1-2-3 Come Do A Reindeer Christmas Craft With Me

I wanted to do a keepsake craft with my grandchildren, that I knew my daughter would love, so I traced one hand on a folded sheet of dark brown construction paper. 

This way, I cut once, and had two hand prints for each child.  They glued these "antlers" to a reindeer head that they enjoyed coloring. 

The “hand print” reindeer turned out so cute, that I thought I’d turn them into something teachers could do as well. Thus a new Christmas Craftivity packet emerged.

The craft is simple, quick and a whole lot of fun.

As you can see by the samples, completed projects make an adorable bulletin board too.

I’ve included several posters to add a bit of pizzazz to your display. 

There are a few to use with the writing prompts, as well as two others that you can hang up with just the reindeer craft, if you opt to only do that.

There are a variety of “print & go” reindeer patterns to choose from.

Pick which is most appropriate for your students.

Younger children can simply do the reindeer craft. 

My Y5s absolutely love glitter, so I often use it as a positive, behavior-modification tool.

(If you're focused and on task, when you complete your project, you get to visit the "glitter station"), which I manage. Keeping everything inside a copy paper, box lid, provides easy clean up with no mess.

That splash of red glitter really adds the "Wow!" effect.

Wiggle eyes are another way to add to the "cuteness factor".  My granddaughter chose two different sizes, which added extra whimsy, so when I created the packet, I included several sizes of "eyeball" patterns. 

You can see by the photographs, that the same reindeer takes on a whole different look, depending on the placement of the eyes.

Adding a sprig of holly, then bending the leaves up, provides a bit of 3D pizzazz; as does pressing on some flat-backed jewels. 

To extend the craftivity, older students can practice their “point of view” writing skills.

Students pretend to be a reindeer, and think of something the animal might say if they could actually talk.

This is a lot of fun, which results in some really silly & hilarious chatter.

I've included three,"speech bubble" templates for you to choose from, as well as patterns with my completed samples, so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share.

Samples not only help explain things, but really are a catalyst for excitement.

Since older students don't get to do many "crafty" things, they are especially excited to get down to the business of writing, when you toss in a little art into the activity.

They also do a particularly fine job, when they know their work will be hanging in the hall.

For that "finishing touch", have students practice an AB-AB (red-green) color pattern, by writing with two different color markers, which really adds extra pizzazz.

For added fun, play some Christmas music while children work. My students often sing along.

Today's featured FREEBIE is another reindeer craft. This one is called, "You Can Count on Rudolph".

Students trace & write the numbered, circle-shaped pages, to make a "Rudolph's Nose" counting booklet.

There are patterns for counting by 1's to 20, counting backwards from 10 to 0 or 20 to 0, plus skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's. 

I've also included a "red-hot" cinnamon treat, counting activity too.

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

The snow is gently falling, which really puts me in the mood to decorate. 

Wishing you a warm and cozy day.

"...He puzzled and puzzled 'til his puzzle was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadnt before.  Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  Maybe Christmas, perhaps means a little bit more. "

From: "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss

1-2-3 Come Do a Place Value Christmas Tree With Me

I am so excited to share my latest place value craft that I just finished. 

As you know, studying place value can be a bit tedious for some students, so I designed this "decorate a Christmas tree" craft, to put some “Woo Hoo!” into practicing place value.

Creating a super-cute PVT (Place Value Tree) is an especially fun activity for your students, and a nice alternative to worksheets; making it that “extra special something” you can do for the month of December.

Completed projects turn out absolutely adorable, and make an outstanding bulletin board or hallway display.

I’ve included 2 posters to help decorate.

You’re sure to get lots of compliments, as the results definitely have that “Wow!” factor, as mixing math concepts with an artistic twist is truly interesting.

The packet is very versatile, with lots of creative options for your students to choose from, which not only results in a nice variety of Christmas trees, but allows you to diversify your lessons.

A place value tree appeals to a variety of ages and abilities.

