1-2-3 Come Travel Around The World With Me!  

Woo Hoo!  Having spent over 200 hours researching & creating, plus a small fortune on graphics designing things, I’m so excited to post this jumbo “labor of love”, "Travels Around The World" packet, which features the awesome talents of 38 clip artists!

This super-fun packet is extremely versatile, as everything stands alone, so you can mix & match creating a unit that is tailored specifically for your class, or use pieces and parts with lessons you already have implemented. 

I think my students, favorite part of our Travels Around the World is making the cereal box suitcase, which can be done in class or for homework.  

The sky's the limit of how you want to design them. 

We add 2 file folders to make a drop down interactive "briefcase" of sorts, which includes a pocket for their passports, tickets and boarding passes.

The extra files are a great way to keep everything neat & organized and provide space for them to glue on a variety of activities that we do.

My kiddos absolutely LOVE collecting the "suitcase stamps/stickers" to decorate with. 

They get a few to start out, then receive more as we travel to the various countries.

Others I use as a motivational & behavior modification incentive, which is very successful.

Another huge hit is making a passport.

There are 4 options, including a passport specifically for "Christmas Around The World" traveling,  as well as a huge variety of passport stamps, which they also enjoy collecting. 

The train tickets and plane, bus, & boat boarding passes. are also a huge hit.

Via a letter, students are invited to come travel with the gingerbread man, who makes a speedy tour guide. 

"Gin" keeps them apprised of places they should visit by sending postcards.

I had an absolute blast designing these from real photographs & stamps from those countries. 

There are 3 from each country, as well as "color me" postcards, so that students can practice "point of view" writing in a fun way.

A set of gingerbread-themed posters announce where children will be traveling and how they will get there.

The 6 countries included in this packet are: USA, Mexico, Canada, Sweden, Italy & Germany.

I've included a variety of maps, which come in color to use as posters, plus black & white for students.

They come labeled & unlabeled, so you can use them as an assessment tool as well. 

My personal favorite activity, is the "Snap & Scrap" journal, with a Christmas-themed page, as well as a generic counterpart.

I've included several pages of interesting information about how each country celebrates Christmas, should you want to do the "Christmas Around the World" theme.

The "snap" part, is a camera craft featuring a lens "booklet", with pictures specific to that country.

You can opt to do just the camera(s), or hinge them with a piece of tape to the "scrap" page, so that it flips over to reveal the information underneath.  

Each country also comes with factual information, which is incorporated in the "Fan Of Fun Facts For _________" craftivity.

The title is a double play on words, for the craft opens like a fan, and students quickly become "fans" of these super-interesting facts. 

Later, check comprehension by playing "Name That Country?" by reading a fact and having students tell what country it came from. 

"I Spy A Country" is another game you can play to help reinforce map skills.

Teachers jot down 3-5 clues on the poster, then students write down their dated-answer on their worksheet. 

X number of correct answers and they receive a "super spy" stamp for their suitcase.  

I've also packed in a lot of travel-themed writing prompts, such as making an itinerary, which provides a vocabulary building opportunity. 

Students can also do a "Sightseeing Check It Out Then Check It Off" list, flag booklet, and travel journal. 

There are several options for the travel journals as well, from a "color me" text it page, to a cut & glue class-made book. 

They are different enough so that you can do them all, or pick & choose what's appropriate for your kiddos. 

The beauty of this jumbo packet is that it's very versatile, so you can mix & match things to do individually, as a whole group, with a partner, in small groups, or for homework.

The projects can also supplement other geography activities you already have implemented.

Besides social studies, many items practice a variety of other standards like graphing, weather, telling time, comparing & contrasting & research, with a bit of math tossed in for good measure. 

There are also a variety of ways to use the packet.  Teachers can give the information, or students can pick a country and research it independently.

The "Travel Bucks" are a fun way for students to give their presentations, as they become "travel agents", who share highlights about their country, in the hopes that their fellow classmates will use their travel cash to buy a trip from them. 

Top sales certificates & suitcase brag tags add to the fun, and are a wonderful incentive.

An easy-peasy writing prompt for any age, is the "ginger-gram", where students fill in the blanks with a country they would like to live in, as well as one they would not. 

Older students can explain why.

Another simple writing activity is the "Travel Quilt" craft, which practices adjectives in a unique way. 

