1-2-3 Come Do Some Wind Activities With Me

Since March is one of our windiest months here in Michigan, I like to do a mini theme about wind, with a few kite activities tossed in. 

One of my students' favorite stories is The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins. Like Jan Brett's The Mitten, this tale is also perfect for sequencing.

With that story in mind, I designed "The Wind Blew" emergent reader packet, which includes 3 booklet options, plus a variety of page options too.

There’s a black & white version for your students, with a matching full-color teacher’s edition, to use as a sample to explain the lesson.

Students read the repetitive sentence, trace & write the object that the wind blew, then trim and collate the pages, stapling into a “just the right size” booklet.

I’ve also included an extra page, where children complete the sentence: “The wind also blew . . .” and add their own idea and illustration.

The 3rd version, is a non-illustrated option. Students read the sentences (these are filled with over 40 Dolch sight words), add end punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation point), then illustrate and color the page.

Besides the booklet options, I’ve also included extra page options as well, which coordinate with Pat Hutchins' book  “The Wind Blew”. 

I made “Who Has Seen The Wind?” a poem by Christina Rossetti, into a photo-poster, as an interesting way to introduce the lesson, and get in that "poetry genre" standard.  To mix math with literacy, I've also included a graphing extension. 

The other packet that I designed to go along with Hutchins' book "The Wind Blew", is a "retell the story", sequencing craftivity.

So that you can quickly & easily make a sample to share, I've included a full-color pattern.  There's also a black & white version, so students can make and color their own.

I've included a "pennant flag" option, for those from a different country, in lieu of the US flag strip. 

Finally, what would a windy day be without a bit of kite flying?  Your students will soar with the kite-themed, -ite and -ight word family packet.

 The packet includes:

* An -ite word family poster featuring an alphabetical list of 43 -ite words.
* An -ight word family poster with an alphabetical list of 74 words.

Because some of these will be new to your students, I’ve included -ite and -ight word covers for a student-made dictionary.  Remember to take those teachable moments to explain homonyms and compound words.  There's also ...

* An -ite and -ight word family slider craftivity featuring 11 words, with a large teacher’s copy, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page pattern for students; plus ...

* An emergent reader, with 16 pocket chart cards for whole-group practice.

This comes in a full-page size in color & black and white, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page, black & white booklet for students, as well as ...

* 25 traceable Dolch word cards that appear in the story, with a cover so children can make an Itty Bitty booklet, plus . . .

* A “Give Me A K!” kite poster which is an “echo cheer”, 2 graphing extensions, 7 worksheets, 72, mini-word cards, plus the silly, story poem “Zite and My Kite” and finally...

* An -ite and -ight word family kite craftivity, with 6 kite options, plus a blank kite so students can design their own.

Today's FREEBIE also has to do with the wind. It's a "Tell Me A Story" packet, featuring "The Wind & The Sun" an Aesop's Fable.

It's an oldie but still goodie, that I did years ago, before computer classes, clip art and fonts that I now use. I hope you enjoy it.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for visiting. 

Since March roared in like a lion here in Michigan, it will be interesting to see if it gently leaves like a lamb, or continues to be really windy. 

Wishing you a carefree, high-flying sunny day.

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." - Charles Dickens

1-2-3 Come Do Some Kite-Themed Activities With Me

One of our themes for spring is kites; so I've been busy designing an assortment of kite activities to help teach a variety of standards.

Today's blog features 4 of them, along with the featured FREEBIE.

Practice 3D shapes with the "Shapin' Up With 3D Kites" packet.  The  emergent reader reinforces 3D shapes as well as colors.

The packet includes:

* A 2-on-a-page emergent reader booklet.

* Students read the simple sentences, trace and write the shape and color words, then color the pictures appropriately.

* A set of colorful, 3D shape pocket chart cards, with matching black and white ones, so that students can color, cut, and add the cover, to make an Itty Bitty Booklet.

* I've also included a graphing extension, a “design your own kite” worksheet, plus  40 lovely photographs of real 3D-shaped kites, many of which also feature 2D shapes.

Print, laminate and trim. (There are 4 pictures per page.)  Children choose one or two and write the shapes and colors that they see on their “I Spy!” recording sheet.

For writing practice, have students write a sentence or two about the kite picture. To use as an independent center, have students sort the photographs by shape. The pictures also make a lovely spring bulletin board.

* Since I included color words in the emergent reader, I also included a set of colorful pocket chart cards, as well as a set in black and white, so students can add the cover and make a “Flipping Over Colors!”  Itty Bitty Booklet. (“grey” & “colours” spelling options are also included). 

Next up is an ordinal number "craftivity". It's a quick, easy and fun way for students to review ordinal numbers, ordinal number words + sequencing.

Encourage children to color the stripes on their kite in a pattern, or in rainbow-color order.

I've included ordinal number kite cards to play a Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" game, as well as a set of mini, sequencing cards, which could double as a bookmark for students' math journals. 
There's also a whole-group assessment worksheet, with 2 size options.     

