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

Do you read The Mitten by Jan Brett?  It's one of my favorite winter stories and perfect for all sorts of sequencing activities. 

With the aid of the materials provided for teachers on Jan's site, I designed 5 activity packets that cover all sorts of standards.  I hope you enjoy them.  They are today's featured FREEBIES and have been very popular downloads.

Help students retell the Ukrainian folktale, by making this cute mitten slider. This is a simple way to review sequencing too.  Graphics copyright janbrett.com

The Language Arts Mitten packet also provides sequencing practice. 

My kiddos loved making the mitten paper plate pocket to keep their things in.

This 24-page packet is chock full of activities that cover a variety of standards and includes:

• Move Over Please, So I Won't Freeze an emergent reader booklet, which reinforces lots of Common Core, especially ordinal numbers and verbs.
• A mitten paper plate pocket "craftivity" students make to keep all of their mitten-related work in.
• A set of ordinal number pocket cards
• A Mitten Matching card game, where students match the animal character to the animal's name, or the ordinal number position it had in the story, or all three: i.e. the word mole, picture of the mole, ordinal number card 1st-first
• Ordinal number character assessment strip with answer key.
• 2 graphing activities
• 2 mitten writing prompts
• Several mitten worksheets, including one that covers rhyming words + more verb-work. (Great for Daily 5 activities.) and ...
• A certificate of praise bookmark that can be used to play another game.

Another Mitten Literacy Packet, includes more ordinal number-sequencing practice that will help your kiddos retell the story, including a "beginning-middle-end" graphic organizer.

There's also a worksheet  where students label the parts of a book, plus pocket chart cards for character, setting and event.  I've also included 8 bookmarks to prompt retelling the story.

Another interesting way to review the story and practice end punctuation and capitalization at the same time, is with The Mitten Pocket Chart Punctuation packet.

You can do this as a whole group activity with laminated cards (give students a dry erase marker for them to make corrections) or give each child a card to fix, by rewriting it on a sheet of scratch paper, then sharing their corrections with the class. 

Finally, Venn diagrams are a quick, easy and fun way to introduce students to the concept of comparison-contrast writing. 

They're great practice if you've already done so, and especially perfect for visual learners.  

There are 3 in the Mitten Venn Diagram packet to choose from. 

Do one as a whole-group activity to explain things, (compare mittens and gloves) and then give students a choice of the other two. (Compare two characters in The Mitten, or compare the story The Mitten with Jan Brett's other story The Hat.)

To see a short (3 minute) YouTube video featuring Jan Brett click on the link.  Another fun video (11 minutes) features Jan showing children how to draw a hedgehog.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you found some extension activities to do with your mitten theme. As for me, it's time to help my grandson pick up Toys R Us that seems to have deposited itself all over my office.  Wishing you a day filled with contentment.

Cute quote: "If kisses were snowflakes, I'd send you a blizzard!" -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Get Ready For Winter Recess With Me

Do your little ones take "forever" to get dressed for recess or to go home? Do they put their mittens on, only to have to take them off, because they haven't zipped their jacket? Do they put their boots on first and then get their feet stuck inside their snowpants?

I found that if I put a poster up in the hallway that listed the articles of clothing that should be put on first, second and third etc. my Y5's not only got ready so much faster, but I had a teachable moment for them to learn about ordinal numbers. 

So children know the order of how to get dressed, show the poster and explain the order.  To help review the ordinal steps, ask children why they think putting on winter clothing in a specific order is important.  

I included the line about socks, because for some unknown reason, many of my little ones were peeling them off along with their shoes wasting more time.  Print off several posters and put them up in various locations in your hallway by your students' lockers. 

Wahla! No more wasted time taking stuff off and starting over again using up valuable recess time.  Before the helpful poster, many of my kiddos barely had time to play, because recess was only 15-minutes long, and they burned up most of those precious minutes getting ready to waddle out the door. 

Dressing quickly had another incentive.  I hung up a sticker chart of who got done the quickest.  The first three done, got snowflake stickers; 10-stickers meant a trip to the treasure box. 

