1-2-3 Come Make Some Paper Love For Mother's Day With Me.

My Y5's enjoyed putting puzzles together.  Since it was one of our report card standards, I made time for them to work on puzzles for a few minutes at the end of the day.  With this in mind, I thought I'd design some "paper love" using puzzle pieces.

While I was diddling around with the puzzle idea, I wondered if there was some sort of easy & inexpensive gift my kiddos could make to give their mom to go along with their card.  Since the card was all about pieces, Reese's pieces came to mind. 

You certainly don't have to include them with this craft, but it's a simple way to add a little something to their creations, so you don't have to make something else.  Thus, there are several options for putting this activity together.  

Take a photo of each of your students and then have them cut it into puzzle pieces.  You can make them look more like a puzzle by placing my puzzle template over the photo and then cutting on the lines, or you can use carbon paper and trace the template onto the photo for easier cutting.

If you think this is too difficult for your students, they can simply cut their photo into several pieces.  Remind them to cut their photo into only 3-6 pieces, or you can bet that they’ll snip away, with no chance of gluing things back together. 

For preschool kiddos, have a room helper do this for you and then put each photo in a snack Baggie for students to put together.  They'll be surprised to find that it's a photo of them.

Students can glue their photo puzzle together onto a sheet of construction paper, so that all of the pieces fit snuggly together, or you can have them trim a bit from the edges so there is a gap between the pieces.  

I like the effect of this better, but I made sure that I cut my puzzle, so that it did not slice up the facial portion of my photo. If you're going to have your kiddos glue their puzzle this way, make sure you show them a sample, and explain the importance of not cutting through the center of their face.

Have students sign their picture puzzle and then glue it to the “I love you to pieces” paper and trim. 
I’ve included a template for mom, as well as a blank one for students who don’t have a mom, or if you wish to use this card for Grandparent’s or Father’s Day.

It's nice to give children color options, but I chose orange and yellow construction paper, because I wanted to include some Reese’s Pieces as a gift, with a double play on words. 

To keep the cost down, you can buy small packages of the candy and staple the little bag to the bottom of the photo puzzle, or you can buy it in bulk and fill mini snack bags.

Brainstorm with your students why they love their moms, and make a list on the board, so that students can refer to it as they complete their writing prompt.

Run off the large puzzle template and have students write six reasons why they love their mom (special person) to pieces (one reason in each of the six puzzle pieces).  Have students end with: "I love you to pieces [Mom]. We were meant to be together."

There are several options for putting the card together. I glued the photo puzzle to the right side of their writing prompt.

Children could also make a traditional card and put their prompt inside for their mom to read, or they could attach the writing portion to the bottom of the photograph.  You decide, or give children a choice.

I mounted the writing prompt to a sheet of construction paper as well.  You could also attach it to the back of the picture puzzle and not trim that down.

I’ve also included an “I love you to pieces” header in two sizes.  Have students color the word with a yellow marker.

You can add the larger one to your Snack Baggie, or use the smaller one and glue it to the corner of the writing prompt for that finishing touch. (This is what I did for my sample.)

I forgot to do it in my photo, but have students outline their puzzle pieces with crayons or markers.  As I was working on my sample, I thought this would also make a sweet end-of-the-year gift for your students.  Have a helper take a photo of you with each of your kiddos. 

You cut up the puzzles and put them into a Snack Baggie that you attach to a box or bag of Reese’s Pieces, then complete a puzzle note for each child. 

Tuck them into their backpacks the last week of school, or they can put them together at the end of the day, while they eat a few pieces of candy.  Make sure none of your kiddos has a peanut allergy.  Click on the link to view/download the "I love you to pieces" packet.

If you'd like to see all of the Mother's Day FREEBIES on TeachWithMe, click on the link to pop on over to that section of my site.  I also have an entire Pinterest board specifically for Mother's Day, filled with lots more interesting, fun and best of all, FREE activities. 

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  The weather continues to be windy and cold.  Since Mother Nature hasn't realized it's springtime here in Michigan, I will again snuggle in and whittle away at paper mountain.  Wishing you a sunny day.

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." -Abraham Lincoln

1-2-3 Come Make a Mother's Day Keepsake Card With Me

This fingerprint keepsake card is a quick, easy and fun craftivity, with wonderful results.  I've included 2 options for creating them.  Little ones can simply color the letters and then carefully press fingerprints on the paper. 

Older students can place the letter templates over the blank poem-page and then press their prints in and around the letters, using various colors of stamp pads.

I made several sets of the templates, using an old file folder, so that more than one child could use them at a time, and set this activity up as an independent center at a table.

