1-2-3 Come Do Some More New Year Activities With Me

Tonight will usher in a New Year.  Before I get busy preparing for that, I wanted to blog about some New Year activities, for those of you who'll be in the mood tomorrow to plan a few lessons. 

First up, is a New Year Place Value craftivity. It's a "growing" packet, as each year it will be updated with more dates.  As always, I try to combine math with literacy whenever I can.

Even though my kiddos are just doing 3-digit numbers, they have no problem wrapping their brains around this larger number, with an added place value section.

They trace, write, cut and glue the numbers under the appropriate "doors" that flip up, to reveal the year.

As a math extension, for the last “window” they practice subtraction, by subtracting the year that they were born, from the New Year, to get their age.

Older students can do the writing prompt: “Three things that are different from the New Year, than the year when I was born…” and glue this paper on the back of their flip up.

This can simply be basic information, or involve technology, by sending them to the Internet, and have them find 3 specifics and compare them. i.e., “The president when I was born was Bill Clinton. The president now is Barack Obama.”

If you think your students will need more room, or you want to do this as a separate writing block or Daily 5 activity, I’ve also included 5 writing prompt worksheet options. 
For more writing and comparison practice, there are  2 Venn diagrams in the packet as well. 

If your kiddos are learning to tell time to the hour, this  New Year emergent reader, is an interesting way for them to practice.

Students go from lunch time (noon) to midnight, as they trace and write words and times, draw hands on the clocks to show that time, and complete a few writing prompts, adding some illustrations.

There's a full-page template, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page one, to conserve ink and paper. 

Finally, no matter what grade I taught, and there were many(!) my students really enjoyed doing a Venn diagram.

I love them because they are a quick, easy and fun way to introduce and practice, comparison and contrast, plus the graphic aspect is perfect for my visual learners. Students can do them independently, or pick a partner and complete one together.

There are 17 different Venn diagrams in the Happy New Year Writing Prompt packet, plus I changed the header on the “head” pattern Venns, so you can use them any time of the year.

They are especially appropriate for Back To School, as a getting to know you icebreaker. Completed projects make an awesome bulletin board too.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a "High Fives New Year Writing Prompt" craftivity" “High fives for me! I made these New Year resolutions and am trying to keep them.” Encourage students to think of five.

Afterwards, children pick a partner and take turns tracing each others hand and wrist on a bit of flesh-tone construction paper, then trim.

Drawing fingernails, a watchband and rings adds extra pizzazz.  Have children write the New Year below the “knuckles”.  I’ve included a clock pattern students can cut and glue to their wristband, drawing hands to show midnight.

The girls LOVED adding flat-backed jewels to their rings. You can get self-stick ones, or use mini glue dots. Glitter nail polish was another option and highlight. 

Well that's it for now.  Thanks for stopping by. 

My "to do" list for today, is rather long but lots of fun.  Wishing you a safe and blessed New Year's Eve, filled with lots of memorable moments.  

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year-Themed Activities With Me

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas break.  For those of you who might be in the mood to do a bit of lesson planning, for those first few days back from vacation, I thought I'd blog about some of the quick, easy and fun New Year activities that I just finished.

First up is a "Happy New Year" countdown slider.  It's a "glitter ball"  craftivity to practice counting backwards.  I've included countdown strips from 10-0, as well as 20-0.

Children trim, trace the numbers, and insert into the slits of their countdown ball. 
For that finishing touch, add a bit of silver glitter for extra pizzazz.

To practice, we start from a sitting position. My kiddos are holding their slider and counting backwards with me, as we pull the numbers through the "window" of their glitter balls.

As we approach zero, they get in a crouching position.  As we say "zero!" they jump in the air and yell "Happy New Year!" 

Jumping around gets the wiggles out, then counting backwards in a whisper voice calms them right back down. Afterwards, they love "tip-toeing on marshmallow feet" to their cubbies, to put their ball away for another time. 

Next up is a Happy New Year balloon writing prompt craft.  It's  a “Growing” packet, as there are no worries of it ever being outdated, for I’ve included patterns through 2020, which I'll up-date each year.

I’ve found that if I toss in a quick, easy and fun craftivity, with my students’ writing prompts, they are eager and excited to get down to the business of writing.

This writing prompt rings in the new, while reflecting on the old:
* ”My favorite thing that I learned, my favorite thing that I did, and my favorite place that I went . . .” is the front of the balloon, and reflects the past.

