1 2 3 Come Do Some Sequencing Activities With Me

Do you read “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat!”  by Lucille Colandro? 

It's a favorite October story of my Young Fives, and perfect of practicing the "sequencing & retelling a story" standards. 

With that in mind, I designed these quick, easy & super-fun (Print & Go) activties, that I think your students will really enjoy transitioning to, after you read the story. 

Since the old lady yells "Trick or Treat!" at the end of the story, any of these activities, particularly the "tongue" craft, would be great for a little something different, for Halloween week or Halloween party day too.

The packet includes:

1. A whole group sequencing & retelling craftivity: “Bat Got Your Tongue?” 

For extra durability, print on card stock, then laminate & trim.  This is a picture of the old lady before I attached her tongue.

I purposely used ordinal numbers for the tongue, so that you can practice another standard. 

Pass out the mini cards (of what the old lady swallowed) to your students. 

As you come to that item in the story, the child holding that card attaches it to the old lady's tongue. You can use a magnet, Velcro or glue dot to attach the pictures. 

The last item to be placed on your whiteboard or flannel board is the "Trick or Treat!" speech bubble, which will go above the little old lady. 

Afterwards point to each item and have children retell the story.  They will be excited to transition to making a little old lady of their own.

2. Students have a smaller, black & white old lady craft, where students color & cut the items that the old lady swallows.

Children sequence, then glue the “picture tiles” to her tongue in chronological order.

So that you can easily diversify your lessons to suit the various abilities & skill levels of your students, I've included a variety of options. 

For example, after they have added some color, little ones can simply glue the entire picture strip on the tongue, without cutting and gluing the graphics individually. 

There's also a "mixed up" strip for older students to color, cut, sort & sequence, then glue on.  To expedite this, the "boxes" on the tongue, are the same size as their matching picture.

As always, all patterns come in full-color so that teachers can quickly & easily make examples to share, as well as black & white for students to color.

3. Since completed projects make a terrific bulletin board or hallway display, (Be sure and curl the end of the tongue for some extra 3D pop), I've included a “Having Fun With the Little Old Lady” poster for some extra pizzazz.

The packet also includes These "Print & Go" activities:

4. A “Checking for Comprehension” worksheet, where students fill in the blanks using words from a word bank.

5. An “Ask Me a Question” worksheet.

6. A “Let’s Sequence The Little Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat” worksheet.

7. A “Here’s What Happened” writing extension.

All of the worksheets can be done as a whole group activity, used in a small reading group, or done individually.

So that you can easily diversify your lessons, I’ve included a variety of options for the worksheets as well.

8. I’ve also included colorful answer keys.

9. For added value, there’s a BONUS activity: “Show Me A Pattern” game/center, which uses the picture tiles. 

Since the old lady is yelling "Trick or Treat!" at the end of the story, I thought it would be appropriate for the Featured FREEBIE to be a "color me" safety rules for trick or treating. 

At the end of the day (perhaps Halloween party day?) have students quietly color their worksheet, then send home for parents.

Besides the "color me" page, I've also included one in full-color that you can read with your students, then post on a wall if you want.

I know that much of this is common sense, but "...better safe than sorry" and "forewarned is prepared."

Well that's it for today.  I hope you found something here you can use.

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"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." -Unknown

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

The writing prompt, “Driving My 5 Senses Batty” is an interesting way to reinforce the 5 senses, which in turn helps students be more descriptive in their writing.

Because this is a topic students easily identify with, they will be excited to get down to the business of writing!

You’ll love the versatility of this bat packet; as a variety of options make it easy to diversify your lessons for various abilities, grades & skill levels.

As always, patterns come in black & white for students, as well as full-color, so that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share. I’ve also included my completed worksheets as a real time saver.

Samples not only help explain things, but act as a catalyst for excitement.

Anytime I add a bit of craftiness into our writing block, my students are engaged and focused from the get go, which is why I designed a “cave topper” as well as a “bat dangler” to add extra fun & pizzazz to their writing worksheet.

Younger kiddos can simply write or dictate a one-word answer to a classroom helper, or assign this as homework to be done with parental help. 

If you have older "reading-helper buddies" you can also do this activity with their assistance. 

My kiddos absolutely love working with our 5th grade friends, and the feeling is mutual.

Encourage older students to write in complete sentences, giving several examples. 

Completed projects make a striking bulletin board or hallway display, so I’ve also included 2 posters to enhance things.

Use the "definition poster" to introduce your lesson,

The Packet Includes:

• A bat cave with & without text, with 2 patterns to choose from for different cutting abilities. This graphic is glued to the top of their writing prompt paper.

