13 pages.

This packet includes: a class book where your current students write a page of advice for your next year's class; a mouse "craftivity" where students jot one piece of advice underneath their mouse's head (it flips up); plus a bookmark from you and one for your students to make for an in-coming kiddo.

1-2-3 Come Make A Frog's Life Cycle Craft With Me

Since many of us are winding down, and counting the days 'til summer vacation, I posted yesterday that if you were looking for something to fill up the last few weeks of school, to dash me off an e-mail or leave a comment.  I heard from several teachers that they do a mini unit on frogs to fulfill a science requirement, and wanted to know if I had a quick craft explaining the frog's life cycle. 

I do; not just one, but three options to choose from.  Since "Throw Back Thursday" has become popular, especially on Face Book, I decided to zip off a blog article including them, incase there are other teachers out there who do a frog theme in the spring. 

These are "oldies" but I think still "goodies" that I designed several years ago, before I had all the clip art, fonts, and design software that I use now.  Hopefully you'll still find them helpful.  Choose one for your students, or give them an option.

The first life cycle of a frog craftivity is in the shape of a frog.  The mouth section flips up to reveal pages, with the various life cycle phases on them.  Click on the link to view/download it.

The second one is also a flip up craft, but this one is a rectangular booklet.  Students cut on the lines to make "flaps" that flip up to reveal the different stages of the frog's life cycle.  Older students can write one fact at the top of the inside flap.  Click on the link to grab this FREEBIE.

Finally, my personal favorite, is the frog's life cycle "dangler" which is made using a paper plate. 

Completed projects look really cute suspended from the ceiling.  Click on the link to view/download it. 

Thanks for visiting today.  As always feel free to PIN away.  I think sharing is so important, and one of the reasons Pinterest is so popular. 

"We don't stop going to school when we graduate." -Carol Burnett

4 pages.

Help students learn the life cycle of a frog by making this cute paper plate craft. Completed projects look awesome dangling from the ceiling.

6 pages.

Help students learn the life cycle of a frog, with this cute flip up booklet.  The frog's face flips up to reveal pages with the various stages on them.  Students color, cut and collate.

1-2-3 Come Collect Autographs With Me

As the school year is winding down, and coming to a close for some of us, you may be in need of a few things for that last week of school. 

A quick, easy and fun activity for your kiddos, is to make an autograph book and then give them some time to collect signatures. 

With that in mind, I designed an "auto-graph" packet, using some cute little car clip art, to reinforce the play on words. 

You can simply run the cover off on white construction paper and have students color the automobile, or run the pattern off on a variety of colors of construction paper and have students cut and glue the car to the front of another sheet of construction paper.

I've included inside pages for your students to color and collect signatures on.  There's a page for classmates to sign, one for other friends, another for school staff, plus two teacher pages. 

Click on the link to view/download the Auto-graph Packet.  Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  My "Pin it"  button is at the top. 

"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." -Albert Einstein

7 pages.

Looking for something fun for your kiddos to do the last week of school?  How 'bout an autograph booklet.  Students can either color the car on the front cover, or run the pattern off on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Students trim and glue to another sheet of construction paper.  Includes inside pages for them to color and collect autographs on.

1-2-3 Come Do Some Anticipatory Writing With Me (Say what?)

All the while I was working on the ANTicipation packet, the 1979 Heinz ketchup commercial "Anticipation is making me wait" and the tune that accompanied it, kept running through my head; sort of like Disney's "It's a Small World" tune that plays incessantly even after you exit the ride. It's still there; buzzing through your brain like a pesky mosquito. 

Any hoo, as my frequent visitors know, I love putzing with word play, so anticipating the summer naturally led me to an ant craftivity.  Run the ant's head off on black construction paper.  Mine was light enough so that I could still see the graphics, which I embellished with crayons. 

Using and old file folder, make a template from my "body part" patterns.  Trace once and then cut 3-6 pieces at a time.  Students cut out the head and then glue the two body segments together. 

Wiggle eyes and black pipe cleaners added that extra bit of pizzazz.  I bent the pipe cleaner in half and spread it into a V and then bent up the ends to make the "feet." I attached to the back with Scotch tape. 

Explain to students that the definition of anticipation has to do with hopes and expectations for the future.  I've written a sample for you to share if you want, or create one of your own.  Children love hearing about their teachers.   Younger students can simply make a list.

Students complete the writing prompt: Some of the things I'm anticipating doing this summer . . .  glue it to a sheet of construction or scrapbook paper, and then attach their ant to the bottom. 

You can leave it at that, but for a bit more hands-on and that finishing touch, add the picnic basket to the top.  (There's one for summer and a generic one as well) To add a bit of 3D, you can cut brown strips of construction paper for the handles and attach them with brass brads. 

To give students another option, they could choose to write about what they are anticipating in the next grade that they'll be going into, or something else that they have expectations or hopes for.  

Completed projects make an awesome hallway display.  Hang up a plastic, red and white checkered tablecloth (they sell them at The Dollar Store) to use as a background.  Your caption can simply be ANTicipations!   Cut your letters out of brightly colored construction paper and add some clip art ants. 

Click on the link to view/download the ANTicipation Packet.  Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.

"It takes a big heart to shape little minds." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Get Your Groove On With Me!

Since the end of the year activities have been so popular, and since some of us have a lot of snow days to make up, I continue to design some interesting things to keep your energetic kiddos occupied, and your sanity in place.

Friday was hippos; today it's all about cows.  Have you heard the "moos?"   "We're Moo-vin' To A New Grade!"  I know that's a bit corny, but I really like diddling around with word play.  Once my older students caught on to my craziness, they enjoyed it too.

There are several ways to do this "craftivity."  You can simply have your students color the cow, cut him out and mount him to the writing prompt, or for a little more hands-on, run off the patterns on construction paper. 

Students trim, glue their cow together, and add details with crayons.  For extra pizzazz, I glued my sample to a sheet of checkered scrapbook paper.

Since students are moving on to a new grade, I thought it would be a good idea for them to reflect on that for awhile, before they complete their writing prompt page. 

Later, have them share their cows, so they get a chance to air their feelings, and you have an opportunity to reassure them. 

If you didn't catch the hippo article, I suggested that a great way to share, would be to ask a teacher in that grade, if your kiddos could come visit and read their work to their students.  

This gives them a chance to meet a new teacher, see that room, (perhaps even a different section of your school) and hear from the students in that grade, what they enjoyed the most about it.  Your students could also ask the older kids some questions.  I think it would be a wonderful experience for all.

Afterwards, give your students a bookmark celebrating their accomplishment.  I've included templates in color as well as black and white.  There's a set for kindergarten through 3rd grade, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever. 

Completed projects look great hanging on a hallway wall, or on students' lockers. 

I've included a poster to hang by their work or print two and glue them back to back and suspend from the ceiling.

Click on the link to view/download the Moovin' and a Groovin to a New Grade packet. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.

 "Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best." -Bob Talbert

12 pages.

There are several options for this end of the year writing prompt "craftivity."  Students can simply color the cow, cut it out and glue it to the top of their writing prompt, or you can run off the cow parts on construction paper.  Students trim, glue their cow together, add some pizzazz with crayons and then glue it to the top of their writing prompt.