The back balloon, contemplates the present and future:
* ”Something that I’d like to learn, something I’d like to do, somewhere I’d like to go . . .”

You can give students an option of which one they want to do, or assign both, completing them during two different writing blocks, then glue them back-to-back. 

An added bonus is that completed projects make an awesome display.  Simply run off on a variety of colors of construction paper, add some Dollar Store curling ribbon and suspend from the ceiling. 

Finally, this sports-themed writing prompt, Having a Ball With Our Goals For The New Year, also makes an awesome January bulletin board or hallway display.

We discuss New Year's resolutions, then I use it as a segue into making some goals for school too.

Students write a list of goals on a sheet of scratch paper, edit, then write them on either a volleyball, football, baseball, basketball or soccer ball, which you've run off on appropriate colors of construction paper.

After students share several of their goals with the class, scatter them on a bulletin board.

I've included a colorful "We're Having A Ball With Our Goals For The New Year!" poster, which you can put in the center of your display. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of Happy New Year number puzzles, which will also help your kiddos practice counting backwards.

Well that's it for today. 

I'm busy working on all sorts of fun Snowman, Mitten and Snowflake activities, as I  look forward to all of the special winter celebrations. 

Wishing you a creative and cozy day. 

"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." -William Blake

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year Craftivities With Me

When my students returned from their Christmas break, I always had a few activities that revolved around the New Year.  Calendar concepts was something we worked on every day, so discussing the changes in the New Year date, fit right in.  If you too are looking for some quick crafts that help reinforce standards, you'll hopefully find something you can use in today's blog, or click on the link to pop on over to my entire collection of New Year-themed FREEBIES.

The Place Value “Happy New Year!” craftivity can be done as a whole-group or independent center. Students trace and write the numbers, cut them out, arrange them in correct order to form the New Year and then glue them under the appropriate place value “door.”

The last door helps children practice subtraction as they subtract the year they were born, from the current year to get their age.  It’s self correcting, because they know how old they are! 

This is my sample from last year, but you can use this activity for years to come, because I've included templates through the year 2034.

Before hand, explain the project using your own sample, as a review of how things are done.  Even if you're in your 20’s, don't be surprised if your kiddos think you're really "old".  Click on the link to view/download the Place Value New Year craftivity.

Some of my Y5s had not yet mastered counting backwards from 10 to 0, so I designed the New Year’s Glitter Ball Slider to help them practice in a fun way.   Even little ones seemed to be familiar with the New York, Times Square countdown ball, so this was a great segway.  

I’ve also included a strip to countdown from 20.   Students trim their ball, trace the numbers on their "slider" and then insert the strip through the slits.  I had my kiddo’s crouch on the floor as we counted down.  When we got to zero, they jumped up and yelled “Happy New Year!”  

When you're done, for that finishing touch, allow children to add some silver or gold glitter.  Set aside to dry and then have them practice at home.  Click on the link to view/download the Happy New Year Countdown Slider.

Another way for students to practice counting backwards is with these 5  New Year puzzles.  You can laminate and use them as an independent center or run off copies for each child to take one home for more practice. 

They also make an interesting piece of art when the pieces are glued to a sheet of construction paper with a little space between each piece. Click on the link for the New Year Countdown puzzles. 

I always had some quick and easy activity on my students' desks in the morning.  They got right down to business, so I was able to take attendance and accomplish a few things before we began our day together. 

The "How many words can you make using the letters in Happy New Year?" worksheet is perfect for that.  It's a fun way to build vocabulary and reinforce spelling.  I've included my list of 627 words that you can share with your students after they finish their list.

Set a timer for however long you want students to work on this.  You can give a New Year bookmark as a prize for the child who has the most words, or give everyone a bookmark for staying on task.  I've designed several for them to choose from.

Finally, if you follow my blog, you know that I like to end with a quotation.  No matter what grade I taught, I always put one on the board each day.  I often used quotes as a "Do you agree or disagree?" writing prompt or discussion with my students.  

If you like doing things with quotes too, click on the link for 6-pages of my favorite New Year quotes.  It includes the one from Ophra below.

Well that's it for today.  I'm off to get some major wrapping done.   I like to wait 'til all of my shopping is complete before I start that job, so I can easily sort and then just have a marathon.  

Wishing you a productive day filled with tasks you enjoy, with enough time and energy to get them accomplished.  

 "Cheers for a New Year and another chance to get it right!" -Oprah Winfrey 

 1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year "Craftivity" Resolutions With Me!

