11 pages.

I designed the folder flip files, as a way to introduce early elementary students to doing research and putting facts that they find interesting into their own words.  These are a great precursor to reports that they'll later be writing.

 1-2-3 Come Do Some Back To School Writing With Me

Here's a quick, easy and fun writing prompt for back to school.  Completed projects look awesome dangling from the ceiling, swirling and twirling as they wave so long to summer, and hello to a brand new school year.

Even if you've already started back, summer's not technically over 'til the first day of fall (September 23rd) so you can easily incorporate this craftivity into your writing block, or Daily 5 activities.

Give students a variety of construction paper-color choices, to trace their hand and arm on.  They trim and cut out.  Run off the writing prompt rectangles.  I've included templates for preschool through 8th grade.

Students color and complete the prompt, using words and phrases about things pertaining to their summer, as well as the new grade that they're in.

Younger students can do this with the help of their parents at Open House or Meet the Teacher Night.  If you don't have one, tuck the activity in their backpacks for a nice home-school connection.

Students glue the summer prompt to the front of their hand, and the school one, to the back.  For a bit more pizzazz, children can draw on polished fingernails and jewelry.  (I used a flat-backed rhinestone to make a ring.) 

Be sure and make a sample of your own to help explain what you want your students to do.  This is also an interesting way for them to get to know you a little better.  

I've included my writing samples, so that you can easily make an example if you don't have time to make one of your own. 

After students share, punch a hole in a finger tip, add a yarn tie and suspend from the ceiling.  Your caption could be "High Fives For Wonderful Writing." 

I didn't dangle these samples from my ceiling, but you can get an idea from the photo, of how colorful and really cool your students' completed projects will look. 

Click on the link to view/download the So Long Summer; Hello School Year Writing Prompt craftivity.

Thanks for visiting today.  It's pouring outside my window, giving me a sleepy kind of feeling --the perfect day for doing all sorts of crafty things, or perhaps snuggling into a good book.  Wishing you a relaxing day. 

"Believe you can and you’re halfway there!" -Unknown

17 pages.

Here's a quick, easy and fun writing prompt for back to school.  Completed projects look awesome dangling from the ceiling, swirling and twirling as they wave so long to summer, and hello to a brand new school year. 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Apple-Themed Vocabulary Building With Me

Apple-themed week, continues with some interesting vocabulary building activities.  Part of all of the themes that I did with my Y5's, included the vocabulary that they needed to learn that would help them understand apples, pumpkins, butterflies etc. 

The science aspect of what we studied, provided a plethora of new words.  Having children label the parts of an apple, is a quick, easy and fun way to reinforce a few of them. 

To visually show the "peel" or "skin" of an apple, I made this "craftivity" as a flip open.  The "skin" is flipped off to reveal the inside of the apple.

Students add a bit of color, cut and glue the words, or write them.  If you look closely at my sample, you can also see the front that says: Kelli's apple, as an interesting way for students to write their name. Click on the link to view/download the Label An Apple Craft.

Another way I reinforced vocabulary was for students to write the words.  To cover yet another standard, I often had them put the words in alphabetical order. 

I designed a sweet apple knOWLedge bookmark, with a list of apple related words on it, plus a worksheet on the side for students to write the words in alphabetical order.  Click on the link to view/download the apple vocabulary bookmark. 

Word finds are also fun for students.  These not only reinforce vocabulary, but help increase spelling skills.  This one features 18 apple-themed words. Click on the link for the apple word find.

No matter what grade I taught, I always encouraged my students to use adjectives in their writing to make things more vivid, and to incorporate them orally when they were describing something.  

Having children think up words as they use their senses to feel, taste, and smell an apple, also helps increase vocabulary. 

As they share the words that they come up with to describe their apple, list them on the board. 

Use the  apple adjective worksheet before or after your brainstorming.  I've included a completed sample that you can also share. Click on the link to view/download the apple adjective activities.

As a part of our science requirements, we also studied the 5 senses, which fit in perfectly with adjective use.  I challenged my students each month to increase their use of adjectives by using all of their senses when describing something. 

To make this easy, I designed a simple and quick worksheet for them to fill in each month.  I called these Sensory Word Anchor Charts.  Each month I chose a different word that would be appropriate for that time of year. 

For example, for September, I used an apple.  Click on the link to grab a copy of the monthly sensory adjective writing. 

