1-2-3- Come Do Some "Happy Graduation!" Activities With Me

When I taught kindergarten we had our graduation in the afternoon, with punch and cookies afterwards.

Even though we had a "dry run" and practiced our songs beforehand, I still needed something to keep my kiddos occupied for the rest of the morning. 

With that in mind, I designed some quick, easy and fun activities, and made them appropriate for preschool graduation as well.  

I hope you find them useful and your planning easier. 

First up, is a bookmark.  I've included patterns through 2035. 

Who knows where we'll be 20 years from now, but if you're in need of a graduation bookmark, I've got you covered.  

There are 2 patterns to choose from, with 4-on-a-page for quick printing. 

For extra pizzazz, we mounted the bookmark on printed scrapbook paper using our school colors, glued a school photo inside the circle, then I laminated them.

For that finishing touch, punch a hole at the top and add some matching curling ribbon.  

Next up is a graduation memory book, sure to become a cherished keepsake.   

Run off on a variety of colors, or use your school colors.

You can buy real tassels, or simply slip a few strings of yarn around a brass brad.

There are a variety of pages to choose from, which come in color as well as black & white.

Simply choose which pages are appropriate for your kiddos.

Students can cut and collate their own pages, or you can ask for parent volunteers to help you with this; pre-assembling the books, so that all students have to do is color, write and glue on a photograph.

I purposely made all these lines straight cuts, so that you can easily cut 3-6 pages out at a time.

Once the pages are cut and put in the order you want them, staple the booklet to the back page and add the cover.

Students can work on some of the pages beforehand, like the "A note from my friend" page.

Have students pick a partner to exchange their booklet with, and then complete that page.

Later, finish the special graduation pages on graduation day.

This is a super-fun craftivity that I think your students will really enjoy making, and parents will truly appreciate, as a cherished keepsake of one of their child’s many milestones. 

Finally, I designed  a super-cute "Hip Hippo Ray!" writing prompt craftivity for graduation, as well as a generic one, which is suitable for the end or beginning of the year:

(“Hip Hippo Ray! I’m on my way!”), ("Hip Hippo Ray! It’s graduation day!") or (“Hip Hippo Ray! Happy 1st day".)    

The bows contain the greeting. The mouth of the hippo flips up to reveal a variety of writing prompt options.  Choose one page, or several to make a little booklet.

There’s also an autograph page, plus a blank template for children to draw a picture of themselves, or use for more writing prompts that would turn “Hilda & Henry Hippo” into a Memory Book.

I’ve included a “note from your teacher” page too.  Simply write one note and run off. I pre-cut my page to expedite things.

For that finishing touch, have students glue their school photo somewhere.

The packet also includes an ABC word hunt worksheet for the last day of school, as well as bookmarks in color and black and white, for all 3 occasions. 

Today's FREEBIE also works for preschool or kindergarten graduation. 

Click on the link to get a FREE certificate and 7 bookmarks, which are a quick, easy & inexpensive little something to help celebrate. 

Well that's it for today.  Hope you found something useful. 

My "to do" pile is way too high for the days to be flying by this fast.  Wishing you a stress-free happy day.

"Wherever you go, go with all of your heart" - Confuscious

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Mother's Day Activities With Me

During the week of Mother's Day, for our writing block, we do a variety of keepsake activities.  I give children a choice, with the option if they finish one, they may work on another.  This keeps kiddos focused and on task.  Win-win!

I think they are highly motivated because they love their moms and want to make some super-fun "paper love" for them to show their appreciation.

The  "Hoppy' Mother's Day" frog  is quick, easy and fun, and turns out super-cute. Younger children can simply make the card, while older students can glue their frog card to the writing prompt lily pad.

The flip up “tongue” pattern featuring a cute little fly, has 2 verse options:

                                            “Just little old me flying by with a Happy Mother’s Day Hi.” and
                                        “Just little me flying by with a loving special “Hi.”

Likewise, there are a variety of options for the greeting on the frog’s belly, that’s revealed when the “tongue” is flipped up:

“I’m jumping for joy and so “hoppy” you’re my (mom, mama, mommy, mum, grandma)!” plus a fill-in-the-blank template as well.

I've included a bow pattern for that finishing touch.

Next up, is a ladybug-themed Mother’s Day card, that's sure to become a keepsake.

