4 pages.

Ripping and tearing paper is a fun way to strengthen finger muscles.  This craftivity also reinforces the letter F, alphabetizing skills, and compound words. To help build vocabulary, a list of 42 fire-related words is included.  This craftivity will be free for an entire year (!) after which time it will be up-dated and included in my whopping 40-page "F is for Fire: Fire Safety Word Work packet in my TpT shop. Click on the link to pop on over.  For your convenience, I've included a PREVIEW here.

12 pages

This is a wonderful craft to help students practice their cutting skills, as the hose is a spiral.  The packet also includes a "Put Out the Fire" song, and song poster. Older students can add a writing prompt to another waterdrop. This craftivity will be free for an entire year (!), after which time it will be up-dated and put in my TpT shop. Click on the link to zip on over to take a look: Put Out the Fire! Fire Safety Craftivity.  For your convenience, I've included a PREVIEW here.

11 pages.

Reinforce fire safety practices with this easy craftivity, where students promise to never play with fire. The flames are a child's hand prints. (Look closely and you'll see that they've been crinkled to look more like flames.) Older students attach their "bonfire" to a writing prompt paper, (2 choices) color and complete the prompt.  I've included a "We Promise" pledge poster for everyone to sign.  This craftivity has been up-dated and is a special FREEBIE in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to grab your copy today: Keep Your Hands Off Fire!

20 pages.

Quick easy and fun way to reinforce upper and lowercase letters.  Use as a whole group assessment tool, for games, or an independent center. Great for "early finishers" too.  This packet will be free for an entire year, after which time it will be up-dated and put in Diane's Dollar Deals in my TpT shop.

 1-2-3 Come Make An Alpha Tree With Me

Are you a fan of Pinterest?  It's the first place I go now, if I'm looking for some inspiration.  While popping around looking for autumn ideas, I came across this darling letter tree by Brooke over at Blissful Roots, which she made for her son's room, using scrapbook paper and die cuts.

It was my inspiration for creating two classroom alpha trees.  You can easily make them to use as a center or game, to help reinforce upper and lowercase letters.  There are several ways to make and use the alpha trees.

#1. Run off the bare trees on white construction paper.  (There are 7 to choose from.) Give students a choice. 

Using fall-colored stamp pads, have students make 26 “leaves” with their fingerprints.  Set aside to dry. 

Using a black marker, children write either the upper or lowercase letters on each one of their fingerprints.

For a review game, give students a piece of candy corn to use as a manipulative, and then play “I Spy!” Choose a student to call out a letter.  Children place their piece of candy corn over that letter “leaf” then raise their hand.  This is a quick and easy way to whole group assess, as you can see at a glance who is having difficulty.

#2. Instead of making fingerprint leaves, use sticker dots.  You or your students can write the letters on the dots.

#3. Besides sticker dots, you could also run off the blank squares template, on a variety of fall colors of construction paper.  Give students a strip of each color and have them write letters on the construction paper squares.  They snip and glue to their alpha tree. Or...

#4.  Use the colorful letter "leaf" tiles that I’ve provided and run off the uppercase letters.  Students trim, sort into color piles, then arrange the letter tiles on their tree.  When they are satisfied with the look, they glue the letter "leaves" down.  Also give each child a set of lowercase letter tiles to trim. 

They use these as manipulatives to cover the matching uppercase letter leaves on their tree. This can be set up as an independent center, or whole group activity. If you do this as a whole group, children can take their letter leaves home in a Snack Baggie to continue to play at home. 

#5. So that you can play the game two different ways, assemble and laminate several sets of uppercase trees, with lowercase tiles, and lowercase trees with uppercase tiles.  Use these as independent centers for center time, early finishers, or to send home with a struggling child, to be returned later.  

#6.  I’ve also included a set of blank color tiles, as another option.  Use this template if you want your kiddos to have more writing practice.  Students write the letters inside the colored "leaf" squares, trim, and then glue to their tree.

#7.  If you’d like to turn this into a cute keepsake craftivity, have students pick a partner, so they can trace each other’s hand and arm on a sheet of brown construction paper.   Remind them to spread their fingers (these will be the branches of their “tree”) and keep their arm straight, as this becomes the tree trunk.  Children trim and glue to a large sheet of blue construction paper.  