When one thinks about the New Year, it’s inevitable that a few resolutions come to mind. This was a new word for my Y5’s, so I presented it as a "promise" to themselves, of what they’d like to improve on. 

For a quick, easy and fun writing prompt, have your kiddos choose a partner, and take turns tracing each other's hand on the New Year's template.  Once done, they fill in the details: "I made these resolutions and I'm trying to keep them..."

This simple January writng prompt makes an interesting Daily 5 activity too.  Have students include the year (written on their fingers) and glue their school picture somewhere on the page.

Be sure and make a sample to show your class.  My Y5's always enjoyed learning about me.  I added a bit more pizzazz by gluing on flat-backed rhinestones to my "rings."

After students share, mount their work on a variety of colors of construction paper and sprinkle over a wintry-printed bulletin board. (I buy discounted Christmas wrapping paper with snowflakes for this purpose.)

Click on the link to view/download the High Five's For A Happy New Year "craftivity."

For another New Year craftivity, I used Tagxedo, one of my favorite educational word art sites. Set this up as an independent computer center for students to think up their own designs and words.

The packet has a list of 68-positive "resolution" words + an ABC booklet for students to "improve" themselves "alphabetically".

Completed projects make a very interesting January bulletin board.  Click on the link for this great verb reinforcement tool and vocabulary builder.  New Year's Word Art Craftivities.

Another awesome bulletin board for January, features a  New Year's writing prompt as well.  Here, resolutions are viewed as goals.

Since basketball, soccer and football are all sports where players score goals, I thought it would be fun to have students write what their goals are for the New Year on the ball of their choice. I've included a poster that you can put in the center of your bulletin board as a caption. 

Besides the balls, there are also 2 writing prompt pages for journal writing, which includes one with a hockey theme.   Click on the link to grab the New Year Goals Packet. 

For another creative writing bulletin board and some parts of speech practice,  I know your kiddo's will enjoy playing the Fractured New Year writing prompt game.  Students take turns rolling the dice to fill in a word from the adjective, noun or verb list, which then creates a hilarious story. 

When everyone has completed the game, have students read their stories aloud, and enjoy all of the giggles, mount on construction paper, scatter on a few stars (suspend some from the ceiling) and you're done.  Click on the link for Fractured New Year fun. 

Finally, I’ve also designed a New Year's graphic organizer with some interesting writing prompts for students to complete. It also includes a box for their resolutions.

Children can draw a picture of themselves or glue a photo in the center oval.

That's it for today.  I have quite a few finishing touches that I need to accomplish before I can finally rest and relax.

It's time to get some hustle bustle going, so once again I'm dashing.  Wishing you a productive and fun day.

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, it will be happier." -Alfred Lord Tennyson

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year Activities With Me

As schools are coming to a close for a nice holiday break, I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a happy, healthy, safe and relaxing New Year.  I'm posting these popular New Year activities early, because if you're like me, I wanted to have my first day back, planned and run off before I left for a much-needed break.

I also didn't want to have to worry about putting up a bulletin board, so with that in mind, I designed some writing prompt "craftivities".  Completed projects make awesome bulletin boards or hallway displays.  (Easy-peasy and another thing checked off my list.)

Along with millions of others, we enjoy watching the Tournament of Roses Parade.  With that in mind, I made up 6 interesting writing prompts that you can give your students on the day they they return from break.  Quick, easy and fun, the "parade packet" fits in well for your writing block or  Daily 5. 

One prompt is specifically about the parade, and includes a Venn diagram comparing Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to the Tournament of Roses New Year's Parade.   Venn diagrams are a simple way for students to practice comparison and contrast writing.  The other 5 parade-prompts, are generic in nature, so children who don't watch those parades have other options.

Click on the link to view/download the New Year Parade Writing prompts. 

Another prompt, is a Happy New Year craftivity. Run the balloon pattern off on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Students choose one, trim, and complete the 3 writing prompts.  Children add hands to the clock so that it reads midnight.   You can also have older students write a longer prompt on the back of their balloon.  

The photo shows last year's sample, but I've included two patterns with a blank for years (201____ as well as 202____) so that you can use this craftivity in years to come. 

For that finishing touch, tie on some curling ribbon & glue on a school photo. Completed projects look wonderful dangling bak-to-back from the ceiling, or scattered on a bulletin board.  Click on the link for the Happy New Year Writing-Prompt Craftivity to view/download it.

