1-2-3 Come Do Another Scarecrow Writing Prompt Craft With Me

I love doing some scarecrow activities in the fall. Displays of my students’ work can go up in September & stay up through November, which is a huge time saver.

With that in mind I designed this quick, easy & super-fun “Scarecrows Have / Are…” writing prompt craftivity.

This is what I call a “bite size” bit of writing. The topic is specific enough so that students aren’t overwhelmed, while providing nice practice using descriptive adjectives.

Whenever I toss a bit of craftiness in with our writing, my students get extremely excited and WANT to get down to the business of writing and making their own scarecrow.

There are 4 scarecrows to choose from, as well as two writing prompts.

Students can choose the “Scarecrows ARE” writing prompt worksheet, or the "Scarecrows HAVE” one.

For more writing practice, have students do both.

One can be done in class, and the other as homework, or take two days to complete the project.

If you do both writing prompts, have students glue one to the back of their scarecrow. 

Punch a hole in the top, tie on a yarn loop and suspend from the ceiling. 

The assembly is easy-peasy.

Students choose a scarecrow, then color and cut out the top & bottom halves. 

After editing their final draft, they write it on the worksheet, which is the rectangular mid-section of their scarecrow's body.

Cutting around the "hair" and "fingers" of the scarecrows can be a bit tricky, so I've also included patterns with an "easy trim" edging. 

Students simply cut on the dashed line. 

For more creativity, the scarecrow head patterns also come with and without a face.

To help get your students creative juices flowing, I’ve also included 28 photographs of “real” scarecrows.

There are 7 photo-posters, with 4 pictures on each page.

You can laminate them, then pass them around to give your students some ideas of what to write. 

You could also cut each photograph out, and have students choose one to describe. 

If you decide to make an autumn bulletin board with your students completed scarecrows, add these photographs for some extra pizzazz & interest.

For more writing practice, extend the lesson by doing the Venn diagram activity that’s also included in the packet.

Venn diagrams are an interesting & simple way to practice comparison and contrast writing.

This activity can be done as a whole group, or children can choose a partner with a different scarecrow than theirs, then create a Venn diagram together.

These make a nice addition to your display.

I've also included two, Scarecrow "Are-Have" posters as well.

Today's featured FREEBIE is another fun, fall writing prompt.

This one is "How to Make a Pumpkin Pie". 

How to do something, is a writing standard for many schools.

These completed projects also make a "sweet" display.

That's it.  Thanks for stopping by. 

The wicked wind has snatched the rest of our autumn leaves from the oak and maple tree branches, so there's  quite a thick "blanket" of autumn colors festooning our lawn. 

Guess what's on our "To Do" list for this afternoon? 

Wishing you a wonderful week.

"Children must be taught how to think, not what to think." -Margaret Mead

1-2-3 Come Make An Apple Craftivity With Me

Apples is one of my favorite fall themes. 

For those of you who are familiar with my work, you know I love dabbling with a "play on words" to add a smile and interest to activities.

 

"'A-peel-ing' Apples" is that kind of craftivity, as the "peel" is a spiral, which provides excellent fine motor practice, and looks amazing dangling from the ceiling!

It's a quick, easy & super-fun apple craft that covers a variety of standards.

 

This is also an interesting way for your students to learn more about their classmates, as there never seems to be enough time for all of the fun "getting to know you" activities for back-to-school.

 

I like to do at least one "learning about each other" activity each month, to help continue to build community & the cameraderie which comes from that.

 

An added bonus is that completed projects make an outstanding display, as the apples swirl & twirl from the ceiling.

 

You’re sure to get a ton of compliments as this apple craft has the “Wow!” factor.

I’ve included a variety of posters to not only enhance your display, but to help introduce the lesson, and teach older kiddos a bit about nouns & adjectives, as this lesson is easily diversified for a variety of grade levels, from kindergartners on up.

 

Spirals: My kiddos are absolutely fascinated watching me demonstrate how to “follow the line, staying on the road” as I cut my spiral and the “peel” begins to dangle down.

Cutting out a spiral is a great way to strengthen those finger muscles, and evaluate your students “listening & following directions” skill too. 

 

TIP: Cutting is so much easier, if you demonstrate what you want your kiddos to do.

I tell my students to "Stay on the road and cut on the dark line."

 

I also have a room helper cut around the spiral, instead of leaving it in a square (see photo).

 

It is less confusing for little ones to know where to start, if they are just cutting on one line.

 

I've also made a pattern for your left-handed kiddos as well.

Grab that teachable SCIENCE moment, to reinforce the “parts of an apple” with the various pieces used to assemble the finished project.

 

Creating apples in red, yellow & green also practices the fact that an apple’s skin comes in more than one color too.

 

There are a variety of options for you to choose from to make differentiating easy-peasy.

There are 4 different apple writing prompt options. 

 

There are also 2 “apple toppers” pictured on the right.

Younger kiddos can simply jot down one thing they find “a-peeling” while older students can create a list to practice that writing standard.

Preschool kiddos can dictate their answers to a room helper, or you can make this a homework assignment, where parents can assist their child. 

