1-2-3 Come Do Some "Jack & the Beanstalk" Fairy Tale Craftivities With Me

Since my fairy tale craftivites seem to be popular, I'm continuing to slug along making crafts for more stories,  which will help reinforce a variety of standards.

"Jack and the Beanstalk" is a favorite of my students, so I designed a flip booklet, slider and storytelling wheel. 

All three projects help practice the "sequencing & retelling a story" standards. 

If your kiddos are like mine, they will LOVE making any of these, and really enjoy telling the tale using the manipulative. 

First up is the "flip" booklet.

There are 2 “print & go” booklet options to choose from: one featuring the giant’s castle, the other the cottage, where Jack & his mom live.

Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.

There are full color patterns so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share, plus black & white templates so students can make their own.

Children color, cut & collate their pages, then add the cover.

I've also included an optional title page, "Once upon a time" page, plus a "And they lived happily ever after page" too.

Since children enjoy giving their opinions, there's also a "thumbs up or down" rating page, along with a star ranking as well. 

Use the blank "base" space for a writing prompt, such as, "What was your favorite part of the story?" 

Younger kiddos can write "The End" or "They lived happily ever after."

To help further reinforce sequencing and as a way to check comprehension and practice a bit of writing, all 3 packets include several "Here's What Happened..." writing prompt worksheets. 

Since there are many versions of this fairy tale, all 3 packets also include 3, “giant’s treasure” options.

Simply pick the (booklet page, slider or wheel) version that matches the story that you read. 

Next up is the "Jack and the Beanstalk" storytelling wheel. 

There are two, full color cover options, so teachers can easily make a sample to share; plus black & white patterns, so your students can color their own.

Pick your favorite, or give children a choice between a beanstalk topped with a castle in the clouds, or a beanstalk that Jack is climbing. 

Children color the cover, as well as the "pie" wheel graphics, then poke a hole through both, and fasten with a brass brad. 

So you have a nice variety, I purchased lots of "Jack & the Beanstalk" clip art, so that each packet is different. 

This way, if you purchase more than one craft, it will be fresh, incorporating different graphics. 

I use the flip booklet to tell the story to my students; then I review the story with the "slider" craftivity, and then have my students transition to making a wheel. 

All three of my samples are then kept in a basket in our language arts center. 

For another fairy tale, I switch things up, so in the end my students have had an opportunity to make all three "types" of storytelling crafts, but for different fairy tales.

Both the wheel and the slider packets, also include a "Let's Sequence the Story" worksheet, where students color, cut and glue the "picture tiles" in the correct order. 

So that you can diversify your lessons, there are two options. 

I've also included a larger, colorful copy for teachers.  Print, laminate & trim and then use while reading the story, or as a reveiw afterwards. 

Pass out the pieces to students, then have them help you put them in sequential order.  Use tape, magnet dots, or Velcro to stick the pictures to the base.

When everyone is done with whatever craftivity you've chosen, practice retelling the fairy tale “Jack and the Beanstalk” by calling on a child, who explains what is happening in that graphic.

You could also ask, “Is this the setting of the story?”, “Is there more than one setting?”, “Is this the beginning-middle-or end of the story?” etc.

Afterwards, for more reinforcement, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their booklet with each other. 

Finally, there is the "Jack & the Beanstalk" Slider Craft.

There are 3 "cover" options for this craft which feature: Jack climbing the beanstalk, the castle, as well as the giant.

As with the other crafts, choose your favorite, or run off the variety and give children a choice. 

Use card stock, or white construction paper for a sturdier and less flimsy craft.

I call these "sliders" because a paper strip "slides" through two slits, revealing various "story elements". 

Students retell the fairy tale, by pulling the paper strip through the "window". 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a little something for your Open House or "Meet the Teacher" back to school event, which is also appreciated during "parent-teacher" conferences too.

I put a basket of peppermints on a table for visitors. (Use soft mints for younger grades).