Even younger kiddos can do this, and completed projects make an awesome bulletin board.

The "Peace is in our hands" craft, is also quick & easy, with lovely results making a terrific hallway display.

This craftivity really helps children wrap their heads around the "big picture" of their "personal geography" and their cut out hand prints add that keepsake, finishing touch.

I've included a poster for the center of your display, as well as a suitcase sticker kiddos can earn upon completion.  

Because my kiddos are learning about seasons, weather and appropriate clothing to wear, I designed the "Pack It Up" suitcase craftivity; where they color, cut & glue various clothes suitable for a particular country, to a "suitcase" page; while older students simply list the items they want to take. 

The suitcase opens to reveal several pages of the different things they packed for the various countries that they visited.

Besides a “Christmas Around the World” theme, you can use this unit all year long, as I have matching generic counterparts.

Start whenever you want, then in December, board the “Holiday Express” & add the activities of how these countries celebrate Christmas.

Lessons are easily diversified for various classroom abilities & grade levels.  Simply pick what’s appropriate for your kiddos. 

"Travel Tweets" are also an interesting way to get students enthusiastic about writing, as is the "Welcome To Our House"  booklet, "Airport Adventures" and "Whooooo Do You Want To Travel With?" color-me worksheets.

Besides black & white versions for students, I’ve included colorful templates, so you can quickly make samples to share.

There are also graphs, Venn diagrams, posters, a song, and some worksheets, which can also be used as assessment tools.

As you can see there's a ton of fun for you to choose from including some puzzles.

These come in color for an independent center, as well as BW so kiddos can make their own, as they practice recognizing & sequencing numbers from 1-10, or skip counting by 10s to 100. 

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a look. Travels Around The World.

Today's featured FREEBIE comes from the packet and is a "Merry Christmas From Around The World" poster and coloring card, which includes an alphabetical list of how 28 countries say "Merry Christmas" , with 4 links to other websites with more countries. 

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

My feet have hit the floor running, as there is much to do, and not enough time in the day to get it all done.

But I will endeavor to slow my pace and enjoy the journey, making sweet memories, as we decorate our blessed home for Christmas.  Wishing you and yours a special day.

"Maybe Christmas" he thought, "doesn't come from a store." "Maybe Christmas perhaps, means a little bit more!" -Dr. Seuss From "The Grinch"

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

Studying a bit about turkeys is not only super-interesting, but it helps me get in some science and non-fiction practice as well.

Turkeys are a perfect November theme, without being totally tied to Thanksgiving, which is not celebrated by everyone in our very diverse classrooms of today.

With these things in mind, I designed “Turkey Talk”. It’s chock full of a variety of activities that include:

* A colorful KWL chart which can be done as a whole group, while the BW version can be done individually.

* 4 realistic and lovely clip art posters featuring a male, female and baby turkey along with a nest of eggs.
* I’ve also included a set of “Match Game” picture and word cards.

* A “color me” Turkey Talk emergent reader, that’s packed with Dolch sight words, as well as a “trace & write” version for younger kiddos.

* A “Let’s Talk Turkey” vocabulary building poster, with a matching...
* “Define These Words” worksheet.
* A “Turkey Time” word search as a fun way to practice these new words.
* A labeled turkey head, photo-poster, with an accompanying definition one, plus
* 2, “Label the Turkey” worksheets.

* 20+ interesting turkey facts. Pick your favorites, share with your students, then use this background information to check their comprehension.

* A follow up “Some interesting facts I learned about turkeys” writing prompt worksheet.

* 10 photo-posters of wild and domestic turkeys.

* 2 Venn diagrams, which come in color to do as a whole group, as well as BW to be done individually or with a partner.

* 3 photo-posters of a peacock for a comparison-contrast activity.

* A “Turkeys Are Can Have” worksheet in color and BW
* A “Would you like to have a turkey as a pet?” writing prompt worksheet.
* A “Describe a Turkey” worksheet for adjective and descriptive writing practice.

* 2 life cycle of a turkey crafts. One's a slider the other a "Turn & Learn Wheel" Plus several matching worksheets & a game.

All come in BW as well as color, so that you can quickly & easily make samples to share; and finally,

* 2 “We learned about turkeys today! Ask me what I know.” color-me bookmarks. 

