1-2-3 Come Do Some Spring Things With Me

Spring has officially sprung, and even though we've still got it in the 40s here in Michigan, I'm full gear into springtime fun. 

Today's blog features 3 of my favorite spring activities, which when completed, make adorable springy bulletin boards or hallway displays, sure to put a smile on your face. 

First up is a sweet little bunny glyph.  They really do turn out absolutely "awwww-dorable".   

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs. 
They are a quick, easy & interesting way to practice and assess listening and 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 listen & follow directions.

Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students.

Be sure and make your own sample. I think children really enjoy learning about their teacher too.

The packet also includes 4, sweet photo-posters of real bunnies, as well as a links page for a few bunny songs & the story of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny. 

I also designed an Easter egg glyph as well.  I've included 2 egg glyphs in the packet.  One is pretty easy, the other a bit more complicated.

Choose which one is best suited for your students.
The glyphs are also easily adapted by simply tweaking the directions to fit your needs.

Because each one is different they make a super-interesting bulletin board. Every year we get tons of compliments! 

Most passers-by are unaware that these are glyphs, so I made a springy "Glyphs" poster for each packet, to use for the center of your display. 

Since my Venn Friends have been super-popular, I wanted to design one for spring as well.  This one features  rabbits.

Venn diagrams are a quick, easy & fun way to introduce the concept of comparison - contrast writing, and an interesting way for students to get to know each other better.

My kiddos absolutely love making them, so we do a seasonal one each month; they’ve come to really look forward to picking a new partner to learn more about.  

To help students do a thorough job completing their Venn diagram and jump start the writing process, I've included a list of 40 questions that they can choose from to discuss with their partner.

For added fun, and to practice another standard that mixes math with literacy, I’ve also included a graphing extension. 

Finally, today's FREEBIE also features bunnies.   This bunny craftivity, is a quick, easy and super-fun center, assessment, or game, with  4 sizes of bunny patterns to accommodate the various sizes and kinds of craft sticks.

Program the "ears" with whatever you'd like to reinforce, then keep each set in a Ziploc Baggie.

The beauty of this bunny pattern, is that you only have to make a few bunnies, yet you're able to use them to practice a variety of Common Core Standards, or whatever else you can think up.

Here are some ideas:
* uppercase-lowercase letters
* number-number word
* number-group/set
* contraction-words that make up the contraction
* synonyms-antonyms
* rhyming words
* homonyms
* opposites
* equation-answer
* color-color words
* shape-shape words
* 2 words-compound word
* singular-plural

 Well that's it for today, I hope spring has sprung in your classroom. 

Wishing you a joyous holiday break whenever that happens.

The earth teaches me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. The earth teaches me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall.  The earth teaches me courage as the tree which stands all alone. The earth teaches me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring. -William Alexander

1-2-3 Come Make Some Spring Glyphs With Me!

When I think of spring I think of bunnies, eggs, and butterflies, so I designed some cute glyphs with those things in mind.

My Y5's really enjoyed making glyphs.  Completed projects make wonderful bulletin boards, and they are a quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess listening and following directions. 

This was a report card standard for my Y5's.   So that this is not just my "opinion" that was made through observing their child, a glyph provides nice "paper proof."

If a parent ever questions why you feel their child is not listening and following directions, or asks you for "proof", a file of incorrectly done glyphs is a terrific resource. 

After I took down this spring bulletin board, I kept completed glyphs in my assessment folder. 

I paperclipped incorrect ones together, and put them on the top. 

I also kept an answer key, so that I had a correct comparison for parents to peruse, as they looked at them side-by-side, and I pointed out problems.

After conferences, I'd send those glyphs home and start fresh.

The photographs are of completed glyphs.  As I stated above, each Glyph makes a sweet bulletin board on their own, but you could also combine them. 

Have students cut out their eggs and then use them as a border, scatter the bunny glyphs on the board, cut out and hang the butterfly glyphs back-to-back, and at different lengths from the ceiling, or "resting" on the wall. 

For a more 3D effect, fold the wings up, and just tack down the thorax portion.

Glyphs and graphing are also wonderful ways for your students to collect and analyze data, which will help you review the Common Core State Standard: 1.MD.4

Click on the link to view/download the egg glyph and/or the butterfly glyph and the bunny glyph

Thank you for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.

"It's OK to not know, but it's not OK to not try." -Unknown