2 pages.

Define what an adjective is and have your students describe themselves at the beginning of the year.  Collect and save 'til the last week of school and have them use adjectives to describe themselves now.  Have they changed? 

1-2-3 Come Have A Blast With Me!

Now that Mother's Day is over, it seems that attention has turned to looking for end-of the-year activities, as school begins to wind down for many.   With that in mind, I designed the "I Had A Blast In School" packet.  

I've included writing prompt-templates for preschool through 8th grade, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever. 

Students can simply fill in the page, or they can wrap a toilet paper tube with scrapbook or wrapping paper to make a "firecracker" and add some 3D pizzazz.  I mounted everything on a sheet of scrapbook paper to make it more colorful as well.

I've included a fireworks pattern that students can sprinkle glitter on and then glue to the top of their firecracker, or tuck in a wad of tinsel for a sparkling effect.  Add a school photo for that finishing touch.  

Completed projects make an awesome end-of-the-year bulletin board and are a nice alternative to a school memory book.  

After your students share their creation with their classmates, give them a choice of the four bookmarks.  "I hope you have an absolute blast this summer."  Teachers write a student's name at the top and then sign the bottom. 

You could also ask students if you can keep their "blast" craftivity to give to your next year's kiddos. 

Have them fill in the "I hope you have a blast too." note and glue it to the back of their work. 

What a nice surprise for your new class to find in/on their desks in the fall. 

If they want to take their work home, but would still like to make something for next year's class, have them color and complete the writing prompt bookmark: "You're going to have a blast in _________ because..." 

As with the above prompt, I've included templates for preschool through 8th grade, with a blank one (pictured) to fill in with whatever.  Encourage students to write more on the back.

Click on the link to view/download the I Had A Blast In School  packet. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  My "Pin it" button is at the top.

"Sometimes you never know the true value of a moment, until it becomes a memory." -Unknown

16 pages.

The packet includes stationery for the writing prompt: "I had a blast in  _________ grade!" with templates for preschool through 8th grade.  Add a toilet paper tube "firecracker" for 3D pizzazz, plus a school photo to turn this "craftivity" into an interesting bulletin board. 

1-2-3 Come Make A Cupcake With Me

Since the end-of-the-year writing prompts have been such popular downloads, I decided to make a few more. I hope you enjoy these new FREEBIES.

"Sweet!" has come to mean wonderful, awesome, great, as well as a sugary taste, so I thought I'd create the prompt: "_____________ (fill in your grade level) was really sweet because..." 

It didn't take long to decide that a cupcake would be the perfect "craftivity"for this June writing prompt. 

Your students can make the cupcake for themselves or for one of your new students who will be coming in the fall.  What a nice surprise for them to find this cute card in/on their desk the first day of school, with a note from a former student. 

I've included templates for preschool through 3rd grade, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever. 

If you don't want to do the cupcake craft, I've also included a simpler option.

Run off the black and white cupcake bookmark that says: "Wishing you a sweet year!"  Students color the cupcake and write something underneath the greeting. 

If you'd like to give your students more practice, have them write why they thought this grade was sweet, on the back.  To make this even more personal, print off your class composite, cut the students' heads into ovals, and have them glue their photo somewhere on the bookmark next to their name.

The packet also includes 4 different, full color, cupcake bookmarks from the teacher, that say: "Wishing you a sweet summer." 

Write your students' names at the top, and sign yours under the note.  You may want to include the bookmark with a mini muffin as a special treat.

Click on the link to view/download the It Was A Sweet Year  writing prompt, craftivity and cupcake bookmarks.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  Do you have an end-of-the-year activity that you could share with us?  You can e-mail me at diane@teachwithme.com  or leave a comment below.

"Striving to be a beautiful and sweet cupcake, in a world full of muffins."  -Unknown

4 pages.

Card flips open to reveal why their child thinks they are a sweet mom.  Add a photo inside the cherry and some paper "sprinkles" for that finishing touch.  This Mother's Day "craftivity" is a special FREEBIE in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to get your copy today!