Here's the poster I print, laminate & tuck by my basket of candy: "Families Are Worth A Mint! Thank you for your involve-mint and commit-mint to your child's education Here is a sweet treat for your enjoy-mint!" 

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

It's wonderfully overcast today, with a nice summer breeze...perfect for doing a bit of gardening. 

Wishing you a fun-filled and stress-free day. 

"I am not a teacher, but an awakener." -Robert Frost

1-2-3 Come Do A "Jack and the Beanstalk" Fairy Tale Craft With Me

Do you read the fairy tale genre to your children?

It’s one of my students’ favorite themes. Among their favorites is Jack and the Beanstalk.

To help them sequence & retell the story, I designed this super-fun beanstalk craft.

So that you can quickly & easily make an example to share, I’ve included full-color patterns, as well as the black & white ones for students.

Children color & cut out the castle & title cloud, then glue them together.

An 8-link paper chain is suspended from the bottom of the cloud.

Three leaves, with story element captions (Setting, Characters & Events) add to the beanstalk’s appearance.

Since there are a variety of versions for Jack & the Beanstalk, I’ve included a number of “picture tile” options.

Students choose the ones that were in the story that they read, then color & cut out these mini "pages".

They sort the picture pages into the 3 different story element categories: setting, characters & events, then sequence each group of pages, in the order that they appeared in the fairy tale.

These “itty bitty” storytelling booklets, are then glued to the appropriate leaf.

Before displaying, have students partner up, taking turns explaining what the setting is and who the characters are, then retelling the tale using the picture prompts.

For writing practice, and to further check comprehension, I’ve also included a “Here’s What Happened…” worksheet, which can be done as a whole group with little ones.

 Completed projects look terrific suspended from the ceiling as a border along a hallway wall. 

I've included a "Climbing new heights in reading" poster to add extra pizzazz to your display, which is sure to garner lots of compliments from passers by!

Today's featured FREEBIE is a back to school apple puzzle.

This is an inexpensive little gift you can make for your kiddos for that first day of school, which will occupy their time for a bit, freeing you up.

I've also included a large apple puzzle, to be used as an independent center activity, as well as a blank grid, to help younger students easily put their puzzles together. 

The patterns come in color, as well as black and white, so kiddos can color, then cut out their own puzzle, then put it together; which gives you even more "sanity saving" time.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping in. It's a lovely summer day here in Michigan. 

So love the sunshine streaming in my office window, along with a frangrant and gentle breeze. 

Feeling very contented and blessed.  Wishing you a carefree day.

1-2-3 Come Do Some "Three Billy Goats Gruff" Activities With Me

 Do you read the fairy tale, "Three Billy Goats Gruff" ? It's an old-fashioned favorite of mine, and perfect for sequencing! 

So I designed 3 "craftivities" that will help practice the "sequencing & retelling a story" standards: There's a slider, wheel and flip booklet. 

Any of the projects make for a wonderful transition activity, after you're done reading the story.   Fun for your kiddos and easy-peasy for you too, as all three are simply “Print & Go”. 

First up is the flip booklet.

There are 2 booklet options to choose from: one featuring a troll, the other a goat.

The troll pages are large circles with bigger graphics, while the goat pages come two on a one-page pattern. The graphics are also a nice size.

Pick your favorite, or give students a choice. 

There are full color patterns so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share, plus black & white templates, so students can make their own.

Simply run the troll and goat patterns off on construction paper or card stock. Students color & trim. These become the sturdy “base” of their booklet.

Children then color, cut & collate the pages into a little book, which is then attached to the base.

I purposely did not number the pages, so you can assess comprehension & their ability to sequence correctly.

You can also easily omit pages, to make a shorter booklet for little ones, so they can simply tell the "beginning-middle & end" of the story.

For some writing practice, I thought it would be fun for students, to add a caption inside a speech bubble, that’s above a “color me” picture of the troll falling off the bridge or being swept away in the river.