Finally, another way to build vocabulary and increase writing skills, is by teaching antonyms and synonyms for the words that your students use and are learning. 

In keeping with the apple theme, I made up antonym apples with synonym leaves.  Cut them into puzzles to play all sorts of matching games. 

The apples provide 132 words to help build student vocabularies.  There's also a blank apple template to fill in with whatever, plus 80 synonym leaves with 2 blank leaf templates. 

Encourage students to make up some of their own antonym apples and write in synonyms too.  For more practice with antonyms, be sure and check out my list of 290 antonyms.  I've included a cover in this packet, so that students can make their own antonym word booklets.

Thanks for visiting today. Time to clear the clutter on my desk and in my mind.  I'm off for a walk to soak up some sunshine, with the tail-wagging Chloe. (My black poodle pup!)  The air smells so fresh from the down pour last night.  Wishing you a happy day.

 "If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach them the way they learn." -Ignacio Estrada

1-2-3 Come Have Some Apple Fraction Fun With Me

Since the Common Core rolled in, I've had several requests for some simple fraction activities that would be easy for a kindergarten child to wrap their head around.  Because so many teachers also study apples at this time of year, I thought I'd design some fraction fun with an apple theme.

A quick and easy way to introduce the new fraction vocabulary is with a visual.  You can make a fraction apple to help explain a whole, half and fourth, and then to  really reinforce the concepts, have each student make their own. 

Because I also teach the fact that apples can be three different colors, I chose red, yellow and green construction paper to show the different fractions.  This really helps make them "pop" as well.  

When students have completed their fraction apples, call out a fraction and have them flip to it, repeating the fraction word as they hold up their apple to show you.

You can whole group assess at a glance, and see who's having difficulty.   To review another day, have students copy the information that's on the templates, (fourth, 1/4, quarter) writing their answers on the back of each section.  Click on the link to view/download the apple fraction craftivity.

Another hands-on way to help students "see" and understand beginning fractions, is by cutting up an apple.

As you cut from whole, to half, and then into quarters, explain each fraction.

To further reinforce math vocabulary, students assemble their own apple fraction "flip up" booklet . 

A trace & write mini apple fraction booklet is also included, along with matching apple fraction pocket or word wall word cards. 

After they complete their booklets, read together to reinforce concepts of print. Click on the link to view/download the Apple Fraction Flip Up craftivity.

Another interesting fraction visual is done with an apple pie. 

As with the above apple fraction packet, the apple pie fraction packet includes a flip up craftivity, mini apple pie fraction booklet, plus apple pie fraction cards to use in a pocket chart or on your word wall. 

Click on the link to view/download the Apple Pie Fraction Packet.

Finally, culminate your apple fraction activities with the apple fraction spinner game, which not only reinforces the fraction vocabulary, but graphing skills.  

Children can play individually or in a group of 2 or 3.  They take turns spinning, and then mark an X under the fraction apple on their graph. 

I've also included a whole-class graph to total up everyone's results.  Click on the link to view/download the Apple Fraction Spinner Game.

That's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  I'm off to water my flowers, to ensure it will rain later on.  Blessings to you and yours.

"Teachers who love teaching, help students to love learning." -Unknown

3 pages.

This is a simple Cat in the Hat craft to help students practice place value.

1-2-3 Come Do Some Apple Alphabet Activities With Me

If you've been following the various blog articles for "apple week" you know that I've covered apple art, apple science, and apple math.  (Simply scroll down to grab all of those FREEBIES in the articles that follow.) It seemed only fitting to design some Apple Alphabet Activities... Wow! Try to say that alliterative tongue twister three times.  Any hoo, you've come to the right place if you're looking for some apple-themed activities that help students practice their alphabet skills.  

You've probably seen all the wonderful clothespin matching games all over Pinterest.  They were my inspiration for this upper and lowercase letter apple game. 

Whenever I design something, I make samples, so that I not only have a photo of what a completed project looks like, but as a way to jot down specific steps, so you can easily follow my directions.  Making something, also irons out any kinks I may run across that I can share, so things run smoothly for you. 

The big one here is to clip your clothespins onto the apple BEFORE you  write the letters on the tips.  I learned that the hard way.  Because my Y5's are just learning letters, they are easily confused when the thing they are matching doesn't look exactly like the mate. 