Renee over in Virginia, asked me if I had any Thanksgiving-themed  "Fix The Sentence" cards, as her students have enjoyed a few of my other seasonal "pocket chart punctuation" packets. 

Just finished them, so I thought I'd include them in this blog post as well.   

These 28, Thanksgiving-themed sentence cards, are a quick, easy and fun way to practice capitalization and end punctuation, while reinforcing some factual information about the first Thanksgiving.

Choose your cards, then read them together as a whole group to practice lots of Dolch sight words.

Pick a student to come up and using a dry erase marker, circle letters that should be capitalized and then add end punctuation. (period, question mark & exclamation point).

You can do this on a whiteboard, with a pocket chart, or pass a card out to each child to correct.

For more practice, as an individual activity, have students choose X number of mini cards and rewrite the sentences correctly on one of the 7 worksheet options.

Afterwards, students can swap their paper with a partner to correct.

I've included 2 sizes of mini "fix the sentence" cards for this, which makes a nice Daily 5 word work activity too.

There are 28 mini cards on one sheet of paper. Simply print, laminate and trim several copies, for a class set. 

The featured FREEBIE today is a collection of fall-themed, 2D shape matching games.  Students place the colored shape tile on to the matching shape on the leaf, spider, bat, owl, or turkey card.  

I've included a blank template for each theme, so you can program with more shapes or whatever. Hope your kiddos enjoy them as much as mine.

Well that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by. Time to hit the road and do some grocery shopping for turkey day.

Lots to do when our crowd of 20+ gathers.  Feeling very blessed.  Wishing you a warm-fuzzy kind of day.

"When I was growing up, and other people I knew were getting into trouble, I was somewhere in a deer stand or going to bed early, so I could be up before dawn to hunt turkeys. My love of the outdoors kept me solid.  - Donald Trump, Jr.

1-2-3 Come Do Some Thanksgiving Pilgrim Activities With Me

Do you read ”The Littlest Pilgrim” by Brandi Dougherty? 

I think part of the reason my students enjoy this story so much, is that they truly identify with Mini, the main character, for they too are young and often feel left out.

Mini is too little to chop wood, bake bread, hunt, build a cabin, or fish. (A nice list of things that the Pilgrims did).

However, she’s not too little to pick berries and make a special Native American friend; which in truth is the very essence of why the Pilgrims survived.

Because of my students’ enthusiasm for the story and their empathetic identification with Mini, I designed 3 quick, easy and fun writing prompt activities that I think your students will enjoy.

* The first one: “When I was younger I was too little to . . .” features 4 different “toppers” for them to choose from then color. See the samples on the cover.

* The next one is a comparison-contrast activity, where students complete the prompts: “It’s great being a kid because…” then compare that with “I look forward to being an adult because…”
Students can choose a boy or girl Pilgrim worksheet.

* Finally, a Pilgrim girl bookmark, has children make a list of words (character traits) that describe Mini.

The activities are different enough so that you can do all three, or give children a choice of the top two, then build vocabulary and practice descriptive character traits, as a whole group.

Besides the black & white patterns for students, I’ve also included full color templates, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share. My finished examples are also included.

To practice "text to self" we discuss times in our lives that we felt just like Mini.

Completed projects make a sweet bulletin board. 

I’ve included 2 posters for the center of your display. 

Because my storytelling slider craftivities craftivities have been so popular, I decided to design one to go along with "The Littlest Pilgrim" as well. 

This craftivity is a quick, easy and fun way to reinforce the "sequencing and retelling a story" standards, while relaying factual information about the Pilgrims at the same time.

Children color the objects on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together.

As they pull on the end of the “slider” 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 Pilgrim home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

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

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

So that you can quickly and easily make an example, I’ve included a full-color slider pattern.  There are patterns for both a boy and girl Pilgrim.

I’ve also included 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 or other transitions.

The featured FREEBIE for today are some fun acorn-themed craftivities, which make a nice "sanity saver" for the last day before vacation. 

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

The Sandhill Cranes are migrating and make a stop over in a marsh close by.

So time to bundle up to go see this truly awesome sight, as literally 1,000s swoop in honking away. Wishing you an inspiring day.