Completed worksheets make a cute bulletin board.

Next up is the slider.  There are 3 outside slider options to choose from, which children color & trim.

Two options are square for easy-peasy, straight-edge cutting, while the other is a “cut me out” troll, for those with more scissor experience.

Students color the story elements on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together. (All 3 options use the same “slider strip”).

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

I introduce the lesson by reading "3 Billy Goats Gruff", then share my completed "slider craftivity” with my students.

So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included a full-color slider pattern.

After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts. Have children guess which story element they think comes next before you pull the picture through the “window”.

My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a story slider of their own. 

Finally, the storytelling wheel is yet another quick, easy & fun way for students to practice the “retelling & sequencing” a story standards.

There are 2 wheel options to choose from: one featuring a troll, the other, the 3 billy goats. The "pie wheel" that's underneath is the same.  I give my students a choice.

When everyone is done, practice retelling by using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that the 3 goats appear in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to begin the story,

Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”. You can also ask kiddos if this is the beginning-middle-or end of the tale.

To further check comprehension, I’ve included a “color, cut & glue” worksheet in all 3 packets.

Same format, but with different clip art that matches that particular craftivity.  There's a simple version for younger kiddos, as well as a more challenging option, where the "picture tiles" are mixed up.

As another way to assess comprehension, as well as include some writing practice, there’s also a variety of “Here’s What Happened…” worksheets, which can be done as a whole group with younger children.

When everyone is done with their slider, wheel or flip booklet, have children pick a partner and take turns telling the story, “3 Billy Goats Gruff” to each other.
We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies.

Afterwards, encourage students to share their goat/troll craft with their parents, once again retelling the story.

Because my little peanuts are absolutely exhausted, at the end of our day, I like to show some sort of very short educational video.

This is a "winding down" (calming time) for us, which not only helps my students, but gives me a few minutes to get things ready for dismissal.

I spend quite a bit of time seaching YouTube, so I've also included 3 of my favorite "Billy Goats Gruff" video links in all three packets. 

I sincerely hope you'll give one of these crafts a try.   If your students are like mine, they will really enjoy sequencing and retelling with a "paper manipulative".

Today's featured FREEBIE is a fun little "back to school" icebreaker treat bag. I enjoy decorating with fish.

They work for the beginning of the year, as well as summer; their bright colors simply give one a happy feeling.

There's also the terrific "play on words" possibilities, with "school" and "o-fish-ally".

So  I designed these sweet treat bag "headers" to put at the top of a Snack Baggie of Fishy crackers. Don't want to do a treat bag? Use the patterns for a bookmark!

There's also a fish pattern to slit & slide a push-up Popsicle through, plus a bookmark for more quick, easy & inexpensive treats.

I've included a "We're ready for a 'fin-tastic' school year" poster as well, which can be the center for a fish-filled bulletin board.

The packet includes patterns for preschool, kindergarten & 1st grade, with a blank template to fill in with whatever grade you teach. 

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

I don't know about you, but my back-to-school, "To Do" list, keeps getting longer as the summer gets shorter.

Wishing you a relaxing and stress-free day.

"Less Monday; more summer!" -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some "Goldilocks & the 3 Bears" Craftivities With Me

Since "retelling and sequencing a story" are standards I have to teach, I wanted to design a simple and fun little craft that my Young 5s could make, to use as a "hands-on" manipulative, which would "prompt" them as to the sequence of the story, so they could retell it. 

Something that was easy-peasy for me to prep, as well as interesting for my students. Thus "Wheels", "Sliders" and "Flip-the-Flap" storytelling crafts were born. 

Besides black & white patterns for students to color, I've also included full-color templates, so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share.  I'm a firm believer in: "A picture [example] is worth a 1,000 words." 

Not only because attention spans are short, but holding something up and sharing it, also grabs kiddos' attention; they can't wait to make one of their own.  

