1-2-3 Come Do Some Lion & Lamb Activities With Me.      

The simile “March roared in like a lion then left like a lamb” basically holds true for weather here in Michigan.

Because of that, I designed an entire “lion & lamb” weather-themed packet, which is very versatile.

It’s chock full of a huge variety of activities that are suitable for different grades & skill levels. (PK-3rd).

I introduce March with Marion Bauer’s book, “In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb”, which was the inspiration behind the “door dangler” writing prompt craft in the packet, as a lion comes knocking at a little boy's front door.

The story is wonderfully illustrated with short rhyming text, perfect for introducing metaphor & simile  to older students as well.

“March comes with a roar.  He rattles your windows and scratches at your door.
He turns snow to mud, then tromps across your floor.
March comes with winter clinging to his tail.
He scatters sleet and sometimes even hail.”

My Young Fives absolutely love the lion & lamb weather analogy, which is perfect for introducing a variety of weather conditions to them.

I designed a set of pocket chart cards for this, as well as made a collection of 32 photographs that depict a variety of "real" lion & lamb-like weather. There are 2-on-a-page for quick printing.

To whole-group assess their ability to identify, then classify the weather, I made a set of 6 lion & lamb Popsicle stick puppet pals. Choose your favorite or give children a choice.

They color, cut & glue a lion & lamb back-to-back, then insert a Popsicle stick.

Teacher shows a pocket chart, weather card. 

Students decide if that type of weather is a lion or a lamb, flipping their “puppet paddle” accordingly.

You can also ask them about their current weather, or to vote whether they think March will come in like a lion or lamb, as well as predict what the weather will be on the last day of March.

I"ve included 3 graphing extensions for this.

The photo-posters can also be used like the weather cards. What clues in the photograph make them think that the weather is lamb-like, or was the result of a lion-kind of day.  

The photographs can also be used to inspire a writing prompt, where kiddos pick a picture then make a list of adjectives that describe it, write a descriptive sentence, paragraph, poem or short story. 

For an awesome bulletin board, display the photo next to students' completed work. 

Younger kiddos can sort the pictures using the lion & lamb sorting mats.  Make an extra set and cut them into puzzles to use for an independent center. 

We also track the weather for the month of March with a "color, cut & glue" calendar worksheet, with a culminating math activity, which practices, counting, comparison, greater & less than, as well as tally marks & graphing.  

Older students can record their data and analysis in the March Weather Journal, which is an interesting & fun diary-type writing assignment.  

All of the activities come in color as well as BW for kiddos. 

I've also included a super-fun variety of writing prompt craftivities.

Didn't  matter what grade I taught, as soon as I tossed in a bit of hands-on craftiness, my students were riveted and couldn't wait to begin.  

The beauty of these "craftivities" is that they can be completed by little ones, as well as older students who will write more in-depth. 

So that they fit your students' skill levels, I give you a list of writing prompt suggestions.

Simply pick which one's appropriate for your students or give them a choice.  

I've also given you the ability to choose how you wish to display them. 

Children can make a booklet, horizontal/vertical display, or dangler that's suspended from the ceiling.

To slide in the poetry genre, I've also included a poster-poem for William Cullen Bryant’s “Stormy March”.

There are 100+ pages of games, centers, whole-group activities, anchor chart-posters, worksheets, and Venn diagrams.

Besides the black & white templates, so you can quickly & easily make samples, or do activities as a whole group with little ones, I’ve also included full-color patterns for all of the activities.

To save you even more time, I tucked in my completed writing sample templates, so you don't have to make up your own. 

If your students are like mine, they'll give their "best effort" because these prompts are especially fun for them. Added bonus: completed projects make a terrific spring bulletin board.

Today's featured FREEBIE is "Wind Tricks" ; a 31-page poetry packet, which includes the games "Windy Words" and "Blow Some Words My Way", along with a variety of quick, easy and fun "rhyme time" activities.  I hope you find it useful. 

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

The weather finally feels like spring today (high 60s) so out to the garden I go for some much-needed clean up.

"Why try to explain miracles to your kids, when you can just have them plant a garden." -Robert Brault

1-2-3 Come Do Some Saint Paddy's Day Activities With Me   

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, so I've been busy designing a few things for that week.  Today's blog features 4 of my favorites, plus the featured FREEBIE of the day.  

First up is the quick, easy and fun "Pot Of Goals" writing prompt craftivity.    Students complete the "goal" coin sentence prompts.