Do your students enjoy playing with pattern blocks? Spring things up with these 2, kite-themed pattern block games.

I've included a full-color pattern, as well as a black & white version, so that little ones look for a shape, rather than a color.

There's also a set of pocket chart cards that show and name the pattern block shapes.

Use them to introduce the lesson, then put the cards in a center, for a "trace, draw, and place the pattern piece" activity.

Students can play "Spin to Win" with the spinner, or practice numbers as well, by rolling a dice, then referring to the poster to see what pattern block they should place on their mat.  Students can play independently or with a partner. 

Finally, practice synonyms with the "Soaring With Synonyms!" packet.  So that you can also do this packet with younger kiddos, I've included a blank kite pattern.
They could list rhyming words, sight words, color words etc. PK students can simply do the craft.

The back of the kite can also be used for a writing prompt, or spring poem. Completed projects look awesome suspended from the ceiling in our hallway.

Studying synonyms and antonyms not only increases vocabulary, but enhances students’ writing; making it more interesting and vivid, as it gives children a better word base to choose from, so their writing is not redundant and boring, filled with over-used words like “said”, “pretty”, “went” etc.

Besides the synonym/antonym kite craftivity, the packet also includes:

48 kite word cards to play Memory Match & "I Have; Who Has?” games, plus a blank set of kite cards to program with whatever...

Black line mini kite worksheet for more synonym/antonym practice, plus a full-color, completed worksheet to use as a sample, along with synonym and antonym “definition” anchor charts plus . . .

An alphabetical, word-list poster of 70 words students can choose from to complete their kite, with background information about synonym/antonym word work, as well as a list of 290 synonym/antonym pairs. 

The FREEBIE today also features kites.  It's a set of alphabet cards.

I've included separate upper and lowercase letter cards, as well as ones displaying both letters. 

There's also a tip list of things you can do with the cards, including playing games like Memory Match, "I Have; Who Has?" and "Kaboom!" 

Well that's it for today. The wind is howling outside and making my office window rattle, the perfect background to work on my wind activities!

Wishing you a fun-filled, easy peasy breezy day. 

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." - Jimmy Dean

1-2-3 Come Do Some Kite Craftivities With Me      

Kites is a theme that my kiddos enjoy in March.  With that in mind, I created some quick, easy & fun lessons that involve kites and cover a variety of standards. I'm sharing 4 of my all-time favorites today, along with a kite-themed FREEBIE.

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs, and since the shamrock glyph that I posted a few days ago has been so popular, I decided to create a kite one.

Glyphs are a quick, easy & interesting way to practice & assess listening & 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.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different! Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students.

To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students pick a partner to "interview", to help them figure out which glyph is their partner's.

I've included a data collection worksheet for this, challenging students to try and solve the "mystery" with the least amount of questions.

I've also included 6, whole-group graphing extensions, so you can practice another math standard. 

Next up is my latest alphabet wheel: Kk is for Kite. Dollar Deal-Alphabet Wheels, are a super-fun way to practice letters, and build the vocabulary needed to give an example of a word, with that beginning sound.

They feature 7 nouns that begin with that letter, and come in black & white, as well as full-color, so that you can use a colorful one for an independent center and use the black & white pattern for a whole-group or individual word work activity, where kiddos make their own.

I've also included a worksheet where students trace & write the words in alphabetical order. 

Next is a set of 18 print & go, “Can Do!” Common Core kite worksheets, that cover a nice variety of standards.

There are full-page patterns, as well as 2-on-a-page templates, plus an "I Spy" game cover, if you want to collate them into a little workbook for your kiddos.

Fun for your students and easy-peasy for you! 

This is an interesting little something, that you can send as homework to do over spring break. 

Finally, practice analog and digital time with the "Time Flies" Game Packet.

There are several options for this kite craftivity. Children can simply make a kite clock to practice digital & analog time.

You can also use this as a whole-group or individual assessment tool. 
Call out a time. While sitting at their desks, children arrange the paperclips to show that time. You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.

Students can also play the “Time Flies” kite game.  After children have made their kite clocks, complete with 12-digital time “kite ties” glued to a string, (no times are put on the ties yet) they begin the game.

Students pick a partner and take turns rolling first one dice, to get the 1 to 6 O’clock times.
Whatever number they roll, is the number that they write on their analog kite clock. They also write the digital time on the appropriate digital kite tie.

When they have all 6 numbers done, they roll two dice, adding them together to get the 7-12 O’clock times.
The first one to complete their kite clock, or the one with the most times filled in when the timer rings, is the winner.

I've also included an assessment worksheet, a "special note" poster, plus 4 clock face options. 

Today's FREEBIE also features a kite. It's a "High Flying With Patterns!" Game, Craft, & Whole-Group Assessment Tool. 

Use as an independent math center, run off the patterns on a variety of colors of construction paper, laminate, and trim.
Punch a hole in the bottom point of the kite and add a yarn tie.

Students pick a card and show that pattern by arranging the various colored kite ties on the string.

