so students can wipe off their dusty hands.

If you give your students a first day gift or treat bag of some sort, and are looking for something easy and inexpensive, then I think you'll enjoy my "Welcome! ___________ is 'chalk' full of learning fun!"  treat bag.  I have templates for preschool, kindergarten and first grade, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever you teach.

And... no worries if you've already started school.  There's a generic "Wishing you a day that's 'chalk' full of fun!"  black & white, plus colorful note too.

My "pinspiration" for this packet, came from My Sweet Sanity's blog spot.  She used the "chalk full" play on words, for an end-of-the-year summer gift.  Click on the link to zip on over and see her rainbow version. 

If you'd like a first-day time filler, use the black & white header, so that students can pull it off, color and use as a bookmark. 

Attach the card to the front of a Snack Baggie, with a glue dot.  (I don't like using staples with little ones.) Put a piece of sidewalk chalk inside and you're done!

Super quick, easy, & inexpensive, yet a thoughtful gift that "keeps on giving".

Because students will want to play with the chalk right away, I wouldn't put them on their desks.  Instead, put the treats in a big basket in full view and wait for children to notice, or show them one and let them know that they will get their Baggie at the end of the day to take home, or...

Use them as a behavior modification technique.  Tell students that they need to work as a team with their new friends. 

Each time they complete a task, or show great group behavior, you'll color in a letter on the "chalk" poster.  When all of the letters have been colored in, they get their chalk and are able to go outside for some special fun.

As long as you're outside, why not take some pictures. Pinterest has quite a few photo op examples that involve sidewalk chalk.  If you take a first day of school picture, one of these ideas would make a cherished keepsake.  Children tend to be less camera shy while playing outside, so you should get some adorable shots like the ones pictured here.

I especially like the kindergarten idea.  Write your grade level as shown, and then have each student pose. 

I've linked back to give credit when I could, however some showed just a photo and went no where.  (Hover over the photo to see if it's linked and then bop on over to those sites for more details.)

The balloon and crown idea are also easy and cute. That little guy is so joy-filled!

Keeping with the sidewalk chalk theme, I designed some writing prompts that I call "Chalk Talk". 

There's one for boys and one for girls.  Children complete the prompt: "I had a nice day at school.  These are a few of the things that I did..."

I've also included two "chalk talk" posters to use for whatever you deem appropriate. 

Click on the link to view/download the Chalk Talk packet.

To see if I could find any other interesting things to do with sidewalk chalk, I Googled it.

For 30 fun games and activities with sidewalk chalk check out this creative birthday party idea website.

You can buy a bucket of sidewalk chalk at The Dollar Store, but if you’d like to make some, you can find a recipe on wikihow. For 7 fun ways to make ice chalk, click on the link.  I like the idea of using Popsicle sticks, so children's hands don't get as messy.

Finally, click on the link for a recipe for scented sidewalk chalk paint, (She used Kool-Aid for non-toxic fragrance) and says: "This is a super-simple and inexpensive paint recipe that rinses off with a hose."

Well that's it for today.  Time to go make some special memories with my grandchildren and our brand new tub of sidewalk chalk. 

Wishing you a day "chalk" full of giggles. 

"Leave a little love wherever you go." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Make a Mary Had A Little Lamb Bulletin Board With Me

This cute schoolhouse craftivity, is a quick, easy and fun writing prompt that will make an adorable bulletin board.

I try to design things that practice a variety of skills & standards, so I’ve added the Mary Had a Little Lamb nursery rhyme to this activity.

There are 2 writing prompts to choose from: “I like school because . . .” and “My favorite things about school”.

Children color the schoolhouse then cut it in half, gluing the ends to their writing prompt page, in such a way that they flip open, to reveal the writing underneath.

Students complete the prompt, add some color & draw a picture of themselves.

For that finishing touch, have them glue their school picture on one of the windows.
I also added my photo to make this a special keepsake for them.

To help explain things, I’ve included colorful completed samples, so you can quickly make an example of your own to share with your kiddos.

Before or after this activity, share the Mary Had a Little Lamb nursery rhyme.

I’ve included background information, a poster poem, pocket chart cards, plus some “trace & write” color-me worksheets.

The pocket chart cards come in a full-page size, as well as two smaller sets on one template. 

Laminate & cut them apart.  For an independent center, students read the cards and put them in proper order.

The poem fits the schoolhouse writing prompt, and is a nice segue for introducing the nursery rhyme genre, along with rhyming words.