"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." - Langston Hughes

Are your kiddos bananas over Pete the Cat? Then I think they'll like this puzzle game which comes in black and white so students can make their own, as well as one in color to use as an independent math center. 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Pete The Cat Thanksgiving Activities With Me  

Are your students a bit bananas over Pete the Cat?  Mine are; so I was excited to find the book "Pete the Cat and The First Thanksgiving", which allowed me to carry my students' "fur frenzy"- enthusiasm into November.

Because this story is a “lift the flap” book, I thought it would be fun to make a “Flip the Flap Thankful Craft” for an interesting transition activity after reading the tale.

On the last few pages, Pete’s family goes around their Thanksgiving table and tells what they are thankful for.

His mom is thankful for family, his brother Bob is thankful for his skateboard, and Pete is thankful for the Pilgrims. The author then asks the reader what they are thankful for.

The craft features these characters as well. When you lift the flap you see a picture of what they said they were thankful for.

The last flap has a variety of options:
* There’s a blank section so that students can draw a self portrait, or for a sweet keepsake, children glue their school photograph on. (See sample pictures in the PREVIEW.)

* I’ve also included 4 boy graphics, as well as 4 girl clips for students to choose from.

Children pick an option then color, cut and glue their “thankful for” answers under the flaps; completing the project by writing what they are thankful for and then illustrating it.

During Pete’s “The First Thanksgiving” play, children learn a variety of fun facts; so I’ve included a “color me” writing prompt worksheet, where they can list some of these.

There’s also a fill-in-the-blank worksheet, where students complete the 3 sentences with what that character was thankful for, as well as an “I’m thankful for . . .” writing prompt page, where students can write a lot more, then color the picture.

Finally, I’ve included 2, “Roll and Color” game sheets. One is for numbers 1-6 for younger kiddos, the other for numbers 1-12, where students roll 2 dice, then add them together to get numbers 7-12. 

This activity is no longer available in my TpT shop, so if you'd like a copy, please e-mail me for details. (Simply click the blue LINK.

Today's FREEBIE is a Thanksgiving-themed Pete the Cat number puzzle, which comes in black and white so students can make their own, as well as one in color to use as an independent math center.  The FREEBIE is one of the four 6-piece puzzles included in my big packet.

Students can simply color, cut and put their puzzle together, or they can pick a partner and take turns rolling a dice.

Whatever number they roll, they place that numbered piece on the matching numbered square on their puzzle grid. The first one to complete their puzzle is the winner. 

Besides the black and white patterns for your students, I’ve also included colorful templates that you can use for an independent math center.

My students absolutely love the puzzle games, so if you're looking for a "sanity saver" before the holiday break, these provide a quick, easy, and educationally fun activity, which can be used as a sweet Thanksgiving card for parents too.

To extend the activity, have students glue their pieces to the puzzle grid as they play the game, then when done, write about the things that they are thankful for, or a note to parents of why they are thankful for them on the back of their completed puzzle.

Well that's it for today. My feet have hit the floor running, as 2 of my grandchildren are coming over for the day. 

Wishing you a day filled with giggles galore and lots of snuggly hugs.

"Even when my grandchildren are not in my arms, on my lap, or in my home,they are in my heart and there they will stay forever." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Make A Thanksgiving Slider Craft With Me

Do you read ”There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Pie” by Allison Jackson? 

How about "Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav' Pilkey?

They are two of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving stories and are perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.

With that in mind, I designed these quick, easy and fun storytelling “slider” craftivities, that will help your students retell the tale in the proper order.

Children color the objects on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together.

As they pull on the end of the “slider” 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 craft home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

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

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

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 them guess what 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.

I’ve also included 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 or other transitions. 

A perfect "comparison-contrast" story for "The Night Before Thanksgiving" is Natasha Wing's book with the same title, yet they are two completely different stories, so I read Natasha's book the next day.

I’ve also included a Venn diagram activity, as well as a graphing extension, which you can do as a whole-group activity.
If you don’t have these books, here are the links to short, YouTube videos of the stories being read.:
* http://bit.ly/1lDSSbV   * http://bit.ly/2fft8m8

Besides the sequencing & storytelling sliders, I also designed some Thanksgiving-themed ones, which practice a variety of standards. Sliders are also a quick, easy and fun way to whole group assess, whatever we’re currently working on.

Because of my students’ enthusiasm and their success at learning these concepts, I designed 5 different,Thanksgiving-themed slider patterns, in two sizes.

You can make more than one because there are also a variety of slider strips to choose from, which will help practice:
* upper & lowercase letters,
* counting & number recognition 1-10, as well as 1-30, plus
* skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, & 10’s, as well as
* counting backwards from 10-0 and 20-0.

* The 2D shape slider reinforces the standard shapes: circle, oval, triangle, rectangle, square, & hexagon; as well as “add-on” options with a: pentagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, star, & heart.

* Besides the sliders, the packet also includes a 10-frame spinner or dice game, and several 10-frame matching games, which come in color for an independent center, as well as black & white, so students can make their own games to continue practicing at home.

* I’ve also included 10-frame cards, with matching manipulatives, so students can practice simple addition & subtraction.

* Children can use the mini number, & math symbol tiles, to make equations and practice greater & less than too. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a collection of Indian corn-themed activities. The "crayon melt" is a personal favorite with absolutely awesome results.

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

Since I stayed up 'til 3:30 AM watching election results, it's time for a brisk autumn walk to help slap myself awake.  Wishing you a clean slate and fresh start. 

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord whose confidence is in Him." - Jeremiah 17:7 

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

There's quite a bit of "generic" election activities out there, so I wanted to design a nice assortment of quick, easy and fun activities specific to the 2016 Presidential Election.

Thus the Election 2016 packet was born and includes:

* Several graphing options
* A variety of Venn diagrams
* An assortment of writing prompts as well as . . .
* “Positive & negative qualities of a candidate” worksheets, which includes the 4 Presidential nominees, plus Vice President running mates Pence & Kaine.

I’ve included black and white patterns for students, as well as ones in color, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share, or do them as a whole group activity then post the results.

There’s also:
* A Memory Match Game, where students can match portraits & symbols to the matching picture or to the corresponding word card; plus . . .

* A set of vertical & horizontal number puzzles, which practice sequencing numbers 1-10 & teen numbers, plus counting backwards from 10-0, as well as skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, & 10s.

They come in color so that you can use them as an independent center, as well as black & white so students can color, cut and put their own puzzle together.

These activities are great for table top, early finishers, and homework.

The featured FREEBIE for today is a collection of election-themed writing prompts. Once completed, they make terrific November bulletin boards and hallway displays.

Some of these are set up to become class-made books, which are wonderful for sharing during Parent/Teacher Conferences.  I've included color covers for these as well.

That's it for now.  Thanks for stopping by.  The sun is shining and an autumn breeze is calling my name. 

Time for a much-needed break and a long walk, crunching the lovely leaves with my poodle pup Chloe.

Wishing you a day that dazzles and delights.

"How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days." - John Burroughs

1-2-3 Come Do Some Election-Themed Activities With Me  

When it comes to the election, it's often difficult to find simple and appropriate activities for little learners, which are quick, easy and fun, as well as educational. 

Because of that, I designed some interesting craftivities I think you and your kiddos will enjoy.

First up is the elephant-donkey dangler. Younger kiddos can simply make the “dangler” with several “topper” options to choose from. As you can see by the photograph, there are a variety of ways to put them together.

I knew this was a “winner” when my 4-year-old grandson saw my samples and exclaimed, “Cool. Can I make one?”

He just turned 4 but is very adept with scissors, so I guess if he enjoyed it, perhaps your preschoolers could also make a dangler.

However, I designed this for kindergarten & 1st grade as an art activity, and as a writing prompt for older students 2nd-5th.

Older kiddos can opt for the square “topper” with the star on it, then choose one of the following writing prompts to jot down on the back of it:

* If I could vote I’d be voting for
____________ because . . .
* It’s important to vote because …
* I can’t wait ’til I can vote because …

If you want to mix some non-fiction reading and research into this activity, have students find out the interesting history of the donkey & elephant that are used as symbols to represent the Democratic & Republican parties.
They can write their findings on the back of the topper.

Another option is to have students write the pros and cons of each nominee on the back of their respective animal.

It’s hard to believe in today’s world that not everyone was allowed to vote in the past, so another interesting writing prompt would be for students to find out when and how Afro Americans and women won the right to vote. 

Next up is a writing prompt craftivity that can be used during an election year, or for Presidents Day as well, as the prompt is: "If I Were President..."  

Whenever I add a bit of craftiness to our writing block, my students can't wait to get down to business; so I'm often creating simple "headers" to add some extra pizzazz to generate excitement.

Give your students a choice between the 2 White House "topper" options, which they color, trim and glue to the top of their border paper (To add variety to your display, there are 3 choices.)

I've included black & white patterns as well as color templates, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share.

Finally, I wanted to reinforce the alphabet and our study of the letter Vv, as well as build some vocabulary in a fun way, so I designed the "Vv Is For VOTE!" craftivity. 

Younger kiddos can simply make the donkey-elephant “Vv is for vote!” craft. Scatter them on a bulletin board or punch holes in the heads and dangle from the ceiling or as a hallway wall border, then follow things up with the matching worksheet.

The star paper that I used for the letter V is also included.

Since Vv is also for vocabulary too, older students can write as many words as they can think of that start with the letter Vv, then write them on the back of the letter, or jot them down on one of 2 bookmark-size strips, which can be glued to the bottom of the letter.

I’ve included a completed sample for you to share, as well as a list of 61 nouns that begin with the letter Vv, which children should be familiar with.

Another option is to color the boy or girl page and mount that to the bottom of the letter, after completing the writing prompt: “It’s important to vote because …”

There are also 5 other prompt ideas your students can choose.

The writing prompt worksheets come in black and white, as well as full color, so that you can easily make a sample to share.

I’ve also included 3 “badge buttons” students color, cut, trim & wear. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of "It's Time To Vote!" games.  Study analog and digital time with these election-themed games.

Packet includes:

• * Several games
• * Clock spinners
• * Analog clock
• * Traceable digital time cards to the hour and half hour and a ...
• * Blank analog clock cards to be filled in as an assessment or skill practice.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping in.  The color here in Michigan has reached its peak, so time for a nice break to go rustle through some of those vibrant colors.  Wishing you an inspiring, nature-filled day.

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time, like dew on the tip of a leaf." - Rabindranath Tagore

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

When it comes to election activities, it's often hard to find something quick, easy & fun that's age-appropriate for early elementary.  I basically wanted something simple to help my students become familiar with the 2016 Presidential candidates.

With that in mind, I designed 3 election-themed craftivities that I think your students will really enjoy. They are featured in this blog article, along with today's special FREEBIE.

First up is a Presidential Candidate Slider, which is easy enough for preschoolers, and still appropriate for kindergarten and 1st grade as well.

Simply pick one of two star options, or give your students a choice.

They color and trim, then insert their "slider" which features the 4 presidential candidates for the 2016 election.

I've included black and white patterns for students to color, as well as colorful templates, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share.

When everyone is done, review the names of the candidates by pulling the portraits of the 4 nominees through the star "window".

You could also go over the party that they are affiliated with, as well as their Vice Presidential running mates.

Afterwards, check comprehension by calling out a name, party or running mate; students slide the matching picture to the window, then hold up their star.

You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.  Next up is a versatile writing prompt craft I call the "Democracy Dangler". 

There are many options for putting this  craft together. 
Children can simply choose the candidate that they are going to vote for in your school’s mock election, or the candidate that they would vote for if they were 18.

They can pick the full-page large oval or the smaller, 2-on-a-page version.

Writing Prompt Options: On the back older students write the reasons why they support that candidate, reasons why they are going to vote for that nominee or the things that they like about that person.

Students could also pick 2 candidates, glue these ovals back-to-back then complete a comparison-contrast writing prompt which they’d write on the back of the “Election 2016” square. OR …

Children feature all 4 candidates in the order that they like them, the top one being the one that they will be voting for, then write factual information on the back of each oval, or things they like and dislike about each candidate.

Ovals can be glued on a length of yarn or patriotic ribbon, with a loop at the top for hanging,

I’ve also included real photograph-ovals of each candidate which you can use:
* to introduce your lesson,
* help explain things,
* test for comprehension of who that nominee is, and/or
* use for a display.

Completed projects look awesome dangling from the ceiling, as a border along a hallway wall.  I’ve included a “Hanging Out With The Candidates” poster you can use for your display as well.

Finally, the "Flip For Facts" writing prompt craft, is a nice introduction to doing research, and practicing technology skills, and is wonderfully simple!

