1-2-3 Come Do Some Alphabet and Number Activities With Me

Amy, from Kentucky, asked if I was going to do a Kissing Hand -Themed activity packet for the alphabet, or one for counting & numbers that would match the trio that I posted this past week.   Like me, she likes to teach a variety of standards using a theme. 

I actually had one in the works, which includes both, and just finished it today!  Woo hoo. This ABC-123, raccoon-themed packet, matches the other 3 “Kissing Hand” inspired packets: Literacy,  Shapes &  Where’s the Raccoon?

The ABC-123 includes the following:

3 sets of letter cards: uppercase, lowercase, & both UC & LC on one card, so you can play all sorts of games like Memory Match, “I Have; Who Has?”, Kaboom & Speed. I’ve included a 4-page tip list of ideas & directions.

An accordion-fold out, “trace the letters” booklet.

0-10, number & number word pocket chart cards, with a matching poster.

9 number puzzles (color + black & white) to practice numbers 1-10, counting backwards from 10-1, as well as skip counting by 10s to 100.

Use for an independent center & games. Run off the black line ones for children to color, cut & make their own number puzzle.

Counting Kisses 0-10 poster, with a matching worksheet & game cards.
An accordion-fold out Counting Kisses booklet.

Large (8x10) Counting Kisses poster cards for numbers 0-10, with a matching set of 5x7 cards. Use as anchor chart posters & flash cards.
A matching booklet for students. They glue on the appropriate number of kiss “stickers”.

5 number worksheets.
2 roll & color games. You can also use these as “I Spy” game worksheets.

A letter poster showing the arrow directions to write letters, with a matching worksheet, along with 5 other alphabet worksheets.

2 “I Spy A Letter” game sheets for whole-group assessing upper & lowercase letters, with a recording sheet.

A raccoon “slider” craftivity for upper & lowercase letters, numbers 1-20, counting backwards from 10-0 & 20-0; plus slider strips for skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, & 10s. A quick, easy & fun way to whole group assess. Includes an assessment sheet.

Upper & lowercase assessment mats & recording sheets, along with a set of upper & lowercase Kissing Hand letter cards, and an alphabet matching game.

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to take a peek at my newest Kissing Hand packet: ABCs & 123s.

However, since many teachers offer a bundle to give you added savings, I combined this new ABC-123 packet, with the Shape & "Where's the Raccoon?" packets.

You'll save $3 by buying the bundle, as this 247-page whopper, is only $10.95.  Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to check it out: Kissing Hand Bundle.

And now for today's featured FREEBIE: A "Dear Students..." poster.  Perfect for back to school. Click on the link to grab it.

Well that's it for today.  It's super-hot and muggy here in my little corner of the world. 

Yuk! Humidity really zaps my energy, so it's time to escape for a dip in the the pool.  Wishing you a refreshing day filled with Ahhhhh moments.

"The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it." -Woodrow Wilson

1-2-3 Come Study 2D Shapes With Me

Woo Hoo!  I just finished the final packet in The Kissing Hand "triolgy".  Technical issues had me nearly throwing my computer out the window. 

I'm sure some of you can relate with how frustrating it is when a glitch happens, causing a gnashing of teeth and ripping out of hair.  Arggg! 

Any hoo, I have managed to peel myself off the ceiling and will endeavor to try and post this really cute Kissing Hand-inspired Shape Packet before something else happens.

If you've read the adorable book The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn, then you're familiar with Chester, an anxious little raccoon.  

Since he is such an endearing character for children, I thought I'd incorporate him into some fun hands-on shape games & activities.

The packet reviews the 2D shapes: circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, trapezoid, rhombus, star & heart, simply choose which ones you want your kiddos to learn.

I've included a variety of activities including a trace & write mini booklet, several craftivities, shape word cards (with and without the shapes on them), as well as several shape games with different options for playing.