Discussion: “What words rhyme in the poem?” (go-snow & school-rule). Can they think of anymore?

You can do this as a whole-group activity and write the words on the board, or have older students make their own lists on the worksheets provided.

To practice another skill, have them alphabetize the words on their list. I’ve included answer keys.

Students can also share their schoolhouse at this time.  Completed projects make a sweet bulletin board.

To tie them into the poem, I’ve included a “_______________’s little lambs have found their way to school” poster for the center of your board, the nursery rhyme poster, plus some large sheep to go on each side. The photo shows the start of my bulletin board display.

You or your kiddos write their name on the little lamb cards, which are placed next to their schoolhouse. Add some border & you’re done. 

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop for my newest back to school writing prompt craftivity.

While you're there, I would so appreciate it, if you'd follow me.  I just need 11 more people to hit 500 followers.  I love designing milestone FREEBIES and have a really cute one that I'm working on, in anticipation of reaching that goal soon.  Thanks in advance.

Today's FREEBIE features a variety of popular road signs that are perfect for your classroom.  They are especially fun if you're going to do a transportation theme. 

I've included large as well as small sizes.  Use the bigger ones as posters; I put a few back-to-back & suspended from my ceiling as gentle reminders. 

The smaller ones can be bookmarks, magnets or pencil toppers for your kiddos. Click on the link to grab this fun FREEBIE: Classroom Road Signs

That's it for today.  It's only 57 degrees out this morning, so fall is definitely in the air here in Michigan.  I am so not ready to let go of summer.  Wishing you a warm & wonderful day.

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.” ~ Sylvia Plath 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Alphabet and Number Activities With Me

Amy, from Kentucky, asked if I was going to do a Kissing Hand -Themed activity packet for the alphabet, or one for counting & numbers that would match the trio that I posted this past week.   Like me, she likes to teach a variety of standards using a theme. 

I actually had one in the works, which includes both, and just finished it today!  Woo hoo. This ABC-123, raccoon-themed packet, matches the other 3 “Kissing Hand” inspired packets: Literacy,  Shapes &  Where’s the Raccoon?

The ABC-123 includes the following:

3 sets of letter cards: uppercase, lowercase, & both UC & LC on one card, so you can play all sorts of games like Memory Match, “I Have; Who Has?”, Kaboom & Speed. I’ve included a 4-page tip list of ideas & directions.

An accordion-fold out, “trace the letters” booklet.

0-10, number & number word pocket chart cards, with a matching poster.

9 number puzzles (color + black & white) to practice numbers 1-10, counting backwards from 10-1, as well as skip counting by 10s to 100.

Use for an independent center & games. Run off the black line ones for children to color, cut & make their own number puzzle.

Counting Kisses 0-10 poster, with a matching worksheet & game cards.
An accordion-fold out Counting Kisses booklet.

Large (8x10) Counting Kisses poster cards for numbers 0-10, with a matching set of 5x7 cards. Use as anchor chart posters & flash cards.
A matching booklet for students. They glue on the appropriate number of kiss “stickers”.

5 number worksheets.
2 roll & color games. You can also use these as “I Spy” game worksheets.

A letter poster showing the arrow directions to write letters, with a matching worksheet, along with 5 other alphabet worksheets.

2 “I Spy A Letter” game sheets for whole-group assessing upper & lowercase letters, with a recording sheet.

A raccoon “slider” craftivity for upper & lowercase letters, numbers 1-20, counting backwards from 10-0 & 20-0; plus slider strips for skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, & 10s. A quick, easy & fun way to whole group assess. Includes an assessment sheet.

Upper & lowercase assessment mats & recording sheets, along with a set of upper & lowercase Kissing Hand letter cards, and an alphabet matching game.

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to take a peek at my newest Kissing Hand packet: ABCs & 123s.

However, since many teachers offer a bundle to give you added savings, I combined this new ABC-123 packet, with the Shape & "Where's the Raccoon?" packets.

You'll save $3 by buying the bundle, as this 247-page whopper, is only $10.95.  Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to check it out: Kissing Hand Bundle.

And now for today's featured FREEBIE: A "Dear Students..." poster.  Perfect for back to school. Click on the link to grab it.

Well that's it for today.  It's super-hot and muggy here in my little corner of the world. 

Yuk! Humidity really zaps my energy, so it's time to escape for a dip in the the pool.  Wishing you a refreshing day filled with Ahhhhh moments.

"The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it." -Woodrow Wilson