1-2-3 Come Go On An Elf Ed-venture With Me!

Woo hoo!  It seems that The Elf On A "Classroom" Shelf activities, have been the kinds of things visitors have been looking for.   (Scroll down to the last two blog articles to check things out.)   I hope you enjoy these latest FREEBIES just as much.

Since teachers have commented on how the "sliders" are a nice way to "sneak" in a little art, with all of those standards, I decided to design "Jingle" the elf slider. 

There are sliders (strips of paper that students slide up and down) for upper and lowercase letters, numbers to 30, counting backwards from 10 to 0 as well as 20 to 0 + skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's. They are a quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess.

If you don't want to make a slider, have students make a "Belly Booklet."  They can practice writing letters, numbers, words, their name, or whatever else you're working on, and record things on just-the-right-size pages.  Click on the link to view/download Jingle, the Elf Slider Packet.

Venn diagrams are a wonderful way to help your little elves compare and contrast.  Click on the link to view/download the 13 Venn diagrams with an interesting elf theme.  Pick one for your kiddos, or give them a choice.

Since Diary of a Wimpy Kid is really popular with children, I decided to make a Diary of a Wimpy Elf. I had a fun time designing this packet, and think your students will enjoy decorating their "top secret" file-folder diary and making entries as an elf, who is recording his/her activities and adventures. 

I've included "spy stickers" to decorate their diaries with, or use them as incentives for great writing, excellent effort, wonderful improvement etc.  There are also 2 diary-page templates that you can also use.  Click on the link to view/download Diary of a Wimpy Elf.

Here's the scenario to help jumpstart your students' writing: Imagine being the smallest and weakest elf at the North Pole.  You so want to help Santa, but everyone thinks you are too little, too dumb and too weak to do anything but be a candy cane tester, licking a sample from each batch to make sure they taste just right. 

To make matters worse, the only thing "big" about you are your feet and ears.  They are ginormous!  This little elf constantly daydreams about all of the adventures he’d go on as a super-spy for Santa. 

After all, being little has its advantages.  He could hide almost anywhere; and his huge ears help him hear just about anything. His humongous feet allow him to ski down slippery slopes, without having to put real skis on! 

Give your students this background information (included in the packet) and have them become that tiny elf, with the giant feet, huge ears and big heart.  Have them write about what they do and how they feel. I've also included 30 crazy writing prompts to jump-start their creative minds, hopefully causing a few giggles.

Encourage them to name their elf and draw cartoon-like pictures in their diary, like Jeff Kinney does in his book.  When your elf activities are winding down, have students write a few pages where they "save the day" and become a highly respected, and depended-upon elf,  who is a very special spy for Santa.  Click on the link to view/download The Diary of a Wimpy Elf.

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  I hope your kiddos get excited about doing a bit of creative writing.  I still remember Mr. Voseteig reading a Harriet the Spy book to us in 5th grade. 

We all got to have our special "spy notebook" to write in.  My creative writing juices went wild, and it was my first A+ ... I was hooked.  The excitement of that spy book, gave way to Nancy Drew books, which became my favorite. I've been a life-long lover of reading and writing ever since.

“I'll be famous one day, but for now I'm stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons." - Greg Heffley,”  (-Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid.)

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Gingerbread Activities With Me

I decided to design some easy readers that cover a variety of standards using a gingerbread theme.

I hope you'll enjoy the Let's Count Gingerbread packet.  Students trace and write the number; color it, and circle it in the sequence.  They also add end punctuation to the sentences.

I've included 2 different sets of gingerbread number cards to 20, with a 2-page tip list of all sorts of things you can do with them, including games like Kaboom; + several "trace & write the number" worksheets, as well as a few "What's Missing?" activities and a traceable bookmark you can use as an assessment tool.

When students have completed the packet, you can give them a certificate of praise. Click on the link to view/download the Let's Count Gingerbread packet.  

