1-2-3 Make a Memory Book With Me.

I LOVE owls and that cute little saying: "Owl" miss... (you fill in what) so I designed an end-of-the-school-year packet with an owl theme using that play on words.  

I'm posting this a bit early, as there is so much to get done towards the end of the school year, that May  was always the month that flew the fastest for me.   If you've been contemplating making some sort of memory booklet, hopefully this will help you out. 

The packet includes several writing prompts for students to write about what they'll miss. 

Run off the cover and student page. Children complete the thought: "Owl" miss... and then illustrate their page.

Collect and collate the pages and bind them into a class book. 

When you share the completed story with your students, have each child read their own page.

Make a copy of your school composite and give each child an oval of themselves to glue on the tummy of the owl.

I've also included a note from the teacher if you're looking for just a little something.  Tuck it in their backpacks for them to discover when they get home.   You can add slits to the page and insert a lollipop if you want. 

"I learned a lot of knOWLedge this year.  Here's a list of my favorites:" is a simple and quick writing prompt bookmark students can color.  This too makes a nice keepsake, and works well for a Daily 5 activity.

There's also a class memory booklet, complete with autograph page, where friends can sign their name on the owl's tummy. 

The beauty of this, is that students can work on their memory book writing prompts for several days, finally finishing the last week of school.  It's a great "something to do" while you get one-on-one assessing done with your students.

I don't know about your state, but Michigan had the worst winter on record and schools all over have quite a few snow days to make up.  My grandsons' last day is June 19th.  Having some copy-ready activities to do can help save your sanity.

You can make their memory book even more special, by taking a last week of school photo of each child doing their favorite subject, activity, or at play during recess; and then have them include it somewhere in their booklet.

Click on the link to view/download the Owl Miss School Packet

To take a look at another FREE end-of-the-year memory book click on the link.  I've included a cover page for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade and a generic one to fill in something else. 

If you run out of time, you can always send the booklet home for a parent to help their child fill out, especially if they complain: "I'm bored!"

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful. My "pin it" button is at the top.

If you teach preschool or kindergarten and are looking for a graduation memory book FREEBIE, scroll down to the next article to take a look.

"A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings becasue it has a song." -Lou Holtz

1-2-3 Come Celebrate Earth Day With Me!

My Y5's enjoyed learning how to care for our planet more than on just Earth Day.  I took an entire week to teach them how even little kids could make a difference by simply turning the water off while they brushed their teeth, as well as not being a litter bug. 

We were always amazed at how much small trash we cleaned up from our playground and fenced in areas, as we went outdoors for "Operation Clean Up!"

We had wonderful discussions of other things we could do and what they as a family were already doing.

A creative way to have students write about how they reduce, reuse or recycle, helping to take care of, and love our earth, is by making the "I Love The Earth" personal writing prompt "craftivity."

Students cut and colored their planet earth and glued it to a heart, where they wrote what they did to help out.

I traced my students' hands and they drew a self portrait to make this a real cute keepsake, as well as an awesome hallway display.

Click on the link to view/download We Love The Earth craftivity.

You can use the Happy Earth Day poster as a center for your spring bulletin board, and then scatter the portraits around it. 

The cans on the poster have letters that say: We Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  Make a copy of your students' school pictures and have them glue it to the lid.

Click on the link to view/download the Earth Day poster.

"My Family Recycles!" Is a quick and easy writing prompt bookmark. Students color their recycling tub and symbol and jot down all of the things their family does to recycle.

Click on the link to view/download the Earth Day bookmark.

Finally, an interesting way to have students examine the importance of recycling, and see what they can do, is to take a look at what their family throws out.

This packet includes a letter to parents, recording data analysis sheet + graphing extensions and a writing prompt craftivity, to pull it all together.

Click on the link to view/download What's In Your Garbage? Earth Day activities.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.

I hope you and yours enjoy being keen and "going green!"

"Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint you can on it." -Danny Kaye

1-2-3 Come Have Fun Becoming a Pirate and Writing With Me!

Since pirates continue to be an extremely popular theme, I've been working on a variety of activities this week.

I just completed these two, so if you are looking for a fun writing prompt before students leave for spring break, I think your students will enjoy making a class book entitled: Arrrr You Ready For Spring Break?

If your spring break has come and gone, you can make this booklet in May or June and have students write about what they are going to be doing over the summer. 

This class book is entitled: Arrrr You Ready For Summer Vacation?

I've included insert pages for both.  There's a girl pirate page, as well as one for the boys.

Students trace the beginning sentence and then complete the thought.

When they are done, they illustrate their page.

Make the book even more of a keepsake by having students glue their school picture over the face of the pirate and then color it.

Collect the pages, laminate and collate the book.

Make sure you do a sample for yourself as well.

When you read the book to your class, have each student come up and read their own page.

Making a monthly class book is a wonderful way to show student progress and are great items to set out for Parent-Teacher conferences.

Click on the link to view/print the Arrrrr You Ready spring and summer writing prompt packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  Be sure and check back in a week to see what other pirate things I've designed, and if you're into "mustache mania" you'll love the mustache activities I'll be posting tomorrow!

Feel free to PIN anything you think others might find helpful.

"Don't ignore the small things.  The kite flies because of its tail." -Hawaiian Proberb