The versatility allows younger kiddos, as well as older students, to create a Christmas tree that will have a two, three or even 4-digit number value!

Keep things simple for little ones and limit the number of decorative pieces and options, while challenging older students to create a bigger value for their trees.

The sample on your right uses "ones" blocks for ornaments, with a tree trunk made out of two, "10s" rods; giving it a total value of just 32. Perfect for students working on two-digit numbers.

The sample on the left, has a value of 769. This tree has no trunk (However, there are 4 trunk options to choose from), while the 1st tree, at the beginning of my post, not only has a 100-block trunk, but a decorative tree stand pot as well. Notice the "holly berry" is a ones block.

A 10s rod can also be a fun decoration. Make them look like a peppermint stick, by coloring an AB-AB (red-white) color pattern with a red marker or crayon.

Check out the last sample tree at the end of this article, to see how I made a 10s rod look like a candlestick, with a ones block glued on diagonally, for a "flame".

I had an absolute blast designing my samples, so I can safely say, that I think your students will also have a great time making their own place value Christmas tree. 

Thirteen tree patterns, 4 stars and 2 angel tree toppers to choose from; plus  endless ways you can mix and match the ones, tens and hundreds block ornaments, provides a lot of variety to your classroom's creations, making for an awesome display.

Once children have finished their place value tree, they figure out how much it is “worth”.

Solving this “mystery math” problem is also a ton of fun.

I’ve provided several worksheet options that will help students figure this out, as they practice and reinforce the various concepts of place value.

I've put a worksheet next to the matching tree in the photographs below.

Choose which worksheets are most appropriate for your kiddos. 

Each of the 3 is different enough, so that you can do all of them. 

"Showing" their math of how they came up with their total, and explaining any conversions that they had to make, is a simple way to assess comprehension too.

The half-page worksheet on the left, is great for practicing a variety of  math skills associated with place value.

Picking a partner and comparing their tree with a classmate's, provides practice with "greater, less than and equal to", math standards as well.

A worksheet can also be part of your display. 

Students can write their total on the star or angel tree topper, or so that the place value really shows up, you can run off the 6 different elf tags, for children to write their name and the value of their tree on; placing the tag next to their Christmas tree on your bulletin board. 

I've also included several present patterns, if you'd like to add some gifts under the tree.

These are decorated with a ones block in the bow, a 10s rod on the ribbon, or a 100s block as a gift tag. 

The trees look pretty with a black, blue or purple, construction-paper background, with the gifts glued underneath.

 There are also several whole-group activities for graphing, data collection and analysis as well.

Limited time? This makes a super-fun homework assignment.

Another idea is to have students work with a partner or create one PVT in a small group of three, which will divide up the work and expedite completion.

Here’s a fun challenge: Give the small group a total tree value, and see how close they can get to hitting that number.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a "Sweet Tweet"; which is an interesting and fun way for students to practice writing. 

Students color, cut and glue the bird to the top of their writing prompt paper, then each day (for 10 days) they jot down (tweet) something sweet that they've done. (After all, Santa and the elves are watching & very interested in this information!)

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

'Tis the season for attending all sorts of activities, so time to go see the school Christmas play. Three of our 10 grandchildren are old enough to be in it this year. 

Wishing you a delightful December, filled with many memorable and love-filled moments.

"Christmas, gives us time to pause and reflect on the most important things around us." -David Cameron

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

Each month I like to have a little review of all of the 2D shapes, so this information stays stuck in my students’ heads.

With that in mind, I designed the "Shape Up!" turkey-themed packet, with a variety of games and activities that provide a fun way to review these shapes: circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus, trapezoid, heart & star.

There is an assortment of (12-on-a page) cards which can be used for “Memory Match” and “I Have; Who Has?” games.

I’ve included a 3-page “tip list” of ideas and other games you can use the cards for, such as: “Flip It”, “What’s Missing?” “Speed” & “Kaboom!”