#8. If you don’t have time to make your own alpha trees, I’ve included completed ones.  Simply print, glue to a sheet of fall-colored construction paper, laminate and trim. 

#9. Children can also play "Speed".  Have students pick a partner and see who can match their letter tiles the fastest.

#10. Another thing you can do is to print, laminate and trim extra sets of both upper and lowercase letter leaf tiles. Keep each set in their own separate Snack Baggie.  Children sequence the tiles putting them in alphabetical order. 

Click on the link to view/download the alpha tree packet.

This packet will be FREE for an entire year, after which time it will be up-dated and placed in Diane's Dollar Deals in my TpT shop.

In keeping with my latest endeavor to post an oldie, but goodie for TBT (Throw Back Thursday) click on the link for the leaf alphabet cards. 

I've also included separate upper and lowercase letter cards, so that you can use them as a fall border, or for games like Memory Match and "I Have; Who Has?"  There's a tip list of suggestions. 

Besides letters, you can review shapes with the easy reader booklet, The Shapes On My Tree.  Students trace and write the shape words, then draw that shape on their tree. 

Finally, I used the same tree template (I like when things match) for the Counting Leaves packet, which helps reinforce a variety of standards. 

As with the shape booklet, you can fun off copies for each student, or print, laminate and use for a math center. 

Students trace and write the numbers as well as the number words, then place/glue that many leaves on the tree. I've included 4 different leaf tiles for you to choose from.

Thanks for visiting.  Time to rush off to my next project, on a way too long list of things to accomplish today.  Wishing you a stress-free day.

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." -Henry Ford

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

I just love fall.  It's my favorite season, not only because of the spectacular fall colors and wonderful weather, but because of the super-fun themes that we get to teach.

In this blog article, I  want to feature some of the fall groupings I did to cover numbers (1-10), skip counting by 10's, number words and shapes. 

Using the adorable clip art of Laura Strickland over at mycutegraphics.com as well as Dianne Hook at djinkers.com, I whipped up 24 number puzzles. 

There are a dozen for sequencing numbers 1-10, as well as another 12 for skip counting by 10's.  Print, laminate and trim and then store in Ziplock Baggies.  To help little ones, I've also included blank templates. 

Besides using these as independent centers or something "early finishers" can do, choose 3 or 4 and make a flip book.  I give directions in the packet.  (A sample is pictured at the bottom of the photo.)

Click on the link to view/download the 24 Fall-Themed Number Puzzles.

If you want to reinforce shapes as well as shape words, then I think you'll enjoy these fall-themed, shapely matching games.  Simply print, laminate and trim. 

Students place the colored shape tile onto the matching shape on the leaf, spider, bat, owl, or turkey card.  

I've included a blank template for each theme, so you can program with more shapes or whatever. If you like this set, be sure and check out the apple and pumpkin ones.

Finally, to practice number word recognition, click on the link for some fall-themed clothespin number games. Students clip a clothespin to the number that matches the number word on the card. 

Pinching a clothespin, is great for strengthening a little one's finger muscles.  Children also seem to really enjoy this activity, so it's a win-win. :-)

To make the cards self-checking, mark an X on the back of the card where the correct number lies on the front. These are something different for your kiddos to do for their Daily 5 word work activities too.

I've included a blank set of cards for each theme, so that you can program them with higher numbers or whatever else you'd like your kiddo's to practice.  If you like this set, be sure and check out the apple and pumpkin ones.

Thanks for visiting today.  Fall is in the air; the sun is shining and a lovely breeze is blowing through my office window.  The weather is calling me, so it's time for a much-needed break.  Wishing you a refreshing day filled with everything and everyone you enjoy the most.

"Success: To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

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

I'm really enjoying fall.  Love the wonderful weather, and the leaves are just starting to turn here in Michigan. 

I've had a few requests for some simple pumpkin games that teachers can use as an independent center. Several visitors have also asked for some pumpkin-themed number word activities.

With that in mind, I just finished the cute Pumpkin Fun Number Packet. It's 22 pages, and includes a seed counting game, where students match the stem with a number on it, to the pumpkin with the number word on it. 

From there, students count to find the matching "pumpkin guts".  These are circles with pumpkin seeds on them from 1-20. 

To make the game self-checking, write the number on the back of the seed circles and pumpkins. 

If you want, run off copies, so that students can make their own Counting Pumpkin Seeds booklet. They glue the stem to the pumpkin and then staple the edge of the seed circle so that it flips up. 

I've included a cover for them to staple to the front.  This would involve quite a bit of cutting, so you may want students working on this for several days, or simply have them do numbers 0-10. This is a nice fit for Daily 5 word work.

For more practice matching numbers to their number word, I've included 2 trace and write worksheets.  These are great for early finishers, your sub folder or homework.

A slice of pumpkin, is another worksheet, where students trace and write the number and dot that many seeds in the appropriate section.  When they are done, they color the picture.

There's also a "Show Me The Number" activity.  These can be done as a separate table top worksheet for your math block, or run off and staple into a booklet and have students work on a new number each day. 

Before you work on any of these activities, I suggest reviewing numbers and number words. 

I've included a set of pocket chart cards and a poster to help you.  Students can refer to them as they work independently.  

Click on the link to view/download the Pumpkin Number Fun packet.

For another pumpkin-themed number word game click on the link. 

This one helps strengthen finger muscles, as students use clothespins to make matches. 

Seven Pumpkin Games is  another FREEBIE that reinforces numbers. 

As a teacher, I incorporate games because my students really enjoy them, and I can cover a variety of math concepts, while helping them improve their "life skills" at the same time. 

If you want to work on higher numbers, click on the Pumpkin Math packet to practice numbers 1-120. 

You can cover quite a few Common Core State Standards with this "Let's Count Pumpkins" packet, which includes an easy reader where students read, trace and write the numbers, plus circle them in a sequence. 

To cover more standards, children circle capital letters, add end punctuation to the simple sentences, plus count the pumpkins in the group/set and color the puffy numbers as well.

The packet also includes trace and write worksheets for counting from 0 to 120, plus skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's.

Click on the link for a larger set of pumpkin number cards, that you can use in a variety of ways: pocket chart cards, a number line, games such as "I Have; Who Has?" and Memory Match; plus students can practice making up equations, and showing greater than or less than.

Finally, if you use 10 frames with your kiddos, I've made a pumpkin-themed 10 frames set. 

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting. 

I'm off to the dungeon (also known as my basement) to haul up some autumn decorations.  Wishing you a fabulous fall.

"It might be hard at times, but hard is not impossible." -Unknown

22 pages.

Your students will have fun counting pumpkin seeds, while practicing their number to number word recognition.  The packet includes several games, and worksheets.

 1-2-3 Come Make A Multi-Purpose Scarecrow With Me

Since there are so many standards on our plates these days, there never seems to be enough time for everything, let alone a fun seasonal craft that we know our students would enjoy. That's why I spend so much time designing hands-on "craftivities" that revolve around all sorts of standards. 

Because it's so comprehensive, it took me several days to complete this Common Core scarecrow, and even more hours to make a sample of all 11 scarecrows, but it was time well spent, as they turned out so cute, are easy for your kiddos to make, and reinfore the following: 

Upper and lowercase letters, vowels, sc blend, beginning s sounds, matching words with pictures, numbers 0-30, odd and even, skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s & 10s, shapes, telling time, colors, contractions, number words, color words, compound words, CVC words, and rhyming words.

Completed projects make a wonderful fall bulletin board, or look sweet hanging back-to-back from the ceiling.

To make this extra special, fold a sheet of white construction paper, have students trace their hand and then cut once, to get two hand prints for their scarecrow's "gloves".  I ran yellow construction paper through a shredder to make the "hair". 

Run off the scarecrow's body templates on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Students trim and glue together. 

For more fine motor practice, cut yellow rectangles with a paper cutter.  Have students snip the bottom portion and glue the "hay" to the back of the scarecrow's pant legs, then crumple.

I purposely made these patterns super simple to cut out, but if you think this is too much for PK kiddos, have a room helper trace once and then cut 3-6 shirts and pants out at a time,  leaving just the head for preschoolers to cut out.  

There's a blank head so children can draw their own scarecrow face, as well as a completed template for little ones to color.

 Students make their scarecrow and then trim and glue on the appropriate patches.  The vowel scarecrow is especially versatile, as it not only covers vowels, but shapes and colors too.

For extra practice, when everyone is done, play an "I Spy" game and give students a piece of candy corn to use as a manipulative.  Choose a student to call out a "patch". 

Children locate that letter, number, shape or whatever, cover it with the candy corn, and then raise their hand. 

This is a fun way to practice and review standards, as well as a quick and easy way to whole group assess, as you can see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

I've also included blank patches for you to fill in with whatever, plus ideas and templates to use the number, letter and shape scarecrows for matching games.

i.e. match the lowercase patches to the uppercase letters; match the number word patches to the numbers; and/or match the shapes to the shape words.

For more scarecrow-themed letter fun, click on the link for a set of scarecrow alphabet cards.

The following scarecrows are wonderful for vocabulary building and Daily 5 word work: Carl is the Compound words scarecrow; (Click on the link for an alphabetical list of over 3,000 compound words.)

Connie, is a contraction action scarecrow; (With an alphabetical list of 72 contractions)

Sam, is a scarecrow that loves 37, 3-letter words that begin with S; (CVC practice!)

Scott, is the SC blend scarecrow, with a list of 50 words. The packet also includes an entire SC blend section, with lots more activities.

Sophie, is a scarecrow with 47-picture patches, for simple words starting with the letter S. 

For a quick review, I've also included 4, Ss word, picture posters.

Rodney, is the Rhyme Time scarecrow, with 56 words that rhyme with scare and a list of 274 words that rhyme with crow.

Write the words that rhyme with scare on the front of Rodney, and have children choose some words that rhyme with crow and write them on the back.

In the sample, I chose 24-scare rhyming words and wrote them on the shirt, and then wrote an equal amount of words that rhyme with crow, on the pants.  The alphabetical lists include rhyming words that start with every letter except U & X.  I chose one of each.

Finally, the number scarecrow, has several options and serves double duty.  There are number patches from 0-30, which  I traced in a variety of colors. 

You can make Odd Todd and Even Steven scarecrows (front and back) or put the odd numbers on the top and the even numbers on the bottom.  (See photo.)

For more math number practice, I've also included skip counting patches.  Children can skip count by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's.  There are matching worksheets in the packet as well, along with number cards, plus number puzzles in color & black and white.  

For more odd and even scarecrow number fun, click on the link to practice numbers from 1-120, in the Scarecrow's Pumpkin Patch packet.

If your kiddos are familiar with that concept, but need to work on matching numbers to their number words, use the Norman & Nancy number scarecrow patterns, with numbers 0-10, along with their matching number word patches.

Glue the numbers on the shirt and the number words on the pants.  For more practice, have students write the words above their matching number patch.

Click on the link to view/download the "craftivity" portion of the Common Core Scarecrow Packet.

This section will be FREE for an entire year!  After that, you can pick up the whopping 184-page jumbo packet in my TpT shop for just $5.95.  Click on the link for Patches, The Standard Scarecrow Craftivities packet to pop on over.

Thanks for visiting today.  I need to unclutter my brain, so we're off to a nearby fall festival.  It's a beautiful autumn-weather day, if the rain just holds out for awhile. 

 "If stars can shine with darkness, so can you." -Unknown

57 pages.

This fun scarecrow craft is very versatile.  I've included "patches" for a variety of standards: Upper and lowercase letters, vowels, blends, beginning sounds, matching words with pictures, numbers 0-30, odd and even, shapes, colors, contractions, compound words, CVC words, and rhyming words.  Choose whichever one you want to work on.  Students make their scarecrow and then trim and glue on the appropriate patches. The 184-page jumbo packet, also includes worksheets, posters, pocket chart cards, and games too.  The "craftivity portion" will be FREE for an entire year!  After that, you can purchase it for only $5.95 in my TpT shop. Thanks much for stopping by.