1-2-3 Come Do Some "Souper" Craftivities With Me
This "craftivity" packet is very versatile. I have templates that you can use at the end of the school year, where students write about the"souper" summer they are looking forward to, or the "souper" year they had; or they can make one for your next year's kiddos explaining why they are going to have a "souper" year in __________ grade.
Simply run off which ever pattern you need. Students color the template and then trace it on a sheet of construction paper.
I used red to blend in with the soup can, but you could offer a variety of colors.
This will become the "inside" section of the can where they'll complete the writing prompt and then "hinge" it at the top with a small piece of tape or a staple, in such a way that it flips up to reveal what they wrote.
If you've incorporated the popular "Bucket Fillers" program in your classroom, the "souper" compliment flip up or windsock, fits in nicely, and goes a long way in building a child's self-esteem. For this prompt, I prefer the windsock as it's a nice way to review the 3D cylinder shape as well as ABAB patterning.
Here's How To Make One:
I didn’t have a big sheet of red construction paper, so I had to tape two smaller ones together. The “compliment strips” are the width of a ruler and the length of the paper. I chose two colors for more pop, as well as a way to review a color pattern.
Students each get a stack of 10 strips (5 of each color). Have them glue the strips to the bottom of their large sheet of paper that has their soup can glued to the front. I left 1/2 an inch of space in between the strips.
Put students in groups of 9. Review what an adjective is and then brainstorm nice things (compliments) that they could write about each other.
Children write something about themselves on one of the strips, and then pass their paper to the next person.
Passing continues within the group ’til everyone has written something on each person’s windsock. The teacher visits each group and writes something for each child on the 10th strip.
Students gently curve their flat “souper can” into a cylinder shape and staple the ends together. Punch a hole on either side, attach a 12 inch piece of yarn and dangle from the ceiling.
Having students make a windsock for your next year's kiddos would also make a wonderful back-to-school welcome display. After the first day, take them down and pass them out to your new students. They read and share with the class. Hopefully these will help ease first day jitters and get your students excited about the year ahead.
Finally, to help celebrate special holidays, there are patterns for a "souper" mom or dad, as well as one they can make for Grandparent's Day, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever.
Keep in mind, that any of the 2D writing prompt options, can easily be turned into the 3D cylinder shaped windsock craft too.
Click on the link to view/download the "Souper" Writing Prompt Craftivity Packet. Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away.
"My greatest strength is common sense. I'm really a standard brand like Campbell's tomato soup." -Katherine Hepburn
1-2-3 Come Make A Butterfly With Me
I used to make a perpetual Mother's Day calendar using some of the monthly artwork that my Y5s enjoyed creating. Since we studied butterflies, I had a room helper trace my students' foot with their shoe on and then cut them out. These sweet little feet became the "wings"of a butterfly that they decorated.
Since the butterfly activities have been such a popular download, I thought I'd share this idea as a Mother's Day "craftivity."
If you're all set for this holiday, the packet is very versatile, as I’ve included 3 stationery templates to choose from to glue a butterfly to: Fluttering by with a Mother’s Day Hi; Fluttering by with a Father’s Day Hi; and Fluttering by with a friendly Hi.
Students take off their shoe and trace it on their color choice of folded construction paper. When they cut out their “butterfly wing” they will have two.
Make a sample to share with your students so that they know where to glue their butterfly’s wings. I think these look interesting at a diagonal.
Before hand, cut a variety of colors for the butterfly’s body and fold them. I made a template for 3 different size thoraxes to accommodate the different shoe sizes of students. Next, they glue only the head and bottom tip of the thorax down, so that it is 3 dimensional.
Cut a slit around the top of the head. Students bend a pipe cleaner in half to make a V-tip, and then curl the ends around a pencil. Insert the tip into the slit and tape the end on the back. Students make adjustments by bending the antennae forward a bit.
Run off the little heart poem on a variety of colors of construction paper. Students choose one, trim and glue it to the corner of their card. "I made this card especially for you. The butterfly's wings were traced from my shoe." Discuss symmetry and have children decorate their butterfly’s wings.
For that finishing touch, I added some dashed lines to look like the flit and flutter path of a butterfly. Stickers, glitter and wiggle eyes would also add pizzazz. Click on the link to view/download the Fluttering By Butterfly craftivity.
Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away. If you'd like to see some more Mother's Day FREEBIES simply scroll down to take a look at this week's blog articles, or click on the link to zip on over to that section of my site, where you'll find 30 more options!
1-2-3 Come Make Some Mother's Day Keepsakes With Me
I really enjoy designing things that incorporate standards at the same time creating a keepsake that moms will like. With that in mind, I came up with a "berry" special packet.