Students can practice their research skills and find X number of facts (I ask for 3), about each candidate via books, magazines, newspapers or on the Internet.

Older kiddos can cite their sources on the back.

I’ve also included some general biographical and campaign information on all 4 candidates that you can share with your students as well.
These can be read as non-fiction passages for older students.

Run off the pattern, which children fold over, color and snip to create “flaps” for “flipping”.
Underneath they write their “bulleted” facts.

Give students a star sticker to place on their favorite candidate.
When everyone is done, have students share their “flipper flapper” with the class, telling one interesting fact that they found.

Besides the BW template for students to color, I’ve also included a pattern in color, as well as a completed set of facts, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share.

Completed projects make a terrific bulletin board too.
I’ve included 2 patriotic posters for the center of your display. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a 40-page, election-themed number packet, which practices a variety of math standards suitable for PK-1st.

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

My granddaughter is celebrating her 2nd birthday this week, so it's time to do some shopping. 

Wishing you a carefree and happy-go-lucky kind of day. 

"Age is strickly mind over matter.  If you don't mind, it don't matter." -Jack Benny

1-2-3 Come Do Some Quick,Halloween Activities With Me

Halloween happens to be on a Monday this year, so some schools will be celebrating on Friday, others waiting 'til the real day. 

Since our party day is Friday, I still wanted to have some quick, easy and educationally fun Halloween-themed activities for Monday, so I whipped together a pumpkin glyph, writing prompt and class book.  They are featured on the blog, along with today's  FREEBIE.

First up is the pumpkin glyph. No matter what grade I taught, my students absolutely LOVED making glyphs.

They are a quick, easy & interesting way to practice and assess listening and following directions.  This pumpkin glyph will also review some 2D shapes as well.

Since this is one of my report card standards, glyphs also provide a "hard copy" to use as proof that a child does or doesn't listen & follow directions.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different! 

I've included 2 posters for the center of your glyph display.

Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students.  The packet also includes a few posters for explaining things so even PK students can make one.  

The "Positive-Negative Writing Prompt Pumpkin" also makes an awesome bulletin board or hallway wall display.   

The controversy of Halloween, makes a nice comparison-contrast writing activity, where students list the positive aspects of Halloween that they like, as well as the negative ones that they don't care for.

Whenever I include a bit of hands-on craftiness to a lesson, I instantly have my students' attention; and they can't wait to get down to the business of writing.

So as a topper for their completed October writing prompt, children use an art form fittingly called: "positive-negative" and create a Jack-O-Lantern with my easy-peasy pattern.

To add some variety to your display, I've included 5 writing prompt worksheet options with different Halloween-themed graphics and fonts for your students to choose from.

PK teachers can do this as a whole-group discussion activity, where students give their opinion and you jot down their answers on one of the writing prompt worksheets, then each child can make a positive-negative pumpkin, which can be scattered around the prompt.

Finally, if your kiddos are like mine, they are constantly talking about what costume they are going to wear for Halloween.   I take advantage of their excitement and enthusiasm by having them make a costume class book.

They are super-excited to get down to the business of illustrating their own page, which is a great activity for the week of Halloween, or even on party day for something educationally fun to help channel all of that energy.

I’ve included 2, full color cover options to choose from, as well as 3 different page designs. (See PREVIEW).

There’s a black and white pattern for your students, as well as templates in color, so that you can easily make a sample to share to help explain things, then contribute your costume page to the book too.

On party day I snap everyone’s picture, then add their photograph to our book as well.

Class-made books are one of my students’ favorites in our classroom library; they are terrific to share during parent-teacher conferences too.   Besides the book, I’ve also included 2 song posters.

I enjoy making up songs to familiar tunes. One is “Trick or Treat” to the tune of “Are You Sleeping Brother John?” the other is “What Costume Will You Wear” to the tune of “Farmer in the Dell”.  

Today's featured FREEBIE is a collection of tried and true Halloween party games that my students really enjoy.  I call the packet "Ready-Set-Ghost!"

Click on the link or photo to grab your copy and let the spooktacular fun begin!

Well that's it for today... Gotta dash, as there are treat bags yet to make for the neighborhood children.  We don't have that many, so I like to make something extra special. 

Wishing you a very Happy Howling Halloween!

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