1-2-3 Come Do Some "Needs & Wants" Activities With Me

Is teaching about “Needs & Wants” part of your curriculum?

This bit of economics is one of our standards, so I thought it would be fun to introduce the concept during December, when a list of “I want….” floats through the thoughts of many students.

With that in mind, I designed a writing prompt craftivity, as well as an emergent reader booklet. 

First up is the craft. There are 3 different “gift boxes” where the lid flips up to reveal a list of needs & wants “inside” the present.

I chose Christmas colors, but you can make examples with a variety of colors, to use this packet during another season of the year. (Earth tones for fall, pastels for spring etc.)

For more thinking, have students rank their needs & wants in order of importance.
The order of needs, provides a nice discussion, as most children don’t know that you can live longer without food, than you can without water.

Besides ordering their wants, have students list 2 practical things that they want that they’re likely to get, plus 2 “way out there” ( the sky’s the limit ) wishful thinking wants, or you could tell students that “money is no object” so dream big, and make a list of things they’d like to have, if they could have anything!

For extra pizzazz, instead of having students write their name on the package, run the tag pattern off.
Children color, trim, write their name on it, fold the end over, and glue that tab to the top of their package, so that it flips out a bit.

For more 3D pizzazz and pop, have students press a self-stick real bow or some ribbons to the top of their package.

Completed projects make an awesome bulletin board.

There are several definition posters included in the packet; use them to introduce the lesson, then scatter in the middle of your display.

There’s a Christmas-themed set, as well as a generic one.

Do this as a whole group activity with preschoolers, by making just one together.

You print & assemble the box, hanging it on your white board, then call on students to give you their ideas of what to write on the lists.

Next up is the "Needs & Wants" emergent reader, plus some poster activities.

There are two emergent reader options. A simpler version for younger kiddos, has them trace and write the “need-want” words, then color the graphics.

The other booklet is for older students, who read the simple sentences, which are packed with plenty of Dolch sight words, color the graphics, then fill in the blanks.

I’ve included both question marks and periods, so you can review end punctuation as well.

The emergent reader templates come with 4-pages on a one-page pattern.

Children color, cut, collate and staple the pages together, creating a “just the right size” booklet, which saves paper & ink.

The packet also includes a “Needs & Wants” poster that children create, by choosing from a collection of black & white graphics on their worksheet, then coloring, cutting and gluing them to the appropriate section on their poster.

There are full-color options, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or if you’re pressed for time, use my completed sample.

Completed projects make an awesome bulletin board.  I’ve also included a set of colorful, “Needs” posters.
Use them to introduce your lesson, then scatter them on your display.

The posters also come in black & white for students; and are printed 2-on-a-page, with a cover, so you can create another “Needs & Wants” booklet, as a culminating review.

There are also blank poster patterns, which allow students to illustrate their own pages to help assess and check comprehension.

Today's featured FREEBIE is an "It's Turkey Time!" packet. 

Use these themed turkey cards to teach/review digital and analog time to the hour and half hour.

The packet includes an assessment worksheet, as well as a cover, plus a black & white "turkey time" page, so that your kiddos can make an Itty Bitty Telling Time booklet.

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

I'm getting in the Christmas mood, so I might even mosey on down to the bassement, commonly referred to as our "dungeon" ,to sort through the Christmas boxes.

Scaling down this year because of a new puppy.  Wishing you a jolly-holly day.

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old, familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

- "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1-2-3 Come Do A Thanksgiving Craftivity With Me

I’m always looking for a few things that are quick, easy & fun for my students to do, during that last day before our Thanksgiving break.

With that in mind, I designed these 2 simple and versatile crafts, which are nice “wind things down” activities, for that sometimes hectic time.

First up is a cute owl card. There are 2 pattern options.
One says, “Guess whooo’s wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving?”, while the other one is generic, for students who may not celebrate this holiday: “Guess whooo is wishing you an awesome autumn?”

Children color & cut out their owl, along with the extra hat.
When that top tab on the hat is folded and glued in place, the hat will flip up to reveal a child’s school photo and the answer to the above question: “Me! That’s whooo.”

You don’t have to, but for some pizzazz & 3D pop, add wiggle eyes attached with glue dots. For that “finishing touch”, an extra beak and pair of wings (which also flip up), adds even more dimension.

If you do add the wings, students can write their greeting underneath.
If you decide to skip this step, I’ve provided a hexagon-shaped writing prompt, which is glued on the back.

There’s a blank hexagon, so you can have children complete a writing prompt, as well as a “Happy Thanksgiving” or “Happy fall”, where little ones trace the greeting, then sign their name.

I chose a hexagon shape because that’s one of our “toughies” to remember, so this provides a teachable moment to review it.

Next up is a "Welcome To My Home" activity. This project can also be used generically for fall, as well as Thanksgiving.

Use it as a card for younger children to make, or as a writing prompt craftivity for older students.

Ive discovered that anytime I toss a bit of craftiness into a writing lesson, my students are excited to get right down to business and more happily engaged.

Completed projects make a sweet bulletin board too.

I’ve included a list of 21 writing prompt options for them to choose from.

Besides the writing prompt choices, there are also several patterns for different “keepsake” cards you can make.

Personally, I designed this activity for Thanksgiving; ( “Welcome to my home for Thanksgiving” ) however, I realize some children don’t celebrate this holiday, so I’ve also included a generic “Welcome To My Home” pattern as well.

Choose which template is appropriate for your kiddos or give them a choice.
Templates come in black & white for students, as well as full color, so that you can quickly and easily make an example to share.

I purposely used the word “home” rather than “house” because home has a connotation of a place where you live, which could be an apartment or igloo, while a house is specific.

I’ve also included extra patterns with a bit of blank space on the door and doorstep, so that children can practice writing their address.

As you can see, both activities are an educational and quick,” little something”, you can plug into that often hectic last day before Thanksgiving break.
Easy-peasy for you; super-fun for your students.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a "Fall Leaves" packet, which will help your students practice their reading skills. The emergent reader booklet covers lots of Common Core and reinforces color words. 

Children read the simple sentences (packed with lots of Dolch and word wall words). 

They correct beginning capitalization, add end punctuation and then trace, write and color the color words with a matching color crayon or marker.

A graphing extension, color word matching worksheet and spinner game are also included. 

We'll that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.

Our church passed out shoe boxes to fill for needy children, so time to brave the chilly weather and go shopping.  

Wishing you a happy-go-jolly kind of day. 

"To get the true value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with." - Mark Twain

I-2-3-Come Make A Thankful Turkey Craft With Me

All I ever have to do to get my kiddos highly motivated and excited to write, is put a little bit of craftiness into the project.

With that in mind, I designed this "Thankful Turkey Wheel”, which does the trick in getting them happily engaged, and right down to business.

As a pre-writing activity, students make a list of 4-6 things that they are thankful for.

When they are content with their final draft, they choose one of 3 turkey-topped worksheets to write their list on.  So that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share,

I've included options in color as well as black and white. 

Once students have finished their final list, they assemble their wheel and illustrate those “things” on it.

Students can also use stickers, pictures cut out from magazines, digital clip art, or perhaps real photographs. For example if they are thankful for their family they could glue down a family photograph.

There are 3 wheels to choose from:
A simpler 3-piece wheel for younger children who’d skip the writing portion, as well as a 4 and 6-sectioned wheel for older students.

You can keep things simple with just the head and body of the turkey, or you can add some 3D pop by adding a wattle, beak and wings.

For more writing practice, have students label their pictures.

Completed wheels and prompts make a sweet bulletin board.

I’ve included a “Let our lives be full of Thanks and Giving” poster for the center of your display.

Be sure and make your own, to help explain what you want your students to do, as well as share with them, what you’re thankful for.

Pressed for time? For your convenience, I've included my completed, full-color samples of both the wheel and writing prompt. 

Little ones can simply make a list using a few words. 

Encourage older students to include some descriptive words and a bit more than one or two-word answers. 

You can also do this as a whole group activity with preschoolers, asking what they're thankful for, then listing their answers on the colorful worksheet making a class composite of gratefulness.

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a Thanksgiving theme.

If you're students are as bananas over Pete the Cat as mine are, then I think they'll enjoy this "Color Me" dice game puzzle.

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

Mother Henderson's cupboard is bare, so time for some marathon grocery shopping.  Wishing you a peaceful and productive day.

"Forget the mistakes. Remember the lesson." - Unknown

1-2-3 Come Sequence & Retell a Story With Me

I guess a lot of teachers and homeschoolers read the book “The Scarecrow’s Hat” by Ken Brown because the flip booklet craftivity I blogged about last week, was a big hit. 

It’s one of my personal, all-time favorite scarecrow stories too. 

Because of all the “swapping” going on with the various characters in the story, “Scarecrow’s Hat” is perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.

Those of you who follow me, know that I enjoy designing storytelling "sliders" and wheels, which have also been very popular, as a super-fun way to practice these standards.

However, because the story has a lot of retelling parts to it, a slider would get too long, and the graphics on a wheel too small, so I wanted to think of a different kind of sequencing activity and came up with this “flip it over” 3D hat craft, that’s made out of a yellow bowl.

Run the hat brim off on yellow construction paper. Students assemble and glue the bowl face down, on top of the brim.

There are two options for sequencing and retelling the story.

Students can color, cut and sequence the “beginning of the story” graphics gluing them to the front of the hat; then color, cut and sequence the “end of the story” graphics and glue them to the “back” of the hat, which is now the chicken’s nest. OR …

Children can glue all of the graphics around the front, then simply flip the hat over to reveal the chicken on her nest to tell the end of the story.

I personally like gluing all of the graphics to the front, then for a “big finish” and “wow” of an ending, flip the hat over to reveal why the chicken wanted the scarecrow’s hat.

The chicken is 3-dimensional and “rocks” before you put her inside the base of the bowl.

For my sample, I ran 2 sheets of various shades of brown construction paper through a shredder, to make the lining for hen’s “nest”.

For some more 3D pop, you can also add a jute bow or small, silk sunflower to the base of the bowl, which is the “top” of the scarecrow’s hat.

I’ve included black & white patterns, as well as colorful ones, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

When everyone is done, have children pick a partner and take turns retelling the story of “The Scarecrow’s Hat” to each other.
We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies.

To further check comprehension as well as practice sequential writing, I’ve included a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet.

There’s a black & white template for students to fill in, plus a colorful pattern page so you can do this as a whole-group activity with little ones.

Today's featured FREEBIE switches from scarecrows to turkeys. Its titled, "Thanksgiving Shape Up!"  and is filled with a nice variety of games, activities & crafts, which all help reinforce 2D-shapes. 

Thanks for visiting. The scarecrow on my porch is watching the leaves swirl and twirl.

Even though it's a bit dreary, a brisk walk is in order.  Wishing you a warm and cozy afternoon.

"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.  Today I am wise, so I'm going to change myself." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Make a Scarecrow With Me

Do you read the story “Scarecrow’s Hat” by Ken Brown? Click the picture to check out a nice reading of the book on YouTube..

My Young Fives really enjoy this story. Personally, it’s my favorite scarecrow-themed book.

Here’s the gist:
A very clever chicken admires Scarecrow’s hat, who will gladly swap it for a walking stick for his tired arms. Chicken REALLY wants that hat, but doesn’t have a walking stick; however, she knows who does! Thus begins her quest…But why does the chicken want an old straw hat?

Because of all the “swapping” going on with the various animal characters in the story, “Scarecrow’s Hat” is perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.

With that in mind, I designed this flip-the-flap scarecrow craftivity, which will help practice those two standards. My students absolutely love creating their booklet.

Completed projects make an adorable fall bulletin board too.

I’ve included a “We can sequence & retell a story, and that’s something to crow about!” poster, for the center of your display.

Fittingly, the top of scarecrow’s hat flips up and tells the tale.

Students color, cut & collate the “hump of the hat” - shaped pages into a little booklet, which is sequenced and glued to the top of scarecrow’s hat.

I purposely did not number the pages, so you can check comprehension.

This also allows you to choose less pages for preschool students, who can easily sort beginning-middle-end, then retell the story with a limited number of “picture prompts”.

For some 3D pop, add a jute bow to the knot on his neck, as well as some “straw hair”.

For my sample, I ran 2 sheets of yellow paper through my shredder, then glued just the end of a few strands under the brim of the hat, creating that finishing touch.

There are two booklet options.

The pages of the first version have only graphics, while the second option includes an unfinished “fill in the blank” sentence, which allows you to practice reading, writing, end punctuation, as well as check comprehension.

I’ve included black & white patterns, as well as colorful ones, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

When everyone is done, have children pick a partner and take turns retelling the story of “Scarecrow’s Hat” to each other.
We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies.

To further check comprehension as well as practice sequential writing, I’ve included a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet.

There’s a black & white template for students to fill in, plus a colorful pattern page so you can do this as a whole-group activity with little ones.

Today’s featured FREEBIE also has a scarecrow theme.
“My Scarecrow’s 5 Senses” is a rhyming, emergent reader packed, with plenty of Dolch words, and helps reinforce lots of Common Core State Standards.

Students read, trace, write, add end punctuation, underline the adjectives and color the pictures.

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

Time to put a costume together for party day.  Hmmmm I think I’ll be a nice witch.  Now where did I leave my wand…

Wishing you a magical day.

“If the broom fits, ride it!" - Unknown

1-2-3 Come Practice Place Value With Me

Put some “Woo Hoo!” into studying place value, by creating a super-cute PVP (Place Value Pumpkin).
This is an especially fun activity for your students and a nice alternative to worksheets; making it that “extra special something” you can do on party day or for October math practice.

Completed projects turn out absolutely adorable and make an outstanding bulletin board or hallway display.

I’ve included 2 posters to help decorate, as well as header cards that show the total value of the pumpkin.

You’re sure to get lots of compliments, as the results definitely have that “Wow!” factor.

The packet is very versatile with lots of creative options for your students to choose from, which allows you to diversify your lesson.

Appeals to a variety of ages and abilities.
The versatility allows younger kiddos, as well as older students, to create a pumpkin that will have a two, three or even 4-digit number value!

Keep things simple for little ones and limit the number of pieces and options, as they create a Place Value Pumpkin "head".

Challenge older students to add arms and legs which will add to the total value of their pumpkin, as well as increase the cuteness factor. I’ve included hats, gloves and shoe patterns too.

Once children have finished their PVP they figure out the value of their pumpkin.

I’ve provided several worksheet options for students to complete, as well as a whole-group activity.

Pick which of the 3 worksheets is the most appropriate for your students. 

Each practices a variety of place value math standards.

On the one pictured here, students write the various forms of their number. Students also pick a partner and compare and contrast their Place Value Pumpkin Pal with another classmate's to practice even more math standards.

Pumpkin head patterns take up a full page, so there's plenty of room for creating a nice sized Place Value Pumpkin head.

To show you how tall these creations can get I took a picture of my husband's personal favorite next to a ruler.

Limited time? This makes a super-fun homework assignment, or another idea is to have students work with a partner or create one PVP in a small group of three, which will divide up the work.

Here’s a fun challenge: Give the small group a total pumpkin value, and see how close they can get to hitting that number.

Create extra pizzazz and 3D pop, by giving students the option to add wiggle eyes, glitter, a pipe cleaner vine, bow, rhinestones, or a pom pom topped cap.

I had an absolute blast using all of these "extras" in my samples.  They really added that "finishing touch".

Today's featured FREEBIE is also perfect for Halloween party day. 

It's an "oldie but goodie" that I created a few years ago before I honed my computer graphic skills, but my kiddos absolutely love cutting out a "Spooky Spiral", which look pretty awesome swirling and twirling from the ceiling.

Well that's it for today.  So happy to be done with this whopper of a packet chock full of so many fun options.

Time to take a much-needed break. Despite crashing temps from 70s to 50s it's a pretty day. 

The sun is shining and fall has definitely arrived.  Wishing you a joy-filled day.

"Piles of leaves; Crisp autumn breeze; Pumpkin pie; Oh My!" - Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Activities For The "Room on the Broom" Story   

Do you read the story ”Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson?

Click on the book cover or this LINK to zip on over to YouTube to see a really cute animated version. (10-minutes).

The TV film was nominated for the Best Animated Short Film at the 2014 Academy Awards!

It’s one of my students’ all-time favorite Halloween stories and perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.

With that in mind, I designed this quick, easy and fun ”Room on the Broom”  slider craftivity, which will help your students retell the story in the proper order.

There are 2 outside slider options to choose from. One is a square for easy-peasy straight cutting, which is perfect for little ones. 

While the other choice is a "cut me out" larger witch, for more advanced cutters.

I made some "broomstick"  ends for the "slider strip" for the larger witch, as well as included a "broom straw" pattern to glue on, which results in the slider looking like a broom that the witch is riding on. 

Run these patterns off on brown construction paper, then add some shading details with a marker.

For extra pizzazz you can tie on a jute bow.

I make the big one for myself, and run the square craftivity off for my little learners.

Students color the story elements on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together.

As they pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window” on the witch’s cape, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take their craftivity home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

I introduce the lesson by reading this rhyming Halloween tale, then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.
So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, full-color patterns are included.

After we read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
They guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.

My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a “Room on the Broom” craftivity of their own.

Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.

I’ve included a “Let’s Sequence the Story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet. There’s a larger, full-color option so you can do this as a fun whole-group activity with younger students.

There’s also a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions. You can use the colorful template to do this as a whole group activity with younger folks.

Woo hoo! There are two featured FREEBIES today. The first one is a set of Halloween safety tips. 

The tips are loaded with Dolch sight words, providing great reading practice and review.  Read the list together as a whole group, calling on different children to read a tip.  Afterwards, they can color the picture, then take it home to read to their parents. 

The second FREEBIE is a set of "Happy Halloween!" note cards, with 6 on a one-page template. 

They come in color as well as black and white.

Attach one to a treat bag, or tuck in a folder, lunch box or backpack.

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

It's dark, damp, dreary and raining outside, providing the perfect backdrop for creating some more Halloween "stuff". 

Stay tuned for several more activities to go along with the "Room on the Broom" story.  "Witching" you an easy-breezy day filled with lots of memorable moments.

"There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow in moonlight." - Unknown

1-2-3 Come Label A Pumpkin With Me

Although I’ve seen a variety of 3D pumpkin crafts using paper strips to form the sphere, I could not find a pattern anywhere.

After a few hours of diddling around, I came up with this simple “print & go” pumpkin craftivity, complete with several pattern options and step-by-step directions using photographs of the various stages.

Few teachers have the luxury of simply making a craft just for fun; so to incorporate some science standards, one of the options is to make a “label the pumpkin” craft.

I’ve included labeled templates for little ones, as well as blank ones, so that older students can label their own pieces.

You can also opt to simply make an unlabeled pumpkin, with the “skin strips” going all the way around the “core”, which is a toilet paper tube that's covered with a rectangular pattern sprinkled with pumpkin seed graphics.

This is easy enough for little ones to make, as they simply use the 5-fatter “shell” strips for their open-looking pumpkin. 

If you want to make the pumpkin plumper, simply add 5 of the thin shell strips, which will alternate between the fatter ones, creating a fat-thin-fat-thin pattern. 

For that finishing touch that's wonderful fine motor practice, have students loop a green pipe cleaner around a pencil, marker or crayon, then gently slide off to make a "vine".

Completed pumpkins are free standing and make adorable fall centerpieces.

For more pizzazz, using a protractor, punch holes in the TP tube prior to assembly, then place over a battery-operated tea light.

I’ve also designed the stem as a “looped handle”, so that the pumpkin "lantern" can be carried, or suspended from the ceiling on various lengths of yarn.

A fun surprise after lunch...

After children have made their pumpkin (leaving it on their desk to go to lunch), tuck a Snack Baggie filled with candy corn inside the hollow TP tube, providing a sweet Halloween treat when they return from recess.

Besides this craft, I also put together a little "Let's Label a Pumpkin" activity packet, that pairs nicely.   

Do you have a class pumpkin? We do. It’s an inexpensive and super-fun way to practice all sorts of science.

We carve our pumpkin the last week of October for our party’s centerpiece.
As we carve it, my students learn the vocabulary associated with the parts of a pumpkin, as well as what each part does, or is used for.

They absolutely love this activity. With that in mind, I made some activities to help reinforce “pumpkin parts”.

The packet includes:
* A set of “definition posters”.
* A set of photo posters featuring pictures of real pumpkin parts.
* A set of pocket chart cards.

* A “Match the picture to the word” Memory Match or “I Have; Who Has?” game.
* “Label a pumpkin” posters and worksheets.
* Fill-in-the blank” comprehension worksheet.

* Match the word to the picture worksheet.
* “ABC With Me” alphabetize the words worksheet.
* Plus an emergent reader: “Pumpkin Parts”, featuring 30+ words from the Dolch word lists.

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a pumpkin theme.

Are your students working on transitions and "how to" "directional" writing?  "How to Make a Pumpkin Pie" is a quick, easy and fun activity to help them practice.

The packet includes printable patterns, completed sample, recipe, list of transitions, transition poster, a graphing extension, Venn diagram activity, plus an adjective worksheet.

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

The weather is in the high 60s here in Michigan, so the fresh autumn breeze is calling me. 

Time to go crunch some leaves and enjoy the awesome colors, while I walk my poodle pup Chloe. 

She never cares what the weather is, anything for a romp outside.

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a fallen leaf." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Sequencing and Retelling a Story Activities With Me 

Do you read the story “Big Pumpkin” by Erica Silverman? It’s one of my all-time favorite Halloween stories. My students love it too.

With that in mind, I designed 3 different “Big Pumpkin” storytelling craftivities, which are a quick, easy & fun way for children to practice the “retelling & sequencing” a story standards.

The gist of the story is that a witch has grown a gigantic pumpkin, which she cannot get off the vine. Even her spooky friends ( a ghost, vampire, and mummy) can't budge the pumpkin. So how does a little bat think he can succeed where the other stronger characters could not?

Read the story, then pick your favorite crafty option from these 3:

1. A "Big Pumpkin" storytelling wheel, which is in the shape of a pumpkin. Run the pattern off on orange construction paper.

Students trim, then using a brass brad, attach their picture wheel, which they've colored to the back.

2. A "Big Pumpkin" storytelling "slider" which is also in the shape of a pumpkin. 

Students color the graphics on the strip of paper, then insert it into the pumpkin to retell the tale, and finally  ...

3. A 3 dimensional pumpkin "flip the flap" booklet.

This craft is not as easy as the wheel and slider crafts, so I recommend it for older students.

The pages of the pumpkin booklet fan out so the witch and her "Big Pumpkiin" are  free standing, creating a nice wow factor, which makes a cute Halloween centerpiece.

All 3 options have  full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus black & white templates, so students can make their own.

When everyone is done, practice retelling the “Big Pumpkin” using the manipulative.

For the pumpkin "slider", children pull the various graphics through the "window".

For the wheel craft, everyone starts by turning their wheel so that the witch with her pumpkin, appears in the “pie-slice window”.

For the flip-the-flap booklet, children begin by flipping the first page to where the witch is seen with her big pumpkin.

Call on a child to begin the story by turning their wheel, pulling on their slider strip, or flipping a pumpkin page.

Continue turning, sliding or flipping, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”.

After the sixth picture (a slice of pie) is revealed and explained:(The witch made pumpkin pie and everyone ate a piece. After her guests left, she went back into the garden and planted some more pumpkin seeds.) in unison have everyone yell “Happy Halloween!”

To  further reinforce the retelling, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their wheel or slider with each other.

Sometimes we do this with our older, reading buddies. This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.

For writing practice, all three options include a “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, which students complete and color.

There’s also a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do this activity as a whole group with little ones.

Since this story has a moral to it, I take time to define this language arts term.

I’ve included a poster in each packet for you to hang and use as a guide.

As you can see by the photographs, each packet's writing prompt worksheets and posters are different.

There’s also an additional writing prompt worksheet, where students explain the moral of the story.

Use the colorful pattern as a whole group activity, asking little ones what they learned from the bat, then write their answers down on the paper, which you’ve attached to your white board.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a candy corn-themed packet.

Use it to reinforce circles, the concept of small, medium and large; or  have students write whatever you want them to practice, on the individual sections of the candy corn pieces. 

I've made examples to give you some ideas, such as CVC words, upper and lowercase letters, shapes, showing a number, counting to 30, color words, writing down examples of things that are those colors etc.

If you're also working on fractions, I've included pocket chart cards for a quick review that you'll find helpful.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping in. 

It's going to be a chilly, rainy and damp day... perfect for creating some more Halloween activities.  

Wishing you a satisfying and snuggly kind of day.

"Acting is like a Halloween mask that you put on." -River Phoenix

1-2-3 Come Do Some Halloween Storytelling Crafts With Me  

Do you read ”The Spooky Wheels on the Bus” by J. Elizabeth Mills?
It’s put out by Scholastic and a new favorite of mine.

Perfect for counting, introducing onomatopoeia, and practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.

Click on the book photo on the left, or this LINK, to see it being read by a librarian on YouTube.

Since my students are familiar with and really enjoy singing “The Wheels on the Bus”, having an alternate version for Halloween fun is particularly enjoyable.

With these things in mind, I designed a quick, easy and fun ”Spooky Wheels on the Bus” “slider” craftivity, which will help your students retell the story in the proper order.

For educational fun on Halloween party day, read the story, sing the song, and make the slider craft.  Woo hoo for easy-peasy!!

Choose the simple square cut pattern for little ones, or the "cut me out" bus template for children with better scissor skills.

Students color the story elements on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together. There are two options for these as well. 

I use the numbered strip because my Y5s are learning number recognition, plus how to count and sequence. 

You could also use the strip with just the graphics, and have students number their own to get in even more practice.

As children pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window” of their bus, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take their craft home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

I introduce the lesson by reading the book ”The Spooky Wheels on the Bus”, then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.
So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included a full-color slider pattern.

After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider. I have children guess which story element they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.

My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a “Spooky Bus” storytelling slider of their own.

Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.

I’ve included a "Let's sequence the story” activity for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on their worksheet.

There's also a colorful, bus answer key poster, which you can use in various ways, including as an independent puzzle center.

A “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, is another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions. 

Since the story is about the WHEELS on a spooky bus, I also made a story wheel craft as well. 

This option provides another way to sequence and retell "The Spooky Wheels on the Bus" story.

Like the slider craft, I've included a "Here's What Happened" writing prompt. 

There's also another fun writing option, where students continue the story by thinking of an 11th thing that might be riding the spooky bus. 

They fill in the blank, compleete the sentence with some sort of onomatopoeia then illustrate their worksheet. 

My example has 11 black bats, which go flap, flip, flap all through the town.  Students will enjoy sharing what they've come up with, and completed projects make a cute bulletin board. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of apple-themed time cards for practicing telling time to the hour and half hour. 

There are blackline patterns plus a cover, so that students can make their own "Itty Bitty" Telling Time Flip Booklet, along with two assessments I think you'll find useful.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for dropping in. 

I'm absolutely loving the Indian Summer weather we've been having here in Michigan, so it's time to go rake a few leaves out of my flower beds, before the rain that's brewing changes my plans. 

Wishing you a fun-filled day.

"Autumn, the year's last loveliest smile." -William Cullen Bryant