There are also posters, pocket chart cards, a shape “slider” that’s a fun way to whole-group assess, plus a variety of worksheets; including a graph, & ones that review attributes and spatial directions.

The two raccoon crafts are extremely versatile. Teachers can use them  as anchor chart-posters, bulletin boards, a fun way to individually or whole-group assess, as a game or independent center activity!

In the first raccoon shape craftivity, the eyes, nose and bows (for a girl raccoon) or bowties (for a boy raccoon) take on the various shapes.

I've also made a student-one, where children just change the nose.

In the next photo is "Bandit" wearing all the different shaped masks. 

You don’t have to use wiggle eyes, but I thought they added that finishing touch, and made the raccoon look more realistic.

Not sure why the color looks sort of blue instead of gray like the others.  Chalk it up to more cyber craziness beyond my ken.

You can also use the bowties & bows from the other raccoon for more options for Bandit. 

Students could also place the pocket chart card with the shape name above or under the raccoon as a center activity.

Review the various shapes as a whole group, by passing out the masks to your students.  Show the word card, or ask for a shape.  The child holding that mask comes up and places it on the raccoon.   I used magnet dots on the back of Bandit to stick him to my whiteboard.  I used Velcro dots on the masks.

Once Bandit is wearing a shape mask, ask children what things he sees that are that shape.  For example, he’s wearing the rectangle-eyed mask
and sees a door, window, Kleenex box, book, piece of paper etc.

To celebrate getting ready for back-to-school, this 65-page raccoon-themed packet is on sale for just $3.95.  Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to have a look.  

The packet matches The Kissing Hand Literacy packet & the "Where’s the Raccoon?" packet, which were featured in other blog articles this past week.  

If you're a follower, you know I always post a FREEBIE in each blog article.  Today's is the shape slider from the packet. 

I've also included "slider strips" for upper & lowercase letters, numbers & skip counting.  I hope you find it useful.  Click on the link to grab it.  

As for me, I'm escaping for some much-needed sanity far away from my computer. Wishing you a stress-free day filled with giggles galore.

"Do what you love; love what you do." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Kissing Hand Activities With Me

My kiddos LOVE the story The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.  Little ones identify with the anxious feelings of Chester the raccoon, when he doesn’t want to go to school.  The warming kiss from his mom, resonates in comfort for them as well.

With that in mind, I created a whopping 102-page Kissing Hand literacy packet.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved designing it.  

The packet has a ton of super-fun activities to help reinforce a variety of standards and includes the following:

* A note home to parents to provide a family photograph for a special “We are loved” bulletin board.
* 2 posters to help create the bulletin board.

* A tiny welcoming note for your students with a place to put a Hershey Kiss. ("Hooray!  Hooray!  So glad you're here today.  To show you that it's true, here's a little kiss for you!")
* Graphing activities

* Parts of a book poster & worksheet
* Pocket Chart cards for: character, setting, events
* Literacy Graphic organizers
* Beginning-Middle-End of the story worksheets & activities

* A who, what, where, when, why worksheet
* Venn diagrams comparing: 2 books, 2 characters, the child with Chester, Chester’s school & their school, plus some completed samples to share.

* Games: “How many words can you make using the letters in raccoon?” Includes an answer key; “Rr is for raccoon and….” race;  plus a Nocturnal Animal Memory Match game.

* A variety of worksheets for various levels.
* Lot of creative & fun writing prompts
* Several class-made books, with covers and inside pattern pages to make them.

* Nocturnal animal activities, including an interesting facts sheet, an alphabetical list of 34 nocturnal animals, a classroom poster, with a matching “color me” one for students, plus several games.

* Sign Language activities (The last page of the story, is a picture of Chester’s hand “signing” I love you.) Includes a poster and worksheet.

* Skidamarink a-dink-a-doo I love you song, poster & bookmarks.  My Y5s LOVE singing this sweet song.