The packet includes 2 card options. Choose one, or give your students a choice.
The first ladybug’s wings open to reveal the greeting: “Love and a hug from your little bug.”

Wiggle eyes attached with glue dots, black pipe cleaner antennae and a photograph add those special finishing touches.

The circle poem on the back says: “The spots on my ladybug are made with TLC. They were made with my thumbprint with love to you from me.”

The other option is a 3D leaf. The top leaf features a mommy ladybug and says: “Happy Mother’s Day to A Super-Fine Lady”.
The leaf flips up to reveal the same “Love and a hug from your little bug” greeting. 

Children draw a picture of their mom on the back of the leaf. I’ve also included blank wings and leaves, so students can write their own words.

Today's featured FREEBIE is also a cute craftivity for Mother's Day.  The "My mom is really sweet!" writing prompt is quick, easy & fun.

One teacher told me she was so excited to make this craft, as each year she holds a tea called "Muffins in May with Mom" where moms or a significant other come to school. What a cute idea.

 Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you found something useful.

Time to take a break and call my mom.  She's 90 and moments on the phone are precious to me.

Here she is enjoying the flowers I sent.  Wishing you a stress-free and joy-filled day. 

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life." -Abraham Lincoln

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Mother's Day Activities With Me

Tuesday's blog featured Mother's Day craftivities that could also be used for the end of the year, as well as back to school.  Here are two more that offer that same versatility:

The "souper" soup can craftivity, can be a "flip up" card, or a windsock, where the writing prompt is completed on the paper "ribbons".

Besides those "crafty" options, you have a choice of 7 writing prompts:

* "I had a 'souper' year!" is a fun way to reflect about what students have accomplished.

* "You're going to have a 'souper' year in _________" is written by this year's students for next year's kiddos.

* "___________ is a 'souper' student." Is a terrific "bucket filler" which will help build self-esteem.

* "I'm looking forward to a 'souper' summer." Is a fun end of the year option.  You could also change it to "I had a 'souper' summer." and use at the beginning of the school year.

* There are also patterns for Mom, Dad & grandparents to help celebrate their special days, as well as a blank soup can for anything else.

The "Bee-utiful Bee-cause..." bee-themed craftivity can also be used for Mother's Day, BTS (Back To School) or the end of the year.

There are 2 craftivities in the packet. Children can make a bee and choose the prompt “My mom is bee-utiful because . . .” or make fingerprint bees around a hive. Another writing prompt is: “My mom is terrific ‘bee-cause” . . .

So that students can write something different, I’ve included blank bee and hive patterns. There’s also a generic “You are ‘bee-utiful’ because …” or “You are terrific ‘bee-cause’” options.

At the end of the year, students can make a bee or hive that says: “I had a ________________ year in ________________ ‘bee-cause’..." or “I’m looking forward to a super summer ‘bee-cause’..."

Another interesting option is to have this year’s students make a bee or hive for next year’s students. “You’re going to have a _______________ year in _______________ ‘bee-cause’”.

What a fun thing to have tucked in your students’ desks or displayed on their lockers at the beginning of the year.

As with the other bee craftivities, children can write their note of “why” on the bee’s stripes, or if you want students to write more, they can complete the little apple booklet and glue it to the front.

I wanted the Mother’s Day beehive card to be a keepsake, so my students dipped their thumb in yellow paint to make the bees, and used their pinkies and white paint for the wings.

When their cards dried, they drew on details with a black marker, and glued their school photo in the “door”.

If you like the hive card, but don’t want to mess with paint, I’ve also included bee “stickers”. Students get a strip of 4, trim and glue to their card.

Today's FREEBIE is another Mother's Day activity, which you can also use for Father's or Grandparent's Day, or anyone else that you "love to pieces".

Teacher's and parents could also make a little gift for their students/children.  I made small "Love you to pieces" cards that you can print off and attach to a Snack Baggie, or package of Reeses Pieces candy.

There's also a completed puzzle writing prompt pattern, so you can easily make a sample to share, to explain what you want your kiddos to do.

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

It's cold, rainy and windy out; the perfect weather for shortening my ever-growing "to do" list.  Wishing you a snuggly relaxing day. 

