1-2-3 Come Do Some Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities With Me

My students absolutely love Eric Carle's story, The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  It's one of my favorites too, and is the inspiration behind the 6 caterpillar craftivities that I'm featuring today.  

First up is The Very Hungry Caterpillar "Story Elements" Dangler. 

The “smile” of the caterpillar says the title of the story.  The circle "body segment" features the characters and setting, with an optional "problem-solution" circle.

Students write a brief description about the beginning of the story on the leaf, something about the middle on the apple, then concluding with the end of the story, which is written on the butterfly.

Add extra 3D pop & pizzazz by giving students two leaves and two butterflies. They fold the leaf in half and glue to one side, and attach the thorax of the top butterfly to the one on the bottom.

I also gave my kiddos a tiny white pom pom that they attached to the leaf with a glue dot, to represent an egg. This way I could also review the life cycle of a butterfly.  The 3D options take just a few minutes and really add the “Wow! factor".

Completed projects look awesome dangling from the ceiling, or hung as a border along the top of a hallway wall. 

Another way you can retell the story is with The Very Hungry Caterpillar Story Telling Slider craftivity.  

There are 2 caterpillar options. Choose one, or give children a choice.  Children color their caterpillar, then color, cut and glue their slider together.

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

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

Besides a slider, my students also enjoy practicing this standard with The Very Hungry Caterpillar Story Wheel.

It's a quick, easy & fun way to assess comprehension and practice sequencing, as well as retelling a story.

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

As a comprehension-assessment tool, and for fine motor practice, another option is to have students cut up the picture sections, then glue them to the blank wheel in the appropriate order.

I've also included "Sequence the Story” Puzzles.  Use the full-color versions for an independent center, and print the black and white pattern, so children can color, cut and arrange their own puzzle.

Besides the picture puzzles, I’ve also included “word slices” so you can practice recognizing the vocabulary for this story.

There are also 2 writing prompt worksheets, where students write what happened in the story, or explain why they’d rather be a butterfly or caterpillar. 

Follow up checking comprehension with The Very Hungry Caterpillar Story Elements worksheet, which can be completed as homework, or tucked in a sub-folder.  

I've included a completed sample, so that you can quickly and easily make an example to share with your students. 

You can also review the story while students practice their grammar skills, with the "Fix The Sentence" packet. 

These 32, caterpillar/butterfly-themed, sentence cards, are also a quick, easy and fun way to review the life cycle of a butterfly.

Students practice rules for appropriate grammar for capitalization and end punctuation. Simply read the cards together as a whole group to practice a lot of sight words as well.

Choose 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 one card out to each child to correct.  I've also included a set of mini-cards, so that students can work on the sentences independently. 

Finally, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is perfect for a "Devouring Words & Books" challenge, which will build vocabulary, reading fluency and motivate students to read more.

Run off the caterpillar pattern on a variety of colors of construction paper or card stock, then give students a choice.

A word-apillar can be sight words, word wall words, seasonal vocabulary words, or specific to the life cycle or study of butterflies, with science vocabulary like metamorphosis, chrysalis, proboscis, etc.

It’s also a fun way for students to practice their spelling words, or complete their word work portion of Daily 5.  I’ve provided 2 pattern pages of extra “body segments” so students can make a really long caterpillar. 

Today's FREEBIE is a set of butterfly alphabet cards. There are 3 sets: one has both the upper and lowercase letters on them, as well as a set with each, so you can play Memory Match and "I Have; Who Has?" games.  

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. Gotta rush as it's my grandson's 6th birthday and we are off to a "Jump" party.

Wishing you a happy and carefree day. 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Spring Things With Me

During spring, it’s a good idea to once again assess things like colors, color words, and shapes. 

With that in mind, I designed the “Bunny Tails & Tales” packet as a super-fun way to practice, assess, or teach.

Add a bit of “crafty” to writing practice, and your students will be excited to show off their writing skills, with the “Bunny Tale” shape booklet.

The cover flips up to reveal their bunny tale. Add a cotton ball for that finishing touch.

I’ve included my silly story about the “Magic Carrot”, so that you can easily make an example to share with your students.

Review thirteen, 2D shapes with the “Shapely Bunny” game.

Students match the appropriate shaped tail to the matching bunny with that shape word.

I used glue dots to add a mini, white pom pom to each piece.
This not only makes manipulating the tails easier, but the pinching aspect, is a great way to strengthen finger muscles.

If you’re making this center for PK, simply trace the tail shape onto the bunny, so they can practice one-to-one correspondence.

The packet includes patterns for these 2D shapes: circle, oval, triangle, rectangle, square, hexagon, octagon, pentagon, rhombus, trapezoid, star, heart and crescent. Choose those appropriate for your group.

Besides writing and shapes, the packet also practices colors and color words.

I’ve included mini word cards for all of the basic colors, which are placed over the matching rectangle on that color bunny. Children then place the matching colored pom pom “tail” underneath.

