I'm Wild About You!

I love zebra’s; they are fun to draw and easily recognizable by little ones, who seem to quickly associate them with the letter Z

I was in Big Lots the other day and picked up some things for my poodle pup Chloe.

Do you know they have designer doo-doo bags for dogs?

Well the nice thing about that, is they are sturdy, come in packs of 60 to 100 for around $3.

This is way less expensive than the designer treat bags for kids, that are smaller, flimsier, and come in packs of 12 – 18, which forces teachers and parents to buy multiple packs.

Now if you can just get past the idea of what their initial purpose is for, you’ll be fine.

Anyway…I bought some with a zebra print, because I wanted to make some “Wild about you” valentines and well…you be the judge, I think they turned out really cute.

It seems that animal prints are quite the rage, as you can buy zebra, leopard and giraffe prints in scrap paper as well as tissue paper. Give students several options for an extra wild February bulletin board, then send the valentines home on party day.

I also made a copy of my doo-doo bag for you to print off, in case you can’t find anything, but I really like the see-through affect that the bag or tissue make.

Run off my heart template on red construction paper and fold.

Remind students to keep their paper folded and cut on the lines. Tell them that if they listen and follow directions they will come up with a special “February shape”.

Your students can make these as a special valentine for their family and/or you can surprise them with a treat bag and use the “Wild about you.” as a hangtag.

Click on the link to view/download the Wild About You Valentine.

Follow this activity up by singing my Z-E-B-R-A song to the tune of Bingo. Click on the link to view/download my Bingo song cards. 

They are a great way to teach clap patterns, letters, spelling and simple subtraction! I have one for each month which will review every letter of the alphabet except X.  The H-E-A-R-T one is a February favorite.

Students can also color this adorable letter Z or turn it into a pinch and poke or dot-to-dot.

Click on the link for the Zebra Z or education.com's entire animal alphabet. It's a terrific site for kids.

Whatever you’re planning for Valentine’s Day, I hope you have a wildly wonderful time!

Do you have any ideas you'd like to share with us?  I'd really enjoy hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com OR... feel free to leave a comment, especially if you use an activity.  Thanks in advance.

Be sure and gallop on over tomorrow for some more fun!

I'm So Glad You Swim In My School!

Lovie, the heart fish, is a wonderful way to review the concept of small, medium and large. His goofy lips remind me of those wax ones I loved wearing when I was a kid!

I really enjoy my Y5’s exclamations of surprise, when they listen and follow directions, keeping their papers folded and cut on the lines. 

I don’t tell students that they are going to make a heart, I inform them that they will be making a special “February shape” then let it be a “surprise”.

They are amazed when they open their papers to see a heart, and can’t wait to cut the rest of their fish parts out. This is a great opportunity to review symmetry with your students too.

Show a finished sample to your students so they know how to glue Lovie together.

You can add a wiggle eye and even some glitter for that extra bit of pizzazz.

I ran mine through a crinkle press that my students fondly call Mr. Cruncher Muncher.

Turning the crank is a great fine motor skill for them. 

It’s one of my favorite “must have” classroom tools and sells for $18.  Buy it with a half-off coupon for any of the major craft stores.  It's perfect to add that finishing touch to any Ellison die-cut and adds pizzazz to patterning. 

Reading the original Rainbow Fish story, is a nice follow up activity. 

Because the Rainbow Fish stories are a fun favorite for Y5's, giving students a color choice for their Lovie heart fish, is nice and makes for a more dramatic and colorful bulletin board. 

Even though they are board books, the Rainbow Fish Colors, Counting, and ABC books, are a great review and popular with little ones too.

Captions:

“We LOVE swimming in our school!”

Include a student’s photo on each fish.

You could glue their pix on an aluminum foil heart or sparkly piece of scrapbook paper, in keeping with the Rainbow Fish's “scale” idea.

Only glue the pointy tip to the middle of the fish so that the fin pops out for a 3-D effect.

 OR… another caption could be:

We’re Fishing For Facts! Turn the fact b. board into a writing prompt.

Have the students write 3-5 facts about themselves, a topic you’re studying, or do some math equations.

Use a separate sheet of paper, or write on the backs of the fish and suspend them from fish line in front of the board.

Click on the link to view/download Lovie, the Valentine-Heart Fish

After your students complete Lovie, have them transition to a game and play: Fishing For Facts with Goldfish crackers!

Younger students roll one dice and cover numbers 1-6, older students write out equations and cover goldfish 2-12.  The child to cover all of their fish first, wins the game.  Combine snack and math for extra timesaving learning fun!

Click on the link to view/download the Fishing For Facts games, which include number and number word flashcards + several skill sheets.

Fitting right in with my valentine fish-theme are these cute Valentine treats. Click on the link to zoom over to Juliann's site for more creative ideas. 

 Do you have any ideas you’d like to share with us?  I’d enjoy hearing from you! diane@teachwithme.com or feel free to post a comment here.

They are very much appreciated, especially if you use an idea.  Thanks in advance.

Since Valentine's Day is coming up fast,  I wrote another article with a quick and easy valentine.  Scroll down for the "I'm Wild About You!"valentine.

Valentine, You Melt My Heart!

I LOVE melted crayon art.

You can do these black-framed templates each month using a different theme (shamrocks for March) and your students will never tire of them.

They have an outstanding stained-glass look, when hung in the windows or make an eye-catching bulletin board, by sprinkling them kitty whompus on a white or aluminum foil background with a paper lace border. Caption: Valentine, You Melt My Heart!

They are quick and easy, with terrific results; who could ask for more? Plus, peeling crayons and manipulating a sharpener, make for wonderful practice with fine motor skills.

Follow the project up with a mini lesson on secondary colors, as your students watch the crayons melt into each other and the yellow and red shavings blend to make a vibrant orange etc.

Here’s how to make a stained-glass crayon melt valentine heart:

Make heart templates from my master out of old file folders.  Students trace them on a sheet of black construction paper.

Make sure to tell them to keep their paper folded in half.

Children cut on the lines, open their paper and are always amazed to find a heart.

If you have a Duplo, simply run off my master on black construction paper, fold the paper and have students cut on the lines.

As children finish, call them up to the melting table.

Lay a towel on the table and put down a sheet of wax paper.

Students have already selected the color crayons they wanted on their heart from the broken crayon tub and have removed the paper wrappings.

Children insert the crayon into the sharpener and twist it once.  Make sure they sprinkle their filings on different spots of the wax paper.

You may want to have them swirl their pile of shavings with a Q-tip before you melt them.

Lay another sheet of wax paper over the top.

Set the iron on the lowest setting and lay it on top of the wax paper for a second.  Lift and put on another spot.

I have experimented with “ironing” the sheet , rubbing it gently back and forth, instead of just pressing it up and down, but found that the colors run too much and smear into a big mess, sometimes ending up to have a  “brownish” color instead of a nice melted many-color effect.

Practice does make perfect here, so you may want to experiment a bit before you start on your students’ projects.

Children brush Elmer’s glue on their black heart frame with a Q-tip and lay it on top of the wax paper.

Press with palms.

Let dry and then cut off the wax paper edges.

Since the backs are lovely too, these look great dangling from the ceiling as well.

Simply punch a hole in the top, make a yarn or ribbon loop and hang.

For another interesting look, have children put tissue paper squares on the wax paper using Elmer's glue. I really like the new CLEAR Elmer's it's perfect for this type of project. 

When dry, brush lightly with Modge Podge and then mount the black heart frame on the top.  They look cute sprinkled lightly with opalescent glitter too!

Do NOT hang in the window, because the sun will fade the tissue paper colors.

Click on the link to view/print the Melted Crayon Valentine Heart directions & pix

These lovely melted crayon hearts made from waxpaper are from Martha Stewart. 

Do you have a valentine idea you could share with us? I'd enjoy hearing from you: diane@teachwithme.com OR...post a comment, especially if you use one of mine! Thanks in advance.

Be sure and stop on in tomorrow for another fun idea.

Garland On The Go:

The Perfect Valentine's Day Crown For Little Girls + Paper Plate Crowns For the Guys!

Trust me when I say these heart garland “crowns” will be a hit with your little girls for Valentine’s Day. 

I wanted to post some past pix of my little cherubs wearing these, but parents are picky about the Internet, So...

I erased my students' faces, but the photographs looked like something out of a spooky movie.  I think you'll get the idea from Sloopy the sheep. 

Chloe, my puppy, was having nothing to do with me and Valentine crowns,

after I put a birthday party hat on her Saturday.

I made these metallic heart crowns for the first time 13 years ago when I was a teacher’s aid for 2^nd grade.

When my class came in from recess, over a dozen little girls from other classes followed them, begging me to please make them one too!

PTL I had extra supplies so I could.  They have continued to be a hit year after year.

Don’t leave the boys out tho’.  They need some sort of “manly” crown.  I make these out of valentine border and let them slap a heart in the middle with their name on it.  Sentence strips also work well.

While on Pinterest, (How addicting is that?)  I found a quick heart crown at alphamom.com Her adorable daughters are pictured in these cute paper plate crowns. Click on the link to check out her very creative site.

This red pointy, heart-tipped crown, comes from Enchanted Learning.  Click on the link for directions.  Valentine Paper Plate Crown.

The white one is from Aunt Annie, another fun site for cute ideas.  Valentine Paper Plate Crown #2

Any of these would be great for the males in your class.

Here's How To Make A Heart Garland Wreath For The Girls:

The Dollar Store and just about any other craft store sells the metallic heart garland.

Cut 22-inch lengths of garland.  I use two strings so that there are more hearts, but you can get away with a single strand too.

Twist the ends together to make a circle.  This can easily be crimped to tighten around a little girl’s head so they don't slip off.

In the photo, I used red tinsel that I bought 80% off after Christmas, along with pre-curled metallic ribbon bows.  Simply loop it around one end and tie with a piece of ribbon that then cascades down and blends in with the rest.

I’ve also made the crowns extra special, by using a variety of real ribbon cut in various lengths, whenever I’ve found it on sale by the bolt, at  fabric and crafts stores.

So that they don’t get tangled, loop them over a coat hanger ‘til you deliver them to the delighted dainty damsels on Valentine’s Day; they'll feel like fairy princesses!

Click on the link to print the article's directions and pix. Valentine Crowns

I would enjoy hearing your Valentine's Day ideas: diane@teachwithme.com OR...post a comment here, especially if you use an idea.

Be sure and stop back tomorrow for more Valentine fun!

It's All In the Cards... How Do I Love You? Let Me Count The Ways!

I LOVE playing cards and have purchased decks at The Dollar Store to make a variety of math center games.

It was while looking at all those heart cards that my brain was thinking: What can I do with these to make a February lesson ? when “It’s All In The Cards” was born.

This little booklet will help reinforce a number of skills: writing, reading, counting, and sequencing in a fun way + provide a keepsake valentine for parents!

Here’s how to make a booklet:

Run off copies of my templates with the playing card clipart on it.

Students cut and sequence their cards and then glue them to the appropriate pages.

If you’re running these off on a copier, you might want to have students trace around the hearts with a red marker to add some zip and color to their pages.

You could also give them 10 red heart stickers to place one on each card.

Children trace and then write the numbers and number words.

I did mine with markers, in rainbow color order + pink, brown, gray and turquoise.

To make this even more of a keepsake, make copies of your students’ school pix, cut into small ovals and have them paste it on the last page.

Boys use the king card, girls the queen.

Students cut their papers into 1/4ths following the lines, then sequence their pages and staple.

When everyone is done, read the booklet as a whole group activity to reinforce concepts of print, then have children pair off and read it to each other.

Students will then be able to read their valentine to their family--a double gift of love!

Click on the link to download the Playing Card Valentine Booklet

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for another valentine activity.

Do you have a cute one you’d like to share?  diane@teachwithme.com

If you print mine, I’d enjoy a comment! Thanks

How Sweet It Is! A Card and Writing Prompts All Rolled Into One!

Recycle those old newspapers and you’ve got yourself a really cute Valentine or writing activity for February.

Run off copies of the "Here's the scoop!" cones on brown construction paper and have students cut them out.

Make templates from file folders for your students to use to trace onto a page of the newspaper.

They cut out their scoop of ice cream, glue it to their cone and then top it off with a cherry heart.

I’ve also provided a template for the “cherries” or you can give students large sparkly-heart stickers to add that finishing touch.

Run off the “flipped-up” messages and give students a choice of what they want to do/write about, OR you could have them make this a valentine AND writing prompt and do both, then staple the pages together.

I “hinged” the completed cone with a small square of Scotch tape stuck to the cherry and attached it to a sheet of scrapbook paper.

Stores have all sorts of packs on sale at this time of year.  If not, print off a 40-50% off coupon from one of the major craft chains.

These make a cute bulletin board on a black background with paper lace for the framed border.  OR…

Hang them in a row in the hallway, just high enough so that people can flip and read.  Send them home on Valentine’s Day.

Click on the link to download the Here's The Scoop Valentine Card February Writing Prompt activity.

Be sure and pop back Tuesday for more Valentine ideas.

1-2-3 Come Do Some Candy Heart Activities With Me

A Sweet Way To Learn!

I’m so excited! Last year I found the Acme Heart Maker site where you could type in 4-letter words on candy hearts.  I went crazy making some cute CVC words for you, but was a bit bummed because the letters only print in all caps.  However, they do look just like real candy hearts, which are also printed in all caps. 

While working on this article, I found cryptogram.com where you can type in up to 11 upper or lowercase letters! Wahoo! 

 How perfect to make a surprise heart note for all of your students, or allow them keyboard practice, and let them make their own heart or message, in an independent computer-center activity. I even made one for my husband, and taped it to his bathroom mirror.  He chuckled this morning. 

Some school's 100 Day lands on or close to Valentine's Day I made up a 100 Day candy heart as a cute note for your kiddo's.  If you want, attach a box of the conversation hearts. 

The Dollar sells them 4 in a pack.  There's also smaller candy heart cards.  Use them for Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" color games.  Click on the link to view/download the 100 Day With Candy Hearts packet.