"A good criterion for measuring success in life is the number of people you have made happy." -Robert Lumsden

1-2-3 Come Do Some Versatile Writing Prompt Craftivities With Me 

Sometimes when I'm designing something for a particular thing, it turns out that I can also use it for something else; as once a crafty little pattern is made, it's easy to tweak the writing prompt portion, so that it fits for other times of the year. 

Such is the case for several of the Mother's Day craftivities I just finished; so I included patterns appropriate for the end of the year, as well as back to school. 

Today, I'm featuring 3 of them, along with today's featured FREEBIE.

First up is the "berry" versatile strawberry packet.     I’ve included a back-to-school pattern that says: “I had a ‘berry’ special summer because…” as well as an end of the year template: “This school year was ‘berry’ special because…”

Run the summer strawberry off on hot pink with lime green leaves; then see wonderful improvement in your students’ writing, when they complete the other prompt, at the end of the year.

I’ve also included another pattern to make a “Thank you ‘berry’ much!” card, which you can give to volunteers who’ve helped your class, the secretary or whoever gave you a helping hand throughout the year.

Flip the card up to reveal a picture of your class holding a thank you sign or letter cards spelling the words out, then have everyone sign it.

Another pattern is for a Mother’s Day card: “My (mom, mommy, mama, mum, grandma) is ‘berry’ special because…”  Have students make hand print “leaves” for that keepsake touch.

Finally, the "fruity treat" is a little gift you can give your students at the beginning or end of the year:
"I hope your summer is 'berry' special just like you." or . . . "I'm wishing you a 'berry' special year.

Attach the strawberry tag to a berry-flavored juice box or package of Skittles. 

Next up is the "....And That's Something To Tweet About!" writing prompt bird craftivity.    Just like the strawberry, you can use it for back-to-school, (“I had a great summer!), or at the end of the year (“I had a great year in school) and that's something to tweet about!"

I’ve also included a variety of writing prompt options suitable for Mother’s Day as well. “My (mom, mum. mommy, mama, grandma) is special and that’s something to tweet about!”

There are blank wing and “hang tag” patterns as well, so that you can write in something else.  These pieces, along with the accordion-folded legs, add special 3D pizzazz.

Older students explain why, by writing on the back of the bird. Completed projects really turn out adorable and look sweet suspended from the ceiling.

Finally, "Great Times!" also includes a variety of writing prompt options.   I’ve included 3 patterns for a Mother’s Day card, as well as templates for the end of the year: ”Time sure flies! I had a _____________ year in _____________!”

Plus there’s a “Fun in the Sun Summer Time“ pattern, where students can write about the fun times they are looking forward to doing during vacation, or use for back-to-school and have students write about a few of their favorite times that they enjoyed.

Besides the 3 “draw yourself” clock patterns for Mother’s Day, there are also 6 templates featuring 3 boys & 3 girls. Students simply color and cut.

Older kiddos “hinge” the writing prompt to the back with a piece of Scotch tape. 

There are black & white patterns for students, plus full color templates of the children holding the clocks, so that you can quickly and easily make samples to share. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is also versatile, as you can use it in February for Valentine's Day, as well as for grandparents, Mom or Dad on their special days.

I found this ABC "I Love You!" idea in various print forms on a variety of sites, 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. 

As for me, I tucked one in my husband's briefcase. Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.

If you get a minute, zip on over to the site-wide "Teacher Appreciation" sale going on over at TpT. 

My shop is participating.  Enter the Promo Code: CELEBRATE for an additional 10% off at checkout. 

"If you can read this, thank a teacher!"

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

Since the “Silly Shaped Lorax” and “Slick Shapely Chick” activities were such a huge hit, I decided to make “Funny Frogs”.

These cuties are a quick, easy and super-fun “print & go” craftivity, that will help review 2D shapes.

The packet includes playing cards with frog and lily pad graphics, which are shaped in the various 2D shapes: circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, heart, star & crescent.

I’ve also included cards with speckled lime green shapes, plus matching word cards, as well as shape cards with a fly on them.

Use the cards for one-to-one correspondence with little ones, or Memory Match & “I Have; Who Has?” games with older students.

As a math center activity, students can also use the cards to “feed” the appropriate-shaped frog head, by finding all of the matching cards, then placing them inside the frog's open "mouth".

I’ve also included a short “giggle” tale about Ferdinand the frog, and Princess Penelope who was turned into a fly!

I had so much fun writing it! Read it as an interesting way to introduce the shape craft, then have older students "flip up the mouth" and write their own "fractured fairy tale" on the frog's "tongue".

There’s a set of discussion questions for the story, as well as a "test for comprehension" worksheet.

There are also 2D "tongue" patterns which feature a fly and the name of the shape.

Older students can also write their shape’s attributes here. 

For further reinforcement, I’ve included a few worksheets, plus a certificate of praise bookmark.

After sharing their frog, scatter completed projects on a blue (pond) background bulletin board.

You could also make some brown cattails to use for your border.

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

Since these silly shaped frogs have a big mouth, a cute story to read after making this craftivity, is “The Wide Mouth Frog” by Keith Faulkner. It’s one of my kiddos’ favorites.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so today's FREEBIE is a writing prompt craftivity entitled: A Rainbow of Love dangler.

Students write something on each colorful strip, of why their "mom colors their world with love."

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

Wishing you a happy and blessed day.

“The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.” -Sydney J. Harris

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

Since the butterfly life cycle craftivities were such a hit, I decided to make some for the frog's life cycle as well. 

I do our butterfly theme in April with my Y5s, then follow it up with frogs in May. Studying two life cycles really helps reinforce those science concepts and vocabulary. 

To make this quick and easy for you, plus super-fun for your kiddos, I designed six,  simple "print & go" craft activities with lots of options. 

First up is the frog's life cycle featured on a paper plate.  I've included a simple 4-section cycle for little ones, where you count the big frog as the start, as well as a 6-piece cycle for older students.

There are full color patterns, so you can easily make an example to share to help explain things, as well as black & white templates so children can color their own.

There are templates that are labeled, as well as blank ones so students can practice the science vocabulary by writing it in.  

Punch a hole at the top; tie a yarn loop and suspend from the ceiling.

Next up are the "Turn to Learn"  Life Cycle of A Frog "Science Story Wheels". I went a bit crazy buying “Life Cycle Of A Frog” clip art, so there are 5 different life cycle wheels.

This will provide a nice variety from cutesy to realistic, so that you can diversify your center.

As a whole-group activity, you can give students a choice of which one they’d like to color, cut and make.

To test comprehension and use the science vocabulary, have children write out the life cycle on the “Here’s What Happened” worksheet.  I’ve included a detailed, completed sample, so that you can share whatever information is appropriate for your kiddos.      

Since a cycle is like a circle, I thought it would be appropriate to design the life cycle of a frog on 5 different, circular-puzzle patterns, as a super-fun way to teach and practice this science standard.

The puzzles come in black & white, plus color to use for an independent center, or whole group “What comes next?” activity, where you pass the pieces out to your students to help explain, then review the frog’s life cycle.

Students can keep theirs as a puzzle, pick a partner and play “Speed” against them, to see who can be the first to put their puzzle together in the correct order, or you can use it as a comprehension worksheet, and have children glue the pieces together on the matching puzzle base.

To add variety, as well as have the ability to diversify, I’ve included 4, 5 and 6—piece puzzles.  Some have realistic graphics of the frog’s life cycle, while others are semi-realistic, as well as cutesy.

So you can also test comprehension, reinforce the life cycle’s order, as well as practice writing and the science vocabulary, I’ve also included a sequencing “What Comes Next?” writing-prompt worksheet.

My kiddos absolutely love wearing a crown, so with that motivation in mind, I designed life cycle science crowns.The packet includes 5 different life cycle of a frog crowns to choose from.

As with the other packets, patterns come in full color as well as black and white.

Choose one, or run off the assortment on white construction paper, then give your students a choice.

I use green bulletin board border as the base. Kiddos glue their crown to the strip and I wrap it around their head, snip and staple. 

My students also enjoy making "flip the flap" booklets, so I whipped together another life cycle of a frog option.    

PK kiddos simply color and glue the long life cycle piece, which shows 5-sections under the flaps.

So you can assess comprehension, give older students the "mixed up pattern", where they cut out each individual rectangle, then glue the 5 stages in the appropriate order.

 Older students can also label or write "what's happening" in each section.  Take a teachable moment to reinforce the ordinal number words on the front. 

Another flip the flap activity is a cute, frog face flip up booklet.

Simply run the head and body patterns off on light green construction paper.

Choose either the realistic graphics, or the cutesy ones, or give your students a choice.

They color, cut, fold on the dashed line putting the pages in correct order, then glue them to the base of the frog and add the head afterwards.

I’ve included picture pages without text, should you want your students to label and write out a description of their own, as well as completely blank “tongue pages” if you also want them to draw their own graphics.  

Today's FREEBIE also features a frog-theme, and is a set of 10 frame cards.  I hope you find them useful.  

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

I got spoiled with a few days of lovely 70 degree weather, now it's back in the 40s. Yuk.

Mother Nature is having a spring identity crisis again, at least here in Michigan.   Wishing you a zippidy-doo-dah day! 

"We could all take a lesson from the weather.  It pays no attention to criticism." - Unknown

1-2-3 Come Feed The Very Hungry Caterpillar With Me!

Because Eric Carle’s story, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” lends itself to “feeding” a caterpillar, I designed “Mr. Munch” as a quick, easy and super-fun way to review not just the story, but all sorts of standards!

“My caterpillar’s hungry. His name is Mr. Munch. He likes to eat all sorts of things, especially for lunch”. Is the poster poem I start the lesson with.

After reading the story, I pass out the life cycle of a butterfly cards, as well as the food cards to my students.

My Y5s absolutely love sequencing and retelling the story “feeding” Mr. Munch, as they drop the cards into his “mouth” in the appropriate order.

Simply attach the caterpillar pattern to the top of a Kleenex box, or large, ZipLock Baggie.

There are 2 caterpillar head options, with 3 size choices.

I included a small, 4-on-a-page size, so students can make their own very hungry caterpillar, which they attach to a ZipLock Baggie.

This is an inexpensive and fun way for them to practice reading words to a classmate or reading buddy. 

Each time they play, run off a different set of word cards on a different color paper.

In the end they’ll have a Baggie full of words that they can read, and a nifty activity to take home for more practice during the summer. 

They can also pull X amount of cards from their caterpillar’s “belly” to do the various “word-apillar” worksheets with.

In addition to “feeding” the caterpillar, you can use the cards in a ton of other ways; as the versatility of the cards makes them adaptable for games, centers, and assessing.

I’ve included a tip list of ideas, including my students’ favorite “Kaboom” game, plus 15 worksheets”, which are perfect for Daily 5, table top lessons, a sub folder, early finishers, or homework.

Besides the cards that directly relate to the story (life cycle & food) I’ve also included:

* A set of days of the week cards
* 2D shape cards, with matching shape words, with 13 options.

* Time to the hour and half hour analog clock cards, with a blank set to program with additional times.

* Number word cards from 0-22
* Number cards from 0-140, with a blank set of caterpillar cards to program with more numbers, as well as an odd & even sorting mat.

* Math symbol cards(+ — = < > ), so children can make equations
* A set of ordinal number food cards

* Alphabet cards showing both upper & lowercase letters, as well as separate cards for each.
* Mini word cards for ALL of the Dolch word lists. Each set has its own graphic so they are easy to sort.

* 570 mini, long & short vowel word cards (60 on 1 page) with a sorting mat and sorting cup game.

* Word family cards for 22 word families, with blanks to program more. Plus…

* Butterfly color cards, with matching color words

*“The Caterpillar Creeps” game, plus ...
* Each set of cards comes with a matching “Itty Bitty” booklet.

It took almost a month of work to complete The Very Hungry Caterpillar packet!

However, I felt it was time well spent, as the versatility makes this something you can do throughout the year, hauling out your hungry caterpillar anytime you want to reinforce and practice all sorts of things. 

Since Mother's Day is just around the corner, today's FREEBIE is a quick, easy & fun Mother's Day "keepsake" craftivity made with a child's fingerprints.

Here's the poem that's part of the card:

"I've left some little fingerprints on just about every wall.  On furniture, doors and windows, I've really marked them all.  Here are some that won't rub off, to remember when I was small.  Because I'll love you forever, even when I'm big and tall."

Well that's it for today. I have an entire pile of weather activities I want to get done, so it's lucky the current weather is chilly and not providing a temptation to be outside playing in my garden.

Wishing you a stress-free day filled with everything you enjoy the most.

"A Mother's heart is the child's classroom." -Henry Ward Beecher

1-2-3 Come Do Some Earth Day Activities With Me!

Earth Day is April 22nd, so I'm posting 6 quick, easy and fun activities you can do to help celebrate our earth, and practice a variety of standards as well. 

First up is a super-cute, newsprint craftivity.  To help recycle, students trace the cat or dog template on an interesting looking section of the newspaper, or page in a magazine, that's free of pictures.

They cut out their animal, mount it on a sheet of construction paper and add facial features.

I've included "headers" for each one, as well as dog/cat tags with a recycle symbol on them, which can be tied on a piece of ribbon or yarn to make a collar, and add a bit of 3D pizzazz.

Older students can complete the writing prompt: Why "It's a dog gone good idea to reduce, reuse and recycle" or why doing those things makes "'purr-fect' sense" on the back of their paper.

Completed projects make an adorable Earth Day bulletin board.  I've included six, "reduce, reuse & recycle" photo posters to introduce the lesson, then use in your display. 

Another recycle art craftivity I call "Shape Up!" You can do it anytime, but it's especially appropriate for Earth Day, as students can see first hand how they can reuse old magazines, and recycle them into a piece of art.     

I've included patterns for a circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, trapezoid, rhombus, heart, star and crescent.

Run off whatever 2D shapes you're working on, then give your students a choice.  They choose however many strips they need to fill in that shape, glue them on, then flip their paper over and trim.

Completed projects turn out absolutely awesome and make a great bulletin board.  

Display as is, or mount on a variety of bright colors of construction paper.  Use the  "Shape Up!" poster for the center of your display.

I've also included a pattern for "prize ribbons" in all of the shapes listed above. 

Have students pick the one that matches their collage, then write their name, the shape name and a title of their shapely piece on the "ribbon tag". Hang these along side children's "masterpieces".   

The "Give a Hoot. Don't Pollute!"  is also an interesting way to review 2D shapes, and has several options. 

I use this as a whole group, "listening & following directions" activity, where students listen to the spatial directions, then glue that particular shape on their owl. 

For some 3D pizzazz, cut the beaks on a fold so they flip up, and fold the wings in half. (See photo).

The other version is the shapely owl on a worksheet. Simply run off on tan construction paper for children to color and trim.  After everyone is done, discuss what pollution is and why we should give a hoot about it.

Older students can write their thoughts out on the owl worksheet (2 options) then glue it to the back.  Punch a hole at the top, tie a yarn loop, and suspend from the ceiling.

I’ve also included an “I give a hoot! I don’t pollute” bookmark in color, plus black & white.  

Another writing prompt craftivity is  "Be A Litter Leader, Not A Litterbug"

Children color the litterbug, staple a Dixie cup to the base, then wad up some scrap paper and fill it.

The packet also includes a writing prompt for older students.  Use the "Be a litter leader not a litterbug" poster to introduce the lesson, then for the center of your bulletin board display.

I have my kiddos raise their hand and promise, as well as sign the contract.  They enjoy helping me clean up litter from our playground, and receive a bookmark (color or B&W) plus a "slap bracelet" afterwards.

Without fail, someone starts singing the enclosed poster song, then everyone chimes in. 

Another Earth Day writing prompt option is to make a class book.  My students love contributing a page to our class-made books.

After I explain what it means to reduce, reuse and recycle, we discuss ways that even young children can make a difference.  My students are always amazed at the many simple things they can do to help out.

I list them on the board, so they can refer to our ideas as they complete their own page. There are 2 cover options, plus 5 "inside" pages to choose from, or run them all off and give students a choice.  

When we read our booklet aloud, the child who wrote that page comes up and shares theirs. 

Finally, "Time To Recycle"   is a quick, easy & fun game that practices telling time to the hour, while reviewing things we can recycle.  

Children pick a partner and take turns rolling 1st one dice for numbers 1-6, then 2 dice, adding them together for numbers 7-12.

They glue the matching numbered square, depicting a recycled item on their clock. The first one to complete their clock is the winner. There are several options for this activity as well.  

Today's FREEBIE is another fun game you can play on Earth Day.  It's a color matching game that I call "Keep Our Earth Bright & Beautiful"

Little ones can match earth to earth, while older students can practice their color words and match a colorful earth to its color word. 

Well that's it for today.  I hope you and your kiddos have a super-de-dooper Earth Day.  

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” - Dr. Seuss (The Lorax)

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Butterfly & Caterpillar Activities With Me 

Is April flying by for you too? Here are a few more super-fun butterfly & caterpillar activities that practice a variety of standards.

Since the apple & pumpkin-shaped number puzzles were such a huge hit in fall, I decided to make some butterfly-shaped ones for a springtime center.

The puzzles help reinforce sequencing numbers, counting from 1-10, 11-20, as well as counting backwards from 10-1, plus skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, and 10s.

For something new, I've also included a set of alphabet letter puzzles as well. (Aa-Jj, Kk-Tt, Qq-Zz) 

Choose which puzzles are appropriate for your students. Print on a variety of colors of construction paper or card stock. Trim and keep in their own Ziplock Baggie in your math & alphabet centers.  These are also fun for your students to make one of their own. 

Have them trace & write the numbers/letters then trim. They can pick a partner and play "Speed Sequence" with them, to see who will be the first to complete their butterfly. 

Besides these "shape" puzzles, another packet includes 50 regular number puzzles for The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Some are vertical, others horizontal.  They come in color plus black and white and are a super-fun way to review Eric Carle's story, as well as practice the life cycle of a butterfly.

Another math center activity featuring The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a 10 frames game, which reinforces numbers 1-10, number words, groups/sets, and addition.

Children pick a partner and take turns rolling one dice to fill in 10 frames 1-6; then use two dice, and add them together, to fill in 10 frames 7-10.

Before starting the game, children number the body segments. To reinforce number words, have them write the number above the 10 frame and the number word underneath.

If a child rolls an 11 or 12 they get to draw facial features on their caterpillar's head. The first one who completes their caterpillar is the winner.

Each month I do a glyph with my students, so I designed a butterfly one for April. 

Glyphs are a quick, easy and fun way to get to know your students better, at the same time practice listening and following directions. 

Because each glyph is different, they make a terrific bulletin board display.  No matter what grade I taught, my kiddos absolutely LOVED making glyphs.

In April I'm also trying to get my students to improve their writing by using adjectives, which help make sentences "come alive" because they are more descriptive. 

Caterpillars and butterflies are a perfect vehicle for that, thus the reason behind the "print & go" Butterfly Caterpillar Adjective Worksheets, great for Daily 5 word work, or your writing block.  

I’ve included 28 photographs of real caterpillars, along with an assortment of 32 butterfly photos. There are 4 on a page. Choose your favorites, print, laminate & trim, then have students take a look and pass them around.

Afterwards, discuss what an adjective is, and brainstorm a list of words that describe caterpillars and butterflies. Students then write as many words as they want on each of the worksheets.

Remind students to color the pictures, then include those words on their worksheet as well.   I've also included a "trace, cut & glue" option for younger students.

For more word work practice, after students complete their worksheets, have them write some sentences on the 8 choices of “stationery” provided, using the adjectives that they thought of. 

Finally, to practice colors and color words, I designed a 3D Caterpillar Paper Chain Craft.

I’ve included word strips for all of the colors pictured, plus optional spellings for gray & grey. 

Completed projects look fabulous suspended from the ceiling, or used as a border along a hallway wall. 

Since a lot of teachers study rainbows in March, I decided to add a snake head pattern as well, making this a fun activity for St. Patrick's Day too.

Today's FREEBIE is entitled "Butterfly UT Word Play" and features 3 different worksheets with a butterfly theme, perfect for Daily 5 word work activities.

Students fill in the UT to make words; + trace, write and alphabetize words that rhyme with butter as well as fly. 

It's an "oldie but goodie" that I designed years ago before all of the design programs I use now.

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

I've got so many "idea piles" on my desk for Mother's Day, I best get to sifting and sorting to see what fun things I can come up with for May. 

Wishing you a productive and fun-filled day.

"The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough." -Rabindranath Tagore

1-2-3 Come Do Some Earth Day Activities With Me

Since Earth Day is just around the corner (April 22nd), I thought I'd design some quick, easy and fun writing prompt craftivities. 

Tossing in a bit of craftiness to a writing activity, grabs my students' attention and gets them excited to start writing.  With that in mind, I came up with the Earth Day: Lend A Helping Hand Dangler.