This incentive was truly motivational and really got things moving quickly.  I don't think the sticker was as much of a big deal, as the fact that my Y5's were highly competitive and merely wanted to be the first one done and out on the playground.

If you'd like to try this, I've updated the file to include a chart.  Simply add your students' names, explain the concept, get some stickers, hang the chart and let the racing begin.

To reinforce the order of how to get dressed, as well as review ordinal numbers, I designed a worksheet where students match the article of clothing to the order it should be put on. 

For vocabulary building and word recognition, I've also included a worksheet where students label a boy or girl who is dressed to go outside.

So that you have samples to share with your kiddos, I've completed the two worksheets for you to use as anchor charts to easily explain what you want your students to do.

Another dilemma for my Y5's, was getting the correct boot on the appropriate foot.  I had a room helper cut silver Duct tape squares with me.

We stuck them on the right toe of everyone's right boot and taught students to put their right boot on FIRST. (The one with the silver square on it!) 

This was not only a terrific time saver, but helped save my sanity as well.  Click on the link to view/download the This Is How We Get Ready! winter poster packet.

I hope these items help your students get ready fast, so that they can get outside, get those wiggles out, and have a great recess; with the added benefit of learning from a less exhausted teacher.   

Thanks for visiting.  It's time to brave the minus windchill factor and take my poodle pup out.  All she needs is her leash; if only getting my grandchildren out with us were that simple.  Wishing you a fun-filled day.

"Perhaps the wind wails so in winter for the summer’s dead. And all sad sounds are nature’s funeral cries for what has been and is not." -George Eliot (Spanish Gypsy)

1-2-3 Come Make An Ug Mug With Me

January, is the perfect time for a delicious cup of cocoa, so I used hot chocolate as an incentive to help promote great classroom behavior.  I wrote the words Hot Chocolate on the board. 

Each time my Y5's completed a whole group task, or were exceptionally good, I'd underline a letter.  When all of the letters were underlined, they earned a cup of hot chocolate after a chilly recess.

Since mugs and marshmallows are real life examples of the cylinder shape, they provided an extra teachable moment. 

With that in mind, I designed the ug mug, which reviews the ug word family in a super-fun way.  I've included a cylinder anchor chart-poster, to share as well.

Simply run off the mug patterns on a variety of colors of construction paper. 

I've included 6 mug options for your kiddos to choose from, including left and right handed patterns, as well as a blank template for them to design their own mug.

Share the ug word family poster with your students and review the words.  Define any new words your students may be unfamiliar with. 

Children write this list of ug family words on the back of their mug.

They choose 5 favorite ug family words and write one on each of their 5 marshmallows.  (A pattern is provided.)

You can have students color the "hot chocolate" oval brown, or run off the template on tan construction paper. 

They trim and glue to the top of their mug, along with their 5 marshmallows.

Completed projects make a sweet winter bulletin board.  (For that finishing touch, have children glue their photo to the center of the snowflake, or if they chose another mug pattern, have them glue their photo somewhere on their mug. )

If you have students write the ug word family words on the back of their mug, punch a hole in the handle and suspend them from the ceiling.  They look wonderful swirling and twirling in the breeze.

There's also an ug word family ABC practice worksheet in the packet, as well as a programmable ug word family sentence writing worksheet. 

So that you can easily make a sample to share with your students, I've included completed sample pages too.

Click on the link to view/download the Ug Mug Craftivity packet.

Thanks for visiting.  The wind is whipping through the trees today, causing the snow "frosting" to fly off the branches, and boy is it nippy!

Certainly time for a hot chocolate break for me!  Wishing you a warm and snuggly day.

"And finally winter, with its biting-whining wind, as all the land is mantled with snow." -Roy Bean

20 pages.

Review the ug word family with this hot chocolate mug craft.  Completed projects make a sweet winter bulletin board.  (For that finishing touch, have children glue their photo to the center of the snowflake.) If students write the words on the back, then punch a hole in the handle and suspend from the ceiling.

1-2-3 Come Do A Flurry Of Word Family Activities With Me

It's snowing right now and I'm so in the mood for more! My Y5's loved our January snow-themed activities, so I decided to incorporate some word family work with a snowflake theme.  I hope you enjoy today's FREEBIE, which fits in nicely with Daily 5 word work.  Completed projects make an awesome winter bulletin board too.