Another simple New Year craftivity that makes a great January bulletin board, is entitled "Past Present and Future." Students reflect on the prior year, jotting down memorable moments from that year, as well as their current activities, goals and hopes for the New Year. 

My sample is also from last year and from a high school student's perspective.  As with the other dated activity, I've included templates through 2024, so you can reuse this idea for awhile as well.  Mount them on a variety of colors of construction paper, scatter on a few snowflakes and you're bulletin board's done.  Click on the link for the New Year Past & Future writing prompt.

Finally, my personal favorite, is a January writing prompt that I call "More or Less."  It's a nice way to review this math symbol as well. 

Have students brainstorm a list of things that they think they should do less of (watching TV, playing computer games, fighting with siblings ...) as well as a list of things that they think they should do more of (studying, reading, exercising etc.). 

Write these on the board to help with spelling.  Students return to their desk and write their own list on the pre-writing paper. 

When they are happy with their lists, they write complete sentences on the greater than and less than symbol pages. 

Have students color the symbols their favorite colors.  When they are done, students trim their papers. 

To turn this into a really interesting January bulletin board, have students trace their foot (with their shoe on).  Offer a variety of colors for students to choose from. 

They cut out their foot, glue on the "More or less I will try to put my best foot forward in the New Year" square, add a photo, name and the year.  Click on the link to view/download the More or Less New Year Writing Prompt packet.

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  I hope you found a few things here that will help launch the New Year with enthusiasm for writing. 

I have a few last-minute things to get for tonight's special dinner, so I'm hitting the floor running.  Wishing you a stress-free day. 

"Remember to enjoy the doing of your "to do" list, and not just the accomplishment of getting it done."

1 2 3 Come Do Some New Year Writing With Me

I realize people have been wishing each other a Happy New Year for a week now, but I thought a few more New Year-themed writing prompts would still be appropriate, since quite a few schools in the midwest have not gone back yet, because of all of the cancellations due to snow and below zero weather conditions. 

My home state of Michigan included, as we are enjoying another snow day with a -25 windchill as I blog.

This photo is of the St. Joseph Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. with the caption: "Today, it is encased in ice as the Midwest is hit with a "polar vortex", causing wind chills to reach -50 degrees! "  The waves froze as they crashed over the pier.

Inez, from equally cold Canada, requested some New Year puzzles that counted down from 10 to 0.  Great idea Inez!  I so enjoy hearing from other countries.  On any given day we have visitors from over 150. 

I'm always amazed at how the Internet makes everything so much cozier.  Click on the link to view/download 5 New Year counting puzzles.

When I'm designing within a theme, the ideas just keep coming, so I also made a pair of New Year spectacles. 

I enjoyed seeing these goofy glasses being worn by a lot of New Yorkers as they watched the ball drop.  I thought it would make a cute writing prompt "craftivity." 

Students can write what they "see" in their future for the New Year, or write things they are hoping and wishing for. i.e. health, happiness, success etc.  

After I finished my sample, the only "person" I could find to model them, was our poodle Chloe.  She'll do just about anything for a treat, and kept the glasses on long enough for me to take a picture. 

I've included a set of numbers so that you can make future years.  Click on the link to view/download the New Year Writing Prompt Glasses.

I really liked that chunky number font and thought it would make a nice writing prompt as well, so I designed a New Year craftivity entitled "Past and Present."

Students reflect on the prior year, jotting down memorable moments from that year, as well as their activities, goals and hopes for the New Year.  My sample is from a high school student's perspective. 

I've also included templates through 2024 so you can reuse this idea for awhile. Who knows where we'll all be in 10 years.  Completed reflections make a sweet January bulletin board. Mount them on a variety of colors of construction paper, scatter on a few snowflakes and you're set.  Click on the link for the New Year Past & Future writing prompt.

While doing research I came across a cute poster over at Dimple Prints.  Show the poster to jumpstart your students' creative minds, and have them design their own word poster.

Finally, my personal favorite, is a January writing prompt that I call "More or Less."  It's a nice way to toss in a little math as well. 

Have students brainstorm a list of things that they think they should do less of (watching TV, playing computer games, fighting with siblings ...) as well as a list of things that they think they should do more of (studying, reading, exercising etc.). 

Write these on the board to help with spelling.  Students return to their desk and write their own list on the pre-writing paper. 

When they are happy with their lists, they write complete sentences on the greater than and less than symbol pages.  Have students color the symbols their favorite colors. 

When they are done, students trim their papers.  To turn this into a really interesting January bulletin board, have students trace their foot (with their shoe on).  Offer a variety of colors for students to choose from. 