Students can choose to dangle their "writing prompt" circles vertically under their hand, or they can glue them together to form a sphere (like the earth).

The child's hand print makes this a sweet keepsake craft.  PK children can skip the writing prompts and simply color their circles.

Completed projects look wonderful swirling and twirling from the ceiling. 

Another Earth Day hand print craftivity I call "Reach Out!"

After studying the importance of taking care of our earth and discussing the fact that even little children can make a difference, I’d give a few directions, and tell my Y5s that they were going to be part of Mrs. Henderson’s “Kids Care Cleanup Crew”. (Name badge included.)

Each child got a pair of non latex gloves and armed with their own plastic grocery sack to put litter in, we’d hit the playground when no one was using it. My kiddos absolutely LOVED running around picking up all sorts of debris. They were always very proud of themselves.

Afterwards we'd do the craftivity. Adding flat-backed "jewels" to "rings" and polish to the nails on their hand print, was a big "woo hoo" for the girls.

Older students can complete the writing prompt (2 options) and glue it to the back of their poster.  Younger kiddos can color their poster-poem certificate and glue that to the back.  Punch a hole at the top, tie on a yarn loop and suspend from the ceiling. 

Next up is a "What's In Your Garbage?" writing prompt craft, which features a teachable moment to review the cylinder shape by making the garbage can "windsock".  (The writing prompt is completed on the colorful "ribbon" strips.) 

In general, I don’t think students realize what or how much garbage their family throws away, nor the importance of recycling, which they soon discover isn’t all that difficult, thus the reason behind this craftivity, which includes ...

* A letter to parents,
* A “Tally Time” data collection worksheet
* Graphing worksheet with a matching . . .

* Whole-group graphing activity
* 2 writing prompt worksheets (boy & girl options), plus . . .
* A 3D writing prompt craftivity (“I Can Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" garbage can dangler) to pull it all together. Add a school photo for that finishing touch.

"I CAN Make A Difference" is another "dangler", which is one of my students' favorites.  I think it's because they really like the eye graphic with the recycle symbol inside the pupil.    

Older students can write how they can make a difference on the back of their "dangler", while PK kiddos simply do the craft.

Run off the R (for reduce, reuse & recycle) on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Children choose one and trim. They can either write the 3 Rs on their letter, or cut & glue the labels.

The packet also includes a boy/girl "promise pledge" for added accountability. Plus separate "How I can make a difference" writing prompt worksheets, which can be done as a whole-group activity, with younger students on the "How WE can make a difference" paper.

The patterns come on a full page, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page pattern for PK. Add extra pizzazz with a school photograph. 

Finally, my personal favorite is the "Reduce Your Envoronmental Footprint" writing prompt craft.  I'm sure your girls will enjoy making a 3D flip flop and adding a flower as much as mine do.     

Read my background information about environmental footprints, and share a few things with your students.  I've added a checklist of things even a child can do to help reduce their footprint.

You can do this as a whole-group discussion.  I’ve also included a page of links with lots more interesting information.

There are several options for the “craftivity”.  For that “keepsake” effect for younger kiddos, or to add a nice variety to your display, have students trace their foot with their shoe on.

I’ve also included 5 other footprint options, as seen on the cover. Older students complete the writing prompt, starting on the front of their shoe, then completing their thoughts on the back.

Children can glue their shoe to the large earth pattern which they’ve colored, or older students can make the 3D earth sphere, by gluing the 3, smaller earth-circles together.  Completed projects look awesome swirling & twirling from the ceiling. 

Today's FREEBIE also centers around Earth Day and is an "Every Day Should Be Earth Day!" bookmark.

I've included a 4-on-a-page pattern in color, as well as black & white, so students can enjoy coloring their own.

Older students can explain "why" they think "Every day should be Earth Day" on the back of their bookmark, then share with their classmates. 

Well that's it for today; thanks for stopping by.  I hope you found something useful. To help celebrate Earth Day, all of the above writing prompt crafts are on sale for just $1.95. 

It's FINALLY spring here in Michigan, and a gorgeous 73 degress, so it's time for a much-needed break.  Wishing you a happy-go-lucky day. 

"Look deep into nature, then you will understand everything better." -Albert Einstein