1-2-3 Come Do A Valentine Storytelling Craft With Me

Do you read "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rose" by Lucille Colandro?

My students absolutely love this collection of stories, and they are perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.

If you don't have the book, and would like to familiarize yourself with the story, click this LINK to find it on YouTube.

With that in mind, I designed these quick, easy & fun storytelling "Slider" and "Wheel" craftivities that will help your students retell the story in the proper order.

Either craft is simple enough as a great addition to your Valentine’s Day party too.

First up, the "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose" storytelling SLIDER:

There are 4 “cover” options available:

• 2, little old lady "head options,
• a full-body granny, plus
• a rose. 

Pick your favorite or give children a choice.

All of them are easy-peasy to cut, as they are in a box shape; however, you can also choose to cut around the little old lady’s head.

I took pictures of both samples so that you can decide which you like best. 

There are also 2 size options available.

Both heads are bigger, with a larger "slider strip", while the rose & granny's body are smaller (on a half page). They have a smaller "slider strip" as well. 

You decide which best suits your students' abilities.

Children color, cut & glue their slider strips together, then insert it into the “slits” of their cover.

As they pull on the end of the “slider” the various pictures go through the “window”, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner.

I introduce the lesson by reading the story, then share my sample with the children.

We retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on the slider.

My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Rose” slider of their own.

As always, both color, as well as black & white patterns are included.

For a quick, easy & interesting way to assess comprehension, there's a “Let’s sequence the story” worksheet, where students color and trim the picture tiles then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet.

Use the teacher’s colorful copy as a whole group sequencing activity,  by passing the cards out to your students. 

When you get to that part in the story, the child with the matching card, comes up & places it on the ordinal number mat. (Use magnet or Velcro dots to adhere the cards).

After the story, I pass the cards out to different children for a final review.

Remember to grab that teachable moment to practice ordinal numbers as well.

Both the Slider & Wheel packets include a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing.

Use the colorful template to do this as a whole group activity with younger kiddos, discussing beginning, middle & end.

Finally, the storytelling wheels are also a super-fun way for your students to practice the sequencing & retelling standards.

There are 3 wheel “cover” options to choose from.

Choose your favorite, or give students a choice.

When everyone is done, practice telling “There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Rose” using the manipulative.

Simply turn the wheel & call on a child to explain what’s happening in that graphic.

Afterwards, have students pick a partner and take turns retelling the story to each other.

Sometimes we do this with our older, reading buddies.

For more reinforcement, as well as another way to assess comprehension, I’ve also included 2, “color, cut & glue” puzzle worksheets.

Use the two, full-color versions for an independent puzzle center, where children arrange the pieces on a 5-piece pie grid.

There is puzzle for the first half of the story, plus another puzzle for the second half of the tale. To make this center self-correcting, number the pieces on the back using two different colors, which will make sorting easy-peasy.

Another super-fun thing for students to do is to play “Speed”.  Children pick a partner & race eachother to see who will be the first to complete their puzzle. 

Add to the fun by using a dice for the first puzzle. 

Whatever number a child rolls is the number that they put on their puzzle.

If they roll a 6 they lose their turn. 

When doing the second puzzle, children play with two dice, which will help practice simple addition.

Today's featured FREEBIE also has to do with Valentine's Day.

It's a simple, (rip & tear) "I love you to pieces" valentine card, that's lots of fun for your kiddos, while being a great way to help strengthen their finger muscles.

It's perfect for your valentine party day, and is generic enough so you can use it for Mother's Day, Father's Day or Grandparents Day as well.

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

We just had 5 inches of snow dumped on us, so it's time to do a bit of shoveling.

Wishing you a toasty & warm week. 

Click this LINK, and come join the fun on Face Book for my exclusive FREEBIES & Monthly GIVEAWAYS.

Check out my educational Pinterest boards by clicking HERE.

 "The Giving of love, is an education in itself." -Eleanor Roosevelt

I'm Wild About You!

I love zebra’s; they are fun to draw and easily recognizable by little ones, who seem to quickly associate them with the letter Z

I was in Big Lots the other day and picked up some things for my poodle pup Chloe.

Do you know they have designer doo-doo bags for dogs?

Well the nice thing about that, is they are sturdy, come in packs of 60 to 100 for around $3.

This is way less expensive than the designer treat bags for kids, that are smaller, flimsier, and come in packs of 12 – 18, which forces teachers and parents to buy multiple packs.

Now if you can just get past the idea of what their initial purpose is for, you’ll be fine.

Anyway…I bought some with a zebra print, because I wanted to make some “Wild about you” valentines and well…you be the judge, I think they turned out really cute.

It seems that animal prints are quite the rage, as you can buy zebra, leopard and giraffe prints in scrap paper as well as tissue paper. Give students several options for an extra wild February bulletin board, then send the valentines home on party day.

I also made a copy of my doo-doo bag for you to print off, in case you can’t find anything, but I really like the see-through affect that the bag or tissue make.

Run off my heart template on red construction paper and fold.

Remind students to keep their paper folded and cut on the lines. Tell them that if they listen and follow directions they will come up with a special “February shape”.

Your students can make these as a special valentine for their family and/or you can surprise them with a treat bag and use the “Wild about you.” as a hangtag.

Click on the link to view/download the Wild About You Valentine.

Follow this activity up by singing my Z-E-B-R-A song to the tune of Bingo. Click on the link to view/download my Bingo song cards. 

They are a great way to teach clap patterns, letters, spelling and simple subtraction! I have one for each month which will review every letter of the alphabet except X.  The H-E-A-R-T one is a February favorite.

Students can also color this adorable letter Z or turn it into a pinch and poke or dot-to-dot.

Click on the link for the Zebra Z or education.com's entire animal alphabet. It's a terrific site for kids.

Whatever you’re planning for Valentine’s Day, I hope you have a wildly wonderful time!

Do you have any ideas you'd like to share with us?  I'd really enjoy hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com OR... feel free to leave a comment, especially if you use an activity.  Thanks in advance.

Be sure and gallop on over tomorrow for some more fun!

I'm So Glad You Swim In My School!

Lovie, the heart fish, is a wonderful way to review the concept of small, medium and large. His goofy lips remind me of those wax ones I loved wearing when I was a kid!

I really enjoy my Y5’s exclamations of surprise, when they listen and follow directions, keeping their papers folded and cut on the lines. 

I don’t tell students that they are going to make a heart, I inform them that they will be making a special “February shape” then let it be a “surprise”.

They are amazed when they open their papers to see a heart, and can’t wait to cut the rest of their fish parts out. This is a great opportunity to review symmetry with your students too.

Show a finished sample to your students so they know how to glue Lovie together.

You can add a wiggle eye and even some glitter for that extra bit of pizzazz.

I ran mine through a crinkle press that my students fondly call Mr. Cruncher Muncher.

Turning the crank is a great fine motor skill for them. 

It’s one of my favorite “must have” classroom tools and sells for $18.  Buy it with a half-off coupon for any of the major craft stores.  It's perfect to add that finishing touch to any Ellison die-cut and adds pizzazz to patterning. 

Reading the original Rainbow Fish story, is a nice follow up activity. 

Because the Rainbow Fish stories are a fun favorite for Y5's, giving students a color choice for their Lovie heart fish, is nice and makes for a more dramatic and colorful bulletin board. 

Even though they are board books, the Rainbow Fish Colors, Counting, and ABC books, are a great review and popular with little ones too.

Captions:

“We LOVE swimming in our school!”

Include a student’s photo on each fish.

You could glue their pix on an aluminum foil heart or sparkly piece of scrapbook paper, in keeping with the Rainbow Fish's “scale” idea.

Only glue the pointy tip to the middle of the fish so that the fin pops out for a 3-D effect.

 OR… another caption could be:

We’re Fishing For Facts! Turn the fact b. board into a writing prompt.

