1-2-3 Come Make A Bunny Venn Friend With Me

I LOVE using Venn diagrams with kids.  They are so easy to make and are the perfect way to introduce compare and contrast writing.

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

My college comp students also like the concept.  One of their personal favorites was comparing two 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.

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.  Through discussion, they discover similarities and 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. 

I've also included a whole-group graphing extension, which will show if students were more alike, or more different than their partner. 

Click on the link to view/download Bunny Venn Friends

Besides the bunny Venn Friend, I also made a tulip one, so you could give your students a choice.  That one also includes a graphing activity. 

Thanks for visiting.  It's "supposed" to get into the 60's today, so my feet have hit the floor running.  I want to open all the windows and bring springtime inside.  Wishing you a sweet day.

"Spring: rebirth,renewal, and regrowth." -Unknown 

1-2-3 Come Practice, Review and Assess With a Bunny and Me

Spring has sprung and it's time to review some of those Common Core Standards you've been teaching all year. 

Sigh.... as we all know, just because our little ones passed an assessment months ago, if we didn't continue to practice it throughout the year, sadly, a few of them did not retain that information.

With that in mind, I designed the very versatile  "I'm All Ears" game packet that will make reviewing a variety of standards quick, easy and fun. 

I don't know about your kiddos, but I've found that if I make a game for anything, I've grabbed my Y5's attention and can easily have them focused for a nice chunk of time.

Use the large and small bunny for a center activity, assessment, or game.  Run off the large and small bunny heads on ivory construction paper; laminate and trim.

Program large and small craft sticks with whatever you'd like to reinforce.  Keep each set in their own Baggie. 

I've included a list of synonyms/antonyms and a list of contractions so you can easily program the bunny ears with words that fit your age group.  

Here are some ideas:

• uppercase-lowercase letters
• number-number word
• number-group/set
• contraction-words that make up the contraction
• synonyms and antonyms
• equation-answer
• color-color word
• shape-shape word
• 2 words-compound word
• singular-plural
• long or short vowel sound to a matching word example

As you can see the possibilities are endless!  I hope this makes those end of the year reviews a bit more fun and less tedious.  Click on the link for the "I'm All Ears" For Common Core Bunny Game Packet

Thanks for visiting.  It's hard to believe that the school year is almost at an end.  Aprill and May months always seemed to simply fly, as there was so much to cram into the limited time I had left. 

My timer's ringing, so I'd better check the "No Peek Chicken".  It's one of my favorite recipes and smells delicious.  Wishing you a carefree day.

"Sweet April showers do spring May flowers!" -Thomas Tusser

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

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  that I published earlier this month, click on the link to grab it.  Here are the links for the other shapely animal packets as well: Penguins and Owls

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 or to use as giant flashcards.

Have children pick out their favorite shape and make one of their own. However, 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, otherwise, you might end up with everyone doing the same shape.

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. 

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 or tape up one of the shape cards.  Call on children to guess what shape is hiding?

There's also an emergent reader booklet that covers quite a few standards.  Students read the simple sentences, underline the capital letters and add end punctuation. 

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.

I've included bunny shape cards in color, along with their matching shape word cards. 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. 

Students can also play a funny bunny spinner game.  Children pick a partner and take turns spinning. 

Whatever shape they land on, they color the matching shape on their funny bunny.  The child who completes their worksheet first is the winner.  

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" worksheet. 

When everyone has completed whatever projects you want them to do, pass out the certificate of praise.  Click on the link to view/download the Shapely Bunnies Packet.  

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting! My poodle pup Chloe, is demanding some attention, so I guess it's time to quit for awhile and take her for a trot around the block.  Wishing you an amazing day.

"In winter, I plot and plan.  In spring, I move!" -Henry Rollins

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

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. 

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. 

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?

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. 

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.

I've included bunny shape cards in color, along with their matching shape word cards. 

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. 

Students can also play a funny bunny spinner game.  Children pick a partner and take turns spinning. 

Whatever shape they land on, they color the matching shape on their funny bunny.  The child who completes their worksheet first is the winner.  

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. 

When everyone has completed whatever projects you want them to do, pass out the certificate of praise.

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

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.

It'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. 

Think 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

If 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. 

Click 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."

1-2-3 Do Some Carrot Activities With Me!

Since spring has supposedly sprung, although you wouldn't know it by the cold and snowy weather we're having here in Michigan, I thought I'd whip together a few carrot-themed activities.

My Y5's loved carrots and dip as a snack. I'd often put some sort of "craftivity" involving carrot counting, or graphing as an extension, into our morning lessons, and then finish up with the carrot snack as a reward for a job well done.

This packet includes a carrot fold open card that's nice to give as a spring note to parents, or use it to have students record their writing prompt inside.

Snipping the carrot topper is a wonderful fine motor skill as well.  The template is symmetric so you can review that concept too.

The "Spring Spiral" is also a great cutting skill.  I've included a left-handed spiral too, so that your "lefties" will have an easier time.

These spiraling carrots look great hanging from the ceiling.

I've included several graphing extensions + upper and lowercase bunny-carrot cards that you can use as a spring border, or to use for Memory Match games or  to play "I Have; Who Has?"

Click on the link to view/download the carrot activity packet.

Thanks for visiting today. 

Feel free to PIN anything that you think others may find worthwhile.

"I bet You know a thing or two. You're super smart; I'm proud of you!" -Dr. Seuss

2-4-6-8 Skip Counting is Great!

Run these adorable bunny bookmarks off for your students. 

They hop with the bunny as they skip count by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's tracing the numbers as they go.

I've also included "What's Missing?" worksheets for skip counting, using all of the above skip counted numbers.

Students fill in the missing number in the pattern and trace the numbers that are present.

This is a quick and easy way to assess if your students understand the concept.

Click on the link to view/download the Skip Counting Bunny Hops packet.

Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN anything that you think others might find useful.                   

"Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart, rather than a piece of our mind." -Unknown