Another option is to do this as a whole group "craftivity", allowing each child make their own kite.

You can whole-group assess, by choosing cards and having children arrange their “kite tail strips” appropriately. You’ll be able to see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

Later, have students pick their favorite pattern and glue the appropriate colored kite strips to their yarn tie.  

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  I have a few more kite activities to finish up, then it's on to some "wind stuff". 

Wishing you a day filled with luscious, fresh air and happy nature-filled moments. 

"Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." -Hans Christian Andersen 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Common Core Kite-Themed Activities With Me

A mini kite theme, was one of the many units I included in our March activities.

I thought other teachers might like to toss in a few kite-themed lessons, during this windy month as well, so I designed "Can Do Common Core Kites." The packet includes 14 different worksheets.

There are full-page patterns, so you can easily demonstrate what you want your kiddos to do, by making a sample. 

To conserve paper, I've also included 2-on-a-page templates.

Pick and choose what's appropriate for your students.

If you're studying all of these standards, to save time, run off all of the double-page worksheets, trim on a paper cutter and collate into a mini Flying High With Common Core workbook.  Use the "I Spy" a letter worksheet as your cover. 

I Spy games are a quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess.  Simply call out a letter.  Children find and circle it then raise their hand. You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

Once done with the game, assign however many worksheets you want your students to do that day.  I used this type of activity for my morning "table top" routine.

Here are what the worksheets practice:

• Tally marks
  
• Numbers & number words
• Colors & color words
• An alphabet "I Spy" Kk is for kite
• Doubles addition
• Greater than & less than
• Odd & even plus
• Skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, & 10s.

Click on the link to view/download the Can Do Common Core Kite Worksheets.

Thanks for visiting.  I caught the flu bug last week, and if you've been there, you know how difficult it is to shake.  It feels good to finally be among the "living" so it's time for some fresh air. 

Since spring is "officially" here, it would be nice if Mother Nature got the message and the temp would get above 40.  I'm so in need of some soothing sunshine.  (Anybody relate?) Wishing you a healthy and happy day.

"No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." -Hal Borland

Up Up & Away With This Springtime Review "Craftivity"!

The windy days are here to stay for a while, so making a kite seems to continue to be an appropriate and fun way to review report card standards.

Review the basic shapes by using them as “tail ties” and have students glue them to a piece of yarn that’s attached to their kite.

Reinforce colors and a pattern as well, by making them in bright rainbow colors and have students glue them in that order.

To add a bit more pizzazz, I typed my students’ names in the WordArt program on my computer. This is super easy, so it would also make a nice computer activity for your kiddo's to do themselves.

They cut their name in a cloud shape while we reviewed some wind facts as they snipped away.

You could have students journal a writing prompt on the back or list some springtime - weather word-wall words,

This kite “craftivity” can be found in the 133-page Spring Art & Activity Book.  Click on the link to view/download it for lots more fun ideas.

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for more teaching tips.  Do you have one you'd like to share?  I'd enjoy hearing from you diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to comment here especially if you use one of my ideas.

Feel free to PIN too.  I truly believe in sharing.  Thanks for visiting.

Celebrating March Is Reading Month With Kites

Need some reading and writing activities for those block periods or Daily 5?

I’ve got some quick and easy ones revolving around kites today:

The Wind Blew is an easy reader with 4 on a page to conserve on paper when you print.

This also helps reinforce sequencing when students cut the pages apart and put their booklets together.

The end of the story allows students to think of their own “thing” that the wind blows, write it down and illustrate their page accordingly.

When everyone is done with their booklets have students share this page with the class and write down how many things they thought of that the wind blew.

Pat Hutchins has a cute book When The Wind Blew that would make a nice transition activity. {amazonWS:itemId=068971744X}

The last page allows you to nail another core standard by asking students if they like when the wind blows.  A graphing extension is provided for that.  Discussion can follow of why a student does or doesn’t.

Click on the link to view/download The Wind Blew booklet.

Go Fly A Kite is also an easy reader that involves spatial directions.  Students cut and glue the kites to the various positions on the page.

Make this a special keepsake by having students glue their school photo to the boy or girl face on the last page.

Click on the link to view/download Go Fly A Kite

My Shapely Kite reviews the 6 basic flat shapes.  Students have the option to either trace the various shaped kites or to cut and glue a construction paper shape to the appropriate kite.

To reinforce reading and writing skills, students trace the shape words as well.

Click on the link to view/download My Shapely Kite

Where Have All The Kites Gone? Is another easy reader that reviews simple subtraction skills.

Students trace and solve the equations X-ing out a kite as they go.

Discussion of what else could have happened to the kites can stimulate a writing prompt and nice transition to another activity.

Click on the link to view/download Where Have All The Kites Gone?

Be sure an pop back tomorrow for some more March Is Reading Month activities!

Do you have an idea you'd like to share?  I'd enjoy hearing from you: diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to leave a comment here, especially if you use an idea!  Thanks in advance.