There are 4 large snowflake patterns. Run them off and give your students a choice. 

There are also 70 word family snowflake cards, with 9 on a page for quick printing.

Choose the word family cards you want your students to practice, toss them in a container and have each student pick one. 

They write that word family in the center of their snowflake.  One of the facts that my kiddos learn about snowflakes is that although each one is unique, they all have six sides. 

For this reason, you can choose to keep things simple and have your students think of just six words for their word family, or challenge older students to think of more.

I've included a variety of samples you can share with your students.

If you want them to practice alphabetizing, have children write their words on a sheet of scratch paper, alphabetize the words and then write them in alphabetical order on their snowflake, starting at the top and writing clockwise. 

I've included a list of 70 word families, which has an alphabetical list of example words for each one. (This is a pretty comprehensive list, as I've included 987 words appropriate for school. ) 

You can share this list with your students if they become stuck, or if you want them to write more than six words on their snowflake.  To build vocabulary, have children look up any words that they are unfamiliar with. 

For more word work, there's a word family bookmark template.  Students fill in the word family you want them to work on. 

After they jot down as many words as they can think of, brainstorm as a whole group and write the words on the board. 

Afterwards, students return to their seats and update their list.  Have students save their word family bookmarks. 

When you're done with word families, have students organize the bookmark pages in alphabetical order then add the cover and staple.

There's also a worksheet where you fill in the amount of words and sentences you want your students to write that incorporate the word family words. 

Click on the link to view/download the Snowflake Word Families packet.

That's it for today.  I'm off to go play in the snow!  My poodle pup, Chloe, LOVES scampering through the sparkles.  Wishing you a fun-filled and relaxing day.  

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

26 pages

This snowflake craftivity packet, is a super-fun way to review word families. The activities are great for independent word work or Daily 5.  Completed projects make an awesome winter bulletin board. 

8 pages

Review a variety of 2D shapes as well as the 3D cylinder shape, with this cute snowman windsock.  This activity can be done as an independent center, or as a whole-group listening and following directions "craftivity".

Popping in to wish all of our visitors a Happy New Year!  May it be the best one yet.

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year Craftivities With Me

When my students returned from their Christmas break, I always had a few activities that revolved around the New Year.  Calendar concepts was something we worked on every day, so discussing the changes in the New Year date, fit right in.  If you too are looking for some quick crafts that help reinforce standards, you'll hopefully find something you can use in today's blog, or click on the link to pop on over to my entire collection of New Year-themed FREEBIES.

The Place Value “Happy New Year!” craftivity can be done as a whole-group or independent center. Students trace and write the numbers, cut them out, arrange them in correct order to form the New Year and then glue them under the appropriate place value “door.”

The last door helps children practice subtraction as they subtract the year they were born, from the current year to get their age.  It’s self correcting, because they know how old they are! 

This is my sample from last year, but you can use this activity for years to come, because I've included templates through the year 2034.

Before hand, explain the project using your own sample, as a review of how things are done.  Even if you're in your 20’s, don't be surprised if your kiddos think you're really "old".  Click on the link to view/download the Place Value New Year craftivity.

Some of my Y5s had not yet mastered counting backwards from 10 to 0, so I designed the New Year’s Glitter Ball Slider to help them practice in a fun way.   Even little ones seemed to be familiar with the New York, Times Square countdown ball, so this was a great segway.  

I’ve also included a strip to countdown from 20.   Students trim their ball, trace the numbers on their "slider" and then insert the strip through the slits.  I had my kiddo’s crouch on the floor as we counted down.  When we got to zero, they jumped up and yelled “Happy New Year!”  

When you're done, for that finishing touch, allow children to add some silver or gold glitter.  Set aside to dry and then have them practice at home.  Click on the link to view/download the Happy New Year Countdown Slider.

Another way for students to practice counting backwards is with these 5  New Year puzzles.  You can laminate and use them as an independent center or run off copies for each child to take one home for more practice. 

They also make an interesting piece of art when the pieces are glued to a sheet of construction paper with a little space between each piece. Click on the link for the New Year Countdown puzzles. 

I always had some quick and easy activity on my students' desks in the morning.  They got right down to business, so I was able to take attendance and accomplish a few things before we began our day together. 

The "How many words can you make using the letters in Happy New Year?" worksheet is perfect for that.  It's a fun way to build vocabulary and reinforce spelling.  I've included my list of 627 words that you can share with your students after they finish their list.

Set a timer for however long you want students to work on this.  You can give a New Year bookmark as a prize for the child who has the most words, or give everyone a bookmark for staying on task.  I've designed several for them to choose from.

Finally, if you follow my blog, you know that I like to end with a quotation.  No matter what grade I taught, I always put one on the board each day.  I often used quotes as a "Do you agree or disagree?" writing prompt or discussion with my students.  

If you like doing things with quotes too, click on the link for 6-pages of my favorite New Year quotes.  It includes the one from Ophra below.

Well that's it for today.  I'm off to get some major wrapping done.   I like to wait 'til all of my shopping is complete before I start that job, so I can easily sort and then just have a marathon.  

Wishing you a productive day filled with tasks you enjoy, with enough time and energy to get them accomplished.  

 "Cheers for a New Year and another chance to get it right!" -Oprah Winfrey 

 1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year "Craftivity" Resolutions With Me!

When one thinks about the New Year, it’s inevitable that a few resolutions come to mind. This was a new word for my Y5’s, so I presented it as a "promise" to themselves, of what they’d like to improve on. 

For a quick, easy and fun writing prompt, have your kiddos choose a partner, and take turns tracing each other's hand on the New Year's template.  Once done, they fill in the details: "I made these resolutions and I'm trying to keep them..."

This simple January writng prompt makes an interesting Daily 5 activity too.  Have students include the year (written on their fingers) and glue their school picture somewhere on the page.

Be sure and make a sample to show your class.  My Y5's always enjoyed learning about me.  I added a bit more pizzazz by gluing on flat-backed rhinestones to my "rings."

After students share, mount their work on a variety of colors of construction paper and sprinkle over a wintry-printed bulletin board. (I buy discounted Christmas wrapping paper with snowflakes for this purpose.)

Click on the link to view/download the High Five's For A Happy New Year "craftivity."

For another New Year craftivity, I used Tagxedo, one of my favorite educational word art sites. Set this up as an independent computer center for students to think up their own designs and words.

The packet has a list of 68-positive "resolution" words + an ABC booklet for students to "improve" themselves "alphabetically".

Completed projects make a very interesting January bulletin board.  Click on the link for this great verb reinforcement tool and vocabulary builder.  New Year's Word Art Craftivities.

Another awesome bulletin board for January, features a  New Year's writing prompt as well.  Here, resolutions are viewed as goals.

Since basketball, soccer and football are all sports where players score goals, I thought it would be fun to have students write what their goals are for the New Year on the ball of their choice. I've included a poster that you can put in the center of your bulletin board as a caption. 

Besides the balls, there are also 2 writing prompt pages for journal writing, which includes one with a hockey theme.   Click on the link to grab the New Year Goals Packet. 

For another creative writing bulletin board and some parts of speech practice,  I know your kiddo's will enjoy playing the Fractured New Year writing prompt game.  Students take turns rolling the dice to fill in a word from the adjective, noun or verb list, which then creates a hilarious story. 

When everyone has completed the game, have students read their stories aloud, and enjoy all of the giggles, mount on construction paper, scatter on a few stars (suspend some from the ceiling) and you're done.  Click on the link for Fractured New Year fun. 

Finally, I’ve also designed a New Year's graphic organizer with some interesting writing prompts for students to complete. It also includes a box for their resolutions.

Children can draw a picture of themselves or glue a photo in the center oval.

That's it for today.  I have quite a few finishing touches that I need to accomplish before I can finally rest and relax.

It's time to get some hustle bustle going, so once again I'm dashing.  Wishing you a productive and fun day.

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, it will be happier." -Alfred Lord Tennyson