I use the definition poster to teach what the word “appealing” means, then explain the play-on-words of an apple peel, showing them that the spiral represents the peeling of the apple.

We brainstorm a bit about all sorts of things we find appealing. Children think about one thing they find appealing then write it on the blank circle and illustrate it.  

This is a super-fun project to do with older reading buddies; my kinders work with a 5th grader who can help them with spelling. 

I've provided 4 styles of paper patterns for students to write on and then glue under their apple or topper. The paper patterns are long and narrow; perfect for making a list.

Students can simply make up their own list, or you can read the "Tell me Ten" response worksheet.

For example, one of the questions is  "What color do you find appealing?"

 

Students take far less time with a structured format such as this, and you can include the question worksheet as part of your display.

You can use my sample questions, or create your own.

 

When displaying student work, the apple-topped lists can be hung back-to-back, then suspended from the ceiling.

A "whole apple" list, can also be hung singly, or back-to-back.

If you're going to do this, have one student glue their "peel" to the top  or side of their apple, while the other child glues theirs to the bottom of their paper.

 

Extend the lesson and have children draw a picture to illustrate their answers, by using the blank, white "center", which they can glue to the back of their apple.

 

The yellow apple sample pictured on the right, uses a template that has students complete the sentence with an animal, color & activity they find appealing.

 

The red apple pictured on the left, reinforces nouns, and has students complete the sentence with a person, place and thing that they find appealing.

 

Remind kiddos to add end punctuation when completing the sentences. (Woo hoo another standard practiced!)

 

If you're doing this with older students, they can write their own, complete sentences. 

 

Patterns come in black & white, as well as full color, so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share.

 

Be sure and make a personal one, so that students can learn more about their teacher too.

 

To save time, I’ve also included my completed patterns.

 

Today's featured FREEBIE also has an apple theme.

It's an "Aa is for apple" alphabet wheel. 

It's the first in a series of 26, ABC letter wheels.  I hope you enjoy it.

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

The sun has finally ventured out after an all-day deluge of rain, so it's time to take my poodle pup Chloe, for a walk!

Wishing you a fun-filled week.

 "Anyone can count the seeds in an apple; only God can count the apples in one seed." -Robert H. Schuller

1-2-3- Come Make A Thanksgiving Wreath With Me 

Here's a little fall-themed, leaf craftivity, with a variety of writing prompt options.

For November, students can write something that they are thankful for on each leaf. 

For more room, have them complete the writing prompt in the center circle. 

I've included a pattern for that, which you can run off on fall-colored paper. 

I've also included Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Thanksgiving" poem, as another option for the center, so you can fit the poetry genre into your reading block.

"Fall is . . ." is another writing prompt option.  Students can write various adjectives that describe fall on the leaves, and/or write what fall is to them, inside the circle.

Younger students can simply cut and glue leaves to make an autumn welcome wreath. I've included a "Welcome Fall" center circle as well. 

There are also plain and patterned leaves to choose from, as well as a bow option. 

I’ve included my completed samples to help you make a choice.

Adding a school photo as well as some glitter, adds extra pizzazz and that finishing touch. Completed projects make a lovely November, or fall bulletin board too. 

For more writing practice, I've included two, leafy, bookmark-size writing prompts as well, plus my 2 completed samples, so you can quickly make an example to share.

Besides the Ralph Waldo Emerson Poem, I’ve also included a page of his interesting quotes.

Give older students an additional writing assignment; have them choose a quote and explain it, then tell if they agree or disagree.

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look.  Autumn Leaf Wreath.

Today's featured FREEBIE is some sweet turkey-themed one-to-one correspondence cards. 

I've included a full color set, a blank set to program with higher numbers, as well as a black & white set, so that students can draw, glue items, or press on X amount of stickers, as a worksheet activity.  

I use a tub of buttons and a dish of flat-backed rhinestones.  My little girls especially enjoy playing with the "jewels". 

Well that's it for today.  Time to get ready for my grandchildren.  They will certainly bring sunshine to this rainy, cold & dreary November day.  

Wishing you a day filled with lots of love and memorable moments.

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

1-2-3 Come Make An Autumn Dangler With Me

There's nothing quite like adding a bit of craftiness to a writing assignment, to get your kiddos excited and down to business.

With that in mind, I created this "Welcome Fall" dangler.
I call it that because the leaves are "falling" as they dangle from the ceiling.

They look amazing as they swirl & twirl just like real leaves.
PK kiddos can simply color and cut their leaves.

Run the templates off on a variety of colors of construction paper, so that older students can complete the writing prompt: "Leaves CAN-HAVE-ARE..." on the back of the leaves, then cut them out.

I've included a worksheet for this that you can do as a whole group, or individually, for pre-writing practice.
A completed template makes it easy for you to incorporate.

The back also sports a "Red, orange, yellow and brown.  Autumn leaves flutter down." poem.  The front simply says: Welcome Fall. I chose open-faced letters so that students could add a bit of color.

You can also dream up another writing prompt as well, such as "Why I Like Autumn" or describe fall with some nice descriptive adjectives.