Coin Prompts: "I want to...", "I want to be...", "I want to go...", "I want to learn...", "I want to see...", "I want to read..."

Younger kiddos can dictate a one-word response, while older students also include a reason why. 
So that you can program your own, I've also included a set of blank coins.

Mount on rainbow-colored construction paper, and hang in an arch in rainbow-color order, on a large wall. 
Your title can be: "A Rainbow Of Wonderful Writing". 

Next is a shamrock glyph, which is a super-fun little something to do on St. Paddy's Day, or whenever... 

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs.  They are a quick, easy and interesting way to practice and assess listening and following directions.

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, and are also an interesting way to get to know your students; plus completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different!

To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students pick a partner to "interview", to help them figure out which glyph is their partner's.  I've included a data collection worksheet for this, challenging them to try and solve the "mystery" with the least amount of questions.

I've also included 6, whole-group graphing extensions, to practice another math standard. 

A Shamrock Venn Friend  is also a super-fun way to get to know your students better.  These too make an adorable bulletin board for March, and are a visual way to practice "comparison-contrast" writing.  

Introduce the lesson with the "What's a Venn diagram?" poster, then have children partner up.

To help them do a thorough job completing their Venn diagram and jump start the writing process, I've included a list of 40 questions that they can choose from to discuss with their partner.

Each student does their own "different" portion of their shamrock. Afterwards, the two-some glues their shamrock to the “pot of gold”, and takes turns filling in the “same” section oval, which is then glued to the top of the pot.

For that finishing touch, students color their leprechaun, add a school photograph on the leprechaun’s face, then glue it to their side of the Venn diagram.

For added fun, and to practice another standard that mixes math with literacy, I’ve also included a graphing extension. 

Finally, the St. Paddy's-Themed CVC Word Packet is a personal favorite. 

To break things down, the packet focuses on 100 CVC words that begin with the letters "L is for leprechaun"; "M is for March"; "P is for Patrick", and "S is for shamrock.”

The packet includes:
* A Celtic shamrock craftivity that reinforces CVC words beginning with the letter S
* A leprechaun craftivity that reinforces CVC words beginning with the letter L.

* I’ve also included dice and spinner games, plus …
* A whole-group "Feed the leprechaun” review game, with a matching, mini- independent "Feed the leprechaun" activity.

There are…
* Long and short vowel sorting mats,  5 bookmarks for CVC word writing, 26 alphabet shamrock cards, with 20 extra vowel shamrock cards, plus  4 CVC worksheets with 4 anchor chart answer keys.  I've also included . . .

* 100 black & white “trace & write” CVC word cards, with covers to make Itty Bitty booklets, 100 mini-CVC word cards, and 100 full-color CVC word cards to use for flashcards, pocket charts, games, puzzles etc.

Finally, there's a "Super Shamrock Sentences” worksheet, 4-page tip list of ideas, games and activities to use the various word cards for, plus a certificate of praise for "wonderful word work." 

Today's FREEBIE also has a St. Paddy's Day theme. It's a set of 16 number "strip" puzzles, which help practice sequencing numbers from 1-10, counting backwards from 10-1, plus skip counting by 10s to 100.

I've included full-color puzzles to use in a center, as well as some black and white ones, so that kiddos can make their own. They are vertical as well as horizontal.  

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.The sun is shining and even the tall, ugly piles of dirty snow have started to melt. 

Hooray!  Spring is finally on its way.  Wishing you a carefree day filled with springtime fun.

"Spring: The season of rebirth, renewal and regrowth!" -Unknown

8 pages

After reading Dr. Seuss's book, What Was I Scared Of?  (Also found in The Sneetches) discuss what kinds of things people are afraid of and how they can overcome their fears. 

10 pages.

After reading Dr. Seuss's If I Ran The Circus, have students transition to either of these interesting writing prompts.  One is a class book.  Choose which writing prompt you want your students to do.  They complete their page and illustrate it.  Collect and collate the pages.  Read your class book aloud by having each student share the page that they wrote.

5 pages.

This is a take off of Dr. Seuss's book On Beyond Zebra, which is about all of the letters that come after Z. In the beginning of the story, Cornelius is bragging that he knows all of the letters from A to Z.  He's shocked to find out that there are more!

7 pages.