Of course my brain was working over time trying to think of the zillion ways I could use this. I got out my Dolch word list and made a complete set of Conversational Hearts from all of the lists Pre-Primer through 3^rd grade.

You can do several things with these.  Simply use them as anchor charts, or print them off and laminate them. Make Memory Match games, put them up on your word wall for February, have students put them in alphabetical order, or have students choose several and make sentences with them.

Play a whole-group game and put the laminated hearts in a box, have students take one out identify the word(s). If they cannot they are out of the game.   Another way to play this is “Kaboom!” Pass around the candy heart cards.  Go around the circle.

Children read their word(s).  If someone has a bomb card, everyone yells “Kaboom!” and you start over.  The person holding the bomb, can remain in or be out of the game depending on how you want to play.

Click on the link to view/print the Dolch Word Candy Hearts  Click on the link to view/print the bomb cards.

There are many math centers you can do with candy hearts: patterning, guess-timation, counting, graphing, measurement etc.  I've also included puzzles for centers. 

Pictured is an example of a guess-timation sheet.  There's also one where students guess how many candy hearts will go around the heart shape.

I made numeric candy heart anchor charts as well as trace and write the number worksheets.

There are 2 graphing extensions: 1 for graphing your students' favorite flavor of candy heart, the other for graphing their favorite color candy heart.

I’ve included some fun new skill sheets for you in More Fun With Candy Hearts click on the link to view/print this 33-page mini conversation heart unit.  Last year’s booklet was Fun With Candy Hearts.

Finally, I made up 208 traceable number and letter flashcards with covers so that your students can make Candy Heart Itty Bitty booklets for counting, skip counting by 2’s, 3’s, 5’s, 10’s, color words and colors, + the alphabet (upper and lowercase letters). These also make great Memory Match Games too! Click on the link to view/print Candy Heart Itty Bitty Books

Want some more fun things to do with candy hearts?

National Geographic has a Candy Hearts Bingo Game.  Click on the link to check it out.

Allcrafts.net has a tutorial of how to make your own candy hearts.  Click on the link to check that out.

Make these lovely snowflake valentines out of a coffee filter and put some candy hearts on them for a cute party favor. Click on the link to see how the Peppermint Plum Blog Spot does it!

Thanks for visiting.  Feel free to pin away.  I hope you can stop by tomorrow.  I'm finishing up candy heart packets for contractions, opposites, and colors!

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." -Zig Ziglar

Learning Math With A Snowman Friend

Sam the Solution Snowman is a fun way for your students/child to enjoy learning to count, sequence, match numbers with number words, as well as do simple addition and subtraction.

Run off the templates on construction paper.

Students cut out their snowman and hat.

Students color their snowman’s face and glue on their hat.

To expedite things, you might want to have the arm pieces pre-cut and hole-punched.

Hole punch 6 holes in the middle of the snowman and 6 holes in the bottom of the snowman.

You’ll have to fold one side to get the hole punch to the middle.

Fasten the arms to each other using brass brads and then attach them to the snowman with 2 more brads.

Position the arms so they look like they are holding a snowflake.

Cut a 1 x 12 inch strip of black and white construction paper.

Lay the white strip on top of the black strip and paperclip them together in the middle.

Pull the white strip down a bit so that you can tape the black strip to the back of the snowman’s head.

Students roll two dice; count the dots to see how many buttons they will reveal on the snowman by pulling the white strip down so that the buttons appear black.

They then find that numbered snowflake and position it in the snowman’s hands.

Students flip the red hat sash to reveal the number word that matches the number on the snowflake.

If you want to make this an addition or subtraction activity, have students roll the dice.

The largest number will reveal the top buttons; the smaller number on the dice will reveal the bottom buttons on the snowman.

In order to do addition/subtraction, you will need a black rectangle “side cover”.

You reveal the bottom buttons by this extra black side strip.

Fold it in half horizontally to reveal buttonholes 1-4.  Keep it open to reveal number > 4.

Have students write their equations on a sheet of scratch paper.

You can eliminate the number-word sash for younger children as well as the side-cover for addition/subtraction, keeping the snowman simple.

If you want to make a class set to use every year, laminate your snowman parts and then assemble them.

If you’re only doing a few for a center or making one with your child, you may want to use Velcro on the snowflakes and put the opposite Velcro piece on the snowman’s tummy.

The snowflake squares make the perfect pages for a cute Itty Bitty Booklet, so I made a cover for them. This is a great way to practice sequencing!

I've also included 6 snowflake "What Comes Next?" skill sheets with this activity and a blank one for you to fill in for numbers/letters that you want to work on, + a certificate of praise.

Your students are sure to have "snow" much fun learning with Sam the Solution Snowman.

Click on the link to view/print Sam.

Thank you for visiting today. Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.

"Cheers to a new year and another chance to get it right!" -Ophra Winfrey