• A bat “dangler” which will be glued to the bottom of their worksheet.

• A “Five Senses” writing prompt worksheet, which come with & without lines, as well as with and without labels ( hear, smell, see, touch & taste ).

• A “definition poster” to introduce your lesson.

• A “Going ‘Batty’ Over Great Writing!” poster.

• For additional writing, I’ve also included 3 different “bat papers” to choose from, which you can use to assign other writing prompts for, or perhaps use for an acrostic poem, bat facts, bat vocabulary or whatever else you think of.

• A bonus extension about the positive & negative connotations for the word “batty”, with an extra writing prompt, which can be done as a whole group, with a partner or as an individual assignment. Great for early finishers or homework too.
• These activities would be fun for the week of Halloween or that "something different" on party day too.

Today's featured FREEBIE also helps practice descriptive writing, as students describe fall.

Including adjectives, enhances students' writing, so I designed 10 fall-themed describing worksheets that will help your students practice this skill. 

Students write  a "describing" word in each of the boxes on the themed worksheet, which include bats, school, apples, pumpkins,spiders, leaves, sunflowers, scarecrows, turkeys, and pilgrims. 

These worksheets make a nice Daily 5 fall writing activity, and can also be inserted into a writing folder or journal. 

I've also included an adjective definition anchor chart.

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

I’m Diane from Teach With Me, hoping you & your students will go batty over learning.

Wishing you a fun-filled time of it.

For more 5 Senses activities, click on the link.

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"Try to learn something about everything and everything about something." -Thomas H. Huxley

1-2-3 Come Do Some Scarecrow Crafts With Me

I love doing a variety of scarecrow-themed activities in the fall, so I created this cute “Peekin’ Scarecrow” writing prompt craft.

Whenever I toss a bit of creative craftiness in with our writing, my students get all excited to get down to business.

Since completed projects turn out pretty amazing, I also have an easy-peasy bulletin board or hallway display as well; which not only builds self-esteem, but gets us a lot of compliments too.

I find that if one provides students with a variety of interesting, fun and thought-provoking writing prompts, you will have hit a motivating “hot button”.

With that in mind, I spent quite a bit of time thinking up 42 engaging prompts, all with a scarecrow in mind.

For simple & quick printing, the writing prompt pattern provides 6 prompts on a one-page template.

TIP: Whenever I need to pre-cut things for my kiddos as a time saver, I stack at least 3 pages then staple around the edges. 

The staples keep the papers in place and with just a few snips across, I've cut out all 7 pages at one time.

After cutting, toss the "prompt cards" into a basket.

Students pick 3, choose their favorite, then toss the other 2 back in the basket.

This prompt is then glued to their completed project.

For extra pizzazz, have students add some color to the "quilt patch" border at the top.

There are 5 different, writing prompt worksheets for students to compose their final draft on.

These can be glued horizontally or vertically to their “Peekiin’ Scarecrow”. 

Take this teachable moment to build vocabulary by defining, then showing children a horizontal as well as a vertical sample. 

So that I have a pretty even amount, and a nice variety for my display. I assign half my students to glue their writing horizontally and the other half vertically.

For any of our writing assigments, I have students make a first & final draft.

To help them, I've included a writing rubric, which students can use as a checklist, before they complete their final draft. 

For some extra 3D pop, you can add a pair of wiggle eyes attached with glue dots.

Look closely & you will see that I've added some deeper shading with crayons, as well as some "stitch marks" to the nose, heart cheek & along the edges of the face & hat. 

Another way to add some extra pizzazz, is by putting a few sheets of yellow construction paper into a shredder.

Feed in one at a time (2 sheets did enough for my class of 20).

My kiddos absolutely LOVED adding "hay hair", which is a great fine motor skill that will  help strengthen finger muscles, and increase dexterity.

I've also included a hatband and a sunflower as "add on" patterns for the scarecrow's hat.

Fold the petals up for some added dimension.

As you can see by my samples, completed projects turn out so cute!

Your bulletin board or hallway display is sure to get a ton of compliments, while building self-esteem.

I've also included 2 posters to enhance your display.

 So that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share, I've also made templates for 3, of my completed writing prompts.

Sharing an example, not only helps easily explain what you want your students to do, but also gets them excited to make one of their own.

As with all of my packets, there are clear directions, with helpful tips & photographs.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of upper and lowercase, scarecrow-themed alphabet cards.

Use them for a variety of games.

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

It's started snowing quite heavily this moring here in Michigan.

Since it's only the frist week of November, I am so not ready for the craziness that winter weather creates. 

That said, it is quite lovely, and the quiet of the woods, frosted in sparkling white is quite peaceful.

"In teaching others, we teach ourselves." -Proverb

1-2-3 Come Do Some Quick,Halloween Activities With Me

Halloween happens to be on a Monday this year, so some schools will be celebrating on Friday, others waiting 'til the real day. 

Since our party day is Friday, I still wanted to have some quick, easy and educationally fun Halloween-themed activities for Monday, so I whipped together a pumpkin glyph, writing prompt and class book.  They are featured on the blog, along with today's  FREEBIE.

First up is the pumpkin glyph. No matter what grade I taught, my students absolutely LOVED making glyphs.

They are a quick, easy & interesting way to practice and assess listening and following directions.  This pumpkin glyph will also review some 2D shapes as well.

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 listen & follow directions.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different! 

I've included 2 posters for the center of your glyph display.

Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students.  The packet also includes a few posters for explaining things so even PK students can make one.  

The "Positive-Negative Writing Prompt Pumpkin" also makes an awesome bulletin board or hallway wall display.   

The controversy of Halloween, makes a nice comparison-contrast writing activity, where students list the positive aspects of Halloween that they like, as well as the negative ones that they don't care for.

Whenever I include a bit of hands-on craftiness to a lesson, I instantly have my students' attention; and they can't wait to get down to the business of writing.

So as a topper for their completed October writing prompt, children use an art form fittingly called: "positive-negative" and create a Jack-O-Lantern with my easy-peasy pattern.

To add some variety to your display, I've included 5 writing prompt worksheet options with different Halloween-themed graphics and fonts for your students to choose from.

PK teachers can do this as a whole-group discussion activity, where students give their opinion and you jot down their answers on one of the writing prompt worksheets, then each child can make a positive-negative pumpkin, which can be scattered around the prompt.

Finally, if your kiddos are like mine, they are constantly talking about what costume they are going to wear for Halloween.   I take advantage of their excitement and enthusiasm by having them make a costume class book.

They are super-excited to get down to the business of illustrating their own page, which is a great activity for the week of Halloween, or even on party day for something educationally fun to help channel all of that energy.

I’ve included 2, full color cover options to choose from, as well as 3 different page designs. (See PREVIEW).

There’s a black and white pattern for your students, as well as templates in color, so that you can easily make a sample to share to help explain things, then contribute your costume page to the book too.

On party day I snap everyone’s picture, then add their photograph to our book as well.

Class-made books are one of my students’ favorites in our classroom library; they are terrific to share during parent-teacher conferences too.   Besides the book, I’ve also included 2 song posters.

I enjoy making up songs to familiar tunes. One is “Trick or Treat” to the tune of “Are You Sleeping Brother John?” the other is “What Costume Will You Wear” to the tune of “Farmer in the Dell”.  

Today's featured FREEBIE is a collection of tried and true Halloween party games that my students really enjoy.  I call the packet "Ready-Set-Ghost!"

Click on the link or photo to grab your copy and let the spooktacular fun begin!

Well that's it for today... Gotta dash, as there are treat bags yet to make for the neighborhood children.  We don't have that many, so I like to make something extra special. 

Wishing you a very Happy Howling Halloween!

"There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight!" -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Spider Math With Me

Since we study spiders in October, I thought it would be fun to design a craftivity, that would not only help reinforce the science fact that spiders are not insects, but arachnids because they have 8 legs, but also practice several of the math standards that we’re also working on.

Thus “Midnight”, the “8 is Great!” math spider was born, where children show you various ways to represent the number 8

Since a spider has two body segments (cephalothorax & abdomen) which look like the number 8, I created a number template. (Remember to grab that “teachable moment” to build vocabulary with these science terms.)

Students fold the pattern in half, cut on the bold lines, then open to reveal the spider’s number 8 body, which they glue 8 legs to.
Because the number is cut on a fold it’s easy-peasy even for PK children!

The craft is versatile, as you can differentiate the “leg labels” (math skills) you want to practice.

Younger kiddos can simply make the spider, while kinder and 1st graders can practice tally marks, addition, subtraction, as well as greater & less than.

There's also a blank template, so older students can subtract larger numbers or show 8 with multiplication & division.

Are you learning time to the hour? You also have the option to include a clock face where students draw hands to show 8 O’Clock.

Since my students are also learning about fractions (whole, half, and quarters) I included a fraction pie too. 