I tossed these into Diane's Dollar Deals, to make adding that excitement inexpensive, quick, easy & of course super-fun.

For that finishing touch, my students ran their leaves through a crimping roller.
They came out looking like corrugated cardboard, which makes for an awesome 3D effect that will have passersby saying: "Cool!" "How'd you do that?"  If you look closely, you can see these "wavy lines" in the photo.

You can pick up one of these cool tools at most craft and scrapbooking stores.  Mine was $18 and well worth the money, as my kiddos LOVE using Mr. Cruncher Muncher each month.  It's a fun way for them to strengthen their finger muscles too.

Click on the link to grab this delightful Dollar Deal from Diane: Welcome Fall Writing Prompt Craftivity.  Here's hoping you get a chance to make time for a little crafty-creative writing this fall. And . . .

If you're one of those blessed teachers who have time to do a craft "just for fun" (like the good old days), your kiddos will absolutely LOVE "Autumn Splendor". 

It's another one on my Dollar Deals, and my personal favorite fall craft. 

The photo does not do the finished products justice, as they turn out so amazing!!!!!

Some of my kiddos actually squeal with delight as I carefully peel the wax paper off their melted crayon creation.  They are so proud of this project. 

I tossed in some upper and lowercase letter practice for the "Alpha Trees" that are also part of this packet, so take heart if you're dying to do something crafty, and need a reason why.

Today's featured FREEBIE is also a leaf craft.  It's super-simple and a quick, easy & fun way to reinforce the science vocabulary word chlorophyll, which your kiddos will be learning with any study of leaves.

All little ones do is glue half of a folded yellow, red, or orange leaf to a green "cholorophyll" leaf. 

Explain that the colored leaves are that color because they lost their ...(lift up the flap) to reveal the word chlorophyll and the green leaf. 

This FREEBIE is in the equally free "Leaf Man" packet.  It's one of the first fall things I posted years ago, before classes, software, clip art & fonts were purchased, so it's not up to my quality of standards today... 

But hey, it's free and still fun. As you can see, our leaf men turned out rather awesome! Afterwards, we read Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert.  

Well that's it for today.  The leaves have not started turning as yet, a little unusual for October here in Michigan.

However the nights have been pretty cool, so Mother Nature will soon be turning heads.  Wishing you a colorful day.

"If you can't be in awe of Mother Nature, there's something wrong with you." -Alex Trebek

1-2-3 Come Do An Owl Craft With Me

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

Completed projects make an adorable fall bulletin board.  A caption could be: "Owl Stars!" as a play on the words all star.

For those finishing touches, have students cut out their owl, fold the wings inward, and add some highlights with crayons.

Adding a pair of wiggle eyes, stuck on with glue dots, is also cute.  I've included owl templates with the pupils missing, so they can be creative.

Where they place the eyes really changes the personality of these cute little critters. They can even make them goofy, like I did in my sample.

There are two options to choose from:  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.

If you have chosen the personal owl for your kiddos to do, adding their school photo makes this a sweet keepsake. 

If you're doing this in October, it's a fun activity for your Halloween party day. 

Children can write "Happy 'Owl-oween!" on the back and present the card to their friend. 

Click on the link to view/download the Owl Writing Prompt Craftivity. 

Thanks for visiting.  I'm off to do a zillion and one things that I never have enough time for.  Wishing you an energizing day.

 "If we were meant to talk more than listen, we would have two mouths and one ear." -- Mark Twain

1-2-3 Come Do Some Fall Writing With Me!

While I was working on the scarecrow packets, it crossed my mind that scarecrows are really not all that scarey?  I thought of the scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz who wanted a brain, and I wondered if a scarecrow had one, what would he say?  My brain needs a shut off button, so one idea led to another, 'til I decided to turn all of these thoughts into interesting writing prompts with a scarecrow character.

Getting students excited about writing, and WANTING to write, can be difficult.  A teacher announcing that "It's time to write." is often followed by a lot of groaning, as if you had asked students to whine in unison. 

To get my students enthusiastic about writing I'd dream up creative and interesting writing prompts to jump start their brains.

Instead of  informing students that it's time to write, ask them:  "If you were a scarecrow what would you want to wear?"  or "Do you think scarecrows are scarey? If you were the farmer, how could you make a scarecrow scarier?"  

Watch all the hands shoot up.  With lots of enthusiasm say: "Great! Now choose one of these scarecrow writing prompts and tell me your thoughts in detail." Reveal the prompts listed on the board and have students choose which one they are most "excited" about.  My kiddo's couldn't wait to get started. Woo Hoo!

Click on the link to view/download the 6 Scarecrow Writing Prompts

Thanks for visiting today.  I design and blog daily, so I hope you can stop by tomorrow to check out the newest FREEBIES hot off my computer.  Feel free to PIN away.  I think sharing is so important. To ensure that other "pinners" return to THIS blog article, click on the green title at the top; it will turn black, now click on the "Pin it" button on the menu bar.   If you'd like to see all the creative-educational items that I pin, click on the heart to the right of the blog. I have an entire board of just scarecrow and writing activities.

"It's always better to try and fail, than fail to try." -Unknown