After reading Dr. Seuss's ABC book, create a silly, creature-filled alphabet book of your own.  Print and trim the mini letter tiles.  Toss them into a Seuss hat.  Students choose one, glue it to their page and think of a creature that starts with that letter. 

1-2-3 Come Do S'more Seuss Activities With Me

To help get the wiggles out after story hour, we sang songs.  Singing lightened up the day and taught a variety of skills. 

With that in mind, I thought other teachers might be doing the same thing and looking for something with a Seuss theme, so I used the tune to B-I-N-G-O and substituted the letters with Seuss. 

I've included letter cards, so that you can put them on your flannel or white board and then take one down as you sing each verse. (This is also a teachable moment for subtraction.)

As I was singing, to make sure of the beat, my husband walked in and started singing a goofy little ditty to the tune of Brother John, so of course I had that song stuck in my head and wrote a second Seuss song.   Click on the link to view/download Some Seuss Songs.

I'm working on a list of characters and nonsense words in each book, (a massive under taking, so who knows when I'll finish!) To do so, I'm slowly reading all of the Seuss books that I have in my vast collection (almost 50). 

Since I'm always multi-tasking, I jotted down writing prompts that popped into my head while reading.  Here are a few that I've finished.  These make wonderful class books, and there's more to come, so stay tuned!

First, hot off the press, is a class book entitled: Feature Creatures Plus One Teacher.

This is a different way to have students practice the alphabet, along with their writing skills, and is an interesting transition after you read Dr. Seuss's Alphabet book.  

Make a copy of the letter tiles; toss them into a Seuss hat and have students  pick a letter card and glue it to their page.

Children write their upper and lowercase letter on the blank and then think up a creature that starts with that letter, afterwards drawing a picture underneath.  This should NOT be a real creature like Zz is for Zebra. 

Students need to use their imagination and think up a silly creature just like Dr. Seuss does: "Ff Four fluffy feathers on a fiffer-feffer-feff." Pre-K kids can stop there, but encourage older students to write a few sentences. 

Challenge them to use rhyming words, as well as some tongue-twisting alliteration, to make things more “Seussical."

For example, Zz is for a Zigglewag who likes to play wiggle tag.  He eats zinnias, zingles and zag, all of which make me personally gag.  or Bb is for Boomtoot, who's from Bangladoot and likes to eat fruit, especially bapples, belon and bloot.  

I've included Suess-font letter cards, student and teacher writing pages, plus a sample.  Click on the link to view/download the Feature Creatures Plus One Teacher class book.

Another Alphabet book I think your students will enjoy making is On Before Ant. This is a take off of Dr. Seuss's book On Beyond Zebra, which is about all of the letters that come after  Z. In the beginning of the story, Cornelius is bragging that he knows all of the letters from A to Z. 

He's shocked to find out that there are more!   "Then he almost fell flat on his face on the floor, when I picked up some chalk and drew one letter more. A letter he never had dreamed of before..."  like the letter Snee, which is for "...sneedle, a terrible kind of ferocious mos-keedle.  Whose hum-dinger stinger is as sharp as a needle. "

All of these goofy letters have a name and symbol.   I thought it would be fun to make a class book of all of the pretend letters that might possibly come before the letter A. 

Run off copies of the inside page and have students think up a letter, design it, and then give an example of something that starts with that letter,  finishing up with an illustration. 

After students share their work, collect the pages, collate and make into a class book. Click on the link to view/download the On Before Ant class book. 

Finally, another fun writing prompt has to do with Seuss's book If I Ran The Circus.

The packet includes a class book with two writing prompts to choose from, as well as a 3D cylinder "craftivity."

Students color and cut out their circus tent and then attach their completed writing prompt paper to either side, so that they can bend it into a cylinder shape. 

The photo shows the various views of a completed project.  Punch holes on either side, add a yarn loop and suspend from the ceiling.

For that finishing touch, children add a toothpick flag, and then choose either a clown or a ringmaster to color and glue their photo on top of that face. 

