8 pages.

Your current students make a bee out of a toilet paper tube, yellow construction paper (body), black electrical tape (stripes), cupcake liners (wings) and a pipe cleaner (antennae).  They complete the writing prompt: "I'm wishing you a 'bee-utiful' year in __________. (Fill in grade) Here's the buzz about what you'll learn and do"  and then roll it up and insert it into their bumblebee. 

5 pages.

Have students complete the writing prompt: "You're going to have a great year 'bee-cause'..." on the pages inside the mini apple booklet, and then glue it to the bumblebee that your current students make for your next year's kiddos. 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Interesting "Craftivities" With Me

Congratulations!  You're heading down the home stretch.  The first and last month of school arrive quickly and seem to be the most hectic. 

One of the things that helped me check a few more things off my "to do" list, was several "Welcome Back To School" activities and bulletin boards that my current students made for my next year's kiddos.  

This served a dual purpose, as it gave my Y5's something to do when I was running out of ideas for make up snow days, plus accomplished decorating and making a few things, so I didn't have to do them by myself come August.  

Here's a photo of my completed apple back to school bulletin board, with a close up of my sample.  I made sure that all of these children were still in our school before I passed out the apples to my kiddos.

Since Kindergarten and Y5's had the same lunch hour it was fun for them to look for their older new friend.  Simply use any apple dicut.  We ran ours through a crinkle machine.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to design several things that your current sweeties could make for your incoming kiddos, as well as a keepsake for themselves if you wanted to do the entire packet. 

The "Tree-mendous" Year craftivies include the writing prompt: You're going to have a "tree-mendous" year in ______ grade, where   students cut and color a tree and then flip it up to reveal their message to the new student.  What a nice surprise for them to find on or in their desk, on the first day of school.

The packet also includes a tree that they help design by tracing their hand (fingers spread to make the branches) plus part of their arm (which becomes the trunk). 

The caption here is: I had a "tree-mendous" year in __________ grade.

The treetop is 3D as students cut out two, fold them in half and then glue one side of them together.   Add some red circles (apples) to the flat side and have students write some of their very favorite things, people, and places that revolved around that grade.  Add a photo for the finishing touch. 

Click on the link to view/download The "Tree-mendous" Year packet.

Another option, with the same idea, is The "Bee-utiful" Year packet.  Students make a bumblebee out of a toilet paper tube using yellow construction paper, black electrical tape (stripes), cupcake liners (wings) and a pipe cleaner (antennae). 

I've included a bee pattern with a face drawn in for them to color, or they can use the oval and design their own.  Add wiggle eyes for a bit more pizzazz.

Students complete the writing prompt page that says: I'm wishing you a bee-utiful year in __________.  Here's the buzz about what you'll learn and then roll it up and insert it inside the TP tube. 

For an easier writing prompt, I've included 2 bookmark options that can also be rolled up and put inside the bumblebee, which say: "You'll have a great year bee-cause..."  or "My favorite things about 'bee-ing' a first grader:" (Fill in the blank with your grade level.)

Click on the link to view/download the "Bee-utiful" Year packet. 

Along the same lines, is the larger bee craftivity, where students make a big bee with wax paper wings and complete the writing prompt: "You're going to have a great year 'bee-cause'"... in a little apple booklet that they glue to the bee's tummy. 

This makes a sweet back-to-school bulletin board as well.  A caption could be: What's the buzz about kindergarten?

When your own students have time to get some work done for their own bulletin board, take this one down and give everyone a bee.  Click on the link to view/download the "Bee-cause" packet. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  If you'd like to see some more end-of-the year activities, click on the link to zip on over to June to grab even more FREEBIES.

 "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." -Muhammad Ali

1-2-3 Come Color Mom's World With Me

This fingerprint keepsake card is a quick, easy and fun craftivity, with wonderful results.  I've included 2 options for creating them.  Little ones can simply color the letters and then carefully press fingerprints on the paper. 

Older students can place the letter templates over the blank poem-page and then press their prints in and around the letters.  After they are content with the look of their paper, they carefully lift off the templates to reveal the word mom. 

This is the technique that I used on the photograph.  I saw a similar poem all over the Internet, and revamped it for this project.  The original author is unknown.  Here is my version:

"I've left some little fingerprints on just about every wall, on furniture, doors and windows, I've really marked them all.  Here are some that won't rub off to remember when I was small, because I'll love you forever, even when I'm big and tall."

Show children your sample and have them read the word MOM, then flip the page upside down and ask them to read the "new" word WOW.  Encourage them to share this demostration with their own card, explaining that they think their mom is a wow mom. 

Click on the link to view/download the Fingerprint Mother's Day Keepsake Card.

Another colorful card is the Mother's Day Rainbow Writing Prompt Mobile. Have students brainstorm with you, thinking of ways their mothers color their world with love, caring, joy etc.  List these on the board.

Cut strips of construction paper.  Students fold the strips in half.  Using a glue stick, they rub glue over one section, place a piece of yarn down the middle and then press shut.  They continue this process until they have all of the colors of the rainbow represented.