There are word cards in matching ink colors for little ones, as well as cards with black ink, so you can use this as an assessment tool as well. 

I wanted to see if you could do the games with a 3-year-old, so I tested them out on my grandson Kaiden, and he absolutely loved playing them.

When he got done matching the color words and pom poms he proudly exclaimed, "I did it!" 

He also enjoyed the shape matching game, so you're good to go with a preschool group.

Finally, the packet includes a sweet “just the right size” Itty Bitty Shape booklet.

Children read the shape word, write it on the bunny’s head, then draw that shape for a tail.

There’s a booklet with the standard 2D shapes, as well as optional pages for the rest.

When children have completed their booklet, graph which shaped tail they liked the best. 

Continuing with the bunny theme, I designed a packet called "The Shape Of My Bunny's Nose", which is a center activity, game and Itty Bitty booklet, that reinforces thirteen, 2D shapes.       

The pattern comes in color on a full-page size, as well as a two-on-a-page size to use as a center activity.  I've also included shape word cards, so that older students can practice matching a shape to its shape word.

There's a smaller, 3-on-a-page size to use for games, where children pick a partner and play “Show me the shape.”  I’ve also included black & white patterns, so that children can make their own shape games.

* To play the game as a large group, attach a soft Velcro dot to the nose section of the bunny, as well as the word section, then scratchy Velcro dots to the pieces.
* Pass out the pieces and call for a shape.
* The child holding that shape, comes up and attaches it. Everyone says the shape as the child points to the nose, then repeats it by reading the shape word as they point to it.

There’s also a black and white “My Bunny’s Nose” booklet, with options for additional pages which feature other shapes.

Children read the word and draw that shape on the bunny’s face, then color, trim and collate their shape booklet.

I’ve also included a graphing extension to practice another standard. 

Finally, since April showers bring May flowers, and Mother's Day is just around the corner, I designed this 3D tulip writing prompt craftivity.

PK kiddos can simply make the craft, while older students can choose from 2 writing prompts.  Use the blank pattern to program whatever.

I've also done a "two lips" play-on-words, for a sweet Mother's Day card.

Cutting on a spiral to make the "stem", is wonderful fine motor practice. I've included a pattern for "lefties" as well.

Completed projects look wonderful suspended from the ceiling.  There's a "Spiraling Into Spring" poster for the center of your display. 

The FREEBIE today, also reinforces colors and color words.

Since the "mustache craze" continues, I thought it would be fun to make an "I 'mustache' you about colors" game, with two versions, one for PK kiddos, plus another for older students.  

Well that's it for today.  The snow has finally melted here in Michigan, and although the sun is shining, temperatures are still in the 40s, so I'm looking forward to when spring truly arrives.  

Wishing you a stress-free, happy day.

"In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours." -Mark Twain

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

After spring break we started our butterfly studies.  It was always one of my students' favorite themes because I ordered real butterfly eggs. 

My kiddos could see first hand how they hatched into caterpillars, ate almost all of their food, formed a chrysalis, then in 14 days morphed into 5 painted lady butterflies! 

To study the amazing life cycle of a butterfly, I designed a variety of activities to reinforce and practice this science standard.  Today's blog features 4 of our favorites. 

First up is a quick, easy and fun, "print & go" craftivity, which is a butterfly-shaped, flip-the-flap booklet.  

I’ve included full-color patterns so you can quickly & easily make a sample to share, as well as black & white so children can make their own.

Simply run off the whole butterfly template on a variety of colors of construction paper.  There are 2-on-a-page to conserve paper and make the booklet “just the right size” for children.

Run off the “wing pages” on white copy paper. Children trim, fold the wings up, gluing just the thorax “tab” to the thorax of the base butterfly.

When everyone is done, read the booklet as a whole group to review concepts of print, and solidify the butterfly's life cycle in children’s minds, so that they are able to share this bit of science with their family. 

Another favorite is the life cycle "slider" butterfly craftivity.  

The packet includes 3 realistic butterfly patterns, with more realistic graphics for the life cycle "slider", as well as 12 simpler butterfly patterns, which younger students will enjoy coloring.

The life cycle slider for those, has simpler graphics as well.

I've included full color slider options, so you can quickly and easily make an example to share, as well as 2 black line versions so your students can color their own.

When everyone is done, review the life cycle orally, then have students write the various stages on their "Here's What Happened" worksheet, which is a great way to practice ordinal numbers, transitions and sequencing. 

I just finished a jumbo packet, with a large variety of activities for learning & practicing the life cycle of a butterfly.  

Choose which one is appropriate for your kiddos, or give them a choice. They are different enough so that you can do several: one to introduce your lesson, another to reinforce it.

You could also do one in class and tuck another in their backpacks for homework.

The packet includes:
* A Life Cycle of the Butterfly Wheel, which comes in full color so you can explain the science, then use as an independent center. There’s also one in black and white, so that students can make their own.

There are several options to choose from depending on the age and ability of your students.

* For a center, there’s a Life Cycle of the Butterfly, “puzzle pie”; as well as…

* A Life Cycle of the Butterfly worksheet -poster, with 4 options, plus 2 completed teacher samples you can use to explain what you want your students to do, or leave in your center, so students can self-check their work.

Completed projects make a sweet bulletin board. I’ve included a poster for the center of your display.

* I’ve also included two life cycle “Itty Bitty” booklets, which students trace, write, color, cut & collate; plus …

* A butterfly shaped life cycle worksheet, with 3 options.

* 8 photograph-posters of real butterflies in the various stages of their life cycle, make a nice bulletin board as well. Use them to explain the butterfly’s life cycle.

* There are 3 different sets of sequencing cards for the butterfly’s life cycle.
They come in color as well as black & white.

Use them for sequencing, centers and a variety of games, which are explained in the packet. There's a . . .

* Set of ten, 2-on-a-page, life cycle posters. Use them for a bulletin board, center, or flashcards. Make an extra set, cut them in half and make puzzles, plus a

* Set of 9, pocket chart vocabulary cards; and ...

* A life cycle of the butterfly bookmark, which students can keep in their writing journal, or they can use to help explain what they learned; and finally...

* A mini certificate of praise. 

I had a request for just the butterfly life cycle wheel, so I made a separate packet, featuring two; one with more realistic graphics, which has 10 "pie slices", as well as a simpler, 6-piece wheel, similar to the one in the larger packet, with more cutesy graphics for younger kiddos.  

To reinforce the lesson, I've also included a worksheet for students to explain the various stages, which will practice ordinal numbers, transitions, and sequencing factual information. 

Click on the link to take a closer look at these: Life Cycle Of A Butterfly Story Wheels.

Finally, because my kiddos absolutely love Eric Carle's story, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", I designed a life cycle of the butterfly caterpillar craft.

For one of the caterpillars, students trace and write the words and then color, cut and glue the realistic graphics to the appropriate "body segments".

An easier version, includes cute clip art right on the circles, skipping the "cut & glue" steps.

I've included a full-color "teacher's version" of this caterpillar, so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share. There are 4 head options as well.

Wiggle eyes, a tiny white pom pom for the egg, plus a pipe cleaner folded into a V, then taped to the back of the caterpillar's head as antennae, all add that 3D bit of pizzazz.

Folding the wings of an extra butterfly up, then gluing just the thorax to the bottom butterfly, also adds the finishing touch "Wow! factor".  Completed projects make a wonderful spring bulletin board. 

Today's FREEBIE, also features The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  Since "parts of a book" are one of my standards, I designed a labeled poster you can use as an anchor chart. 

I turned the matching worksheet into a bit of a craftivity, as children use their fingerprints to make the caterpillar on the cover.  Click on the link to grab your free copy: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Parts Of A Book.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you found something useful to add a bit of excitement to your spring lessons.

It's hard for me to get into the "spring of things" when it's snowing outside right now! I guess "global warming" has not yet arrived in Michigan. 

Wishing you a supercalafragalisticexpeallidocious day. 

"Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind." - Samuel Taylor Coleridge

1-2-3 Come Chew On Some Common Core With the Very Hungry Caterpillar and Me

Since so many people read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, I wanted to use Eric Carle's cute little critter as a spring board to studying a variety of Common Core Standards.

I created the caterpillar template and made a list of all sorts of ways I could use it, then set about to design the details.   You can choose which one you want your students to do, or give them a choice. 

Teachers could also make up their own set and laminate to use as anchor charts. 

Make several sets but don't glue the body-segment circles together, to use for independent, sequencing centers or to play games with.  

You could also use them to  independently or whole group assess the various standards.

In The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats the Alphabet, students trace and write upper and lowercase letters. 

I've also included a set where a bit of the butterfly's life cycle is also included with the letters. 

For example, for the letter  Zz, I added:  Zzzzzz sleeping in a chrysalis, and then included a butterfly pattern with the letters all over her wings to be cut and glued on the last section. 

Completed projects make a sweet spring bulletin board.  I've included a poster for the center of you display.

The packet also includes an alpha-pillar craftivity teachers can make, which features upper or lowercase letters, which actually look like the background pattern of Eric Carle's book! 

These make a wonderful  border, or puzzle center as well. 

There's also a set of uppercase, as well as lowercase (12-on-a-page) letter cards, with matching picture cards of things that begin with that letter, plus a set of word cards for those objects, which provides a variety of center activities and games. 

I also made a set of 2-on-a-page alphabet anchor charts, which feature the beginning letter object on the caterpillar's tail end. 

This packet makes a nice spring review, as I find that just because I've taught and practiced something with my kiddos at the beginning of the year, doesn't mean everyone retains everything later on.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats a Rainbow, is a quick review of color words, plus days of the week, which follows the format of Carle's story line. 

There's a blank version, where older students think of something edible that color, then write it down and draw a picture of it, as well as a simpler version, where the black line graphics are on the page for children to color. 

I've also included a teacher's copy with full color graphics, so you can quickly make a sample to share. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Some Numbers, is similar to the alphabet packet.

This caterpillar counts from zero to ten, where students trace and write the numbers as well as the number words. 

There are also caterpillar "body" circles for skip counting by 2s 3s, 5s, and 10s.

If you are practicing counting backwards from 10 to 0, simply have children put the caterpillar in reverse order. 

I've also included a "You Can Count On The Very Hungry Caterpillar" craft for teachers to make, just like the alphabet one mentioned above.

As with the alphabet packet, there are posters, anchor charts, games and a worksheet.

In all of the packets there are 4 patterns for the caterpillar's head, plus a variety of options for butterflies.

Since I have many requests for shape craftivities, particulary 3D shapes, I thought I'd make The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats 2D & 3D Shapes, which reviews: the circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, rhombus, trapezoid, star, heart & crescent, plus 3D shapes: cone, sphere, cylinder & cube.

There are various options to choose from. Simply choose which "body segments" are appropriate for your students.

Older students can write the attributes of each shape on the back. One of the options also practices the days of the week.

On the last day the caterpillar rests in his chrysalis, then awakens as a beautiful 3 dimensional butterfly with the various shapes on its wings.   

Since telling time is also a standard, I made a "clock-apillar" which reinforces time to the hour and half hour. 

Use as a whole-group craftivity, game, center or assessment tool.

Like wise, we are also studying coins at this time, so I made a "coin-apillar" too.

These caterpillars feature a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar coins.

The packet also includes "What's the Value?" caterpillar-coin worksheets.  

Finally, if you want to practice reading with a very hungry caterpillar, your kiddos will enjoy making the versatile "Word-apillar".

I use this craftivity as a super-fun way to build vocabulary and practice whatever “word work” I want to reinforce: Dolch & Fry sight words, word-family words, seasonal words, whatever...

I’ve included a list of 31 “word work” ideas, along with ideas for games you can play after you choose your words.  

Whew! That's a lot of Very Hungry Caterpillar options!  I hope they help your kiddo-caterpillars blossom into smart little butterlies! 

Today's FREEBIE also features a butterfly.

It's one of my personal favorite spring craftivities, which makes a wonderful keepsake for mom, as the wings of the butterfly are a child's shoe print.

Do this with your butterfly activities, then tuck it away for Mother's Day.

Click on the link for the "Fluttering By With A Mother's Day "Hi" craft.

Thanks for visiting. I normally don't post on weekends, but I finished so many things up over spring break that I wanted to share. 

Wishing you a relaxing and fun-tastic weekend.  

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." -John Dewey

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

Since March is one of our windiest months here in Michigan, I like to do a mini theme about wind, with a few kite activities tossed in. 

One of my students' favorite stories is The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins. Like Jan Brett's The Mitten, this tale is also perfect for sequencing.

With that story in mind, I designed "The Wind Blew" emergent reader packet, which includes 3 booklet options, plus a variety of page options too.

There’s a black & white version for your students, with a matching full-color teacher’s edition, to use as a sample to explain the lesson.

Students read the repetitive sentence, trace & write the object that the wind blew, then trim and collate the pages, stapling into a “just the right size” booklet.

I’ve also included an extra page, where children complete the sentence: “The wind also blew . . .” and add their own idea and illustration.

The 3rd version, is a non-illustrated option. Students read the sentences (these are filled with over 40 Dolch sight words), add end punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation point), then illustrate and color the page.

Besides the booklet options, I’ve also included extra page options as well, which coordinate with Pat Hutchins' book  “The Wind Blew”. 

I made “Who Has Seen The Wind?” a poem by Christina Rossetti, into a photo-poster, as an interesting way to introduce the lesson, and get in that "poetry genre" standard.  To mix math with literacy, I've also included a graphing extension. 

The other packet that I designed to go along with Hutchins' book "The Wind Blew", is a "retell the story", sequencing craftivity.

So that you can quickly & easily make a sample to share, I've included a full-color pattern.  There's also a black & white version, so students can make and color their own.

I've included a "pennant flag" option, for those from a different country, in lieu of the US flag strip. 

Finally, what would a windy day be without a bit of kite flying?  Your students will soar with the kite-themed, -ite and -ight word family packet.

 The packet includes:

* An -ite word family poster featuring an alphabetical list of 43 -ite words.
* An -ight word family poster with an alphabetical list of 74 words.

Because some of these will be new to your students, I’ve included -ite and -ight word covers for a student-made dictionary.  Remember to take those teachable moments to explain homonyms and compound words.  There's also ...

* An -ite and -ight word family slider craftivity featuring 11 words, with a large teacher’s copy, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page pattern for students; plus ...

* An emergent reader, with 16 pocket chart cards for whole-group practice.

This comes in a full-page size in color & black and white, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page, black & white booklet for students, as well as ...

* 25 traceable Dolch word cards that appear in the story, with a cover so children can make an Itty Bitty booklet, plus . . .

* A “Give Me A K!” kite poster which is an “echo cheer”, 2 graphing extensions, 7 worksheets, 72, mini-word cards, plus the silly, story poem “Zite and My Kite” and finally...

* An -ite and -ight word family kite craftivity, with 6 kite options, plus a blank kite so students can design their own.

Today's FREEBIE also has to do with the wind. It's a "Tell Me A Story" packet, featuring "The Wind & The Sun" an Aesop's Fable.

It's an oldie but still goodie, that I did years ago, before computer classes, clip art and fonts that I now use. I hope you enjoy it.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for visiting. 

Since March roared in like a lion here in Michigan, it will be interesting to see if it gently leaves like a lamb, or continues to be really windy. 

Wishing you a carefree, high-flying sunny day.

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." - Charles Dickens

1-2-3 Come Do Some Chick and Bunny Craftivities With Me

I love springtime. There's something magical and invigorating about it; and there are so many themes you can incorporate into your lessons.

The chick and bunny seem to be popular symbols, so with that in mind I used them to design some quick, easy and super-fun craftivities, which practice a variety of standards. 

I'll be featuring 4 of my favorites, along with today's FREEBIE.  First up is a chick-themed -ick word family packet.    

The packet includes:

* An -ick chick word slider craftivity, featuring 20 words, with 2 size options.

* An -ick family poster with 22 words, plus  10 “flip the flap” -ick word booklets, as well as an “ABC Me” worksheet.  I've also included ...

* A cover to make an -ick word family dictionary, along with an Itty Bitty -ick word family booklet, plus a "Fill in the blanks” missing -ick word, sentence worksheet along with ...

* A set of -ick word family picture cards, with matching -ick word cards, so you can play “Memory Match” and “I Have; Who Has?” games, individually, with a partner or as a whole group activity.

* To mix math with literacy, there's an “Isn’t it slick that I can skip count with my chick?” slider craft, with 2 size options.
These number sliders skip count by 2s, 3s, 5s, or 10s. 

You can also practice the -op word family with my bunny packet.

The format is similar. The -op word family poster has an alphabetical list of 49 words, with some new words even to me, llke kop and trop, so I've also included a cover to make an —op word family dictionary.

I chose 18, or those -op words and made "just the right size", mini-cards.  Students can put them in alphabetical order, as an independent center, or partner up to see who can do it the fastest.  

Another idea, is to have children choose 2-3 cards and use the words in a sentence. 

The bunny and chick were also perfect to design some more "shapely critter crafts" which all started years ago with the penguin packet.

It's a wonderful, hands-on way to review 2D and 3D shapes.

Make a large set to use as flashcards, for whole-group games, and anchor charts, then have children pick their favorite and create their own.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board. 

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

The packets include an emergent reader, games, worksheets, and a "certificate of praise" bookmark.  

For the emergent reader, students read, trace and write the shape word, fill in the shapes to look like chicks/bunnies; trace the shape and then draw that shape.

They also underline the capital letter and add end punctuation. 

Both animals are super-cute, but my personal favorite is the bunny.

There are 3 pattern options for the rabbit: A whimsical looking one, a "fluffy" faced one, as well as blank templates so children can draw their own.  

I've also included a paw pattern to make the shapes look even more like a bunny.

I think part of the bunny's charm, is that I also added a set of butterflies and ladybugs, which feature the various shapes. 

For a bit of 3D pizzazz, students choose one and glue the bug to the top of one of the bunny's ears. 

To get the 3D "pop" bend the ladybug's antennae forward. 

For the butterfly, give children 2 different colors.

They trim and fold one of the butterfly's wings, then glue just the thorax to the top of the other butterfly. Easy-peasy and looks fabulous! 

Besides the standard 2D shapes, due to many requests, I've also included the trapezoid and rhombus "pattern block" shapes, along with the hexagon, pentagon and octagon. 

Since many teachers are also teaching 3D shapes, there's also patterns for the cone, cube, cylinder and sphere.

Click on the links for the "Slick Chick Spring Shape Up" packet, and the "Hop To It" Bunny Shape packet.

Finally, while diddling around with pattern blocks, I discovered that you can use other pieces, to make a hexagon. 

Since this is a really new shape for my Y5s, it tends to be a "toughie" for them to remember. 

I think part of the difficulty, is because there are not many "real life" examples for them to see.  With that in mind, I designed the "Don't be vexed by the "hex", hexagon challenge.

I putzed 'til I created a dozen arrangements, and have included a full-color, as well as a black & white template (filled in with lines, plus blank) for them to place pattern pieces on.

Later, after they've created some patterns, turn it into a "Speed" game; set a timer and see who can make the most hexagons before it rings. 

Today's FREEBIE also has a bunny theme, which practices skip counting.

Your students will enjoy hopping to the next number, as they skip count with the bunny, by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's.  I've also included "What's Missing?" worksheets for each skip counted set.  These are great for "early finishers" or homework to send over spring break.  

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  Time to switch gears and put my nana hat on, as I'm taking care of my grandchildren today. 

Kaiden (3) and Kaitlyn (1) put the grand in grandma. 

Wishing you a love-filled day filled with lots of hugs and giggles.

"I love music of all kinds, but there's no greater music than the sound of my children and grandchildren laughing." -Sylvia Earle

1-2-3 Come Do Some Spring Things With Me

Spring has officially sprung, and even though we've still got it in the 40s here in Michigan, I'm full gear into springtime fun. 

Today's blog features 3 of my favorite spring activities, which when completed, make adorable springy bulletin boards or hallway displays, sure to put a smile on your face. 

First up is a sweet little bunny glyph.  They really do turn out absolutely "awwww-dorable".   

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs. 
They are a quick, easy & interesting way to practice and assess listening and following directions.

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.

Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students.

Be sure and make your own sample. I think children really enjoy learning about their teacher too.

The packet also includes 4, sweet photo-posters of real bunnies, as well as a links page for a few bunny songs & the story of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny. 

I also designed an Easter egg glyph as well.  I've included 2 egg glyphs in the packet.  One is pretty easy, the other a bit more complicated.

Choose which one is best suited for your students.
The glyphs are also easily adapted by simply tweaking the directions to fit your needs.

Because each one is different they make a super-interesting bulletin board. Every year we get tons of compliments! 

Most passers-by are unaware that these are glyphs, so I made a springy "Glyphs" poster for each packet, to use for the center of your display. 

Since my Venn Friends have been super-popular, I wanted to design one for spring as well.  This one features  rabbits.

Venn diagrams are a quick, easy & fun way to introduce the concept of comparison - contrast writing, and an interesting way for students to get to know each other better.

My kiddos absolutely love making them, so we do a seasonal one each month; they’ve come to really look forward to picking a new partner to learn more about.  

To help students do a thorough job completing their Venn diagram and jump start the writing process, I've included a list of 40 questions that they can choose from to discuss with their partner.

For added fun, and to practice another standard that mixes math with literacy, I’ve also included a graphing extension. 

Finally, today's FREEBIE also features bunnies.   This bunny craftivity, is a quick, easy and super-fun center, assessment, or game, with  4 sizes of bunny patterns to accommodate the various sizes and kinds of craft sticks.

Program the "ears" with whatever you'd like to reinforce, then keep each set in a Ziploc Baggie.

The beauty of this bunny pattern, is that you only have to make a few bunnies, yet you're able to use them to practice a variety of Common Core Standards, or whatever else you can think up.

Here are some ideas:
* uppercase-lowercase letters
* number-number word
* number-group/set
* contraction-words that make up the contraction
* synonyms-antonyms
* rhyming words
* homonyms
* opposites
* equation-answer
* color-color words
* shape-shape words
* 2 words-compound word
* singular-plural

 Well that's it for today, I hope spring has sprung in your classroom. 

Wishing you a joyous holiday break whenever that happens.

The earth teaches me to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life. The earth teaches me resignation as the leaves which die in the fall.  The earth teaches me courage as the tree which stands all alone. The earth teaches me regeneration as the seed which rises in the spring. -William Alexander

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

One of our themes for spring is kites; so I've been busy designing an assortment of kite activities to help teach a variety of standards.

Today's blog features 4 of them, along with the featured FREEBIE.

Practice 3D shapes with the "Shapin' Up With 3D Kites" packet.  The  emergent reader reinforces 3D shapes as well as colors.

The packet includes:

* A 2-on-a-page emergent reader booklet.

* Students read the simple sentences, trace and write the shape and color words, then color the pictures appropriately.

* A set of colorful, 3D shape pocket chart cards, with matching black and white ones, so that students can color, cut, and add the cover, to make an Itty Bitty Booklet.

* I've also included a graphing extension, a “design your own kite” worksheet, plus  40 lovely photographs of real 3D-shaped kites, many of which also feature 2D shapes.

Print, laminate and trim. (There are 4 pictures per page.)  Children choose one or two and write the shapes and colors that they see on their “I Spy!” recording sheet.

For writing practice, have students write a sentence or two about the kite picture. To use as an independent center, have students sort the photographs by shape. The pictures also make a lovely spring bulletin board.

* Since I included color words in the emergent reader, I also included a set of colorful pocket chart cards, as well as a set in black and white, so students can add the cover and make a “Flipping Over Colors!”  Itty Bitty Booklet. (“grey” & “colours” spelling options are also included). 

Next up is an ordinal number "craftivity". It's a quick, easy and fun way for students to review ordinal numbers, ordinal number words + sequencing.

Encourage children to color the stripes on their kite in a pattern, or in rainbow-color order.

I've included ordinal number kite cards to play a Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" game, as well as a set of mini, sequencing cards, which could double as a bookmark for students' math journals. 
There's also a whole-group assessment worksheet, with 2 size options.     

Do your students enjoy playing with pattern blocks? Spring things up with these 2, kite-themed pattern block games.

I've included a full-color pattern, as well as a black & white version, so that little ones look for a shape, rather than a color.

There's also a set of pocket chart cards that show and name the pattern block shapes.

Use them to introduce the lesson, then put the cards in a center, for a "trace, draw, and place the pattern piece" activity.

Students can play "Spin to Win" with the spinner, or practice numbers as well, by rolling a dice, then referring to the poster to see what pattern block they should place on their mat.  Students can play independently or with a partner. 

Finally, practice synonyms with the "Soaring With Synonyms!" packet.  So that you can also do this packet with younger kiddos, I've included a blank kite pattern.
They could list rhyming words, sight words, color words etc. PK students can simply do the craft.

The back of the kite can also be used for a writing prompt, or spring poem. Completed projects look awesome suspended from the ceiling in our hallway.

Studying synonyms and antonyms not only increases vocabulary, but enhances students’ writing; making it more interesting and vivid, as it gives children a better word base to choose from, so their writing is not redundant and boring, filled with over-used words like “said”, “pretty”, “went” etc.

Besides the synonym/antonym kite craftivity, the packet also includes:

48 kite word cards to play Memory Match & "I Have; Who Has?” games, plus a blank set of kite cards to program with whatever...

Black line mini kite worksheet for more synonym/antonym practice, plus a full-color, completed worksheet to use as a sample, along with synonym and antonym “definition” anchor charts plus . . .

An alphabetical, word-list poster of 70 words students can choose from to complete their kite, with background information about synonym/antonym word work, as well as a list of 290 synonym/antonym pairs. 

The FREEBIE today also features kites.  It's a set of alphabet cards.

I've included separate upper and lowercase letter cards, as well as ones displaying both letters. 

There's also a tip list of things you can do with the cards, including playing games like Memory Match, "I Have; Who Has?" and "Kaboom!" 

Well that's it for today. The wind is howling outside and making my office window rattle, the perfect background to work on my wind activities!

Wishing you a fun-filled, easy peasy breezy day. 

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination." - Jimmy Dean

1-2-3 Come Do Some Kite Craftivities With Me      

Kites is a theme that my kiddos enjoy in March.  With that in mind, I created some quick, easy & fun lessons that involve kites and cover a variety of standards. I'm sharing 4 of my all-time favorites today, along with a kite-themed FREEBIE.

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs, and since the shamrock glyph that I posted a few days ago has been so popular, I decided to create a kite one.

Glyphs are a quick, easy & interesting way to practice & assess listening & following directions.  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.

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different! Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students.

To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students pick a partner to "interview", to help them figure out which glyph is their partner's.

I've included a data collection worksheet for this, challenging students to try and solve the "mystery" with the least amount of questions.

I've also included 6, whole-group graphing extensions, so you can practice another math standard. 

Next up is my latest alphabet wheel: Kk is for Kite. Dollar Deal-Alphabet Wheels, are a super-fun way to practice letters, and build the vocabulary needed to give an example of a word, with that beginning sound.

They feature 7 nouns that begin with that letter, and come in black & white, as well as full-color, so that you can use a colorful one for an independent center and use the black & white pattern for a whole-group or individual word work activity, where kiddos make their own.

I've also included a worksheet where students trace & write the words in alphabetical order. 

Next is a set of 18 print & go, “Can Do!” Common Core kite worksheets, that cover a nice variety of standards.

There are full-page patterns, as well as 2-on-a-page templates, plus an "I Spy" game cover, if you want to collate them into a little workbook for your kiddos.

Fun for your students and easy-peasy for you! 

This is an interesting little something, that you can send as homework to do over spring break. 

Finally, practice analog and digital time with the "Time Flies" Game Packet.

There are several options for this kite craftivity. Children can simply make a kite clock to practice digital & analog time.

You can also use this as a whole-group or individual assessment tool. 
Call out a time. While sitting at their desks, children arrange the paperclips to show that time. You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.

Students can also play the “Time Flies” kite game.  After children have made their kite clocks, complete with 12-digital time “kite ties” glued to a string, (no times are put on the ties yet) they begin the game.

Students pick a partner and take turns rolling first one dice, to get the 1 to 6 O’clock times.
Whatever number they roll, is the number that they write on their analog kite clock. They also write the digital time on the appropriate digital kite tie.

When they have all 6 numbers done, they roll two dice, adding them together to get the 7-12 O’clock times.
The first one to complete their kite clock, or the one with the most times filled in when the timer rings, is the winner.

I've also included an assessment worksheet, a "special note" poster, plus 4 clock face options. 

Today's FREEBIE also features a kite. It's a "High Flying With Patterns!" Game, Craft, & Whole-Group Assessment Tool. 

Use as an independent math center, run off the patterns on a variety of colors of construction paper, laminate, and trim.
Punch a hole in the bottom point of the kite and add a yarn tie.

Students pick a card and show that pattern by arranging the various colored kite ties on the string.

Another option is to do this as a whole group "craftivity", allowing each child make their own kite.

You can whole-group assess, by choosing cards and having children arrange their “kite tail strips” appropriately. You’ll be able to see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

Later, have students pick their favorite pattern and glue the appropriate colored kite strips to their yarn tie.  

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  I have a few more kite activities to finish up, then it's on to some "wind stuff". 

Wishing you a day filled with luscious, fresh air and happy nature-filled moments. 

"Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower." -Hans Christian Andersen 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Saint Paddy's Day Activities With Me   

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, so I've been busy designing a few things for that week.  Today's blog features 4 of my favorites, plus the featured FREEBIE of the day.  

First up is the quick, easy and fun "Pot Of Goals" writing prompt craftivity.    Students complete the "goal" coin sentence prompts.

Coin Prompts: "I want to...", "I want to be...", "I want to go...", "I want to learn...", "I want to see...", "I want to read..."

Younger kiddos can dictate a one-word response, while older students also include a reason why. 
So that you can program your own, I've also included a set of blank coins.

Mount on rainbow-colored construction paper, and hang in an arch in rainbow-color order, on a large wall. 
Your title can be: "A Rainbow Of Wonderful Writing". 

Next is a shamrock glyph, which is a super-fun little something to do on St. Paddy's Day, or whenever... 

No matter what grade I taught, my students LOVED making glyphs.  They are a quick, easy and interesting way to practice and assess listening and following directions.

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, and are also an interesting way to get to know your students; plus completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different!

To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students pick a partner to "interview", to help them figure out which glyph is their partner's.  I've included a data collection worksheet for this, challenging them to try and solve the "mystery" with the least amount of questions.

I've also included 6, whole-group graphing extensions, to practice another math standard. 

A Shamrock Venn Friend  is also a super-fun way to get to know your students better.  These too make an adorable bulletin board for March, and are a visual way to practice "comparison-contrast" writing.  

Introduce the lesson with the "What's a Venn diagram?" poster, then have children partner up.

To help them do a thorough job completing their Venn diagram and jump start the writing process, I've included a list of 40 questions that they can choose from to discuss with their partner.

Each student does their own "different" portion of their shamrock. Afterwards, the two-some glues their shamrock to the “pot of gold”, and takes turns filling in the “same” section oval, which is then glued to the top of the pot.

For that finishing touch, students color their leprechaun, add a school photograph on the leprechaun’s face, then glue it to their side of the Venn diagram.

For added fun, and to practice another standard that mixes math with literacy, I’ve also included a graphing extension. 

Finally, the St. Paddy's-Themed CVC Word Packet is a personal favorite. 

To break things down, the packet focuses on 100 CVC words that begin with the letters "L is for leprechaun"; "M is for March"; "P is for Patrick", and "S is for shamrock.”

The packet includes:
* A Celtic shamrock craftivity that reinforces CVC words beginning with the letter S
* A leprechaun craftivity that reinforces CVC words beginning with the letter L.

* I’ve also included dice and spinner games, plus …
* A whole-group "Feed the leprechaun” review game, with a matching, mini- independent "Feed the leprechaun" activity.

There are…
* Long and short vowel sorting mats,  5 bookmarks for CVC word writing, 26 alphabet shamrock cards, with 20 extra vowel shamrock cards, plus  4 CVC worksheets with 4 anchor chart answer keys.  I've also included . . .

* 100 black & white “trace & write” CVC word cards, with covers to make Itty Bitty booklets, 100 mini-CVC word cards, and 100 full-color CVC word cards to use for flashcards, pocket charts, games, puzzles etc.

Finally, there's a "Super Shamrock Sentences” worksheet, 4-page tip list of ideas, games and activities to use the various word cards for, plus a certificate of praise for "wonderful word work." 

Today's FREEBIE also has a St. Paddy's Day theme. It's a set of 16 number "strip" puzzles, which help practice sequencing numbers from 1-10, counting backwards from 10-1, plus skip counting by 10s to 100.

I've included full-color puzzles to use in a center, as well as some black and white ones, so that kiddos can make their own. They are vertical as well as horizontal.  

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.The sun is shining and even the tall, ugly piles of dirty snow have started to melt. 

Hooray!  Spring is finally on its way.  Wishing you a carefree day filled with springtime fun.

"Spring: The season of rebirth, renewal and regrowth!" -Unknown