Take a look at each kind of craft, and decide which is best for your students age, skill-level and time you have to make it. 

There are several options within each packet as well. Pick your favorite or give children a choice.  I make all of the options, laminate and put in my literacy center.

First up, "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears"  Flip-the-Flap booklet. 

The bowl of porridge tells the tale, as students color, cut & collate the “bowl-shaped” pages into a little booklet, which is then glued to the bowl that Goldilocks is holding.

The pages flip up to reveal picture prompts that will help students practice the "sequence & retell a story” standard.

I purposely did not number the pages, so you can check comprehension.
This also allows you to choose less pages for preschool students, who can easily sort beginning-middle-& end, then retell the story with a limited number of “picture prompts”.

Simply run the Goldilocks pattern off on construction paper or card stock.
Students trim & add color.

For some 3D pop, have children bend the top of the porridge over, instead of gluing that top section down.

For extra pizzazz & that finishing touch, I also attached a small spoon. These are tiny "tasting" spoons that they sell at party stores.

I bought a set of 24 for less than $2 and my students absolutely loved this "Wow!" factor add on. 

We no longer have "shoe tying" as a standard, but since a spool of ribbon is just a buck at most fabric stores, I let my students try their hand at tying a bow for Goldie's hair, which we attach with a glue dot.

I have a pile pre-made for those who can't accomplish this feat. Just a simple and inexpensive way to embelish the craft and add more fun.

Next, "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" Storytelling SLIDERS.

I call them "sliders" because students pull a storytelling strip, filled with graphics through a "window".  As they "slide" the "picture prompts", they retell the story. 

There are 4 outside slider options to choose from: (Mama, Papa & Baby bear, plus Goldilocks). Pick your favorite or give children a choice.

Students color the story elements on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together.

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

After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my storytelling slider. I have them guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.  

Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.  I’ve included a “Let’s “sequence the story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet.

There’s also 2, “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheets, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions.
You can do this as a whole group activity with little ones.

Finally, "Goldilocks and the 3 Bears" Storytelling WHEELS.

There are 5 “print & go” options to choose from. One with all three bears featured on the front, as well as a circle with the title on, and 4 “topper” options: Goldilocks, Papa, Mama & Baby bear.

The simple circle with the 3 bears on the front, is the easier option and perfect for little ones.

Since there are 12 picture prompts for telling the fairy tale, I made two, 6-sectioned "pie" wheels, which students glue back-to-back. Children simply flip their wheel over, to continue telling the rest of the story.

The reason I made a 6-sectioned pie, instead of one with 12, is that I find that if graphics are too small, students don't do a good job of coloring.

My kiddos seem to choose one color and then scribble on a bit of color. When clip art is larger, they choose more colors and do a much better job of coloring, resulting in a nicer finished project.

You don't have to put a BACK "cover" on, but I've included one for that "finishing touch".  Like the slider packet, the wheel packet also has a "Here's What Happened..." writing prompt worksheet to check comprehension and practice writing.

Whether you choose a wheel, slider or a flip-the-flap craft, when everyone is done, have children pick a partner and take turns telling the fairy tale to each other.  We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies.

Besides using crafts to practice language arts standards, I also incorporate a bit of art in learning letters.  

Today's featured FREEBIE is our "Letter Hh is for House" craft, which I also use to review shapes and practice our address. 

Completed projects make a sweet bulletin board too, as my students glue their picture on. 

Well that's it for today. The weather outside is getting very dark, so a storm is brewing for sure. 

Great for my flower garden, and perfect for snuggling in and getting some more "to do" items checked off my growing list.

Here's hoping the rain will get rid of this yucky mugginess.  Wishing you a relaxing and stress-free day.