They glue "themselves" to the inside of the tent, so it looks like they are peeking out of the door flap.  Click on the link to view/download the If I Ran The Circus Writing Craftivity packet. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  For another cute Seuss writing prompt, scroll down and you'll find a 3D balloon "craftivity" perfect for Seuss's book Oh The Places You'll Go.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing's going to get better.  It's not!" -Dr. Seuss

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

Let’s celebrate the DAYS…

• March 1^st is Plan A Solo Vacation Day. Here’s $10,000.  Where are you going; what are you doing; how long are you going to be gone? Details please!
• March 3^rd is I Want You To Be Happy Day!   Write about several things that make you really happy and why.  Or… Write about who you want to make happy and how you go about doing that.
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• March 4^th is Courageous Follower Day.  They say that one should have the courage to die for the things they believe in.  Do you have strong convictions about something that you are willing to die for?  What are they?  Or… do you have a hero that you think is really courageous; a person that you look up to?  Why?
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• USA Memory Day is March 5^th.  What’s your favorite childhood memory?  You’re in a Time Machine and I’ve just warped you back to that year.  Tell me about it.
• Daughters’ and Sons’ Day is March 7^th.  Pretend you are a parent.  If you are a girl, you have a daughter.  If you are a boy, you have a son.  What have you named your child?  What do they look like?  Will you raise them like your parents are raising you or will you do things differently?  Why or why not?
•  
• It’s Mardi Gras the 8^th.  Check out the famous one in New Orleans, then picture this scenario: I’ve just given you $5,000.  You can fly there with 3 friends.  Who are you taking?  How long will you stay?  Where will you go? What will you do?  Where will you stay?  Details please-start to finish. Or… you have $2,000 and can have a Mardi Gras party here.  Tell me all about it from the invites to the decorations; from your guests to the food and entertainment and where it will be held.
•  
• It’s Get Over It Day! on the 9^th. Who would you like to “Get Over” What? It can be yourself, friends, parents or people in general.  Why so you want them to "Get over it"?
• March 9^th is also Panic Day! What types of things throw you in an utter panic?  What can you do to settle yourself down?  Who is best at calming you?
• It’s International Day of Awesomeness on March 10^th.  What would make a truly awesome day for you? Or…who is the most awesome person you know and why are they so awesome?
•  
• Donald Duck Day is March 13^th.  Out of all the cartoon characters past or present, which one are you most like and why?
• Daylight Saving Time begins on March 13^th.  Do you like Daylight Saving Time?  Why or why not? What do you plan to do with the extra hours of daylight?
• March 14^th is International Ask A Question Day.  You can ask anyone living or dead one question and they will give you a correct answer! Who and what will you ask and why?
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• It’s Brutus Day the 15^th. Have you ever been bullied?  Tell me about it.  Or… here’s the scenario:  You see 2 young children being bullied on the playground at recess.  Both of them are crying.  What do you do?
• Absolutely Incredible Kid Day is March 17^th. You’re in charge of giving this award away.  Who do you give it to and why?  Or… Incredible Kid is a super hero and it’s you!  What kinds of powers do you have and how do you make your school, family and the world a better place?
• 
  
• Happy St. Patrick’s Day March 17^th.  You catch a leprechaun and he has to grant you 3 wishes.  What are they and why are you wishing them? Or… you’ve followed the leprechaun to the end of the rainbow and he must give you his pot of gold.  How much is in it and what do you spend it on and why?
•  
• It’s Awkward Moments Day the 18^th.  What’s the most awkward moment you’ve ever had? If you could do it over what would you do differently?
• Forgive Mom and Dad Day is the 18^th. Do you have to forgive your mom and dad for anything? Why is forgiveness important?  Why is it hard sometimes?  Is there anyone in your life right now that you need to forgive? How do you go about doing that?
• March 22^nd is As Young As You Feel Day.  If you could go back to being a certain age again would you?  Why or why not.  If yes, what age would you like to be again and why?
•  
• It’s International Goof – Off Day the 22^nd.  Your teachers have said you can goof off all day at school!  Sounds fun, but this could be sort of boring.  All day is a long time, because you can’t leave school.  So what are your plans?
•  
• National Puppy Day is March 23^rd.  You can have any puppy you like.  What does he/she look like?  What do you name him/her?
• March 23^rd is Kick Butts Day. Have you ever been tempted to smoke a cigarette? Would you like to try it? Why or why not?  Do your parents/grandparents smoke?  How do you feel about this?  Or… Is your state a smoke free state?  How do you feel about that?
• Make Up Your Own Holiday Day is March 26^th.  Go for it! What’s the name of your holiday and what are you celebrating and why?

• March 31^st is Mule Day. Are you stubborn?  Do you think it’s important to be stubborn about some things? Why or why not?