They cut out their foot, glue on the "More or less I will try to put my best foot forward in the New Year" square, add a photo, name and the year.  Click on the link to view/download the More or Less New Year Writing Prompt packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  I try to design and blog daily, so I hope you can stop by tomorrow to check out the newest FREEBIES.  Feel free to PIN away.

"While I relish our warm months, winter forms our character and brings out our best." -Tom Allen       

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year Craftivities With Me!

I wanted to get some “Happy New Year!” items designed and posted before you leave for Christmas break, so you can get a few things ready for when your kiddo’s return, before you take off that teacher hat and truly relax.  

Start things out by leaving a bookmark on or inside your students' desks, as a sweet surprise when they come back.  I've taped a lollipop on the back of mine, that they can quietly suck on while they do their morning tabletop lessons.  Click on the link to print some off now.  Happy New Year bookmark.

The Place Value “Happy New Year!” craftivity can be done as a whole-group or independent center. Students trace and write the numbers, cut them out, arrange them in correct order to form the New Year and then glue them under the appropriate place value “door.”

The last door helps children practice subtraction as they subtract the year they were born, from the New Year, to get their age. It’s self correcting, because they know how old they are!

Before hand, demonstrate yours on the board to review how this is done. Even when I was in my 20’s children always thought that was so “old!” Click on the link to view/download the Place Value New Year craftivity.

Some of my kiddo’s had not mastered counting backwards from 10 to 0, so I designed the New Year’s Glitter Ball Slider to help them practice.   Even little ones are familiar with the New York, Times Square countdown ball, so this was a great Segway.  

I’ve also included a strip to count from 20.   Add some silver glitter for that extra bit of pizzazz. I had my kiddo’s crouch down and then jump up and yell “Happy New Year!” when we got to zero. Click on the link to view/download the Happy New Year Countdown Slider.

When one thinks about the New Year, it’s inevitable that a few resolutions come to mind. This was a new word for my Y5’s, so I presented it as a promise to themselves, of what they’d like to improve on.  

With that in mind I designed some New Year word art craftivities last year, using Tagxedo, one of my favorite educational sites. You can set this up as an independent computer center for students to think up their own designs and words.

The packet has a list of 68-positive "resolution" words + an ABC booklet for students to "improve" alphabetically.

Click on the link for this great verb reinforcement tool and vocabulary builder.  New Year's Word Art Craftivities.

For more parts of speech practice,  I know your kiddo's will enjoy playing the Fractured New Year writing prompt game.  Students take turns rolling the dice to fill in a word from the adjective, noun or verb list, which creates a hilarious story. 

When everyone has completed the game, have students read their stories aloud, and enjoy all of the giggles.  Click on the link for Fractured New Year fun.

Finally, I’ve also designed a New Year's graphic organizer for students to fill in with some interesting writing prompts.

  Children can draw a picture of themselves or glue a photo to the center oval.

Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away. I hope you can stop by tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES.

"Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passsed." -Cavett Robert

1-2-3 Come Blast Off With Me!

Are you looking for a fun new way to review counting backwards from 10 to 0 or 20 to 0?    

I’ve got just the thing!  As I was watching the glittering ball drop in Times Square, I thought what a fun slider to make for “blasting off.”  

I just finished designing the Happy New Year Glitter Ball and hope your students enjoy the new way of reviewing this standard. 

Run off the ball templates.  Rough cut them apart so that students can practice cutting out the circle.  You might want to pre-slit the lines so that students can easily insert their number strip.

Run off the number strips and cut them out on the paper cutter so that all students have to do is cut on the lines to separate them.  

Students glue the strips together and then trace the numbers and insert their strip into the ball.  Demonstrate how this is done, or some students will have difficulty.

Make sure to remind them to write their name on the back of their ball.

When everyone has completed their ball, have them crouch down, read the numbers together slowly, as students slide their strip through their balls counting  backwards with you.

When students have reached 0 they pull their strip 1 last time to reveal the words.  Children jump into the air and yell “Happy New Year!”

Afterwards, you can have them play “I Spy” with a partner or as a whole group.  Call on a child to spy a number.  They call out a number and everyone slides to reveal it.

Students hold up their ball so that you can whole-group assess to make sure everyone has the correct number. Click on the link to view/download New Year Countdown Glitter Ball

Thank you for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find useful.  For a snowman and penguin alphabet and number slider, scroll down to checkout the next article. 

“A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.” -Unknown