"There's a quiet beauty found in nature when the heavens weep." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Little Red Riding Hood Fairy Tale Activities With Me

One of the many themes I do with my students is fairy tales, they absolutely love this genre.
No matter what time of year you slip in a fairy tale or two, I think your students will enjoy making these "hands-on" craftivities, which will help students practice the sequence & retell a story” standards.

Today's blog features 3 of my latest storytelling crafts for the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood".  

For consistency, I wanted all of my storytelling WHEELS, SLIDERS & FLIP-the-FLAP booklets to have the same format. 

My Y5s absolutely love making & collecting them so much, that after story time, several children will often ask "Can we make a 'tell the story' craft for this book?"

First up is a "flip the flap" booklet,  where the wolf’s “mouth” tells the tale, as students color, cut & collate the “muzzle-shaped” pages into a little booklet, which is then glued to the wolf’s face, making a “flip-the-flap” activity. 


I've included black & white patterns, as well as colorful ones, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

I purposely did not number the pages, so you can check comprehension.
This also allows you to choose less pages for preschool students, who can easily sort beginning-middle-& end, then retell the story with a limited number of “picture prompts”.

Simply run the wolf pattern off on construction paper or card stock.
Students trim & add a few highlights with crayons.

For some 3D pop, have children bend the tips of the ears forward.

I also drew a completed face of the wolf pattern, should you want to make a mask.

For all of the projects, when everyone is done, have children pick a partner and take turns telling the story of “Little Red Riding Hood”  to each other.

We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies. 

Next up is a "Little Red Riding Hood" storytelling slider.

Here students sequence & retell a story by sliding the "picture prompts" through a "window".

There are 3, “outside picture” options to choose from: grandma in bed, Little Red Riding Hood, plus the wolf.
Pick your favorite or give children a choice.

I’ve included simple, rectangular cutting templates for PK kiddos, as well as “cut me out” patterns for more experienced, scissor-skilled students.

Children color the story elements on the “slider strips” then cut and glue them together.

As they pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window”, so that students can take turns retelling the story

I introduce the lesson by reading  "Little Red Riding Hood", then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.

So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included full-color slider patterns, along with the black & white versions for students.

After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
I have them guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.

My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a slider of their own.

Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.

I’ve included a “Let’s “sequence the story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet.

There’s also a, “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheets, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions. 

Finally, another option you have for practicing these standards is the "Little Red Riding Hood" storytelling WHEEL craft.

Unlike some of the other stories we read, fairy tales have a few more story elements, so retelling them takes more "picture prompts". 

With that in mind, I designed a front & back wheel, so that the graphics are larger on a "slice" from a 6-piece "pie"circle, than they would be on a circle divided into  12-pieces. 

I find that my little ones choose only one color & tend to scribble, when graphics are small, whereas they do a much better job coloring in the graphics on these patterns.

There are 2 “print & go” options to choose from: A circle wheel, which features Little Red Riding Hood, as well as a basket-shaped wheel.
Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.

When everyone is done, practice retelling the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that her face appears in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to begin the story,

Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story explaining the “picture prompt”.

When you get to the sixth-pie slice, showing "grandma in bed", have children unfasten the brass brad and flip their wheel over, to reveal the last half of the story.

I’ve also included a “back” pattern for both the circle wheel and the one shaped like a basket, where students simply flip their wheel up & over to finish telling the rest of the fairy tale, without having to take their wheel out.  

There's a blank-circle pattern, for the back which you can leave as is, or use the empty space for a writing prompt: "What was your favorite part in the story?" etc. 

I've also included a pattern with the headings: beginnning-middle & end, as well as my completed sample. (See photo)

Just like the slider craft, you can check comprehension with the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet.

Besides the black & white pattern, there’s also a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.

Another way to check comprehension, and reinforce the “sequencing a story” standard, have students do the “color, cut & glue” sequencing worksheet; this too can be done individually or as a whole group. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a super-simple, end-of-the-year writing prompt that makes a quick and easy memory book, or class book you can share with your next year's kiddos.  I hope you find it useful.