That’s it for the DAYS…

Now for the WEEKLY celebrations…

• It’s National Write A Letter of Appreciation Week the 1-7^th. Who do you appreciate? Well what are you waiting for?  Write them a letter telling them how much you appreciate what they do!
• The 6-12^th is Celebrate Your Name Week.  Do a little research then write about it.  Ask your parents why they named you what they did.  Do you like your name?  Why or why not?  What does your name mean? What are a few famous people that have your name?  How popular is you’re name? Google names and you’ll find all sorts of cool sites and info.
•  
• National Words Matter Week is also the 6^th-12^th.  What are some words that really matter to you?  Do they need to be said to someone special?  How ‘bout saying them and writing down how that felt.  OR…writing them down and delivering an anonymous message.
• This is a busy week as it’s also Read an E-Book Week.  Read a short one and then compare that to a paper one you’ve read.  Write a 2-paragraph compare and contrast paper of which media you like better.  Or… do you think our society will ever become paperless?  Why or why not?  Share pro’s/con’s to that as well as your feelings.
• Moving on to the 7^th-13^th leads us to National Procrastination Week!  Are you a procrastinator? Would you like to change?
• It’s Wildlife Week the 13-20.  If you could be any animal in the wild what animal would you like to be and why? Or… out of all the animals running wild which one are you most like and why?
• Sherlock Holmes Weekend is the 18^th-20^th.  Snuggle up with your buds and rent a classic as well as read a short story about this great detective then compare the two.  Write about which you liked better.  Or… You’re the detective.  Someone’s been kidnapped from your school!  How do you go about solving the crime?

Celebrating all MONTH long:

• It’s Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month.  You HAVE to carry this little critter with you at ALL times.  What’s his name?  What does he look like?  How do you explain him to your family, teachers, and friends?  You write the story.
• It’s Deaf History Month. To experience how this might feel plug your ears with cotton or ear plugs.  Meditate for a while how awful it would be to have this disability and then write about it.  Or… if you had to give up one of your senses which one would it be and why did you choose that one.  Or… how can you as one person be kinder to the handicapped? Or… go online to one of the ASL sites and learn how to say at least 2 things in sign language and then write about which ones you chose and why.  Then communicate in sign with a friend.

• It’s International Ideas Month.  You’ve just received the green light for your patent.  What’s your idea and how will it help mankind?
• You’re in charge of Music in Our Schools Month.  Besides being allowed to play 10 minutes worth of music at the end of the day what else have you planned for students in your school and what music do you plan to play each day?
• National Athletic Training Month is going on.  You’ve been invited to join the team of your dreams! Which one is it and why is that the sport for you?
• It’s National Color Therapy Month. So if colors improve a person’s mood what color have you decided to wear all month and paint your room?  You’ve been given $2,000 for this makeover! Tell me about it!
• March is National Eye Donor Month.  Here’s the scenario.  You’ve been in an awful car accident where you lost your sight.  A young person was killed in the other vehicle and donated their eyes and they are now yours.  Tell me about this wonderful gift of sight and how you feel.
• It’s National Kite Month and you’re at the annual Kite Festival in Japan.  What does your kite look like.  Who’s with you and do you win?
• March is On-Hold Month.  Being put on-hold drives me crazy! What kinds of things really bug you and what can you do to keep them from driving you bananas?
• March is National Women’s History Month.  Pick a woman in history, do some research and write a 2-paragraph summary about them.
• It’s Optimism Month.  Do you see the glass as half full or half empty?  What are the advantages of being an optimist?
• It’s Poison Prevention Awareness Month. National Inhalant and Poisons Awareness Week is the 20-26^th.  Here’s the scenario:  You go over to your friend’s home and they are ill from sniffing glue.  What do you do?  Why is this wrong and a dangerous thing to do?  How can you help and advise your friend?
• The Ocean Festival Season begins March 5^th and runs through June 13^th.  If you could be any creature mythical or real under the sea what would you be and why?  Or… you’re the captain of a treasure hunting crew. You seek out sunken vessels.  You’ve just found one! Tell me about your adventure from start to exciting finish.

I hope some of these national day, week and month-long celebrations get your students enthused about writing.  I truly believe that if students are excited about a topic they will WANT to write.  The more they write the better they'll get.  The better they write, the more they'll want to write.  It's like the  proverbial snowball rolling down the hill. 

Since it's almost springtime, let's use the analogy of a pebble thrown into a thawing pond where the ripples continue to reverberate!  So, as always, by all means....

WRITE ON!