Remind students to use the sanitary wipe to clean off their pointer finger, using only one color at a time, so they don't ruin your stamp pads.

There are lots of washable stamp pads on the market, but if yours stain your students' fingers, wipe with a sanitary wipe and have them rub a little suntan lotion on the stain.  By the end of the day, it should be gone.

After they are content with the look of their paper, they carefully lift off the templates to reveal the word mom. For even more of a keepsake factor, have students glue their school photo inside the oval.

This is the technique that I used on the photograph.  I saw a similar poem all over the Internet, and revamped it for this project.  The original author is unknown.  Here is my version:

"I've left some little fingerprints on just about every wall, on furniture, doors and windows, I've really marked them all.  Here are some that won't rub off to remember when I was small, because I'll love you forever, even when I'm big and tall."

Have older students use the back of the paper to complete the writing prompt: My mom colors my world with love because...

Show children your sample and have them read the word MOM, then flip the page upside down and ask them to read the "new" word WOW.  Encourage students to share this demostration with their own card, explaining to their moms that they are a wow mom. This could also be another writing prompt for the back.

Take advantage of a teachable moment, and tell your students about palindromes, as mom, read forwards or backwards, is the same.  Click on the link to view/download the Fingerprint Mother's Day Keepsake Card.

Another colorful card is the Mother's Day Rainbow Writing Prompt Mobile. Have students brainstorm with you, thinking of ways their mothers color their world with love, caring, joy etc.  List these on the board.

Cut strips of construction paper.  Students fold the strips in half.  Using a glue stick, they rub glue all over the back, place a piece of yarn down the middle of one section, and then press shut.  They continue this process until they have all of the colors of the rainbow represented in their appropriate rainbow order.

Students complete the writing prompt by composing a sentence on each strip.  Older students can write on both sides.  Add the finishing touch, by including a photograph on the heart pattern. 

Click on the link to view/download the Mother's Day Rainbow Writing Prompt Mobile.  If you'd like to see all of the Mother's Day FREEBIES on my site, click on the link. 

I also have a very "pinteresting" PIN board, chockful of more free Mother's Day crafts and activities.

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  The wind is howling outside my window.  It's a cold and dreary day that doesn't look or feel much like spring. 

However, it's the perfect kind of day to tackle paper mountain, and get some design work done, as there's no temptation to go out and play.  Wishing you a stress-free and productive day.

"My mother taught me about the power of inspiration and courage, and she did it with a strength and passion that I wish could be bottled." -Carly Fiorina

1-2-3 Come Do Some Activities For Mother's Day With Me

The "Something to Tweet About" Mother's Day "craftivity" Friday, was such a hit that I decided to dream up a few more writing prompts that double as a great gift-card for moms.

Since students are learning about time, I thought it would be fun to design something around a clock. 

Children draw a self-portrait on the poem-circle page and then "hinge" the clock to the front of their card. 

Have them add their school photo to the center for that finishing touch.

Here's the poem:   "Mom I love you for all the times you picked me up when I was down.  For all the times you traded your sweet smile for my frown. 

For all the times you brushed my hair and tucked me into bed...or needed something for yourself and put me first instead.

For all the times that we have shared, the tears and laughter too.  I love you Mom with all my heart.  There's no one quite like you!"

Older students can write about some of their favorite times that they've shared with their mom on the back of their card.  I've included a template for them to write on .

Click on the link to view/download the Special Times With Mom Mother's Day activity.

Another Mother's Day writing prompt craftivity has a bee theme.  "My mom is 'bee-utiful' because..."  is the writing prompt. 

Students can either choose to make an adorable bumble bee and write why their mom is beautiful on the yellow stripes of the bug,  or they can choose the beehive and write on each section of the hive. 

For that extra bit of pizzazz, I used wax paper for the bee's wings and then attached some pipe cleaner antennae.

Make the beehive even more of a keepsake by having students dip their finger in yellow paint to make the bees.  When the paint dries they can add details with a black marker. 

Click on the link to view/download the My Mom Is "Bee-utiful" Mother's Day writing prompt craftivity.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away. 

"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." -Abraham Lincoln

Read To Succeed!

One of the most requested items from teachers is “easy readers.”  They say that they need more little booklets for students to work on during Daily 5 as well as ones to send home so that students can practice reading them to their families.

I like to make up easy readers that also reinforce additional standards like math, science, colors, etc. so that I get more “bang for my time buck” so to speak.

I also want my students to have an opportunity to write some of the main words in the easy readers to get practice with those skills too.