* Retell the story bookmarks
* “Color me” first day bookmarks

* Comfort discussion poster and matching class-made book

* “I had a great 1st day” slap bracelet.
* 12 pocket chart cards for reviewing the story.  They double as a punctuation and capitalization activity too.

* Feelings activities
* Raccoons "Are, Can, Have" worksheet

* Craftivities: A raccoon mask; a hand print fold out note; and a  “red, white & blue I love you” sign language heart.  Both make a wonderful keepsake.

* I also designed a sweet full-body raccoon on a 1/2 sheet of paper, with 2-on-a-page for quick printing.

Little ones can simply color him, then color, trim & glue the tail to the bottom. 

Older students can write 3-4 things they liked about school or 2-3 emotions they felt during the first day or week. 

The larger raccoon is just a head & tail.  I call it "A Tale About Me!"  With a play on the word "tale/tail".

It's an interesting alternative to the "All About Me" booklets.

The tail of the raccoon provides simple writing prompts for kiddos to finish: name, birthday, an interesting fact about themselves; what they want to be when they grow up, plus favorites: color, candy, activities, animal, foods, & TV show, all written on the raccoon's tail. 

This craftivity is a super-fun way to learn about your new students, and completed projects make an adorable bulletin board. 

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to grab this comprehensive Kissing Hand Literacy Packet. 

In celebration of getting ready for back to school, I've knocked 2 dollars off for a limited time, so this 102-page packet is just $5.95. 

The featured FREEBIE today, also involves The Kissing Hand. I actually have 2 for you that are featured in the packet.  The first one is the quick, easy & fun "fill up the hand with feelings" craftivity.  Click on the link to grab it.  

The second one is the Comfort Class-Made Book.  There are two writing prompt options to choose from, a color cover, with full & half page options, plus the discussion poster.  After children share their page, collect, collate, add the cover & place it in your classroom library. 

Be sure and set your student-made booklets out during Open House as well as Parent Teacher Conferences. 

I hope your kiddos enjoy creating this one.  Well that's it for today. 

Thanks for stopping by.   It's a lovely sunny day in the 70's.  My grandchildren are coming over, so it will be especially enjoyable.  Wishing you a love-filled day as well.  

"Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation." - Lois Weis  

1-2-3 Come Do Some Shapely Games And Kissing Hand Activities With Me

Since The Kissing Hand Activities have been such popular downloads, I thought I'd make a few more. I've had some requests for shape activities, specifically for Audrey Penn's back to school story, so I thought I'd start there, and do something with her main character, Chester the raccoon. 

While I putzed with drawing a raccoon, I thought it would be fun to make his eyes and nose the various shapes, as a hand's on game, or whole-group assessment activity.  Thus, Shaping Up With Chester was born. 

I've included the shapes: circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, trapezoid, rhombus, star and heart, so teachers would have a choice of what shapes they want to work on.

The packet includes an option where the eyes, nose and bow can all be changed into all of those shapes.

The photo shows an example of each one.  It's a bit difficult to see, but I've written the shape word on the center of the bows, which are also that shape.

Since this involves quite a few pieces, I suggest teachers make these to use as anchor chart posters, large flashcards or a bulletin board. 

Make an extra set to use as an independent math center for early finishers, or to send home with a struggling child.

There's also a raccoon template with only the nose missing.  Chester's eyes are filled in, ready for students to color. 

Run these off on gray construction paper.  Students color in details with crayons, and then trim. 

I've included a strip of nose shapes for them to color and then cut out, to be used as manipulatives for the game. You could also use my patterns, make a template of each shape, trace once and then cut 3-6 nose shapes out of black construction paper. 

To play the game, have a child choose a shape word card.  Show it to the class and read it together.  Children find that shape, place it in the nose position on their raccoon, and then raise their hand.  You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

If you want to check to see if students can identify the shapes by hearing the word, and use this as a whole group assessment tool, then use the cards with only the shape word on them. 

If you want to help little ones learn the shapes, use the word cards that also have a picture of the shape on them, as seen in the photo. 