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

Nature decided it would thwart the rainy forcast and play nice today, providing a bit of sunshine & wonderful spring temperatures in the 70s! Woo hoo.

Time to take a much-needed break and get this old body outside. Maybe a little gardening perhaps?  Wishing you an awesome day filled with everything you enjoy the most.

"If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need." -Marcus Tulleius Cicero

1-2-3 Come Do Some Fairy Tale Activities With Me     

One of the many themes I do with my students is fairy tales.  It’s a great unit for “March is Reading Month” complete with a super-fun parade of “book characters” or a nice theme to wind down with at the end of the year.

One of our favorite fairy tales is "The Three Little Pigs". There are zillions of versions of this popular story out there, which make for wonderful comparison-contrast discussions. Click on the link for a cute YouTube video of a contemporary version:"The 3 Little Pigs"

Fairy tales are not only enjoyable, often leaving us with a "moral of the story" to ponder, but they are simple and short, making it easy for students to remember.  They're perfect for practicing the “sequence & retell a story” standards.  

With that in mind, I designed 3 different crafts for "The 3 Little Pigs" fairy tale, which make it extra fun to practice these standards. Choose either a storytelling WHEEL, SLIDER or a "Flip-the-Flap" face craftivity.  

All of the patterns come in black & white for students to color, as well colorful templates so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share to help explain things.  

First up is the "flip it" piggy. Simply run the pig pattern off on pink construction paper or card stock.

Students trim & add a few highlights with crayons.

For some 3D pop, have children bend the tips of the ears forward.

The pattern already has eyes, but for added pizzazz, attach a pair of wiggle eyes with glue dots. 

The pig’s “nose” tells the tale, as students color, cut & collate the oval pages into a little booklet, which is then stapled to the pig’s head.

Another interesting "hands-on" way to sequence & retell the fairy tale is with a "turn & learn" wheel.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center,  plus a black and white pattern, so students can make their own.

When everyone is done, practice telling “The 3 Little Pigs” using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that the little pig who built his house of straw, appears in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to tell what happened.

Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story.

When you get to the sixth-pie slice, where the wolf blows the stick house down, have children flip their pig over to reveal the rest of the story.

Afterwards, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their wheels with each other. Sometimes we do this with our older, reading buddies.
This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.

For writing practice, have students complete the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, then color it.

To check comprehension, and reinforce the “sequencing a story” standard, I’ve also included a “color, cut & glue” sequencing worksheet.

Finally, my "sliders" are also a super-fun way to retell and sequence the story. 

There are 3 outside slider options to choose from: A pig, the 3 pig's houses, and the 3 little pigs grouped together.  Pick your favorite or give children a choice. 

Little ones can do the easy-peasy rectangular shape for simple cutting, while older kiddos can opt to cut around the pigs and houses.

Students color the story elements on the “slider strips” then cut and glue them together.

As they pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window”, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take their “Three Little Pigs” slider home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

I introduce the lesson by reading the ”fairy tale”, then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.

So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included full-color slider patterns.

After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
I have them guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.

My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a slider of their own.

Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.  I’ve included a “Let’s “sequence the story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet.

There are also 2, “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheets, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions. 

Since the end of school is just around the corner for many teachers, and some are getting ready for a preschool or kindergarten graduation, today's FREEBIE is a list of over 150 songs appropriate for end of the year slide shows, graduation ceremonies and performances. 

Since I spent countless hours compiling it, I thought other teachers might be needing the same thing, so to save you time and help you check one more thing off your "to do" list, click on the link.  Hope you find it helpful. 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping by. Two of my 8 grandchildren are coming over, so time to put my Nana hat on. 

Hopefully the rain will hold off 'til we've had some outdoor fun.  Wishing you a carefree day filled with lots of hugs and snuggles. I know I'm looking forward to mine!

"We may not be rich and famous, but our grandchildren are certainly priceless." -Unknown