1-2-3 Come Do Some More Valentine Activities With Me
I had a special request from Iesha, in Michigan, for some 10-frame cards with hearts on them. Since this was also on my "to do" list, I got right to it.
All of the new 10-frames packets include extra tiles, so that students can use them as manipulatives to make groups/sets to match the number on the cards, sort the tiles or pattern with them. Click on the link to view/download the Valentine 10-Frames packet.
1-2-3 Count Valentines With Me compliments the cards, as this easy reader booklet is based on a 10-frame and covers all sorts of standards.
Students read, trace and write the numbers and number words, circle the number in the sequence, dot that many spots on the 10-frame, then cut and glue the appropriate picture showing a group of that many.
The new "Count With Me" booklets, also have students add end punctuation to the simple sentences. Each packet also includes several worksheets. Click on the link to view/download the 1-2-3 Count Valentines With Me packet.
When I'm diddling around designing, an idea sometimes happens because of the adorable graphics done by really creative artists, like Laura Strickland (mycutegraphics) and DJ Inkers.
Why Do I Like You? Let Me Count The Ways... was one of those ideas. D.J. Inkers clip art of a little boy and girl holding a huge heart, simply begged to be filled with something.
When I taught high school, my students enjoyed a variety of poetry that I shared with them. How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count The Ways, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, was a personal favorite.
I thought this would make an interesting writing prompt for students. Just incase you'd like to share the original poem, I've included it in the packet.
Instead of love, I substituted the word like. Students can choose to complete the prompt for someone they are close to, or to promote friendship and build self-esteem within your class, have students choose a classmate. Students write things they like about that person, or things that person does that they like etc.
To jumpstart your students' creative minds, make one about your best friend, sister, brother, husband or wife to share as an example. I've also included a bookmark in color, that teachers can fill out for each student. Write the child's name on the heart and then list a few things of why you enjoy having them in your class. Click on the link to view/download the How Do I Like Thee? Valentine Writing Prompt packet.
I didn't have much time to design more valentine crafts this year, but I did want to make a few valentines that your kiddos could make and take home to their families.
Moms especially LOVE the cute "paper love" keepsakes that their child makes at school. With that in mind, I designed the "Blow A Kiss!" keepsake card.
The original idea came from "Life Is Sweet." She painted her baby's hand and pressed it on some paper for grandma and grampa. Here's my version:
Run off my template on white construction paper, or for more pizzazz, print it on regular copy paper and then have students trim and glue their card to their favorite color.
Students pick a partner and take turns tracing each other's hand. For PK kids, have a room helper do the tracing and cutting.
Draw a little tab at the base of the palm, so that the hand has a "hinge" and then cut out. Glue the hinge to the back, of the bottom of the card, so that it flips down, to reveal the sentiment.
I made a page of lip tiles (kisses), so that students can glue their "kiss" to the middle of their flopped over hand. For that finishing touch, add a school photo and some glitter. Click on the link to view/download the "Blow A Kiss" Keepsake Valentine Card.
Another quick valentine craft is a simple positive-negative reverse picture. My Y5's were always amazed when they folded the half-heart template, cut on the solid line and then unfolded a whole heart!
Most of them didn't even realize that they were cutting a heart out, and I didn't spoil the "surprise." I loved their excited exclamations over this scissor "magic."
Turn this into an interesting writing prompt for older students: "Half of me enjoys _______ and half of me enjoys ____________." I had a lot of fun writing a sample for you that will help to explain the lesson.
For more pizzazz, I cut my photo in half and arranged it on my "heartwork."
To get in some keyboard practice, have students write their rough draft, and then type up their final copy and mount it on construction paper. Completed projects make an awesome February bulletin board.
Click on the link to view/download the Folded Heart Writing Prompt Packet.
Thanks for visiting. Feel free to PIN away. I hope you have a simply spectacular Valentine's Day!
"The educated differ from the uneducated, as much as the living from the dead." -Aristotle
1-2-3 Come Do Some Interesting Activities With Me
Since the lists of my all-time favorite books for various units, have been so popular, I decided to make one for my love-themed selections, which include Valentine's Day books and books about hugs, kisses and love.
I think it's probably my biggest collection, as Valentine's Day has been my favorite holiday since I was five. Click on the link to view/dowload the list of My 100 All-Time Favorite Valentine Books.
Books need a bookmark, so I designed ten Valentine bookmarks that you can use as incentives (challenge students to collect all of them as they complete various tasks each day) or give as prizes on your party day.
Click on the link to view/download the Valentine's Day Bookmark packet.
Like the book lists, the punctuation pocket cards, have also been extremely popular, so I made a set of 30 with a valentine theme. Print; laminate and trim.
You can put them in your pocket chart, read as a whole group and then make corrections with a dry erase marker.
Students circle the letters that should be capitalized, and then add end punctuation.
I made a lot more cards for this packet, as I thought it might be a fun activity for Valentine's Day.
Pass one out to each student to make corrections and then share the results with the class.
I purposely included quite a few contractions in the simple sentences to provide yet another teachable moment. Click on the link to view/download the Valentine Grammar Cards.
While I was making the valentine clock cards yesterday, I was working on several other telling time activities, and finished them today.
Time For Valentines is a candy heart spinner game. Children play with a partner or in groups of 3 or 4 taking turns spinning the candy heart clock.
Whatever number they land on, is the heart that they color on their recording sheet. Students also write in the digital time, and if you want, have them cover the heart with a candy one.
The student who completes their clock first is the winner. The prize can be the candy hearts. Inform students that they may eat one, and then put the rest in the box to take home. Click on the link to view/download the Candy Heart Clock Game.
Finally, I also finished the Watch Me Tell Time whole-group assessment activity. Print off the pocket watch page on tan or gold paper, cut off the directions.
Run off the clocks and digital time rectangles on glossy photo paper. Cut out the clocks and boxes and glue one to each pocket watch paper. You've now created a dry erase board.
Call out a time. Using a dry erase marker, students draw hands on the clock face and write the digital time in the box. When they are done, they hold up their pocket watch.
This is a quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess analog and digital time to the hour or half hour. (Common Core State Standard: 1.MD.3) Click on the link to view/download the Watch Me Tell Time assessment packet.
Thanks for visiting today; I hope it's love-filled. Feel free to PIN away!
"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." -John Dewey