Since part of the Common Core State Standards for shapes, includes spatial directions, you may want to include some, while children play the game.  i.e. "Put the rectangle nose under Chester's eyes, between his smile, above his neck etc."

Throw in a few silly ones to review the not-quite-appropriate spatial directions and inspire a bit of giggling.  i.e. "Put Chester's oval nose over his eye, behind his ear, on his mouth etc. "

Encourage students to play the shape identification game at home, having parents call out the different shape words.   Children could also choose their favorite shape, glue down the nose, and write the shape word on the back of their raccoon.  For a cute hallway display, suspend them from the ceiling.  A caption could be: "Mr(s.) ___________ kinders are really shaping up!"

The packet also includes a mini-trace and write shape booklet, where students color the shapes, trace and write the shape words, and then trace and draw the shapes. 

When they are done, they trim the pages, collate them and add a cover.  There are two cover options. Click on the link to view/download The Kissing Hand Shape Activities and Games packet. This packet will be FREE for an entire year, after which time it will be included in my jumbo Kissing Hand (Raccoon-Themed) Shape Packet available in my TpT shop.

Thanks for visiting today.  It's that perfect kind of afternoon, where the weather is just right, so I'm off to hike some trails with my hubby.   I'm sure Chloe, our poodle pup, will happily lead the way.  Wishing you an awesome nature-filled weekend too.

"The expert in anything was once a beginner." -Unknown    

1-2-3 Come Do Some Kissing Hand Activities With Me

Since all of The Kissing Hand Activities have been such popular downloads, I decided to make a few more activities to review all sorts of Common Core State Standards. 

The first packet has to do with the alphabet.  I've included large 5x7 upper and lowercase letter cards that you can use as flashcards or for Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games. 

Make an extra set; cut them apart, and use them for an ABC puzzle center.  I've included a tip list of all sorts of other things you can do with the cards, including a "Kaboom" game.  

There are also mini cards.  Run them off and have students arrange them in alphabetical order, or don't cut them apart, and make the lowercase worksheet into an "I Spy" game board. Students color their uppercase heart-tiles and cut them apart. 

Choose a student to call out a letter.  Students find the uppercase letter heart-tile and place it over the lowercase letter hand on their game board.  You can also have them glue them down. 

I've also included several assessments, a recording sheet, plus 2 trace and write worksheets. 

Click on the link to view/download The Kissing Hand Alphabet Game packet. 

The next packet is all about numbers.  There's a counting booklet for numbers 0-10, with a blank sheet to program with larger numbers. 

Have students show "how many" with stickers, or X's (kisses) to show the group/set for each number. 

Students trace the numbers and number words.   If you want to extend the activity, have them practice writing the numbers and words on the back of the pages. 

I've included large and small "lipstick-ers" for your students to cut and glue the appropriate amount to the hands.

There are also large 8x10 number posters that you can use as flashcards or for games.  There's a blank hand for this activity as well, so that you or your students can make cards for those teen numbers and beyond.

As with the alphabet packet, this one also includes several trace and write worksheets. Click on the link to view/download The Kissing Hand Number Packet.

Finally, I wanted to toss in a "craftivity," so I designed some number, shape and letter sliders. 

There are two different "Chester" raccoons to choose from, as well as upper & lowercase letter strips, plus a shape strip.

If you want to reinforce numbers, choose a slider with numbers to 20, or practice skip counting with strips to count by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's. 

Click on the link to view/download The Kissing Hand Slider packet.  Do you have a Kissing Hand activity that you could share with us?  Would love to hear from you: diane@teachwithme.com or leave a comment below.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you found something here that you can use to help make learning even more fun. As always, feel free to PIN away.

It's steamy outside, as the gentle rain splashed all over the hot asphalt.  Time to pretend to be two again, as I go puddle jumping with my little grandson.  Hope you have a refreshing day!

44 pages.

This is a wonderful packet to go along with the back to school book The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn.