1-2-3-Come Write With Me!

Are you looking for some quick, easy, and fun writing prompts for the end of the year, or perhaps a sweet bulletin board to end with a bang?

If so, I think you'll really enjoy this "Fin-tastic" End of the Year Writing Prompt packet.

Run off the large fish on a variety of colored construction paper.  Students choose one and cut it out. 

They can glue it to the top of a sheet of writing paper, or add more pizzazz by letting them choose a strip of colorful construction paper to write on.

Before hand, brainstorm with students why they think they will have a fantastic summer vacation. 

To help with spelling, make a list of things they are going to have fun doing and list them on the board.

For more "pow" have students add a wiggle eye and include their school photo on the fin.

Sprinkle their "fin-tastic" work on a bulletin board covered with blue paper.

To make it 3D add twirled creape paper "seaweed" in a variety of lengths and shades of green, to the bottom of the board.

Your caption can be: "We're Wishing You a Fin-tastic Summer!"

I think your students will also enjoy making the other fish and writing about why they had a "fin-tastic" school year. 

This prompt can also be brainstormed.  It's quite gratifying hearing all of the reasons why students enjoyed the year.

This "craftivity" can be hung back-to-back from the ceiling.

Finally, have students choose a partner to make a special card for. 

They write that child's name in the blank and then write why they think they have been a "fin-tastic" friend, classmate, student etc.

When they are done, they give it to their partner. Add a photo and wiggle eyes to make it even more special.

Click on the link to view/download the Fin-tastic Summer Writing Prompt Packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find useful.

Do you have an end of the year activity you enjoy doing with your kiddo's?  I'd love hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com or simply leave a comment here.

"It is not the IQ, but the I Will, that is most important in education." -Unknown

1-2-3- Have Fun Writing About Goals With Me

Pot of Goals is a fun "craftivity" March writing prompt, that reinforces Common Core State Standards: L.K.2a, L.K.2b, RF.K.3d,  RF.K.1c, RF.1.1a, L.1.2b

Simply run off the templates on construction paper. 

Students complete the "goal" coin sentences and add their reasons why.

Remind students to use appropriate capitalization, end punctuation and spacing, when they write their goals on the coins.

Lay out a selection of large construction paper, in the colors of the rainbow.  Only have enough paper so that all of it will be chosen, and you'll have a sampling of every color.

Students cut out their pot and coins, and glue them to the construction paper.

Hang the completed pots, in rainbow color order, on a large wall.  Your title can be: A Rainbow Of Wonderful Writing.

For a bit more pizzazz, have students write their names in rainbow colors, add a school photo + gold and silver glitter.

Click on the link to view/download the March writing prompt: St. Patrick's Day Pot of Goals.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything that you think others may find helpful.

"Learning is not a spectator sport, so let's play!" -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do All Sorts Of Fun Activities With Elmer, Horton and Me!

I am so excited to share this 42-page Horton and Elmer activity packet with you.  I've been working on it all week, and it's finally done! Woo Hoo!

I've tried to design things around quite a few Common Core State Standards so you'll be able to review all sorts of things.

Since students have to compare and contrast, explain data etc.  I thought it would be fun for students to compare 2 of my favorite elephants: Horton and Elmer.

The packet includes:

• Horton 3 character, setting, event cards
• A Horton begginning, middle, and end graphic organizer or anchor chart
• Horton retell the story bookmarks
• Horton who, what, why, when, where, how anchor chart
• Horton who, what, why, when, where writing prompt craftivity
• 15 "Fix the sentence" (with capitalization and end punctuation) Horton cards.
• Label the Horton bookcover anchor chart activity.
• 2 Venn diagrams. 1 compares Horton Hears a Who with Elmer.  The other compares the character of Horton with that of Elmer.
• 2 Hexagon adjective practice activities.
• An Elmer Color Spin Game
• Black & White, and Color Spinners
• 4 graphing extensions
• An elephant mask craftivity
• A find the letters elephant craftivity
• Tally mark activity
• 30 elephant color cards + a cover so that you can make an Itty Bitty booklet. Great for playing all sorts of games.
• Rhyming-alphabetical order worksheets with 47 words that rhyme with who and
• A Horton-Elmer Lollipop certificate of praise.

Click on the link to view/download the Horton and Elmer Activity Packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  For more Horton FREEBIES scroll down to check out a sweet Horton writing prompt "craftivity."

"A person's a person no matter how small!" -Horton, from Dr. Seuss's book Horton Hears A Who

1-2-3 Come Make A Horton and Who With Me!

I always try to design some sort of "craftivity" to go with my lessons.  This helps motivate students to get down to business and stay on task, so that they can transition to the fun center.

I especially love making a manipulative that students can use while I read the story, or to show me that they understand spatial directions.

I've also found that some quiet students really come out of their shell. when they are behind a mask, or talking for a puppet, so I designed a double puppet with this Peek A Boo activity. 

How To Make Horton:  Run off the elephant on gray construction paper. Because of copyright laws I did not draw the “real” Horton.   Students color the tusks white and then cut their elephant out. Add wiggle eyes with glue dots for extra pizzazz.

The toilet paper trunk is simply covered with matching paper. Cut 2 slits so that you shove it between the elephant's tusks.  Students cut out their clover “flower” curl the end of a green pipe cleaner and tape it to the back of the clover.

I fastened a mini white pom pom for the “dust speck” but you could also use a little piece of cotton ball.  Stick the clover to Horton's trunk with a glue dot, or piece of rolled Scotch tape. The little poem on the clover says: Peek-a-me, Peek-a-you-Peek a Who from Whoville too!

Making a Who Popsicle stick Pop Up Puppet:  Tape or glue-dot 2 Popsicle sticks end to end.

I got the picture of the Who from Coloring pages ABC.  They have a variety of licensed characters that you can use to make worksheets to match your themes.

Because of copyrights, I did not make a page of Whos. You can click on the link and check out the Whoville characters you want, and then just copy and paste them into a word document so you can make them smaller.

Run off a master set, rough cut, and let students have a choice of  a Who.  They could also design their own.

Children color their who, trim and glue to the end of the Popsicle stick. I chose this girl from Whoville, because she had a feather on her head, so I added a feather for that finishing touch.

Children manipulate their puppets to show all sorts of spatial directions: “Poke your Who up, down, out, in" etc. "The Who is between the elephant’s eyes."

Students can also manipulate Horton and place him above their head, behind their back, in their left hand, in their right hand etc.  If you don't want to fuss with the toilet paper roll puppet, you can use Horton for all sorts of writing prompts. 

I've included 22 writing prompt  "trunk" templates. Students' completed projects make an adorable Seuss bulletin board, for March is Reading Month.

Click on the link to view/download The Horton Writing Prompt Puppet.  

Thank you for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away. 

"Think left and think right and think low and think high.  Oh the thinks you can think up if only you try!"  -Dr. Seuss