Use the pie pattern that’s cut into fourths then have students turn it into eighths by making an X in the center, or simply use the 8-piece pie pattern.

There's also a fraction poster that shows the various fractions, which will help you explain what you want your students to do.

Legs can lay flat, or they can be folded to add some 3D pop.
Add a bit more pizzazz by suspending the spiders from the web pattern.

Completed projects make a terrific bulletin board or dangle them from the ceiling as a hallway-wall border.

I’ve included two “8 is Great!” posters to use for the center of your display, as well as a “Show Me Eight!” worksheet. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is "Peek-a-Eeek!"  a 2D, spider-themed shape booklet.

You can make just a copy for yourself and use it to review the basic 2D flat shapes with your students, or run off copies of the shapes and have students cut and glue them into a booklet of their own. 

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

I'm reading a pumpkin story for "orange day" at my grandson's preschool today, so time to add the finishing touches to my "splash of orange" outfit. (Orange nail polish and all!)

Wishing you a fun-filled day.

"We lose ourselves in books.  We find ourselves there too." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Pumpkin Life Cycle Activities With Me

Since the Life Cycle of an Apple packet, was so popular, I decided to make a matching one featuring a pumpkin's life cycle.

You’ll love the versatility, as it’s appropriate for a variety of ages and levels, with lots of options.

The Life Cycle of a Pumpkin emergent reader, is great non-fiction practice that reinforces plenty of sight words, as it includes 37 from the Dolch word lists!  Picture prompts help with the rest.

I’ve included a color copy for teachers, as well as a student copy in black & white.

Children trace and write the life cycle words, read the simple sentences, color the pictures, then cut & collate the pages into a “just the right size” booklet.

There’s a template with 6 on a page, as well as one with 12 mini-pages on a one-page template, so that you have the option to make Itty Bitty booklets, that are a real paper-saver.

To assist with reading, review the life cycle of a pumpkin with the 12 colorful pocket chart cards.

There’s a set featuring wonderful clip art, as well a set with real life photographs.
Use the smaller sets to play a Memory Match or Speed (sequencing) game.

I also made a bookmark-size template (with 4-on-a-page) for your students. 

You can also review the life cycle with a colorful pumpkin poster.  I've included a black line version your kidos can do as a worksheet.

The 6, pumpkin craftivities, also reinforce the life cycle.
Nothing like a hands-on artsy activity to get your kiddos excited, and completed projects make an awesome bulletin board or hallway display.

Because they are quick, easy & fun, and so different from each other, you could do several.

For example, do the flat Jack-o-lantern life cycle as a homework assignment worksheet, and the pumpkin life cycle wheel as an independent center or whole group activity. 

The pumpkin wheel craftivity is my personal favorite; the green stem acts as a pull-tab to easily rotate the pumpkin to show the various stages.

All of the crafts come in full-color so you can make a quick sample to share, as well as black & white for your kiddos to color.

If you do the “Oh My! Pumpkin Pie” craftivity, spritz with pumpkin-cinnamon air freshener! Your room will smell wonderful.

The ”life cycle-circles” come in 2 sizes, as well as black & white, plus full-color options, with and without word labels.

The packet also includes 15 posters featuring real photographs of the various stages of a pumpkin’s life cycle, which make a lovely bulletin board display, or simply share them with your kiddos to introduce or review the stages.

I think photographs really add to a lesson, as it's always amazing to me how many of my little "punkins" have never been to a pumpkin patch to pick out their pumpkin, or are even aware of the fact that pumpkins, like apples, come in more than one color. 

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a look see at this 85-pager: Life Cycle of a Pumpkin packet.  It's my sincere hope that you & your sweeties enjoy these activities as much as mine do.

While you're over there, I'd so appreciate it if you'd click the "Follow me" button. That way you'll know when I post FREEBIES, & Diane's Dollar Deals.

Thanks in advance; I'm excited to reach 700 followers.  I always design a special freebie when I hit a "milestone". Speaking of FREEBIES, the featured one today is also about pumpkins. 

I call it "Peekin' in a Pumpkin" because you can literally peek inside the paper plate pumpkin "window", and see "pumpkin guts". 

On the front of the paper plate, students draw a Jack-o'-lantern.  My kiddos absolutely LOVE doing this craftivity, and the results, suspended from the ceiling in the hall, are simply "spook-tacular!"

We get lots of "ooh ahh" comments too.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  The trees are just starting to turn, so it's time for a nature walk.

My poodle pup, Chloe, will be thrilled.  Wishing you a relaxing day; I hope it's invigorating as well.

