1-2-3 Come Do Some Dual Purpose Activities With Me   

After I've designed a writing prompt craftivity,  I take a look and see if it can serve double duty.  Can I tweak the prompt so that it not only works for a back-to-school activity, but something teachers could plug in at the end of the year as well? 

Such is the case with the 4 craftivities I'm featuring in this blog article.  The featured FREEBIE today, also serves a dual purpose too.  

First up, is a super-cute "play on words" bicycle craftivity. "I had a 'wheel' great year/summer"

I chose a bike theme because no matter what grade I taught, riding a bicycle was something most of my students really enjoyed doing.  

Use the bicycle template for a cute end of the year writing prompt, where students choose two wheel options and complete the prompts inside the spokes.

You can also use it as a super-fun icebreaker for back-to-school, as an interesting way to get to know your new students.

Completed projects make a wonderful bulletin board.
I’ve included 2 posters to use for the center of your display.

There’s also an additional writing prompt worksheet where students describe their bike, or an experience riding their bike, or some other bike-themed idea you come up with. 

Next up is the double duty "I Had A Blast in ___________ grade." or "I Had A Blast This Summer!" firecracker writing prompt craftivity.

There are several options for you to choose from in this versatile packet, which includes patterns for preschool - 8th grade.

Completed projects make a terrific bulletin board and nice keepsake.  You could also keep this bulletin board up for back to school.

Use the poster: “We had a blast this year and hope you will too!” for the center of your display, and have all of your students sign the matching blank poster.

Besides the above prompts, I also thought it would be fun for this year's students to make a TP tube firecracker and tuck a note inside: "You're going to have a blast in ______________ grade because..."       

Or... skip the note and have children jot a greeting on the bookmark writing prompt.  What a nice surprise for your kiddos to find on/in their desk on the first day of school. I’ve also included bookmarks for you to give your current students, wishing them a blast of a summer. 

Likewise, new kiddos can complete the "I had a blast this summer!" for a back to school writing prompt. I’ve included posters for the center of that display as well.  

Another versatile writing prompt, is a super-cool looking T-shirt craftivity.     I think the key to the “way cool” result, is that I used tie dye, plaid and watercolor splattered copy paper, which came in a ream of 50 sheets per pattern.

I ran the T-shirt template off on this paper, as well as the cover pattern; so when the booklet is stapled to the front of the T-shirt the cover matches and blends in.   “Awesome!” is what my students tell me.

This "craftivity" is very versatile, as it includes templates for an end-of-the year memory book, with covers for preschool through 6th grade, plus a blank template.

If you already have a memory book, have students write why they think this grade was terrific, or have this year’s students write a note to next year’s class: “You’re going to have a T-‘rrific Year” because…

You can also use this as a self-esteem building (fill a bucket) activity.  Use the “______ is “T"-'rrific!" template and have each classmate write a compliment in everyone's booklet.

The prompt also works for Father's Day.  Simply fill the blank in with: “My Dad is “T-‘rrific”  or... for back-to-school have students write about why their summer was terrific.

For a “fun-tastic” display, hang completed projects on a rope suspended against a wall and use real clothespins to clip them on.  

Finally, another double-duty writing prompt craftivity that's a bit on the wacky side, also features a T-shirt plus a pair of shorts. 

You can use the patterns separately, or combine them to make a dorky dude & dudette by adding funky sunglasses, and gluing on a student's traced hands and feet.    

Besides using this for a beginning or end of the year activity, it's also perfect for "Wacky Wednesday" fun, as part of a week-long Dr. Seuss celebration.    

Explain to your students that the term “In short” means to explain briefly or summarize, which is one of 5 options for the writing prompts on the pair of shorts.   

Likewise, the T-shirts also have a variety of options as well.  Pick and choose what's best suited for your kiddos.  As with the above T-shirts, these also look cute hung with clothespins from a clothesline. 

As promised, the featured FREEBIE today is also versatile.  I did countless hours of work looking for songs appropriate for an end of the year slide show, as well as a preschool or kindergarten graduation. 

As long as I had done the research, I decided to make an alphabetical list, in hopes that it would save somebody else a ton of time.  Click on the link for the 150 Songs For The End Of The Year..

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

Whether your're reading this at the end of the year (woo hoo) and looking forward to a much-deserved summer hiatus, or checking things out in the fall, excited for a brand new year, I hope you have an absolute blast!

"So often you find that the students you are trying to inspire, end up inspiring you." -Sean Junkins

1-2-3 Come Hang Up A Poster With Me!

The school year is coming to an end and many will be cleaning and sorting their classrooms.

I always made a list of new things that I wanted to look for, or things I wanted to make, during summer break. 

My husband found it amusing that even though I was finally on vacation, my teacher-mind never turned off.

Although I rested and enjoyed summer, I was always cutting, pasting, and "playing school" for a great part of "vacation."

Planning how I would decorate my classroom and acquiring those goodies, was one of my favorite things to do.

With that in mind, I decided to design some new classroom posters.

I used posters to not only decorate my room, but to inspire, challenge students to think, and remind them to make wise choices.

I turned many into anchor charts, that would help review a variety of concepts in a concise and interesting way.

I also used posters to ignite discussions, that would lead to interesting writing prompts, which my students of various ages, seemed excited to give their opinions about.

I've added 10 new posters this week.  I hope you find something that you're looking for.

To view/download the posters pictured, click on their links: Im Possible, I Choose, Wake Up, Don't, and Actions Speak.

To zip on over to the poster and anchor chart section, click on the link. There are over 100!

Simply scroll through and select whatever you like.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending." -Maria Robinson

1-2-3 Come Make A Puppy Pal With Me

This puppy "craftivity" is really versatile. 

You can use the slider template and review upper or lowercase letters, 2D flat shapes, counting to 30, or skip counting by 2's, 3's 5's, or 10's, by cutting slits and inserting the appropriate strip of paper (slider).

These make a nice end-of-the-year activity, to send home with students as a fun way to review and practice over the summer, so they don't forget what they've learned.

Likewise, they are a terrific way to introduce your new students to these concepts at the beginning of the year as well.

Sliders are an easy way to whole-group assess and a fun way to review standards via playing "I spy" games.

Children can also make a keepsake card for Father's Day or Mother's Day, or to give to anyone else, by simply writing the recipient's name on the bone.

What makes this puppy extra special, is that you trace a student's foot with their shoe on, to make the puppy's ears.

Add a school photo for even more pizzazz.

I made the card on the right for my daughter, from baby Kaiden.

Finally, you can also use the Puppy Pal as a topper for a variety of writing prompts.

I've made writing prompt "bones" for the beginning of the year as well as the end. i.e. "I'll have a dog-gone great school year because ..." or I had a dog-gone good school year because..."

Click on the link to view/download the Puppy Pal Writing Prompt Card

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything that you think others may find helpful.

"The best teachers teach from the heart, not the book." -Unknown