Have the students write 3-5 facts about themselves, a topic you’re studying, or do some math equations.

Use a separate sheet of paper, or write on the backs of the fish and suspend them from fish line in front of the board.

Click on the link to view/download Lovie, the Valentine-Heart Fish

After your students complete Lovie, have them transition to a game and play: Fishing For Facts with Goldfish crackers!

Younger students roll one dice and cover numbers 1-6, older students write out equations and cover goldfish 2-12.  The child to cover all of their fish first, wins the game.  Combine snack and math for extra timesaving learning fun!

Click on the link to view/download the Fishing For Facts games, which include number and number word flashcards + several skill sheets.

Fitting right in with my valentine fish-theme are these cute Valentine treats. Click on the link to zoom over to Juliann's site for more creative ideas. 

 Do you have any ideas you’d like to share with us?  I’d enjoy hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to post a comment here.

They are very much appreciated, especially if you use an idea.  Thanks in advance.

Since Valentine's Day is coming up fast,  I wrote another article with a quick and easy valentine.  Scroll down for the "I'm Wild About You!"valentine.

Valentine, You Melt My Heart!

I LOVE melted crayon art.

You can do these black-framed templates each month using a different theme (shamrocks for March) and your students will never tire of them.

They have an outstanding stained-glass look, when hung in the windows or make an eye-catching bulletin board, by sprinkling them kitty whompus on a white or aluminum foil background with a paper lace border. Caption: Valentine, You Melt My Heart!

They are quick and easy, with terrific results; who could ask for more? Plus, peeling crayons and manipulating a sharpener, make for wonderful practice with fine motor skills.

Follow the project up with a mini lesson on secondary colors, as your students watch the crayons melt into each other and the yellow and red shavings blend to make a vibrant orange etc.

Here’s how to make a stained-glass crayon melt valentine heart:

Make heart templates from my master out of old file folders.  Students trace them on a sheet of black construction paper.

Make sure to tell them to keep their paper folded in half.

Children cut on the lines, open their paper and are always amazed to find a heart.

If you have a Duplo, simply run off my master on black construction paper, fold the paper and have students cut on the lines.

As children finish, call them up to the melting table.

Lay a towel on the table and put down a sheet of wax paper.

Students have already selected the color crayons they wanted on their heart from the broken crayon tub and have removed the paper wrappings.

Children insert the crayon into the sharpener and twist it once.  Make sure they sprinkle their filings on different spots of the wax paper.

You may want to have them swirl their pile of shavings with a Q-tip before you melt them.

Lay another sheet of wax paper over the top.

Set the iron on the lowest setting and lay it on top of the wax paper for a second.  Lift and put on another spot.

I have experimented with “ironing” the sheet , rubbing it gently back and forth, instead of just pressing it up and down, but found that the colors run too much and smear into a big mess, sometimes ending up to have a  “brownish” color instead of a nice melted many-color effect.

Practice does make perfect here, so you may want to experiment a bit before you start on your students’ projects.

Children brush Elmer’s glue on their black heart frame with a Q-tip and lay it on top of the wax paper.

Press with palms.

Let dry and then cut off the wax paper edges.

Since the backs are lovely too, these look great dangling from the ceiling as well.

Simply punch a hole in the top, make a yarn or ribbon loop and hang.

For another interesting look, have children put tissue paper squares on the wax paper using Elmer's glue. I really like the new CLEAR Elmer's it's perfect for this type of project. 

When dry, brush lightly with Modge Podge and then mount the black heart frame on the top.  They look cute sprinkled lightly with opalescent glitter too!

Do NOT hang in the window, because the sun will fade the tissue paper colors.

Click on the link to view/print the Melted Crayon Valentine Heart directions & pix

These lovely melted crayon hearts made from waxpaper are from Martha Stewart. 

Do you have a valentine idea you could share with us? I'd enjoy hearing from you: diane@teachwithme.com OR...post a comment, especially if you use one of mine! Thanks in advance.

Be sure and stop on in tomorrow for another fun idea.