Strawberries are one of my favorite fruits, and were also popular with my Y5's. They are fun and easy to draw and provide a great play on words.
In the "Berry" Special Packet, I've included templates for both a mom and dad, so you can use this "craftivity" for Mother's Day or Father's Day. There's also a generic one that says: "You are 'berry' special" so students can make this for another significant other as well. This would be fun for Grandparents' Day too.
I've included a pattern to make the leafy portion. Add a bit more pizzazz by making the leaves 3D. Have students cut out two and then fold one in half. Match up the leaves and glue only one section on top of the other.
If you look closely at the photo you'll be able to see how the leaves pop up. Adding a stem and strawberry blossom, gives the card that finishing touch.
Older students can add a second strawberry and "hinge" their card with a small piece of Scotch tape. Children complete the writing prompt, add a bit of color, trim and glue to the inside. Younger students can simply complete just the sentence on the front.
To make things extra special, have students glue on their school picture and make a heart using their thumbprints (see photo).
Leaves can also be made by tracing a child's handprints. I made an example of both, so you can see how they turned out. Click on the link to view/download the "Berry" Special Craftivity.
While I was making my sample, I thought that a mini version of this would make a quick, easy and inexpensive end or beginning of the year gift for students.
Turn this into a sweet treat by attaching your card to a berry-flavored juice box, or package of Wild Berry Skittles and you're set!
Click on the link to view/download the "Berry Special Summer/School Year Gift.
Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away. To see another fun keepsake craft for Mom, scroll down and take a look at a cute "horseshoe."
"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside of your body." -Elizabeth Stone
1-2-3 Come Make A Mother's Day Craftivity 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 them glue their photo puzzle to the side of their writing prompt.
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. Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away.
"A mother's hug lasts long after she lets go." -Unknown
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
1-2-3 Come Make A Mother's Day Card With Me
Mother's Day will soon be here. I designed this sweet tweet writing prompt which makes an adorable card.
Here's how to make one: Run off templates on construction paper.
Cut yellow strips for the legs, the length of the construction paper. I made mine half the width of a ruler.
Make a template for the beaks from an old file folder. Trace and cut out 6 at a time. Set up the various pieces on a table.
Students come to the center and choose their bird color and other pieces. They return to their desk to cut out and assemble the pieces.
Students accordion fold the legs and glue them to the back of their bird. They cut on the tail lines and fold a few “feathers” up, and glue the beak to the head, drawing a smile and nose dot.
Children fold the left edge of their wing and glue it to the center of their bird. The wing says: "My mom is special and that's something to tweet about!"
So they don’t write outside the wing, children can trace around the wing before they write I love you and sign their name under the wing.
To expedite things, pre-cut the Happy Mother’s Day hang-tags and punch a hole in them. I ran then off on white construction paper and then for more pop, glued them to pink construction paper. You could save the extra steps, and just run the tag off on different colors of construction paper.
Cut lengths of yarn, ribbon or jute to tie the tags to the birds. Before hand, brainstorm with students why their moms are special. List these on the board to help with spelling.
Students write why their mom is special on the back of the bird. I ran off an extra template for this so that it looks more finished, as it stands out and also covers the leg tops.
Print off your class composite. Cut students’ photographs in an oval, so that they can glue them to the head on the back of the bird.
When students have completed their prompt, tie their tab to the bird and finish with a bow. If you have time, have students share their work with their classmates, by reading what they wrote.
Click on the link to view/download the Mother's Day Writing Prompt craftivity. Thanks for visiting today. I hope your day is something to tweet about!
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward." -Unknown
1-2-3 Come Make A Mother's Day "Craftivity" With Me.
It's hard to cram in making a Mother's Day gift when you have to cover so many standards every day, so I designed a writing prompt "craftivity" that covers writing standards and makes a sweet keepsake gift for mom.
The horse's head is made by tracing the child's foot with their shoe on. Simply run off the rest of the templates on brown construction paper.
Students glue the pieces together to make a quick and easy "horseshoe." I've included a little rhyme students can glue to the neck of the horse, or have older students write it themselves.
It says: "This horse's head was made by me tracing my shoe. A keepsake for Mother's Day and an I love you."
Run off the writing prompt template: How do I love you? Let me count the ways: Students think of at least 10 things they love about their mom, which includes the first one: I love playing and horsing around with you.
For more pizzazz add wiggle eyes and students' school picture. Completed projects make a cute bulletin board. Take it down and send the horses home the Friday before Mother's Day.
Click on the link to view/download the Mother's Day Horseshoe Writing Prompt Craftivity.
Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away. My "pin it" button-link is at the top.
"If you hear a voice within you say, 'You cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and the voice will be silenced." -Vincent van Gogh