Games can be played independently or as a whole group, then put in your math center.

There are also 2 sets of black & white game cards, so that students can make a game of their own to take home for further reinforcement.

Game sheets like “I Spy a Shape” are a super-fun way to whole group assess. The same worksheet can be used 5 times!

There are puzzles, dice & spinner games, as well as 2 graphing activities.

An emergent reader booklet, packed with Dolch words, practices a variety of standards.

The booklet can remain a whole page, or students can cut in half on the dashed line, creating a "just the right size" smaller booklet for little hands. 

There are cover options for both. Students read the sentence, underline the capital letter and add end punctuation.  

You can do this as a whole group activity, with "monkey see-monkey do" directions.

Children also trace the shape word then write it, then trace the shape and draw it.  Afterwards students cut and glue the appropriate shape to the empty box, then color the "shapely turkey" at the top of the page. 

This is a fun activity for the week of Thanksgiving, where you can do one or two pages each day; or send home over the holiday, as an interesting homework assignment.

This packet pairs perfectly with last week's “Shapely Turkeys” craft. Click the LINK to take a look.

Today's featured FREEBIE is "Oh Feathers!" a turkey-themed spinner game, which is also a fun way to practice 2D shapes.    

Thank you for stopping by. 

A dusting of snow has put me in the Christmas mood, so time for a little early shopping. 

Wishing you a peaceful day filled with wonder.

 "When snow falls, nature listens." - Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Shape Actiities With Me

“Shapin’ Up With Turkeys” provides a quick, easy and super-fun “print & go” craftivity, that will help review 2D shapes in some interesting & engaging ways.

The 2D shapes included are: circle, oval, square, rectangle, triangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, trapezoid, rhombus, heart & star.

The packet includes patterns for the above shapes, so that children can make a “Perky Turkey Pal” of their own.

There are a variety of turkeys to choose from; for example, the “keepsake” turkey’s head is traced from your students’ shoe, which makes a nice keepsake. 

"This turkey's head was made by tracing my shoe! My way to say Happy Thanksgiving to you." 

I wrote the poem to be placed on the turkey's tummy. I discovered, that unless a child told their parents that the head was their shoe print, many of them didn't realize this!

There are also 10 other head patterns to pick from. Choose your favorites, or give children a choice.

Shape templates come in a large, full-page size, as well as a smaller, two-on-a-page pattern, allowing you to make just a “shapely head”, or a “full body” turkey. 

I recommend making just the head with little ones, as it's the easiest craftivity.

Keep things extra simple by adding just a beak and wattle. However, I've also included two, one-piece feather patterns, which can be glued to the back of the head or body. 

Feathers add an opportunity for students to color, while practicing making a pattern: AB-AB, ABC-ABC etc.

Large wiggle eyes add extra pizzazz, but I've also included several pages of other eye patters, including eyeballs where the pupils match the shape of the turkeys head/body.

Check out the photographs to help you decide what’s most appropriate for your students

To add even more variety to your turkeys, there are also 3 wing patterns.

Create different looking turkeys by placing the wings rightside up or upside down. To make the wings "moveable", instead of gluing them down, attach with brass brads. 

Hat, shoe, leg & feather patterns also add variety.  Pick your favorite pieces, or give students a choice.

Accordion-folding the leg strips, is a fun way for students to strengthen their finger muscles, while adding to the cuteness factor of their turkey.

If your kiddos are like mine, they will enjoy the “boing-boing” effect.

Besides making a turkey with one of the more traditional heads, students can also match their turkey's head to its body shape. 

To help practice the “positional words” portion of the 2D shape standard, I’ve also included a “Corn Cob” whole group, assessment game.

Use the shape posters and pocket chart cards to introduce your lesson.

I’ve also included a “Shapely Turkeys” bookmark for your students.

Completed projects make an adorable display.

Dangle them from the ceiling as a border in your hallway.

I’ve included several posters to add extra pizzazz.