12 pages.

Your students can make the cupcake for themselves or for one of your new students who will be coming in the fall.  What a nice surprise to find in or on their desk on the first day of school.  I also have a simple writing prompt option, where students color a cupcake on a bookmark that says: "Wishing you a sweet year!"  They can leave a note underneath.

27 pages.

Have your current students make this owl writing prompt "craftivity" for your next year's students.  Packet includes bookmarks, with templates for preschool through 3rd grade, plus a blank pattern.

17 pages.

This owl craftivity is an interesting and fun alternative to making a school memory booklet. Packet includes templates for preschool through 3rd grade, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever.

1-2-3 Come Do Some End Of The Year Writing Prompts and Craftivities With Me

Since yesterday's article on having current students make something for your next year's kiddos was so popular, I decided to make one with an owl-theme, as owls continue to be really popular.  I know I love them. 

This one is entitled "___________ (fill in your grade) was a hoot.  I've included templates for preschool through 3rd grade, plus a blank one to fill in with whatever.  Here's how to make one:

Run off the templates on a variety of colors of construction paper. Students choose and trim.

Print the facial pattern, trim and trace on an old file folder.  Trace once and cut 3 to 6 eye pieces out at a time.  If you want your beak to be 3D, cut on a fold.

Place and position wings, poke a hole with a protractor at the top and insert a brass brad so they “fly” open. Choose your grade-level heart template and run off on a variety of colors of construction paper. 

Explain to students that what they will be making will be given to your new kiddos in the fall.  They write why their current grade was a hoot.  What a nice surprise for your incoming class to find on or in their desk.  These could also be put up on a bulletin board.
To make it even more personal, have students glue their school photo somewhere.

If you don't want to putz with a craft, I've included just the writing prompt as a template. As with the above craft, I've included templates for preschool through third grade, plus a blank one to fill in with something else.

There's also 2 different bookmark options to give your current students.  Click on the link to view/download the "___________ Grade Was A Hoot" packet.

As with the "tree-mendous" packet yesterday, (scroll down to the next blog article to take a look), I also made a keepsake craft for your students to make for themselves.  This packet is called "School Was A Hoot."

I used 3 file folders to make my sample, but you could also use 2 large sheets of construction paper.  Here's how to make them:
Open up 2 file folders. Glue the right side of one to the left side of the other.  You will now have a left flap, middle section and right flap.  Use the pattern to trace the wings and then trim.

I used a third file folder for the head, but you could also use a sheet of construction paper.
Students can draw their own face, or you can use my pattern.  You could also cut these pieces out of construction paper and have students glue them on.

Choose your grade-level flag and run them off on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Students trim and glue only the left portion of the pennant to the left wing.  Add a school photo to make it extra special.

Brainstorm with students about all of the things they did that year that were a hoot.  You may want to jot these on the board to help with spelling.

After students have written a rough draft, they rewrite their final thoughts on the writing prompt page that will be glued to the middle of their owl.

Students can draw a full-sized body picture of themselves in the oval, or just their face.  Have students really think about what they'll write in the "favorites" and "memories" sections, which will be glued to the wings. 

The autograph page goes on the back.  Students color it and can collect their own signatures or to expedite things, you can have everybody sign a master sheet and then run it off for everyone.

Make a sample of your own to share with your students.  I’m sure they’ll enjoy hearing about their teacher’s favorite things and why (s)he thought this year was a hoot. 

“A picture is truly worth a 1,000 words” and will help you explain what you want your kiddos to do.  Click on the link to view/download the file folder School Was A Hoot packet. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  

"No matter how much you think you hate school, you'll find that you'll miss it when you leave." -Unknown

6 pages.

This packet includes a writing prompt craftivity for your current students to make for your next year's students. "You'll have a 'tree-mendous' year in ____________" (Fill in your grade.) as well as a 3D keepsake tree that they help create by tracing their hand (to make branches) and their arm (to make the trunk).