1-2-3 Come Make Some Number Puzzles With Me

Learning to count can be tedious and a bit overwhelming for little ones.  If that isn't a big enough job, learning to count backwards, as well as skip count are also standards.

With this in mind, I designed number "strip" puzzles.  I call them that because I cut the puzzles into strips.

Number puzzles provide a quick, easy and fun way to help students practice counting & sequencing numbers from 1-10, and counting backwards from 10 to 1, as well as skip counting by 2s & 10s, plus my Y5s absolutely LOVE them.  

I usually make the puzzles on a full sheet of paper.  Some are vertical, while other designs are horizontal. I decided to make an apple and pumpkin "shape" strip puzzle for those units.

Simply run the templates off on red and orange paper.
Choose the number puzzle that best fits your needs, or give students a choice.

For a cool mosaic effect, children trim and glue to another sheet of paper after they have traced the numbers. 

I chose black to make the puzzle pop. Remind students to leave a small gap in-between each puzzle strip. To make it more of a keepsake, have students make a green hand print leaf.

Completed projects make an interesting fall bulletin board.
Laminate an extra set of all 8 puzzles, to use for an independent math center or for "early finishers". 

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look: Apple & Pumpkin Number Puzzles.

The featured FREEBIE today is a Halloween crayon resist watercolor activity.  There are 5 patterns to choose from, with directions how to set things up. 

Children pick a picture and color it.  Remind them to press hard, and really fill it in. Afterwards, they paint over the entire picture with watercolors.  The waxy build up creates an awesome effect. 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping in.  I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and creatively crazy at the moment, as October is filled with so many super-fun themes: fire safety, spiders, bats, scarecrows and Halloween. 

I have a zillion ideas buzzing in my head, and as many projects started or in the rough draft stage.  Hmmmm ... What shall I work on today?  Wishing you a happy and productive day doing things that you truly enjoy.  

"In crafting there are no mistakes, just unique creations." -Unknown

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

It seems that a lot of teachers are still working on apples during October as one big harvest theme.  I had a request from one of my preschool teacher friends, to make some apple-themed color activities.

While I was pulling that packet together, Yolanda, a kindergarten teacher in Washington, asked if I could do an emergent reader with the three colors of apples.  Thus Apple Colors was born.

Surprisingly, quite a few of my Y5 kiddos thought that apples are simply red, which amazed me, because Michigan is a huge apple growing state.

I designed these color activities so that they would reinforce the fact that apples can be red, yellow & green, while practicing a variety of standards.

The packet includes:

* An emergent reader in color as well as black & white, with options for 6, mini-pages on a one-page template, or 12, mini-pages, so you can make Itty Bitty booklets.

* Posters: Including 9 photo posters featuring pictures of real red, yellow and green apples.
* 4 apple songs with matching posters.
The A-P-P-L-E song includes pocket chart cards.

It’s a super-fun way to practice counting, subtraction, letter recognition, & spelling, as well as listening & following directions.

* An apple color matching game. Students can match color words to pictures, or pictures to pictures.

* 2 graphing activities
* 2 worksheets

* 4, quick, easy & fun apple craftivities.  Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look see: Apple Colors.

The FREEBIE today is a quick, easy and fun Apple Matching Game.  Click on the link to grab your a copy.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  The nights have been cold, so the trees have really started changing colors. 

I think fall is my favorite time of year because of the absolutely gorgeous trees. 

It's time for a much-needed brain break to take a drive with my husband. Wishing you a relaxing day filled with memorable moments.

"Love doesn't grow on trees like apples in Eden. It's something you have to make.  And you must use your imagination too." - Joyce Cary

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

Ever since Disney came out with Monsters Inc, monsters have gone from something scary to something sweet, helpful and rather loveable.

Because these cute creatures are super-popular with children, I decided to design a few monster things for my October activities.

Thus, "Shapely Monsters" was born, and like Disney, my monsters are adorable.

This emergent reader, packs a lot of Dolch punch, as students practice color and number words, as well as 2D shapes.

Children read the simple sentences; trace & write the shape, color & number words associated with that monster, then color the “shapely monster” the matching color, adding the appropriate number of eyes.

For the last page, students design their own monster, using their favorite color, and draw on as many eyes as they are years old.

To cover another math standard, I’ve also included a graphing extension, featuring Marvin the marvelous monster who is helping to search for, count & color the various 2D shapes.

Besides the full-page booklet, to conserve paper & ink, I’ve also included 2-on-a-page templates to make a smaller emergent reader.  You can use the larger one as a teacher's edition.  

When everyone has completed their booklet, read it aloud as a whole group to practice concepts of print, then encourage children to share it with their family when they get home, to further reinforce colors, numbers and shapes. 

Shapely Monsters is one of Diane's Dollar Deals in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to zip on over.  

Today's FREEBIE also has to do with shapes, and features an assortment of fall-themed pictures.  I hope you enjoy it.  Fall Shape Matching Game.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  There's a huge MOPS sale at a nearby church today!

I'm excited to search for some bargain-priced clothes and goodies for my grandchildren.  Wishing you an exciting day. 

"The monster was the best friend I ever had." -Boris Karloff

1-2-3 Come Do Some Letter Aa Activities With Me

Woo Hoo for Diane's Dollar Deals!  I'm featuring two, apple-themed ones, on the blog today. Dollar Deal Alphabet Wheels, are a quick, easy & fun way to practice letters.

I priced them at only a dollar, so that you can afford to collect all of the individual alphabet wheels.

They feature 6 nouns that begin with that letter, and come in black and white, as well as full-color, so that you can use them as an independent center or individual word work activity.

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

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a peek at the Aa is for Apple Dollar Deal Alphabet Wheel.

The other Apple Dollar Deal is an emergent reader: Aa is for Apple. It's filled with beginning letter Aa nouns. There are 6.

It's also packed with Dolch sight words and great practice for pronouns, as well as end punctuation.

Students read the simple sentences using the pictures as clues, and then add the appropriate end punctuation. (period, question mark, exclamation point).

They trace and write the Pp word, then color the picture.  There are 5, mini-strip pages, to a one-page template.

Students trim, collate and staple to the front of their "Aa is for apple" cover to make a flip booklet.

I've also included matching picture and word cards to play games like Memory Match and "I Have; Who Has?".

They come in color as well as black & white, so that you can use them as an independent center for Daily 5 Word Work, or children can make their own game to practice at home. 

Students can match picture to picture, or picture to word.  They can also alphabetize the word cards and use them to write their own sentences.

As with the individual alphabet wheels, I've priced these emergent readers at only a dollar, to make them affordable, so that you can collect all of the flip booklets in this series. 

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to have a look: Aa is for Apple Emergent Reader.

The FREEBIE today also has an apple theme.  It's called Apple Adjectives.  On the worksheet, students describe the outside and inside of an apple.  You can do the same with a pumpkin. 

It's a quick, easy & fun way for students to practice descriptive writing and the use of adjectives. For your convenience, I've included a completed sample.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. It's a bit chilly, but the sun is shining through the lovely fall-colored trees. 

A perfect day for a walk in the woods with my poodle pup Chloe.  Wishing you a fun-filled day. 

"Happiness is a warm puppy." -Charles Shultz

1-2-3 Come Make A Family Pumpkin Patch With Me

Are family names part of your word wall? Do you have ESL students in your class?  If so, I think you’ll enjoy this Family Pumpkin Patch Dollar Deal.

It's a quick, easy and fun craftivity to reinforce those words, and completed projects look awesome hanging from the ceiling.

 The packet includes:

* Pocket chart cards with family names: (mom, dad, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandma, grandpa, pets, cat, dog, bird, fish)
Use them as flashcards, in your pocket chart, or on your word wall.

* There's also a sweet family pumpkin craftivity, where children write their family's names on the back of the pumpkin pattern. 

For that finishing touch, add a green "hand print" leaf, and a school photo.

* I've included a note home to get help with this activity, or simply send the pumpkin portion home to be completed and then returned.

* There's a family word search with answer key, plus
* Graphing & Tally Mark math extensions, as well as

* 2 trace & write worksheets
* Use the “A Patch of Family Pumpkins” poster, for your display. 

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to have a look at this fun Dollar Deal:  Family Pumpkin Patch

Today's featured FREEBIE is a manipulative "Pumpkin on a Popsicle stick puppet", that my kiddos make when we sing this pumpkin song: "Pumpkin, pumpkin round and fat, turns into a Jack-O-Lantern just like that!" 

On one side they have a blank pumpkin, on the other they have a pumpkin with a face on it. Click on the link to grab a copy. Pumpkin Poem Puppet.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by. This "nana" is watching her grand grandchildren today, so it's time to hustle and put my toys away and haul out theirs. 

Wishing you a delightful day, filled with lots of heartwarming 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 Letter Pp Activities With Me

Woo Hoo for Diane's Dollar Deals!  I'm featuring two, pumpkin-themed ones, on the blog today. Dollar Deal Alphabet Wheels, are a quick, easy & fun way to practice letters.

I priced them at only a dollar, so that you can afford to collect all of the individual alphabet wheels.

They feature 6 nouns that begin with that letter, and come in black and white, as well as full-color, so that you can use them as an independent center or individual word work activity.

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

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to take a peek at the Pp is for Pumpkin Dollar Deal Alphabet Wheel.

The other Pumpin Dollar Deal is an emergent reader: Pp is for Pumpkin.

It's filled with beginning letter Pp nouns. There are 11.

It's also packed with Dolch sight words and great practice for pronouns, as well as end punctuation.

Students read the simple sentences using the pictures as clues, and then add the appropriate end punctuation. (period, question mark, exclamation point).

They trace and write the Pp word, then color the picture.

There are 5, mini-strip pages, to a one-page template.
Students trim, collate and staple to the front of their "Pp is for pumpkin" cover to make a flip booklet.

I've also included matching picture and word cards to play games like Memory Match and "I Have; Who Has?".

They come in color as well as black & white, so that you can use them as an independent center for Daily 5 Word Work, or children can make their own game to practice at home. 

Students can match picture to picture, or picture to word.  They can also alphabetize the word cards and use them to write their own sentences.

As with the individual alphabet wheels, I've priced these emergent readers at only a dollar, to make them affordable, so that you can collect all of the flip booklets in this series. 

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to have a look: Pp is for Pumpkin Emergent Reader

While you're there, I would so appreciate it if you'd click on the "Follow me" button, so you'll know when I post more Diane's Dollar Deals & FREEBIES.

I'm only 11 shy of reaching the 700 followers milestone! I know it's kind of silly getting excited about breaking records, but I do none the less.  Thanks in advance.

Speaking of FREEBIES, today's is also pumpkin related.  It's an apple-pumpkin Venn diagram.

Venn diagrams are a quick, easy & fun way to practice comparison-contrast writing.  This Venn diagram is a perfect way to reinforce and review the things your students learned about apples and pumpkins.

That's it for today.  I'm trying to finish some of the other fall-themed letter wheels & emergent readers and will hopefully have Ll is for Leaf done by the end of the week.

Hope you can pop back. Wishing you a joy-filled day.

 "Beauty for some provides escape, who gain a happiness in eyeing Autumn sunsets exquisitely dying." -Langston Hughes

2 pages.

Here's a sweet 6, mini Happy Halloween note cards on a one-page template.  They come in color as well as black and white. Attach to a treat bag, tuck in a folder, lunch box or backpack. 

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

The key to getting children motivated to write, is simply giving them something exciting and fun to tease their imaginations and get the creative juices flowing.

Pumpkins in the News does that.  It's my latest, 29-page, writing prompt-emergent reader packet.  