To add to the fun, encourage children to name their turkey, then fill out a "turkey tag", which can be glued to the middle of their turkey's tummy, or displayed next to their turkey on your display.

Older students can write down the attributes of the shape that they chose.

Today's featured FREEBIE is also about turkeys. 

"It's Turkey Time!" is a set of turkey-themed pocket chart cards, that will help your students practice analog and digital time to the hour and half hour. 

I've also included a whole group assessment worksheet, plus a black and white "turkey time" pattern, so that your students can make a telling time booklet as well.

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

I have to put my "Nana" hat on, as my daughter's dropping off my granddaughter for a few hours.  She's one of 10; so we are truly blessed.

Wishing you a love-filled and carefree afternoon.

Turkey Talk: "Hey turkey, what are you thankful for?" "Well, this month, I'm especially thankful for Vegans!"

1-2-3 Come Do a Place Value Turkey With Me

November is fast approaching, so I've been working on some interesting turkey activities.

You can put some “Woo Hoo!” into studying place value, by creating a super-cute PVT (Place Value Turkey).

This is an especially fun activity for your students, and a nice alternative to worksheets; making it that “extra special something” you can do for the entire month of November.

Completed projects turn out absolutely adorable, and make an outstanding fall bulletin board or hallway display.

I’ve included 2 posters to help decorate.

You’re sure to get lots of compliments, as the results definitely have that “Wow!” factor.

The packet is very versatile, with lots of creative options for your students to choose from; which not only results in a nice variety of turkeys, but allows you to diversify your lessons.

These place value turkeys appeal to a variety of ages and abilities.

The versatility allows younger kiddos, as well as older students, to create a turkey that will have a one, two, three or even 4-digit number value!

Keep things simple for little ones by limiting the number of pieces and options, while challenging older students to create a bigger value for their turkeys, by gluing on more place value blocks and rods. 

Students can draw in their own face or pick one of the "head patterns" with a variety of eyes.

To add some 3D pop, add a beak and wattle, and bend the wings up a bit.

Children can also add a Pilgrim hat or bonnet or a bow.

There are also 2 patterns for the legs; one with regular turkey "feet", as well as one with Pilgrim shoes.

There are pattern pages with 2 sizes of "ones" and one hundred "blocks", as well as 2 sizes for the "10s" rods.

Students color and trim, then use the pieces to decorate their turkey with. 

After they have arranged the pieces to their satisfaction, they glue them down. 

Look at the photographs and you can see how I glued some "ones blocks" to the turkey's legs, his Pilgrim shoes, and on the back of the feathers. 

I tilted the 100s blocks to make a diamond-shaped design on one sample. You can also see a 100s block inside the buckle on the hat, as well as on the bow tie. 

For other examples, I glued 10 rods to the wings, hat, and legs.

There are also a variety of "belly" options.

I had an absolute blast making my samples and hope your kiddos enjoy creating their own place value tureky too. 

You can also opt to use the feather patterns that have a variety of place value pieces already on them. 

I thought using a 10s rod for the shaft of the feather looked terrific. This will save time cutting and gluing. 

Shading and adding highlights with crayons gives a splash of extra pizzazz and makes the turkeys more vibrant. 

I made my turkey's bodies with shades of brown paper, then did a rainbow color pattern of feathers on one of my turkeys, plus showed an AB-AB pattern, as well as an ABC-ABC color pattern, on two of my other examples. 

You can get a bit more creative, and print the turkey's body patterns on a variety of neon colors like hot pink, turquoise, purple and lime green, which will make for a wild and whacky turkey display.

Wiggle eyes, and a splash of glitter on the tips of the feathers, are more fun options.

Once children have created their place value turkey, they figure out how much it is “worth”.

I’ve provided several worksheet options for students to complete, which helps break things down.

Several will help students show how they came up with their total; as most students get carried away with decorating, and will have to make "conversions". 

For example if a student has glued on 14 ones blocks, they'll have to convert 10 of them (on their worksheet), then add one more to their 10s place, to correctly figure out the value of their turkey.