"When the wind blows through a wood, its mass is cut and closed by every leaf, forming a train of jittery vortices in the air." -Alice Oswald

1-2-3 Come Do Some Fall Writing With Me

Since the "Apple Sense" craftivity was downloaded quite a bit, I decided this format would also work well for Pumpkin Sense.   No matter what grade your students are in, they need to be reminded to use their senses to make their writing "come alive."  The use of adjectives is equally important, and such a simple thing to explain using examples.  I find that if students can add a bit of art to their creations, writing is more fun and completed projects make wonderful bulletin boards that build self-esteem.   

Run off the pumpkin template on orange construction paper.  Students add a bit of color to the the stem, with a green crayon.  You can make this even cuter, by having students trace their hand (with their fingers spread) onto a sheet of green construction paper, trim and glue their "leaf" next to the stem.  Adding a photograph gives things that finishing touch.

Run the "pumpkin guts" off on yellow construction paper.  Students trim and fill in their answers.  Before hand, discuss the 5 senses, as well as what an adjective is, explaining the importance of using both to write better.  

Brainstorm words that can be used to describe a pumpkin using the various senses and write them on the board.   Students can draw from this word bank when they write. 

So that they are practicing starting a sentence with a capital letter, have students write a complete sentence, rather than filling in their answer.  Review proper end punctuation.  To make sure that they use adjectives, encourage students to underline them.

You may want children to write a rough draft, checking to make sure that every noun has a descriptive word before it.  Can they think of a better word to describe what they are seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, etc?  When they are satisfied with their final draft, they can write it on the yellow insert.   Click on the link to view/download the Pumpkin Sense craftivity.

Continuing with adjective practice, I designed a Describing Fall packet. 

Students think of words that describe the various fall themes: school, apples, leaves, pumpkins, spiders, bats, scarecrows, sunflowers, turkeys and Pilgrims, and then fill in the appropriate boxes with adjectives.  Once they have done that, students incorporate several words into 1 or 2 sentences that they write on the back of their worksheet. 

Children can add a bit of color with crayons or markers.  When everyone is done, have them share their work.  I've also included a definition of an adjective anchor chart. Click on the link to view/download the Describing Fall Adjective Writing packet.

If you're looking for more activities involving the 5 Senses you may like Sam's Senses craftivity.  Children cut and glue the labels to Sam the pumpkin man.  What makes Sam special is that his hands are the traced hands of the student.  Click on the link to view/download Sam. 

My Fall Senses, is a quick and easy candy corn graphic organizer that again helps students practice their writing skills.  Click on the link to view download this fall writing activity.

Thanks for visiting today.  I design and write daily, so I hope you can stop by tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES.  Feel free to PIN away.  To ensure that "pinners" return to THIS blog article, click on the green title at the top; it will turn black, now click on the "Pin it" button on the burgundy menu bar.   If you'd like to take a look at all of the wonderful-educational items that I PIN, click on the heart button to the right of the blog. 

"Strength: A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence." -Unknown

Attention-Getting Fall Glyphs!

Glyphs are a quick, easy and fun whole-group listening and following directions  tool that can be used for assessments.

During conferences, if you have to prove to parents that their child is not listening and following directions,  glyphs are a perfect example to haul out and share.

Since listening and following directions is a standard on most report cards, glyphs are a fun way for students to show you that they can do that. 

Completed glyphs also make an interesting bulletin board or hallway border display.  By having students write their names on the BACK of their glyph, you can challenge them to try and figure out whose glyph belongs to whom. 

Have children interview their classmates, collecting and then analyzing their data, which is also a standard for many. This 18-page packet includes graphing and tally mark extensions,  so you can cover these math concepts as well. 

The pumpkin glyph is also a nice review of 2D shapes.  Click on the link to view/download the pumpkin glyph.  If you have a scarecrow theme going on, I think you'll enjoy this cute scarecrow glyph. 

My Young Fives LOVED doing glyphs, so I dreamed up one for just about every month. To view other glyphs, click on the link. More Seasonal Glyphs

Thanks for visiting today. Do you have a glyph you could share with us?  I'd enjoy hearing from you diane@teachwithme.com or take a moment and leave a comment here.

It's a gorgeous fall day!  Outside my office window, I can see some of the trees starting to turn and a few yellow leaves floating in the breeze, as they spiral to the ground, seeming to avoid the busy squirrels scampering willy nilly. 

I think it's time for a break.  Chloe, my poodle pup, will enjoy a brisk walk too.  Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

"We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have done." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow