1-2-3 Come Do Some Bee Crafts With Me

My son Steven, has taken up beekeeping as his latest hobby, and asked if I could make him something that he could share with children when he gives a talk about honey bees and their life cycle.

Today's article features the 5 craftivities I came up with.  Which is your favorite? 

Mine is the "Bottoms Up!"  bee craft.  I named it that, because the 4 “pages” of the booklet are located at the bottom of the bee craft, which you flip UP.

Each of the 4 pages, displays graphics depicting a stage of the bee’s life cycle.

Patterns come in color, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share, as well as black & white for students.

I’ve provided patterns for a “big bee booklet” perfect for a teacher’s sample, as well as a smaller (2-on-a-page) version for students.

The pages come with a “trace & write” labeled option for little ones, as well as a blank pattern page, so that you can build vocabulary & check comprehension, as students label the life cycle pictures.

There's plenty of room for older kiddos to write something about each stage of the bee’s life cycle, as well as share their favorite fact on the bee's belly, which acts as the last page.

I've also included patterns where the bee has a face, as well as a blank head, so that children can draw their own.  If you like a big-eyed look, you can run off the eyeball pattern. 

Wiggle eyes & pipe cleaner antennae add extra pizzazz.

Introduce the lesson by reading a bee story, like Gail Gibbons’ book “The Honey Makers”, then share your example.

Afterwards, students transition to making their own booklet, then partnering up, and taking turns explaining the honey bee's life cycle to each other.

If you decide to hang up your students’ work, I’ve included a sweet “Bottoms Up!” poster to use for the center of your bulletin board display. 

Another super-fun way to explain the life cycle of the honey bee is by making a crown. 

My Y5s absolutely love making and wearing crowns, and since there’s a “Queen Bee” involved in the process, it seemed especially appropriate.

There are 7 different life cycle crowns to choose from, including 2 where you can assess comprehension by having students color, cut & glue the life cycle stages in the correct order on their crown, which also reinforces ordinal numbers.

Besides the black & white options for students, I’ve made several patterns in color, so that you can easily make an example to share, helping to explain what you want your students to do, then wear yourself, or give away as a “prize”.

The patterns vary in ease of cutting as well. Choose which is most appropriate for your students’ scissor skills, or run off the assortment and give children a choice.

I’ve included some labeled as well as not labeled crowns to help you reinforce the science vocabulary.

I use yellow bulletin board border for the headbands. Sentence strips also work well. I’ve also seen honeycomb border for sale, which would make things extra special.

When everyone is done,  we take a few moments to get “the wiggles out” by marching around the room to several minutes of Korsakov’s famous “Flight of the Bumblebee”. 

I’ve included links to free music videos on YouTube, along with a photo poster of the composer, that you can share with your students.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much my Y5s enjoyed this activity. The next day one little girl asked: "Can we listen to the bee song?"

Taking a photo of your students wearing their crowns, makes a cute bulletin board.

Ive included a “We’ve been busy!” & “The Life Cycle of a Bee” posters for the center of your display, along with cute frames & name cards for that finishing touch. 

Next up is an interesting & super-simple life cycle of a bee craftivity, that will help practice that toughie hexagon shape. Since the honeycomb shape is a hexagon, I thought it would not only be fun, but especially appropriate.

Being able to reinforce this often difficult shape, while learning some science is a double bonus.

The packet includes:
* A hexagon foldable, life cycle of a honey bee craft, with 2 options.
There are black & white templates for students, which come labeled & blank, as well as full-color options, so you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

* A “Bee Life Cycle” poster
* A colorful “Life Cycle of a Honey Bee” anchor chart, with matching “color & label me” black & white worksheets for students.

* Colorful ordinal number, life cycle anchor chart, with matching “color & label me” black & white worksheets.
* Color & identify the honey bee’s life cycle worksheet, with a matching “trace & write” option for younger students.

Whenever I do a theme in my classroom, I like to put up some decorations that will generate excitement.

With that in mind, I designed this beehive "dangler" craft.

Even if you don't do this as a whole group, you could make one to introduce the life cycle of a honey bee, then suspend it from the ceiling in a corner of your classroom.

There are a variety of options, so you can choose which is most appropriate for your students’ skill level. Pick your favorite or give children a choice.

You can keep things simple for little ones and make your projects flat, or you can add extra pop & pizzazz by making them 3 dimensional by adding extra wings, additional hives, or "hinged" doors. 

I've included complete "how to" directions with plenty of photographs.

The honey bee craft can be a “topper” for a beehive dangler to add that “wow!” factor. OR…if you like the bee, and want to skip the hive, but still explain the life cycle, I’ve included a “bee back” featuring the 4 stages.

Wiggle eyes and pipe cleaner antennae, also add interest and a 3D effect.

I’ve included 2 posters: “What’s All The Buzz About?” & “The Life Cycle of a Honey Bee” to use for the center of your or hallway display.

Finally, since my life cycle wheels have been so popular, I decided to create one for the honey bee.

There are 2 circular wheel covers, as well as a beehive, and hexagon-shaped honeycomb option.

Choose your favorite or give children a choice.

The patterns come in black & white for students, as well as colorful templates, so that you can quickly and easily create an example to share.

I make and laminate all 4, keeping them in our science center

When everyone has completed their life cycle wheel, review the stages of the honey bee as a whole group, then have children partner up and take turns explaining the life cycle to each other.

I’ve also included 2 colorful life cycle of a honey bee posters, which can be used to introduce the lesson, then hung up as an anchor chart, or placed in the center of your bulletin board display.

So that you can check comprehension, and reinforce the life cycle vocabulary, the posters also have matching black & white worksheets for your students, with 4 options to suit various levels.

Today's featured FREEBIE, is a super-fun, summer writing prompt craftivity.  I call it "The Shades Of Summer". I hope you find it useful.

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

My hanging flower baskets look a bit on the droopy side, time to go water my garden.  Wishing you a fun-filled and carefree day.

1-2-3 Come Do Some Alphabet & Number Activities With Me

Make learning letters & numbers especially fun with this “something different” packet.

While waiting for “my turn” at the ophthalmology office, I was staring at a framed print of an old-fashioned eye chart, wondering how I could use that in my classroom. The result of that long wait, is this “ABC the letters & numbers” packet, with C (see) being a play-on-words.

It took some time to design the eye charts, so that they not only looked like the “real deal”, but included all of the uppercase letters, so they can be used as a unique teaching tool, plus help practice letter identification & recognition. Easy-peasy for you & fun for your students.

You can use the traditional “E at the top” chart, or the one that says “I Spy!”

Besides the eye charts, the packet also includes a variety of “Eye Spy” alphabet & number worksheets & games, plus 26, mini puzzle glasses, where students match the uppercase letter to the lowercase one, along with 21 matching numeric puzzles, which help practice numbers 0-20, sequencing, subitizing & simple addition.

I’ve also included an assessment mat & recording sheet for both upper & lowercase letters. 

A set of upper & lowercase "eyeball" cards, can be used in a variety of activities and games.  I've included a 3-page tip list of what you can do with them.  

There's also a set of "I Spy My Name" color-me worksheets, if your students are learning to write their names and identify those letters.

There are 4 boys & 4 girl options children can choose from, plus a colorful pattern you can use to quickly & easiy make a sample to share.

About the CHARTS:

My Y5s absolutely love pretending, and talking about what they want to be when they grow up, so “becoming” a real eye doctor is right up their alley.

Print and laminate the eye chart so it can become a part of your pretend play area. I keep a copy in our “doctor kit” tub.

If you don’t have an “imagination station” set up in your classroom as part of your daily routine, that’s fine too, as being able to “play eye doctor” will be even more exciting, as children don’t normally get to have this as a center activity.

Pair up a strong student with a struggler, so that they can each take turns being the patient, as well as the eye doctor. If you have older reading buddies that come in to help with your youngsters, this is also a fun activity for that time slot.

The “doctor” asks the “patient” to read the various lines. My kiddos use a “pencil pointer”, so they are specifically pointing to each letter. Having a pointer is also a “cool tool” and adds to the fun.

Besides the “Partner Pretend” practice game, you can also use the eye chart poster as an alternative assessment tool, where students point to each letter and say it.

The eye chart also works as a fun ”I spy!” worksheet game. Run them off, then choose a student to call out a letter. Children find it and circle it. You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.

Another idea for the eye chart is using it for a “whole group” activity. Using a dry erase marker, have a child come up and circle a letter that you ask for. You could also point to a letter and call on children to tell you what that letter is.

The numbered lines are also helpful, so you can reinforce number recognition as well. i.e. “Please read the letters on line 5” or point to a number and ask the name of it; or “Please show me the number 3”

The chart can also be used for ordinal number practice. “What is the third letter on line 2?”  I love it when I can use a visual for more than one thing, and thought you’d appreciate that too. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a versatile "Fan Sailboat Craftivity" that's suitable for the end of the year: “Have fun sailing into summer. I hope it’s fantastic!”, as well as for back-to-school: “Have fun sailing into a new school year. I hope it’s fantastic!”

Inserting a pencil, pen, marker, glow stick or Pixie candy stick for a mast, is an inexpensive little gift you can give your new or departing students as well. 

That's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Time to go soak up some sunshine as I water my garden.

Wishing you a carefree day.

"Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air, and you." -Langston Hughes

1-2-3 Come Do Some Little Red Riding Hood Fairy Tale Activities With Me

One of the many themes I do with my students is fairy tales, they absolutely love this genre.
No matter what time of year you slip in a fairy tale or two, I think your students will enjoy making these "hands-on" craftivities, which will help students practice the sequence & retell a story” standards.

Today's blog features 3 of my latest storytelling crafts for the fairy tale "Little Red Riding Hood".  

For consistency, I wanted all of my storytelling WHEELS, SLIDERS & FLIP-the-FLAP booklets to have the same format. 

My Y5s absolutely love making & collecting them so much, that after story time, several children will often ask "Can we make a 'tell the story' craft for this book?"

First up is a "flip the flap" booklet,  where the wolf’s “mouth” tells the tale, as students color, cut & collate the “muzzle-shaped” pages into a little booklet, which is then glued to the wolf’s face, making a “flip-the-flap” activity. 


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

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”.

Simply run the wolf pattern off on construction paper or card stock.
Students trim & add a few highlights with crayons.

For some 3D pop, have children bend the tips of the ears forward.

I also drew a completed face of the wolf pattern, should you want to make a mask.

For all of the projects, when everyone is done, have children pick a partner and take turns telling the story of “Little Red Riding Hood”  to each other.

We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies. 

Next up is a "Little Red Riding Hood" storytelling slider.

Here students sequence & retell a story by sliding the "picture prompts" through a "window".

There are 3, “outside picture” options to choose from: grandma in bed, Little Red Riding Hood, plus the wolf.
Pick your favorite or give children a choice.

I’ve included simple, rectangular cutting templates for PK kiddos, as well as “cut me out” patterns for more experienced, scissor-skilled students.

Children color the story elements on the “slider strips” then cut and glue them together.

As they pull on the end of the “slider-strip” the various pictures go through the “window”, so that students can take turns retelling the story

I introduce the lesson by reading  "Little Red Riding Hood", then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.

So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included full-color slider patterns, along with the black & white versions for students.

After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
I have them 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 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, “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheets, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions. 

Finally, another option you have for practicing these standards is the "Little Red Riding Hood" storytelling WHEEL craft.

Unlike some of the other stories we read, fairy tales have a few more story elements, so retelling them takes more "picture prompts". 

With that in mind, I designed a front & back wheel, so that the graphics are larger on a "slice" from a 6-piece "pie"circle, than they would be on a circle divided into  12-pieces. 

I find that my little ones choose only one color & tend to scribble, when graphics are small, whereas they do a much better job coloring in the graphics on these patterns.

There are 2 “print & go” options to choose from: A circle wheel, which features Little Red Riding Hood, as well as a basket-shaped wheel.
Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.

When everyone is done, practice retelling the fairy tale “Little Red Riding Hood” using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that her face appears in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to begin the story,

Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story explaining the “picture prompt”.

When you get to the sixth-pie slice, showing "grandma in bed", have children unfasten the brass brad and flip their wheel over, to reveal the last half of the story.

I’ve also included a “back” pattern for both the circle wheel and the one shaped like a basket, where students simply flip their wheel up & over to finish telling the rest of the fairy tale, without having to take their wheel out.  

There's a blank-circle pattern, for the back which you can leave as is, or use the empty space for a writing prompt: "What was your favorite part in the story?" etc. 

I've also included a pattern with the headings: beginnning-middle & end, as well as my completed sample. (See photo)

Just like the slider craft, you can check comprehension with the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet.

Besides the black & white pattern, there’s also a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.

Another way to check comprehension, and reinforce the “sequencing a story” standard, have students do the “color, cut & glue” sequencing worksheet; this too can be done individually or as a whole group. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a super-simple, end-of-the-year writing prompt that makes a quick and easy memory book, or class book you can share with your next year's kiddos.  I hope you find it useful.

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

Nature decided it would thwart the rainy forcast and play nice today, providing a bit of sunshine & wonderful spring temperatures in the 70s! Woo hoo.

Time to take a much-needed break and get this old body outside. Maybe a little gardening perhaps?  Wishing you an awesome day filled with everything you enjoy the most.

"If you have a garden and a library you have everything you need." -Marcus Tulleius Cicero

1-2-3 Come Do Some Fairy Tale Activities With Me     

One of the many themes I do with my students is fairy tales.  It’s a great unit for “March is Reading Month” complete with a super-fun parade of “book characters” or a nice theme to wind down with at the end of the year.

One of our favorite fairy tales is "The Three Little Pigs". There are zillions of versions of this popular story out there, which make for wonderful comparison-contrast discussions. Click on the link for a cute YouTube video of a contemporary version:"The 3 Little Pigs"

Fairy tales are not only enjoyable, often leaving us with a "moral of the story" to ponder, but they are simple and short, making it easy for students to remember.  They're perfect for practicing the “sequence & retell a story” standards.  

With that in mind, I designed 3 different crafts for "The 3 Little Pigs" fairy tale, which make it extra fun to practice these standards. Choose either a storytelling WHEEL, SLIDER or a "Flip-the-Flap" face craftivity.  

All of the patterns come in black & white for students to color, as well colorful templates so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share to help explain things.  

First up is the "flip it" piggy. Simply run the pig pattern off on pink construction paper or card stock.

Students trim & add a few highlights with crayons.

For some 3D pop, have children bend the tips of the ears forward.

The pattern already has eyes, but for added pizzazz, attach a pair of wiggle eyes with glue dots. 

The pig’s “nose” tells the tale, as students color, cut & collate the oval pages into a little booklet, which is then stapled to the pig’s head.

Another interesting "hands-on" way to sequence & retell the fairy tale is with a "turn & learn" wheel.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center,  plus a black and white pattern, so students can make their own.

When everyone is done, practice telling “The 3 Little Pigs” using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that the little pig who built his house of straw, appears in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to tell what happened.

Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story.

When you get to the sixth-pie slice, where the wolf blows the stick house down, have children flip their pig over to reveal the rest of the story.

Afterwards, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their wheels 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, have students complete the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, then color it.

To check comprehension, and reinforce the “sequencing a story” standard, I’ve also included a “color, cut & glue” sequencing worksheet.

Finally, my "sliders" are also a super-fun way to retell and sequence the story. 

There are 3 outside slider options to choose from: A pig, the 3 pig's houses, and the 3 little pigs grouped together.  Pick your favorite or give children a choice. 

Little ones can do the easy-peasy rectangular shape for simple cutting, while older kiddos can opt to cut around the pigs and houses.

Students color the story elements on the “slider strips” then cut and glue them together.

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

I introduce the lesson by reading the ”fairy tale”, then share my completed "slider craft” with my students.

So that you can quickly, and easily make an example, I’ve included full-color slider patterns.

After I read the story, we retell the tale together, using the picture prompts on my slider.
I have them 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 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 are also 2, “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheets, as another way to check comprehension, plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers and other transitions. 

Since the end of school is just around the corner for many teachers, and some are getting ready for a preschool or kindergarten graduation, today's FREEBIE is a list of over 150 songs appropriate for end of the year slide shows, graduation ceremonies and performances. 

Since I spent countless hours compiling it, I thought other teachers might be needing the same thing, so to save you time and help you check one more thing off your "to do" list, click on the link.  Hope you find it helpful. 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping by. Two of my 8 grandchildren are coming over, so time to put my Nana hat on. 

Hopefully the rain will hold off 'til we've had some outdoor fun.  Wishing you a carefree day filled with lots of hugs and snuggles. I know I'm looking forward to mine!

"We may not be rich and famous, but our grandchildren are certainly priceless." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some 2D Shape Activities With Me

Most of my Y5s don’t have any problem learning to identify the 2D shapes, however, when I ask them to find an example of that shape in the “real world” many of them have difficulty, particularly with the "toughies" like a hexagon.

I even had one little guy think that in order to be a "real" hexagon, that shaped item  had to be yellow because our hexagon pattern block pieces were that color! Sadly, none of my students could think of a "real world" example of a hexagon either. 

Simply "regurgitating" vocabulary when you hold up a colorful paper shape, does not mean your students can point to a kleenex box or ruler and identify it as having a rectangular shape.

With that startling revelation in mind, I knew that I needed some "hands on" things to emerse them in. One idea to get the pentagon and hexagon shapes into their heads, was to toss a soccer ball to them.  Easy-peasy for me, super fun for them.

Both those shapes are on the ball, so wherever one of their thumbs landed when they caught it, they identified that shape.  A bonus for us, was that "catching and tossing an object" is one of our report card standards. Since we were learning 3D shapes as well, I also had my kiddos say "Sphere!" when they caught the soccer ball. Listen carefully, as some of my students were saying "spear".

Since children really enjoy centers as an interesting way to practice, I designed some quick, easy and fun “I Spy!” 2D Shape Wheels.

I use the full color patterns as independent centers, and have the wheels do double duty, when I need a unique assessment tool. My students can't wait for their turn to show me what they know. 

Because it's such a successful activity, I've also included a photo-poster of the soccer ball in both the hexagon & pentagon packets.

Depending on the shape and available clip art,  there are  2 - 4 INSIDE wheel options, featuring 12 - 24, different images of 2D-shaped things that children will easily recognize.

There are 4, OUTSIDE pattern options for all of the shapes as well.

Since these are shapes in the "real world" one features a global map of the world: "When you're out and about -- and see a hexagon, give a little shout!"; another "wheel cover" depicts the shape being identified: "Hexagons here; hexagons there; I see hexagons everywhere!" while the final option is an "I spy hexagons!" cover, featuring a boy or girl detective.

I’ve also included black & white templates, so that students can make their own “turn & learn” wheel, further practicing this standard. 

Choose your favorite, or give children an option.  You could also pick one type for your center, and have children choose from the other options to make their own.  If they are like my students they'll be excited. 

After everyone has completed their wheel, have students pick a partner and take turns identifying the name of the shape and an example.

Make a wheel or two in class, or send home as a super-fun alternative, to a worksheet for homework.

I've made a wheel craftivity for the following 2D shapes: circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon & octagon. 

They are sold individually for just $1.95, or save 40% and buy the bundle, then laminate a set and keep in your math center for years of fun.

Since the end of the school year will be here before you know it, today's featured FREEBIE is a little poem that I had fun revamping; it's entitled: "A-B-C Ya!"

I've included templates in color as well as black and white for PreK-4, PK, Kindergarten & 1st grade, so you can read it to your students, tuck it in a summer packet, or have them color their own and include it in their Memory Books. 

I hope you find it useful.

Well that's it for today.  Amidst the whirlwind of stuff to get accomplished in our all too busy lives,  I hope you can find a bit of time to relax, as you start counting down the days 'til summer,

Wishing you a stress-free day.

"The time to relax is when you don't have time to relax." -Sydney J. Harris

1-2-3 Come Review The 5 Senses With Me.      

This “play-on-words” ( "My _______ is Sense-sational" ) writing prompt craftivity is a nice review of the 5 senses and definitely has the “Awwwww” factor, as children use their 5 senses to describe their mom, dad, or other special person.

It’s very versatile & something that’s quick, easy & fun for Mother’s Day, or use the blank “fill in” templates for Father’s Day.

These “fill-in-the blank" pattern pages are also perfect if you happen to have a child without a mom, or perhaps a student would like their paper to say “Mum”, “Mommy” or “Ma Ma”.

I made my samples using real answers from children. I hope they bring a smile to your face. 

A particular favorite of mine is the answer to the question: "What does your mom smell like?" to which Kaiden replied, "Water cuz she smells good after a shower."

I’m sure the ideas your own students will come up with, will be as sweetly hilarious as well.

Since classrooms today are filled with a lot of diversity, I designed 12 girl & 12 boy head patterns, which offer a nice selection for your students to choose from. There's also a blank template if a child wants to draw their own head.

Instead of drawing a portrait of themselves, another option is for children to draw a picture of their mom or dad. 

Students pick one, then add facial features, color it, and finally label their five senses.

Have students pick a partner, and take turns drawing one hand on a folded sheet of construction paper. This way they only have to cut once to get two hands, which they glue to the cover of their card.

For the writing prompt portion of the card, there are 4 girl & 4 boy options, plus a generic bear pattern to choose from.

Students complete the sentences, color & sign their card, stapling the cover to the top.

Younger kiddos can simply dictate their answers to the teacher, a room helper, or their older reading buddy. 

Today's featured FREEBIE: "Orange You Glad?" is an end-of-the year treat you can make to give your students on the last day of school. 

If you've got that covered, I've also included a pattern for the beginning of the school year as well.   I hope you find them useful. 

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

Time to begin my "too long" To Do list... No matter how many things I check off, I seem to always replace them with a dozen more!  Wishing you a delightful day.  

Definition of a Mother: "A person who does the work of 20 people for free."

1-2-3 Come Do Some Water Cycle Activities With Me

 Evaporation, condensation & precipitation is quite a mouth full of science vocabulary, for a child to wrap their head around.

With that in mind, I designed 3 super-simple, quick, easy & fun water cycle craftivities, which will be featured here on the blog, along with today's FREEBIE.

First up is a "flip-the-flap" cloud. Children cut out their two cloud pattens, then color the “cover” cloud, and snip on the dashed lines.

They fold the top tab up, then glue just that section to the top of their “explanation” cloud underneath. Easy-peasy!

I’ve included a template with the information filled in, as well as a blank pattern, if you want your students to write up their own descriptive definitions for the 3 stages of the water cycle: evaporation, condensation & precipitation.

When everyone is done, review as a whole group, then have students partner up and take turns sharing their completed project with each other.

The next fun way to practice the water cycle is with a cool crown.  My Y5s absolutely LOVE making and wearing them.

I've also included a simple chant, which will make learning and saying those 3 big science terms super-fun!

The packet includes:

* 5 different crown options for your students to choose from.

* Each style comes with 3 options.:
1).There are black & white graphics representing the water cycle, so that children can color them, 2). as well as a blank crown, should you want your students to draw their own pictures, 3). along with full color, so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share.

You can leave the crowns as is, or add the "word strips”, which further reinforce the vocabulary, as students trace & write the words.

The strips add a “dingling dangling”  effect, that your students will truly enjoy.

I’ve also included graphics to add to the end of the strips for more bounce, added pizzazz, and further reinforcement of the 3 parts of the water cycle.

When everyone has completed their crown, parade around the room chanting the water cycle. 

I’ve included an anchor chart, plus pocket chart cards to help explain the vocabulary, as well as directions & motions for the chant.

If your students are like mine, they will beg to “Please do it one more time”….

Finally, since a cycle is a circle, that continues to go 'round & 'round like a wheel, I decided to reinforce that concept by making a "Raindrop Water Cycle Wheel" craftivity.    

There are 3 raindrop "covers" to choose from, plus blank templates so students can draw & write their own graphics.

There are several “wheel” options, which come with and without words, should you want your students to label their own.

Blank patterns are also included, so that older students can illustrate their own water cycle “pie sections”.

There is a 3-part water cycle option: evaporation, condensation, & precipitation; as well as a 4-sectioned wheel that adds “accumulation” to the cycle.

Simply pick which one is appropriate for your students, then “print & go!”

Use the anchor chart posters to introduce and explain the water cycle, and the song: “The Water Cycle Goes ‘Round & ‘Round” for more fun reinforcement.

Today's featured FREEBIE is an "I Love You" writing prompt. 

I found this idea in various print forms on a variety of sites and Pinterest, so I'm not sure where the original idea came from. 

However, instead of making an 8x10 print to frame, I thought it would be perfect to design some cards, bookmarks and magnets, which children could make in school for various holidays: Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, or Grandparent's Day. I hope you find it useful. 

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

The rain has decided to leave us alone for awhile, so time to get out and enjoy the wonderful sunshine. 

It's still chilly, only 58 degrees here in Michigan, but hopefully the sun will warm things up. Wishing you a fun-filled and relaxing day.
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 "Nature gives to every time and season beauties of its own." - Charles Dickens

1-2-3 Come Do An End-Of-The-Year Writing Prompt Craftivity With Me

I’m always looking for some quick, easy and fun things to plug in at at the end of the year, that I know my students will really enjoy, help practice the standards we’ve learned, and involve minimal prep for me.

With these things in mind, I designed the “When School Is Out I’m Going To…” writing prompt craftivity.

Just “print & go!”

The schoolhouse is actually a flip-the-flap “door”, which opens to reveal another picture underneath.

There are 6 picture options, which come in black & white, as well as color; so that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share.

There’s also a blank pattern, if your students opt to draw their own illustration.

To make things extra special, kiddos write their school’s name on the roof, and glue their school photograph inside one of the windows.

Besides the end-of-the-year, this writing prompt craftivity would also work for any other holiday or vacation breaks as well.

Completed projects make a really cute bulletin board too.

Another super-fun, end-of-the-year writing prompt is "Taco 'Bout..."

As with the first writing prompt craftivity, this is very versatile too.

 I love putzing with a play-on-words, to create cute writing prompts that I think students will enjoy.

“Taco ‘bout” is one of them, which will add a few Spanish words to your students’ vocabularies, as they have fun making a paper “taco”.

For that finishing-fun touch, run some green paper through a shredder to make the “lettuce”.

I’ve included writing prompts for back to school, as well as the end of the year, some of which can also be used whenever you want.

The packet includes:

* 4 black and white writing prompt bookmarks
* 2 full-color bookmarks from the teacher
* 3 “Taco ‘bout fun!” writing prompt worksheets

* 5 different writing prompt taco templates, including one where students work in a group and write a compliment strip (taco filling) for everyone in their group. These make great “bucket filler” activities that help build community and self-esteem.

* 8x10 letter templates to spell out “Taco Talk” for your snazzy bulletin board display
* An 8x10 Taco Talk poster
* An 8x10 poster that says “Ola” to welcome your students with a friendly hello in Spanish

Since Mother's Day is justs around the corner, today's featured FREEBIE is a special card: "A Keepsake Bouquet For Mom"

"These flowers are my fingerprints, that I know is true. It's a Mother's Day bouquet especially for you."

Children pick a partner and take turns tracing each other's hand, plus a bit of arm that will be trimmed and glued on the paper as if holding the "flowers".

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

The spring showers have passed, and my "garden of weedin'" is in some serious need of attention. Wishing you a sunshine-happy day.

"Your mind is a garden.  Your thoughts are the seeds.  You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do An Itsy Bitsy-Eensy Weensy Nursery Rhyme Craft With Me

Do you teach your students “The Itsy Bitsy-Eensy Weensy Spider” nursery rhyme song? This is one of my students’ all time favorites.

The “finger plays” that I teach to go along with the song, are also a super-fun way to strengthen finger muscles and improve dexterity.

As another way to do that, I designed the aluminum foil, “spider & spout” craft, which is made out of an empty paper towel tube.

You can simply make one for yourself to introduce the rhyme, then put in a center, or do the craftivity as a whole group.

If your students are like mine, they will really enjoy making their own, and practicing the nursery rhyme using their “spider spout”. 

A note home at the beginning of the year, to "Please save empty paper towel tubes." will ensure you have enough.  Being an avid recycler, I personally save all sorts of things like this, with help from my family, so I always have a supply of "whatever" on hand.

So that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share, patterns come in both color, as well as black and white for students.

Each child's will be a bit different, as there are 10, cute spider graphics to choose from, as well as 6 kinds of rain clouds, along with 4 different sun circles.

I set this up as an independent center; students come up and choose their “pieces & parts” then go back to their desks to complete.

Using a glue dot, or a piece of Scotch tape, attach the spider to the front of a cloth ponytail holder, and the rain cloud to the back. The sun is hinged at the top with a piece of Scotch tape.

As a whole group, slowly say each verse, as children manipulate the pieces to match what’s going on in the nursery rhyme.

Afterwards, partner kiddos up so they can take turns practicing once more. (Fun to do with a reading buddy too.)

As children become adept at moving the pieces easily and smoothly, repeat the rhyme one last time; going from super-slow to super-fast. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a sweet "keepsake" craftivity. As a mom, I absolutely loved when my children would bring an art project home that was extra special. 

With that in mind, as a teacher, I tried to do one of these "paper love" crafts each month.

A personal favorite, is this butterfly; the wings are traced from the child's shoe. 

The paper heart says: "I made this card especially for you. The butterfly's wings were traced from my shoe."  A pipe cleaner and folded thorax, add 3D pizzazz.

This is a quick, easy & fun activity for spring, or use for a Mother's Day or Father's Day card.  There are templates for all 3 in the packet. 

Well that's it for today. The sky is threatening rain, so it's a good day to cut, color & play!

Crafting is one of my favorite things to do. 

Wishing you a happy & carefree day.

Poster: "I'm a craftaholic on the road to recovery. Just kidding; I'm on the road to a craft store." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Nursery Rhyme Activities With Me

“Rhyme Time” story wheels, are a quick, easy & fun way to practice the “retelling & sequencing a story" standards.

Since "The 3 Little Kittens"  wheel was so popular, I decided to make one for "Humpty Dumpty" as well as "Itsy Bitsy-Eensy Weensy Spider"  and will continue to add to this collection.

I plug nursery rhymes in each month, when they fit in with whatever theme we're studying.

"Humpty Dumpty" is perfect for our spring egg unit, and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" goes well with our study of rainy spring weather.

All of the packets contains background information on the nursery rhyme, along with a colorful anchor chart poster of the poem.

I’ve included a BW version for students, to help practice reading and whatever other skills you are working on.

Since both “itsy bitsy” & “eensy weensy” are popular ways to describe the spider, I’ve included both versions on the anchor chart, as well as the wheel covers.

When everyone is done with their “Rhyme Time Story Wheel”, take a moment to retell the nursery rhyme as a whole group, by turning the wheels.
Can anyone recite it?

I also have my students pick a partner and take turns sharing their wheels 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, have students complete the writing prompt worksheet, then color it.

Afterwards, they can share their work with the class.

You can use the color copy as a whole group activity with little ones.

"Story Sliders" are another way to practice these standards. 

As with the wheels, I've also made a slider for "Humpty Dumpty" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider".

Both nursery rhymes have 2 slider (outside) pattern options to choose from. 

Pick your favorite or give children a choice. 

You could also do one as a whole group activity & use the other one as an independent center.

Adding wiggle eyes to the spider, or silver glitter to the spout, creates some extra 3D pizzazz for the "spider slider".

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

As children pull on the end of the strip, the various pictures go through the “window”, which helps them retell the nursery rhyme. 

As with the wheel craftivity, "sliders” are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.

For 2 more ways to check comprehension, I've included a (color, cut & glue) “Let’s Sequence the Rhyme” worksheet, as well as a “What Happened?" writing prompt. 

Finally, I also made a collection of nursery rhyme writing prompt worksheets, with borders that match the nursery rhymes. 

There are blank patterns so you can dream up your own prompt, or have children use the "Here's What Happened" (first, next, then, & finally) writing prompt worksheets.

The packet includes color as well as black & white patterns, and covers 10 different nursery rhymes:

1. Baa Baa Black Sheep
2. Eensy Weensy Spider
3. Hey Diddle Diddle
4. Hickory Dickory Dock
5. Humpty Dumpty
6. Jack & Jill
7. Little Miss Muffet
8. Mary Had a Little Lamb
9. There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
10. Three Blind Mice 

Today's featured FREEBIE, is a "Sweet TWEET" versatile writing prompt craftivity. 

You can use it for an awesome Mother's Day card ("I have a terrific mom & that's worth tweeting about!") as well as for the end of the year, summer, or back to school. 

There are prompts for each. 

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

I'm watching 2 of my grandchildren this afternoon, so time to put my "Nana" hat on.

Wishing you a wonderfully relaxing, and love-filled day.

"I can't promise my grandchildren that I will be here for the rest of their lives; but I can promise them, that I will always love them for the rest of mine." -Unknown