One of my most downloaded easy-readers are the 10-Frame booklets, so I wanted to make one for gingerbread.  Click on the link to grab the 1-2-3 Count Gingerbread With Me one. 

Because this book is based on a 10-Frame, I've also designed a set of gingerbread 10 frames.  Click on the link to view/download the Gingerbread 10 Frames.

Finally, one of my Y5's favorite gingerbread activities started with me giving them a gingerbread cookie. 

If you're not a baker (I am not; the 1st time I attempted brownies, my son said they tasted like hockey pucks(!) and I'm wondering when he bit into one of those?) you can buy a box of Keebler gingerbread cookies or another brand.  They always have them in the grocery stories in December.

Any hoo, I told my students to take only 1 bite and then to freeze.  We graphed who bit off what part of the gingerbread. 

In the 10 years I taught Y5's, every year the head was bit off the most, and my quieter students almost always bit off an arm.  I wonder if one can draw any conclusions from these experiments?

If you'd like to do this with your kiddo's I included a graph of the parts, as well as a graph of who does and doesn't like gingerbread. 

These can be found in the Our Gingerbread Class Book packet.  Students fill in their name and what part of the gingerbread they bit off first and then draw a picture.  Collect the pages, collate and make a class book.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  I design and blog daily so after you finish running as fast as you can, doing a zillion things, I hope you'll have time to pop by tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES.

"A little sugar, a lot of spice, a woman shaped him … oh so nice. He’s made of dough, with a golden tan; the closest thing to the perfect man!" -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Gingerbread Activities With Me

I LOVE drawing gingerbread boys and girls.  Each one has their own personality.  I try to give them that cuteness factor with special eyes and grins.  Since the "craftivities" I post are pretty popular, I decided to revamp a few favorites.

Gingerbread Cookie Counting now has a variety of traceable number sequences.  Choose one for your kiddo's to trace and write.  I've included counting to 20, counting backwards from 10 to 0 or 20 to 0 + skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, or 10's. 

Children cut and collate their little booklet and staple the edge.  Glue the last page on the box on the gingerbread's belly and you're all set.  Click on the link to view/download the Gingerbread Cookie Counting packet.

Look closely at the picture and you'll see that the cheek portion of the gingerbread is a pocket!  Students paint 2 paper plates brown.  When they are dry, cut one in half and staple it bottom-up, to the "face" of the gingerbread man to make a pocket. 

Children decorate their pocket to look like a gingerbread man's face, and fill with a variety of little accordion-folded books.  I up-dated this packet so that all of the booklets are now traceable. There are strips for counting to 36, skip counting by 2's, 3's 5's, and 10's.

I've also included templates for the hexagon, pentagon and octagon shapes.  Click on the link to view/download the Gingerbread Pocket Pal.

Every month I put up a new paper chain that contained a link for each day in the month.  I used it to review a variety of standards.  We'd count the links and subtract one by tearing it off; we'd identify the colors in English and Spanish and state what the pattern was. 

Children would count how many were left in English and then up to 10 in Spanish.  Students told me that the number of links was greater yesterday than they were today etc. 

As a great fine motor skill, I'd sometimes have my Y5's make their own paper chains.  They could take it home, hang it up and countdown the days to whatever special occassion was happening that month.  I designed the gingerbread paper chain with all of this in mind.  Click on the link to view/download it.

Another fun way to get some number recognition and counting sequences in, is to have students put together gingerbread 10-piece number-strip puzzles. There's one that counts to 10, another that counts backwards and finally one that counts by 10's. 

Print, laminate and trim and have students place the pieces on the numbered grid, or run off copies for everyone; they trim and then glue back together.  Click on the link to view/download the gingerbread puzzles. 

I made a gingerbread dice game with a 6-piece puzzle as well.  Students pick a partner and take turns rolling the dice.  Whatever number they roll, they place that numbered puzzle piece on the grid.  The first one to complete their puzzle is the winner.

I've also included a black and white set if you want to run off copies for all of your kiddo's.  They color and trim. 

They can either glue their rolled pieces to the grid, or place them on so that they can take their gingerbread puzzle home and play again. Click on the link to view/download the Gingerbread 6-Piece Puzzle packet.

I hope your students will also enjoy the Gingerbread Number Fun packet. This 33-page packet is chock full of all sorts of activities to help students recognize numbers; add and subtract; make groups and sets; show greater and less than; and count from any number.

I've included gingerbread number cards from 1 to 126, with a blank template for you to program with more.  There's also trace and write the number worksheets, "what's missing?" worksheets + skip counting activities by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's.  Skip counting bookmarks to use as rewards, are also included. Click on the link to view/download the Gingerbread Number Fun packet.

Finally, since the Clothespin Number Matching games have been so popular,  I decided to make some winter ones as well, and started with gingerbread.  Click on the link to view/download the Gingerbread Clothespin Number Matching Game.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  If you'd like to take a look at the awesome educational things I spend way too much time pinning, click on the heart to the right of the article. 

I design and blog daily so I hope you can stop by tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES.

"Come sit at my table and share with me, warm gingerbread cookies and cinnamon tea." -Unknown

1-2 3 Come Do Some Skelton Activities With Me!

Since it's October, it seemed fitting to plug in a few skeletons, so I was diddling around with the idea of making a math packet around the play on words "Numb Skulls." 

If you don't do Halloween-themed things, the skulls are perfect for a pirate theme too, or perhaps you can use them as centers when your kiddo's study about bones and the human body.

I think your students will enjoy rolling 2 dice to make additon or subtraction equations on their "Numb Skull" and then solving them.  They write in their answer and color that many teeth. 

Students can play independently or with a partner.   Once I started designing with the skulls, more ideas kept popping into my brain, 'til I had a whopping 46-page Numb Skull packet that covers a variety of Common Core State Standards!

Lots of the items are very versatile.  The number cards with number words, can be cut into puzzles, or run off so students can make an Itty Bitty Counting booklet, which is a nice activity for your Daily 5 word work.

You can also use them for a Memory Match game, or to play "I Have; Who Has?"  Add the "Kaboom!" bomb cards to make things more exciting. 

The packet includes:                                                            A Numb Skull slider, where students trace the numbers from 0-30, or insert a skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, or 10's number strip. 

There's also a slider for counting backwards from 10 to 0 and 20 to 0.

I've included several games as well. There's A Numb Skull addition and subtraction game, plus  a Count to 100 Numb Skull game, where students add the dice that they roll and then  X-off that many skulls 'til they have added their way to 100.

Skull number cards from 0-120 also provide options for even more games.  Since the numbers are at the top of the skull, play a game of "What number am I thinking of?"

Students choose a card and then give classmates clues.  i.e. "My number is odd. It's greater than 20, but less than 27.  When you add 11 and 10 together, you'll know my number.

I've also included matching math symbol cards, so students can make equations. Use the blank skull cards to program with whatever, or to make groups/sets for the equations students create.

There are some Trace and Write the numbers from 0-120 worksheets, as well as quite a few What's Missing worksheets for numbers 0-120, plus all of the skip counted numbers.

There are several puzzles that you can use in a variety of ways, as well as Odd Todd and Even Steven skeleton sorting mats.  When students have completed whatever you deem appropriate, give them a certificate of praise for a job well done.

Click on the link to view/download the Numb Skull Math packet. 

Since I get quite a few requests for telling time activities, I decided to whip together a Numb Skull clock and a few telling time to the hour and half hour games too.

This packet includes analog as well as digital time cards that you can use as flashcards, or to play games with.   Click on the link to view/down load the It's Numb Skull Time packet.

Well that's it for today; thanks for visiting.  I'm off to take a drive in the country with my hubby. 

The fall colors have peaked and a windy afternoon with a bit of rain, threatens their ability to cling onto branches for too much longer. 

Even though it's a bit chilly, a nice cup of apple cider at our farmer's market will warm things up.                                                                                      Wishing you a lovely day.

"One man who has a mind and knows it, can always beat ten men who haven't and don't." -George Bernard Shaw

1-2-3 Come Do Some Leaf Activities With Me

 I enjoy making simple booklets that cover a variety of standards, so teachers have an instant math center.  You can print and laminate the Leaf Count booklet and leaf tiles (there are 4 sets to choose from) and then keep the manipulatives and booklet in a manilla envelope.  Children can complete the booklet using the tiles.  Students can also use the leaf tiles to count, sort and pattern with. These are nice activities when children complete other work and are asking: "What do I do now?"

If you're looking for a whole group activity, run off copies of the booklet for each student.  They can make leaves by using a Q-tip, mini-bingo dauber, leaf stamp, leaf stickers, cut up leaf tiles, or their finger prints, pressed onto a fall-colored stamp pad. When everyone has completed their leaf counting booklet, read it as a whole group and then send home to reinforce the lessons.  I know that quite a few teachers are looking for fun, yet relevant homework to send, and this booklet is perfect for that too. Click on the link to view/download the Leaf Counting booklet.

For more fall number practice, I've designed a worksheet packet with a leaf theme.  Children practice tracing and writing numbers as they count from 1 to 120 and skip count by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's.  I've also included "What's Missing?" worksheets where students fill in whatever number is missing.  Click on the link to view/download the Leaf Number packet.  These are also great for homework, or a sub-folder.

Thanks for visiting today.  I design and try to blog every day, so I hope you can stop by tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES hot off the press.  Feel free to PIN away.    If you'd like to take a peek at all of the cute educational things I spend way too much time pinning, click on the heart button to the right. 

"If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him." -Benjamin Franklin

1 page.

Wonderful bookmark to help children review skip counting by 10's.

Let's Keep Things Rolling! More Math Games With A Dice Theme

I made Dice Game Stuff to go with the addition, subtraction, greater & less than dice games featured in the last 2 articles.

Click on the link to view/download the packet.

Whenever I taught a concept to my Y5’s I liked to stick with a theme.

It kept things simple, organized and less complicated for them.

I also had everything I needed handy and things just seem to flow from one transition into the next.

I could also overlap the various subjects too.

Here are some things you can do with these items:

The Make your own dice is a nice home-school connection where students can practice their cutting skills, something for a sub folder, or that extra activity students can do when they’ve finished everything else.

Run it off on cardstock. Give students a jingle bell to glue inside for added fun.

The large red dice make perfect flashcards when young students are learning to identify groups with a number.

Print them off, laminate, cut them out and keep them with your calendar or story time “stuff”.

You can also punch a hole in one corner and put them on a split ring.

Run off the smaller copies for students to make a split ring flipbook as well.  You flash your large number and they flip through their little ones to see who can find it the fastest.

Run off the Smaller Red-Dot Dice, laminate and cut out and make Memory Match Concentration games. Students can match them dice to dice or dice to number.

Laminate the number and symbol cards as well.  These too, can be used as Memory Match games or have students make equations with them.

Students can roll real dice, make an equation with the laminated paper dice, and then write down the equation on a sheet of scratch paper.

Set the timer to ring after 5 minutes.  Students can play individually or with a partner.

The person with the most equations completed when the timer rings, is the winner.

The traceable number flashcards offer a nice way to review skip counting by 2’s, 3’s and 5’s.

I’m always looking for easy and interesting ways to plug that concept in, for a quick review my kiddo’s would think was fun, so they’d want to continue practicing.

I made covers for the traceable flashcards so they can be turned into Itty Bitty booklets.

Run off extra sets on different colors to make Memory Match Concentration games.  You can also play I Have; Who Has? with them as well.

I hope you enjoy getting things rolling with your little ones and they have fun with these activities.

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

Thanks for visiting!

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

Crawling With Creativity!

Is anyone still doing caterpillar stuff?  Even if you’ve completed your studies, I bet you’re still assessing and need a moment of sanity.

Why not plug in anyone of these independent activities for your kiddo’s to work on? Your students can make their own hungry caterpillar by simply coloring the template.

I made mine out of construction paper.  You can run the master off on red construction paper and students can cut eyes out of yellow and green scraps if you want to make them that way.

Cut a hole for the mouth, Scotch tape a small Baggie to the back and you’re all set to feed this hungry boy all sorts of traceable cards.

I went crazy making traceable number cards from 1-30, skip counted numbers by 2’s, 3’s, 5’s and 10’s, upper and lowercase letters, all 14 adjectives used in the book, the days of the week, the months in the year, + covers so that students can make Itty Bitty booklets to match all of the categories!

There's also cards for everything that the caterpillar ate, including black and white cards so students can color their own little My Itty Bitty Very Hungry Caterpillar book which includes the rest of the story telling cards as well.

Use word cards from other packets (such as the Dolch, CVC, Shapes, or Color word card packets) and feed to review even more concepts!

Decide which cards you want your students to work on and run those off.  Make all the sets for yourself, so that you can play “Flash Review” to nail all of those standards.

To make things even more fun, while reviewing whatever concept you want to work on, play “I Have, Who Has?” with your students. i.e., I have 3 who has 6?

I’ve also included several What’s Missing? worksheets for upper and lowercase letters, as well as all of the skip counted numbers + a blank template so you can program your own skill sheets.

Students can also color a pattern on their caterpillar or play the Caterpillar Creeps dice game and review the life cycle of a butterfly.  I’ve included traceable life cycle cards as well. Use them as a fun way to "review-read and feed!"

Click on the link to view/download this 50-page fun-filled packet. Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities.Feel free to PIN anything you feel might help someone.

President's Day Games & Activities

A quick and easy center for your students on President’s Day is to make an Itty Bitty Alphabet or Counting booklet.

Students trace the upper and lowercase letters, cut them out and sequence them.

My Y5’s always enjoyed taking these “just the right-size” booklets home to share with their families, which helped reinforce the lessons that they learned.

They also liked collecting all of the different little booklets each month.

Make extra sets for in class.  Run the uppercase letters off on a DIFFERENT color from the lowercase ones and laminate them so that you can play Memory Match games.

I find that if you differentiate the sets via color, you make it less frustrating for little ones to play memory games and they don’t take an inordinate amount of time either.

You can also distribute the cards an play “I Have…Who Has?”

Click on the link to view/download the President’s Day Alphabet cards.

Besides these traceable word cards, I help my students learn letters by making up Bingo songs.

The Bingo song is a great way to review the concept of subtraction and a clapping pattern as well + students LOVE singing.

What better way to review who the President and Vice President are of the United States than with this little song.

Print off the OBAMA and BIDEN bingo cards. Put magnet strip on the back and put them on your white board. Use them to sing the Bingo song.

Here are the words:

Obama is the president.

He is our Nation’s leader

O-B-A-M-A   O-B-A-M-A

O-B-A-M-A

He is the President.

Biden is the VP

He helps the President

B-I-D-E-N   B-I-D-E-N

B-I-D-E-N

Joe helps the president.

Click on the link to view/print the Obama Bingo Cards and song.

Click on the link to view/download my other Bingo Song Cards

If you teach a song each month you will have reviewed all of the letters of the alphabet except X.

Besides the alphabet, I made sets of numbers for counting by 1’s with pennies, by 5’s with nickels, by 10’s with dimes to reinforce not only skip counting, but recognizing these particular coins and their value.

There’s also a set for counting by 2’s and 3’s.  All have covers so that the students can make individual Itty Bitty Booklets as well.

Finish up the counting activities by getting the wiggles out and have students count backwards from 20 or 10.

Once they’ve jumped into the air they can bounce out to their lockers and take their booklets with them.

Click on the link to view/download the President’s Day Counting Cards.

Whatever you’re doing on President’s Day I hope it’s letter perfect!