I’ve included 2 class-made books: The Case of the Missing Pumpkins, as well as Our Class Pumpkins in the News.

To get the pumpkin rolling, there’s a “What can you do with a pumpkin?” poster, which includes two graphing extensions to cover more standards.

Children will readily share that you can eat and carve them, but are they aware that you can grow a record-breaking giant pumpkin, catapult them through the air, or turn them into a boat and sail them in a regatta?

All of these are popular contests and make headlines in the news.
I’ve included links to awesome videos to whet everyone’s writing appetites.

On the crazy creative side, how about the discovery of an alien pumpkin, or a pumpkin that could talk or grant 3 wishes?

Trust me, your kiddos will WANT to get right down to the business of writing! Woo hoo.

The crafty part of the project is a newsprint pumpkin.
Coloring newspaper with crayons or markers, creates a super-interesting and awesome look.

Completed projects look amazing swirling & twirling from the ceiling.  I've included several "header" cards to choose from, as a title for your display.

Little ones can search for all of the letter Pp’s and circle them.

I’ve also included several worksheets for more letter Pp practice.

Toss in a bit of shape review, with the pumpkin’s facial features, and practice spelling names via his smile. 

The emergent reader has 6, mini pages on a one-page template, to create a "just the right size" booklet, which comes in color for a teacher's edition, as well as black & white for your kiddos.

There's also a pattern with 12-on-a-page to make an Itty Bitty one.  It's packed with plenty of Dolch sight words.

I've included an optional 7th page that says "Happy Halloween".

If you don't include it with the emergent reader, you could give them to your kiddos on party day.

They are today's featured FREEBIE.  Click on the link to grab a copy in both black & white as well as color.

Well that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by. It's my sincere hope that your own little "punkins" enjoy these craftivities.  It's a gorgeous 70 degrees today; the leaves are finally starting to turn.

The fresh air floating in from my window is beckoning me to come play.  I shall succumb.  Wishing you a peaceful day.

"I would rather sit on a pumpkin, and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion." - Henry David Thoreau 

2 pages'

This "color me" Trick or Treat list of safety tips, is loaded with Dolch sight words, so take a moment to read it out loud, calling on students to take a turn to read a tip, then send it home as a reminder for parents. 

This FREEBIE is part of my Trick or Treat Emergent Reader packet in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to zip on over.  For your convenience, I've included a PREVIEW here with the FREE tip sheets.

1-2-3 Come Make An Emergent Reader With Me

Going trick or treating is one of my favorite childhood memories.  What little girl doesn't love getting to wear lipstick and a crown?

We are fortunate that our school still celebrates Halloween. When administration tried to toss it out, parents actually revolted.

However, we do have guidelines: no violent or gory costumes, masks, or weapons; and children only get to wear their costume at the end of the day, for our all-school parade.

Even if you don't celebrate Halloween, many of your students will be going trick or treating. 

Since that's such a "hot button" with children, I thought I'd design an emergent reader to get them excited about reading.

This little booklet packs a lot of sight word punch, as it includes ALL 40 pre-primer Dolch words, plus another 38 from the other lists, for a total of 78 sight words; all while reinforcing numbers 1-10, as well as colors. Woo hoo!

I've included 4, black & white mini pages on a one-page template, as well as 8-on-a-page, so you can make Itty Bitty booklets.

Children read the simple sentences, trace and write the number & number word, then color the picture.

The base of the booklet is a little pumpkin treat bag that says: "Be Safe!" Simply run it off on orange paper.

There's also a "color me" list of safety tips. It's loaded with sight words, so take a moment to read it out loud, calling on students to each read a tip, then send it home as a reminder for parents. 

I've also included a color copy for the teacher.  These tip lists are the featured FREEBIE today.  Click on the link to grab a copy.

Well that's it.  Thanks for stopping by.  I'm watching my grandchildren today, so time to get "kid-proofing" my office, where we'll be doing some crafts. 

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

"Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen.  Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!" -Dexter Kozen