Choose which worksheet is most appropriate for your students.

They are different enough, so that you can actually do all of them.

If you're displaying the turkeys, you can also hang up students' worksheet(s), which will show the math.

There are also several whole-group activities for data collection and analysis.

Limited time?

Place value turkeys make a super-fun homework assignment, or another idea is to have students work with a partner or create one PVT in a small group of three, which will divide up the work.

Here's a fun challenge: Give the small group a total turkey value, and see how close they can get to hitting that number. 

The featured FREEBIE is something you can have students color, then send home the day before Halloween .

This "color me" Trick or Treat list of Halloween 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.

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

The sun is shining and there's nary a whisp of wind, so nature is beckoning me.  Wishing you a fun-filled day.

"The truth is, the Super Bowl long ago became more than just a football game. It's now part of our culture, just like turkey at Thanksgiving and lights at Christmas; and like those holidays beyond their meaning, a factor in our economy." - Bob Schieffer

1-2-3 Come Do Some More Pumpkin Activities With Me

“Show Me the Number” is a super-fun, “print & go” booklet, which will help students practice a variety of standards that involve numbers 1-10, as well as 2D shapes.

The pumpkin’s eyes have these shapes:

circle, oval, triangle, square, rectangle, hexagon, pentagon, octagon, rhombus and trapezoid.

I’ve included the latter shapes, as we do a lot of activities with pattern blocks.

Having different eye shapes, makes things more interesting and allows you to cover another standard. Woo hoo!

So that you can diversify your lesson, I’ve also provided two booklet options.

There are 6 pattern pages, with 2 pages on a one-page pattern; which provides a “just the right size” booklet for children to make.

I have a room helper run off, cut and collate the booklets for me.

On the first day, my students color the cover, write their name at the bottom and do pumpkin #1.

When they’re done, I collect the booklets, then pass them out the next day, when they complete pumpkin #2.

You can also space things out, and do every other day.

This is a quick, easy and fun “table top” activity for my young fives.

Since the prep has already been done, it’s easy-peasy for me, and I have a lesson for two weeks!

My students feel empowered, and can get right down to business. I’ve already given directions the previous day, so they know what to do.

On the last day, I do pumpkin #10 as well as the last page, where students trace and write the numbers.

I try to time things, so that they are finishing up on Halloween party day, which can be rather hectic, so this is one less thing I have to make.

Afterwards, children have a nice little keepsake to take home.

I’ve also included a (full page) set of colorful pumpkin posters.

Use them to introduce the lesson, as a sample for when students are working on that matching page, as a border, bulletin board, flashcards, or sequencing center.

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a pumpkin theme. Are your students working on transitions and "how to" "directional" writing? 

"How to make a pumpkin pie" is a quick, easy and fun activity to help them practice.

The packet includes printable patterns, completed sample, recipe, list of transitions, transition poster, a graphing extension, Venn diagram activity, plus an adjective worksheet.

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

I'm contemplating whether I should buy another pumpkin today...

We weren't sure what was eating holes in our pumpkins, then today we caught the culprit.

An obviously hungry squirrel happily chomped away, with no fear that we'd fuss. 

I just peeked out the window and the baby pumpkin is pretty much gone, except for the stem and a few bites.....hmmmm.

"When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam; may luck be yours on Halloween." - Unknown

2 pages.

I revamped the favorite nursery rhyme song "Ten Little Indians" and substituted 10 little pumpkins in a pumpkin patch.

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

Make learning how to count and identify numbers, super-fun with pumpkins; which are not only perfect for October, but can still be used throughout November too.

I find that if I have an interesting theme for things that I’m trying to teach my students, they get excited and are happily engaged and on task.

With that in mind, I designed a variety of pumpkin number activities, which will help your students practice counting, number recognition, sequencing, subitizing, sorting, patterning, and one-to-one correspondence.

The packet includes:

* Eleven sets of different pumpkin cards. There's a sample of each set in the photograph.

You can use them for all sorts of activities, including a variety of games like "Memory Match", "I Have; Who Has?", "Kaboom", "Speed" and "Flip It". 

I've included a 4-page tip list, filled with interesting and fun ideas of how to use the cards, including directions for a variety of games.

There are also covers for some of the sets, so that your kiddos can make (just the right size) "Itty Bitty" booklets. 

Because of the nice selection of cards, students will also njoy sorting them into "Pumpkin Piles". 

For example, children put all the pumpkin cards that represent the number one in a pile; all those that show the number 2 in another pumpkin pile and so on.

To strengthen upper body muscles, have children lie on their tummies and sequence the numbers in long lines.  A group of my Y5s enjoyed making a "pumpkin snake" all the way out the door!

I also made a specific set of pumpkin cards to be puzzles. These make a wonderful math center. 

There are 5, strip puzzles on a one-page pattern, which makes them "just the right size" for little learners.

Simply snip on the line to cut the number from the matching group of pumpkins.  Each line is different, so there's only one way for students to complete the puzzle, which will give them the correct answer. 

Another fun way to practice with the cards, is to make Jack.  This cute pumpkin pattern is printed on card stock, then laminated.

Cut out the jack-o-lantern's "mouth" and place over the opening of an empty Kleenex box. (There are lots of fall-patterns available. A Boutique box also works).

Pass the pumpkin cards out to your students, then call for the number one pumpkin.

The child holding that card comes up, shows the number to their classmates; everyone says "One", then she "feeds" Jack by dropping the card into his "mouth". 

Another fun, whole group game is done with pumpkin seeds.  I use a package of real pumpkin seeds, which you can buy in most food stores.  You can also save the seeds when you carve your pumpkin. 

Make a class set of pumpkin "mats" that you can use each year, or run off the worksheet. 

My kiddos sit at tables, so I spill a cup of seeds on a paper plate.  They each count 10 seeds and put them in their Dixie cup.

When everyone is set, choose a pumpkin number card;  show it to your class; they count out that many seeds and place them on their pumpkin mat. 

You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. My kiddos LOVE this activity. 

Added bonus: pinching & placing pumpkin seeds, is a great fine motor skill that will help strengthen finger muscles.

I've also including one-to-one correspondence mats that you can use for an independent math center.

If you don't have access to pumpkin seeds, simply print, laminate and trim the page of realistic-looking seeds that I've included in the packet. 

There are also a nice variety of interesting worksheets as well as "print and go" game sheets, like "I Spy" or "Pumpkins on a Roll" which is played with dice. 

Use them for individual and whole group activities, assessing, and math centers; homework, early finishers and help for those who are struggling.

Nice for a substitute, and fun for a harvest celebration or Halloween party day.

Do you know the song "Ten Little Indians?"  This popular rhyme is a super-fun way to help students learn to count forwards as well as backwards.

I substituted pumpkins for Indians, and included a poster poem "10 Little Pumpkins in a Pumpkin Patch" in the packet. 

Stick Velcro or magnet dots to the back of the 10 pumpkin cards, and use them as manipulatives, to attach to a flannel board or white board.

I make an extra set of the "puzzle" cards, and instead of cutting them apart, I use the whole strip in my pocket chart.

The song poster and set of 10 pumpkin cards from the packet, are today's featured FREEBIE. Click the link to download your copy today. 

While the concentration in this packet is on numbers 0-10, there are several activities which also include numbers 11-20, so that you can diversify your lessons and add a challenge.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. Time for a nature walk and much-needed break.

The fall colors are beautiful here in Michigan.

"October's poplars are flaming torches lighting the way to winter." - Nova S. Blair

1-2-3 Come Do Some Spider ABC Activities With Me

Although I really don’t care for spiders, it’s one of my students’ favorite themed-units.

I keep things non-creepy with nursery rhymes, fun stories and interesting crafts. Spiders are also a fun fall theme, if you don't do Halloween; or if you do, these spider activities are a fun educational activity for Halloween week or party day.

Each month I switch up my center and table top activities, with whatever theme we have for that week. Just a few simple tweaks and everyday practice becomes exciting and fresh. 

With that in mind, I designed these spider-themed activities to help my students practice upper & lowercase letters.

Each year my Y5s are super-excited to “get their turn” to visit these "new" October centers, and play the games; which make letter practice a lot of fun for them.

The Packet Includes:

*  Large and small patterns to make “Clippy the spider” an alphabet clothespin game. Use for a center, assessment, whole group craftivity, game for struggling students, or fun homework assignment.


This is an inexpensive game to make, as The Dollar Store sells packs of "hinged" clothespins. Students clip the lowercase letter clothespin, to the matching uppercase letter on the spider. 


Younger kiddos can simply practice one-to-one correspondence and match UC to UC or LC to LC letters. 


I've included a smaller pattern, as a super-fun way to practice as a whole group, which is also a quick and easy way to whole group assess. My Y5s love making their own spider and even name them!

Children get just one clothespin. Teacher calls out a letter, students find it and clip their clothespin, then hold up their spider.  You can see at a glance who is having difficulty. 
 You can use pipe cleaners or paper strips to make the spider's legs.  The packet also includes...

*  Spiderweb letter cards (separate upper & lowercase sets) to play a variety of games with: “What’s the Mystery Letter?”, “Kaboom”, “Memory Match”, “I Have; Who Has?” and “Flip It!”

 I’ve included a 4-page “tip list” filled with ideas of how to use the ABC cards + directions for the games that I know your students will really enjoy. 

There are also a variety of worksheets...

* 5 “trace & write” worksheets are a simple way to practice both upper and lowercase letters

*  “I spy!” is another whole group game that practices upper or lowercase letters, which I use as a quick, easy and super-fun way to whole group assess too. One student game sheet, can be used 5 times! 

*  The 3 “Spin to Win” worksheet games are especially fun for students. For your convenience I've also included an ...

* Assessment worksheet, where students match the lowercase letter to the matching uppercase letter, plus 2 individual assessment forms, one for uppercase and another for lowercase letters. You can assess 4 times with one recording sheet.

* The “Spider Slider” craft is one of my students' favorites. It's another fun way to practice and whole group assess upper or lowercase letters, as there is a "slider" strip for each.

To practice patterning, have students choose 2 or 3 different color crayons or markers, then trace the letters in an AB-AB or ABC-ABC color pattern.

You can do "double duty" by using the "Clippy" spider pattern as a slider too. 

Simply glue the upper or lowercase letter circle to the back, then cut slits in the spider's body on the front and insert the uppercase slider! 

When students are done "sliding" they can use a paperclip and fold up the strip, then clip away for the other game.

Finally...
* There's a “spiderific” certificate of praise (4 on a page) bookmark, which students can color.

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a cute little spider theme. "Shapin' Up With Spiders" will help your students practice 2D shapes.

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

It's October and temps hit 79 in Michigan today! (What?) I just turned the heat on yesterday when it was 47 outside.  No complaints though...

Time to go take my poodle pup Chloe for a romp.  Wishing you a blessed day.

"Education is the kindling of a flame; not the filling of a vessel." - Socrates

1-2-3 Come Do Some Little Miss Muffet Activities With Me

Our spider unit is one of my students’ favorite October themes.

It’s a perfect time to plug in a few nursery rhymes like “Little Miss Muffet”.

My Y5s absolutely love doing hands-on craftivities to reinforce lessons; so I designed these quick, easy and fun craftivities to help students sequence and recite the nursery rhyme.

First up is a simple "flip the flap" craft.

There are 4 Little Miss Muffet “cover” options to choose from, along with their matching “backs”.

Pick your favorite or give children a choice.

As always, there are full color patterns so that teachers can quickly and easily make an example to share, as well as black & white options for students to color.

All of the packets include background information on the nursery rhyme, along with a colorful anchor chart poster of the poem, which you can use to introduce your lesson.

Afterwards, share your sample to help explain what you want your students to do. 

Children color and cut out the two squares then glue them back to back. Attach the "spider strip" with a piece of Scotch tape, that "hinges" it to the top, so that you can flip the strip from the back to the front.  

When everyone is done making their own, recite the rhyme as a whole group, using the manipulative.

Students begin the rhyme by showing the front square, where Miss Muffet is "eating her curds and whey".  When they get to the part, "...the spider sat down beside her", children flip the spider to the front. For the last stanza, "...and frightened Miss Muffet away!" they turn their square over to reveal a scared Miss Muffet fleeing.

For further reinforcement, have children pick a partner and take turns sharing their “flipper” with each other.

Next up is my newest creation "Instagame", inspired by "Instagram". 

I debuted this idea with my "First Day Jitters" literacy packet, and thought it would be wonderful for nursery rhymes as well.

I don't know about your kiddos, but mine are fascinated with taking pictures and anything trendy & current. 

Students color, cut & glue the “picture tiles” in the correct order, which helps practice the “sequencing & retelling a story” standards in a quick, easy and super-fun way.

So that you can assess comprehension, and the ability to sequence correctly, I’ve included a “mixed up” worksheet option, where the picture tiles are not in order, as well as an easier one, for younger kiddos, which is in the correct sequence.

There’s a cell phone option, as well as a larger tablet worksheet.  Pick your favorite, or give students a choice. 

Use your colorful copy as a whole group “Let’s Sequence” activity.

You can do this during and after you read the “Little Miss Muffet” nursery rhyme.

Simply print, laminate & trim, then pass the tiles out to your students.

While you’re reading the nursery rhyme, pause for the child holding that picture tile, to place it on the phone/tablet poster.

After you’ve read the rhyme, pass out the tiles to different students, and see if they can put the pictures in the correct order. Grab that “teachable moment” to reinforce ordinal numbers as well.

Use tape, magnet dots, or Velcro squares, to attach the pictures to the phone/tablet poster. From here, students can transition to completing a worksheet of their own. 

Since my storytelling wheels have been so popular, I decided to make them for nursery rhymes as well.

Children really enjoy "turning and learning", as the wheels are easy to put together. The pictures help prompt the student to retell the story, or in this case, recite the "Little Miss Muffet" nursery rhyme. 

For writing practice, and to check comprehension, have students complete the “If a spider sat down beside me…” writing prompt worksheet, then color it.

There’s a full color pattern, so you can quickly make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones. 

Finally, a "spider slider" is another craftivity that will help your students sequence and recite the rhyme.

There are two, “Little Miss Muffet” options, with their own matching sliders and poster-poems.

Pick your favorite, or give children a choice. 

I purposely designed Miss Muffet inside a rectangle for easy-peasy cutting. 

However, I think the slider looks better trimmed. Check out the samples on your left.

This cutting is a bit more complicated, but once I show my students via "monkey-see, monkey-do" directions, how to cut around Miss Muffet leaving a white border around her, they usually opt to cut her out.

Students color Miss Muffet, along with the story elements on the “slider strip” then cut & glue it together.

As children pull on the end of the strip, the various pictures go through the “window” on Little Miss Muffet’s dress.

As with the wheel, the slider packet also has a writing prompt:  “I like / don’t like spiders because…” Students complete the prompt then color their worksheet.

I’ve also included a graphing extension as a follow-up for this activity.

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a spider theme.  "Spin A Spider" is a fun way to help students practice 2D shapes.

The packet includes a game as well as a "trace and write" emergent reader booklet.

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

The temperatures have once again cooled, so the crisp fall air is calling me.  Time to go crunch some leaves. Invigorating!

"Most people see what is, and never see what can be." -Albert Einstein

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