1-2-3 Come Do Some Whimsical Shape Activities With Me

Sometimes when I'm designing something, the initial idea comes from some clip art that I found.  I'll look at it and say: "This is so cute!  How can I use this to make something educational?"

Thus was the case with this whimsical boy and girl done in black and white.  I LOVE DJ Inkers graphics.  I've bought a lot of stuff on her site. You can click on her link to the left of my blog under "Other Resources" to check out the adorable goodies. 

By adding different shapes for the boy's and girl's mouths, I came up with the Shapely Mouth packet.  Use it to teach, review and assess shapes and shape words.

The packet includes:

• 12 large 8x10 posters of each shape.  Use these to make a border, bulletin board, or for large flashcards.  There's also a  large 8x10 "shapes" title poster to provide a caption for your grouping.
  

• 2 posters featuring all of the shapes on one page.  You can run these off and give each child a copy to refer to, or give them a manipulative and have them place it over the various shapes as you call them out. 
• This could also be done as an "I Spy" game where students would trace the shapes that are called out.  (A quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess.)
  

• 2 Boy & 2 Girl Face Mats for students to play the "Shapely Mouth" game.  I included lines above one set of head posters.  Laminate these.  Using dry erase markers, students write the name of the shape down for whatever word card was selected. 

• Run off the other set for students to keep.  Trim off the directions on the bottom.  Children use these to play the shape game at home.
  

• 12 mouth-shape pieces for manipulatives.  Laminate red or pink sheets of construction paper.  Trace the various shapes once, and then cut 3-6 shapes at a time. Store in Snack Baggies.  Run off the shape master for students to color, cut and use as manipulatives for their game.
  

• 12 word cards with no shapes. Use these if you want to whole-group assess your students knowledge of the names of the shapes.

• 12 word cards with shapes on them. Use these to help teach little ones the names of the shapes.
• They look at that card and then place the matching shape on their head mat.
  
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There are also 12 mini shapely mouth cards to use for Memory Match and "I Have; Who Has?" games.

• Plus 2 trace and write shape booklets with 2 different covers.  Students trace and write the shape words, and then trace, draw and color the shapes. 
  

• Finally, there's a certificate of praise to help encourage your students and build their self-esteem.  There are 2 on a page for easy printing.
  

Click on the link to view/download the Shapely Mouth 2D Shapes Packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  Of course it's raining, because I watered my flowers early this morning.  The down pour did nothing to alleviate the humidity.  It's hot and muggy and a nice day to stay in the cool air-conditioning designing the day away with new FREEBIES. 

Feel free to send any special requests you may have to: diane@teachwithme.com   Wishing you a refreshing day!

"If you’ve told a child 100 times, then it is not the child who is a slow learner." -Unknown

Writing Prompts From A Poster!

Well the creative juices were flowing last week when I diddled around with a song to teach Common Core Standards.  I didn't think I could get more fun than Old MacDonald helping out with vowels.

I putzed with the idea of making up a poster to help students do a bit of creative writing.  Kids love posters, and as the saying goes "A picture is worth a 1,000 words" so why not use one to stimulate writing those words.

I thought by making an interesting and thought-provoking poster, teachers could use it as a segway into several writing prompts their students would enjoy diving into.

Older students could write about the symbolism and what the poster means.  Teachers could explain this to lower elementary.

Even young children can think of other things in the classroom that could give advice and tell what advice they would give.

After discussion, let them choose an object and complete a sentence, like the poster, making an illustration. Have them cut and glue their contribution to a class tag board poster.

This would make a nice "Word Work" activity for Daily 5.

Older students can make their own poster, using their room or another room in their home or school as the example.

What a hoot to do the cafeteria, gym, locker room, kitchen, basement or garage!

Click on the link to view/download Wisdom From The Classroom Poster.

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

"Nothing has a better effect upon children than praise." -Sir Philip Sidney

Let's Decorate!

Just in time for all of you who are thinking: “Back to School”, and looking for some new posters to freshen up your room.

I’ve designed some this week for rules, reading and writing etc.

Type up your own class rules, glue them in the "book" and then laminate.

I hope you enjoy the posters! If there's something special you're looking for, shoot me an e-mail and I'll see what i can do.

Click on the links for:

Reading posters,  Writing posters,  Owl rule anchor chart,  Agenda anchor chart.

I've included an extra book template for the Agenda poster so you can write down more things in your schedule.

Laminate and put this on your white board and allow students to check things off on the side, as you complete them, or as your day unfolds.  This is especially helpful for little ones so that they can get a grasp of time.

If you are looking for more posters and anchor charts, I have LOTS!  Simply click on the link Anchor Charts & Posters to view the complete collection.  Just scroll down and choose whichever ones you like!

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

I hope you can pop in tomorrow for more back to school ideas!

“There seems to be 2 choices in life: give up; give in, or give it all you’ve got!” - Unknown