Students complete the writing prompt by composing a sentence on each strip.  Older students can write on both sides.  Add the finishing touch by including a photograph. 

Click on the link to view/download the Mother's Day Rainbow Writing Prompt Mobile.  Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away. 

"The phrase 'working mother' is redundant." -Jane Sellman

4 pages.

Packet includes 3 templates to make this Mother's Day card.  Share your sample, and explain to students that when they flip their card upside down, the word MOM, now spells WOW.  This is a palindrome.  Encourage children to share their card both ways with their mom.  Older students can complete the writing prompt: My mom is a wow mom because . . . on the back.  This Mother's Day "craftivity" is a special FREEBIE in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to get your copy today!

1-2-3 Come Make A Butterfly With Me

I used to make a perpetual Mother's Day calendar using some of the monthly artwork that my Y5s enjoyed creating.  Since we studied butterflies, I had a room helper trace my students' foot with their shoe on and then cut them out.  These sweet little feet became the "wings"of a butterfly that they decorated. 

Since the butterfly activities have been such a popular download, I thought I'd share this idea as a Mother's Day "craftivity." 

If you're all set for this holiday, the packet is very versatile, as  I’ve included 3 stationery templates to choose from to glue a butterfly to:  Fluttering by with a Mother’s Day Hi; Fluttering by with a Father’s Day Hi; and Fluttering by with a friendly Hi.

Students take off their shoe and trace it on their color choice of folded construction paper.  When they cut out their “butterfly wing” they will have two.

Make a sample to share with your students so that they know where to glue their butterfly’s wings.  I think these look interesting at a diagonal.

Before hand, cut a variety of colors for the butterfly’s body and fold them.  I made a template for 3 different size thoraxes to accommodate the different shoe sizes of students.   Next, they glue only the head and bottom tip of the thorax down, so that it is 3 dimensional.  

Cut a slit around the top of the head.  Students bend a pipe cleaner in half to make a V-tip, and then curl the ends around a pencil.  Insert the tip into the slit and tape the end on the back.  Students make adjustments by bending the antennae forward a bit.   

Run off the little heart poem on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Students choose one, trim and glue it to the corner of their card.  "I made this card especially for you.   The butterfly's wings were traced from my shoe."   Discuss symmetry and have children decorate their butterfly’s wings.  

For that finishing touch, I added some dashed lines to look like the flit and flutter path of a butterfly.  Stickers, glitter and wiggle eyes would also add pizzazz.   Click on the link to view/download the Fluttering By Butterfly craftivity. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  If you'd like to see some more Mother's Day FREEBIES simply scroll down to take a look at this week's blog articles, or click on the link to zip on over to that section of my site, where you'll find 30 more options!

7 pages.

There's a background template for Mother's Day and Father's Day, as well as a generic one so a child can give this to anyone. Students take their shoe off and trace it on a folded sheet of construction paper. By cutting once they will have two "butterfly wings." 

1-2-3 Come Make Some Mother's Day Keepsakes With Me

I really enjoy designing things that incorporate standards at the same time creating a keepsake that moms will like.  With that in mind, I came up with a "berry" special packet.

Strawberries are one of my favorite fruits, and were also popular with my Y5's.  They are fun and easy to draw and provide a great play on words. 

In the "Berry" Special Packet, I've included templates for both a mom and dad, so you can use this "craftivity" for Mother's Day or Father's Day.  There's also a generic one that says: "You are 'berry' special" so students can make this for another significant other as well.  This would be fun for Grandparents' Day too.

I've included a pattern to make the leafy portion.  Add a bit more pizzazz by making the leaves 3D.  Have students cut out two and then fold one in half.  Match up the leaves and glue only one section on top of the other. 

If you look closely at the photo you'll be able to see how the leaves pop up.  Adding a stem and strawberry blossom, gives the card that finishing touch.

Older students can add a second strawberry and "hinge" their card with a small piece of Scotch tape.  Children complete the writing prompt, add a bit of color, trim and glue to the inside.  Younger students can simply complete just the sentence on the front.

To make things extra special, have students glue on their school picture and make a heart using their thumbprints (see photo).

Leaves can also be made by tracing a child's handprints.   I made an example of both, so you can see how they turned out.   Click on the link to view/download the "Berry" Special Craftivity.  

While I was making my sample, I thought that a mini version of this would make a quick, easy and inexpensive end or beginning of the year gift for students.  

Turn this into a sweet treat by attaching your card to a berry-flavored juice box, or package of Wild Berry Skittles and you're set! 

Click on the link to view/download the "Berry Special Summer/School Year Gift. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  To see another fun keepsake craft for Mom, scroll down and take a look at a cute "horseshoe."

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside of your body." -Elizabeth Stone

4 pages.

I've included a template for the end of the year: "I hope you have a 'berry' special summer, just like you"  as well as one for the beginning of the school year: "I'm wishing you a 'berry' special school year."   For a sweet treat, attach your note to a berry-flavored juice box, or some Wild Berry Skittles.

8 pages.

There are 3 templates so you can use this for Mother's Day with a generic "You are 'berry' special" pattern, so students can give this to someone else, or make for Grandparents' Day.