I dabble with goofy endings, or ones with a unique twist, and sometimes allow students to think of an alternative ending, so that they can use their imaginations.

One of my biggest pet peeves with many published easy readers was that they abruptly ended with no real conclusion.

This week I completed several.

My Mom is perfect for a Mother’s Day writing prompt and reinforces the use of adjectives and verbs.  Make it even more of a keepsake by having students glue their school photo to the last page.

Click on the link to view/download My Mom Mother’s Day booklet.

Several teachers wanted a booklet that reviewed the seasons.

Since many of you also study trees, I thought it would be nice to combine the two.

The Seasons Of My Tree (photo top right) does just that, with a cute twist at the end, that I’m sure your students will enjoy dreaming up.

Click on the link to view/download The Seasons Of My Tree

Who Invited The Ants To The Picnic? (photo bottom right) is a sweet pre-summer, easy reader that reinforces number words and counting to 10.  It provides an opportunity for students to write two alternative endings to the story.

Click on the link to view/download Who Invited The Ants To The Picnic

I just finished story cards for the old-fashioned tune, The Ants Go Marching.  So if you'd like to incorporated these with the picnic booklet, or teach your little ones this fun counting song, click on the link to view/download

The Ants Go Marching story cards.

I hope you enjoy these new booklets. If there’s something special you’re looking for, just shoot me an e-mail and I’ll see what I can whip together.  diane@teachwithme.com

I’ve found that if one teacher needs it, there’s sure to be many more out there who do too! i.e. I only had 1 request for some activities with an Angry Bird's theme and Angry Birds Activities & Angry Birds Shapes, are two of my most popular downloads!

Thanks for visiting; feel free to PIN anything that you feel might be helpful to a parent or teacher.

I hope you can stop by tomorrow for more tips.

Happy Reading!

A Pocket Full Of Paper Love...

A Pocket Full Of Paper Love is an inexpensive and fun way to make an assortment of wonderful keepsakes for Mother’s Day.

Your students will enjoy stuffing the different items that they make during their independent center time throughout the week, into this container.

By the time they take them home on Friday, they’ll have a pocket that’s over flowing with love.

One of the items not pictured, is a wooden broach made from the same old-fashioned woodcuts.  I bought wooden circles for only 10 cents each at Hobby Lobby.

My students cut and glued the “love knot” to the top and then drizzled on 10,000 Coats.  After the discs dried (48 hours) they glued a pin to the back, to make an old-fashioned pin.

I taught my Y5's  how to sing "I'm a Little Teapot" so they could serenade their mommy with a song, they made the teapot note and attached a teabag to the back.

Their bouncing renditions were heartwarming and adorable!

The final item we tucked into the pocket was their handprint. It added color and provided a backing to the plate so that the items didn’t spill out.

We wrapped the entire thing in hot pink tissue paper.

These ideas are part of the May Art Mini Book: Frogs, Flowers & Mother’s Day Packet.

Click on the link to view/download it.  There are several other Mother’s Day gift ideas included in that packet as well.

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

"Don't compromise yourself; you're all you've got." -Janis Joplin

Bookmark It! You Hold A Spot In My Heart...

I don’t post more than 2 articles in one day, but with Mother’s Day just around the corner, I wanted you to be able to look at all of these ideas at once, and decide which ones, if any,  you’d like to do with your students.

They were all huge hits with my Y5’s as well as the mommies.  I set them up as independent centers and they did quite well.

Since they only take a brief amount of time you could actually do all of them and tuck them in the "Pocket Full of Love" or if you don't do that, simply put them in a lunch bag or their folder to tote home.

I find that “paper love” is just as much appreciated as anything else a child puts together.

After all, the above activities were made with TLC, used their skills, which included reading a story, (no small accomplishment!) used sign language to express their affection, serenaded them with a song, and now make a bookmark their mom will certainly find useful!

How cute is that?

Click on the link to view/download the MOM bookmark.

Finally, Where Are The Flowers, is an easy reader that reinforces spatial directions.

The last page deals with the word "behind". Behind the door is the message "Happy Mother's Day!"  Making it a perfect "read-to-me" booklet for Mother's Day, truly a special gift for any mommy.

Click on the link to view/download Where Are The Flowers?

Do you have a Mother's Day idea you'd like to share? I'd enjoy hearing from you. diane@teachwithme.com OR...feel free to post a comment here, especially if you use one of my ideas. 

Thanks in advance for taking the time.  Feel free to PIN anything you think a parent or fellow teacher might find helpful as well.

I hope you can visit tomorrow for more teaching tips, 'til then take time for the 3 R's: Refresh, Relax, and Rejuvenate.