By clipping the clothespins first, you are able to write the letters in the proper direction.  As you can see by the photo, sometimes the letter needs to be written vertically on the clothespin, other times horizontally  You also won't have any letters appearing upside down when a child clips them. 

Here's another TIP: When I got the uppercase set done, I thought it would be a good idea to write the lowercase letters on the back, so that there were several ways to play the alphabet apple game (uppercase to lowercase, as well as lowercase to lowercase etc.)  So that children aren't confused, write the uppercase letters using a different color permanent marker, than the lowercase letters. 

This will be easy for students to sort, and see which side they should be using for whatever game you want them to practice.  Click on the link to view/download the wonderful fine motor skill game: apple alphabet clothespins.

While I was making the numbered apples from 1-100, in yesterday's article, it was easy to use that same template to make apple alphabet cards.  (I really like when things match!) There's a set that shows the upper and lowercase letters on each apple, as well as a set with just the uppercase letters, and another for the lowercase letters. 

Use them as a border, flashcards, and for a variety of games.  I've included a tip list of ideas.  Click on the link to view/download the apple alphabet cards.

I've had quite a few requests for simple alphabet worksheets.  Some teachers need them for an option for early finishers, or their sub folder, while lots of visitors need them for "homework!"  It amazes me that some schools make homework mandatory for such a young age.   The caramel apple coloring worksheet has been very popular as a fun home-school connection. 

To reinforce the 3 colors of apples, students color the uppercase letter A's red, the lowercase a's yellow and the rest of the apples green.   Click on the link to view/download a copy of the caramel apple coloring activity.

The "I spy" an apple letter on the apple tree, is a quick and easy way to whole group assess upper or lowercase letters in a fun way.  Teacher starts the game by calling out a letter. Children search for that "apple" on their paper, and then trace it.  When they are done they raise their hand. 

You can see at a glance who is having difficulty.  Play continues 'til all of the letters have been traced.  Students can play this game again at home, by coloring the "spied" letters.  They can play it a 3rd time, by X-ing out the letters. Click on the link to view/download the Apple Tree I Spy game.

Finally, for a variety of other apple-themed activities and games, including ones involving the alphabet, click on the link for a 33-page Apple Activities packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you found something useful here, to help get your kiddos excited about learning.  Just a reminder, if you're looking for an activity that I don't have, feel free to e-mail me at diane@teachwithme.com  Some of the things I design are special requests, and I'm glad to help out.

I'm off to meet a friend for lunch.  Will be nice to catch up and share our excitement over teaching.  I hope you have a lovely day too.

"What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child." - George Bernard Shaw

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

The last few articles have covered apple art, some apple science (apple facts and the apple life cycle) plus a bit of writing, so I thought it was time to throw in a little apple math.  I've designed some numbered apples from 1 to 100.  You can put them up all at once, or add one each day of school, as you count up to your 100th day celebration.  

Another fun way to reinforce counting, is with Willie the Worm.  His body is a numbered "slider".  Children trace the numbers and then insert Willie into their apple.  Call out a number, students slide the worm to that number. 

This is a quick and easy way to whole group assess, as you can see at a glance who is having difficulty.  I've also included strips for skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, and 10's for a non-boring way to practice. 

For just-the-right-size number fun, with an apple theme, click on the Apple Number packet.  The packet includes: Smaller numbered apples (1-120) that students can easily sequence.  Use these as anchor charts or a help poster for your students' math folders. The apple 1-120 individual strips, can be cut to form a number line. 

I've included 16 "What's Missing?" activity sheets, that are especially helpful for those toughy teen numbers. Run them off for students to fill in, or laminate and have children place number tiles on empty spaces.  The apple math symbols, allow students to use the apples to create and solve addition and subtraction equations, as well as show greater and less than.

Apples with numbers as well as number words, help with reading comprehension. Use them for games, pocket charts, or your word wall.  Skip counting by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's is also included, plus 4 games, with the ability to create many more.  Click on the link to get the 35-page comprehensive Apple Number packet.

For more addition and subtraction activities, you'll enjoy the apple-themed 10-frame packet.

If you teach little ones just learning to count, or ESL students, they'll enjoy the 1-to-1 correspondence apple game.  I've included full-color cards, as well as black line masters if you want your kiddos to color their own. 

I used red, yellow and green pony beads as manipulatives.  This provides great fine motor practice as well.

Puzzles are also a fun way for students to practice sequencing numbers. 

I've included an apple as well as a pumpkin shaped puzzle in this packet. Run the apples off on red, yellow and lime green construction paper; give students a choice of what color they want for their apple. 

Children can simply put the puzzle together, or have them create an interesting mosaic picture, by gluing the pieces to a sheet of black construction paper.  (Make sure they leave a little space inbetween the pieces.) 

For that finishing touch, add their photo to the leaf.  To make it more of a keepsake, have students trace their hand for the pumpkin leaf.

There are 7 more apple-themed puzzles in another packet. Use the skip counting by 10's puzzles for older students.

Finally, when doing apple math, one can't forget to include shapes as well as graphing.  Both are accomplished in the Shapely Fall Graphs packet. 

I hope you found a few things here that you're excited about sharing with your students.  Do you have an apple activity that you could share with us?  I'd love to hear from you.  diane@teachwithme.com  or feel free to leave a comment below.

It's a rainy day, and although it's tempting to venture into some time-sucking fun on Pinterest, I'm off to higher priorities.  (Perhaps curling up with a good book!) Wishing you an apple-icious afternoon.

3 pages.

This is a quick, easy and fun back to school activity.  Students color their calculator their favorite color, and then complete the writing prompt: "By my calculations it's going to be a great year because..."  Add a school photo for the finishing touch.  Completed projects make a sweet bulletin board. 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Apple Investigations With Me

Yesterday's articles featured all sorts of apple craftivities.  Today's apples incorporate a bit of science and math.  Whenever I started a themed unit, I always began by reading some interesting books. 

To cover all sorts of genre, I included fiction as well as non fiction stories, and sprinkled in some poems and songs too.  To get a list of my apple books, click on the link.  Another thing I did, was to do some research of my own.

One of my favorite things about the Internet, is the incredible amount of material on the web.  People have spent hours sharing their knowledge and ideas, and I'm grateful. 

I absolutely LOVE doing research and finding out interesting information about the things my students will be studying.  I'm always amazed at the amount of "cool stuff" that I also learn along the way. 

While doing research for my apple unit, I compiled a list of 125 interesting facts about apples, and thought I'd share it with you. 

Highlight the facts you want to share with your students.  After you read the information, test students' comprehension, by having them write 3 facts down on the recording sheet that's provided. 

They could also add facts to some of the art projects discussed yesterday, like writing information on a paper chain for the 3D apple "dangler" activity.  Click on the link to grab your copy of the 125 Interesting Apple Facts.

A quick, easy and fun way to get some science into your lessons, is to cover the life cycle of an apple. 

For hands-on learning, I've designed 4 different "craftivities" to show the life cycle of an apple. 

Completed projects make awesome bulletin boards, or decorations for your hallway. (Suspend them from the ceiling, as a border along a wall.)

The first packet features an apple, apple pie, and apple tree option. 

You can choose which you feel is most age-appropriate, or give older students a choice.  Click on the link for the Life Cycle of an Apple packet. 

This packet will be FREE for an entire year (!) after which time, it will be up-dated and rolled into my 33-page Life Cycle of an Apple Activities packet in my TpT shop.

The fourth option, is an apple "dangler" because once completed, it looks terrific dangling from the ceiling. 

I made it 3 dimensional by doubling up on the tree and apple cut outs (folding and gluing them together) and making the apple blossom out of a coffee filter that I edged with pink marker.  

Click on the link for the Life Cycle of an Apple Dangler craft.

Finally, for some apple math activities, I designed the apple investigations packet.  It will help your students learn about measurement.

Children measure height, weight, width and circumference of their apple. They trace and write vocabulary-building words, predict, answer questions, plus collect and analyze data.

As you can see, a lot of standards are covered in this simple booklet.  Click on the link above, to grab your FREEBIE.  

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  For another fun writing prompt "craftivity" scroll down to the next blog article to take a look at the Johnny Appleseed packet.

I'm writing this early Saturday morning so that it will automatically go live on Sunday.  I really try to limit my computer time on the weekends.  Having family coming over for a day of swimming, certainly helps me "behave".  I'm off to get ready for some memory-making fun. 

"You can count the seeds in an apple, but you can't count the apples in a seed." -Unknown