1-2-3 Come Do Some 100 Day Activities With Me

When I celebrate 100 Days of school, I set up a variety of centers for my students.

I like to involve a bit of art into at least one of their lessons, so I designed this “Cool To Be 100 Days Smarter” ice cream scoop craft, which involves counting as well as a bit of writing.

Completed projects make an interesting and colorful bulletin board.
I’ve included several poster options for the center of your display.
Take a look at the PREVIEW for lots of samples.

The craft is very versatile with lots of options.
There are 3 types of ice cream scoops, with 7 bases ( cones, cups, bowls) to choose from.

Pick your favorites or give children a choice, to add more variety to your bulletin board.

Students can also add sprinkles, caramel, cherry or chocolate syrup, plus a cherry for the top.

Going along with the 100-Day theme, there are 10 scoops, which can be skip counted by 10s, or halved and counted by 5s.

Children can also write numbers 1-10 on the 1st scoop, finishing with numbers 90-100 on the last scoop.

Although scoops look nice plopped in a straight line, suggest making a tilting ice cream cone, or perhaps one with 3 scoops then 2, then the other 5 on top of the double scoop.

Patterns come with & without numbers, so students can write in their own.

To add to the counting fun, there’s even a scoop with 100 sprinkles on it, (6 groups of 15 + 1 group of 10) which can be “hinged” to the top scoop with a piece of Scotch tape, then flipped up to reveal a student’s favorite flavor of ice cream, or another writing prompt you deem appropriate.

Besides the ice cream craft, I’ve also included a writing prompt activity, where students compile a list of interesting and fun things that they've learned in 100 days of school.

I've also included counting worksheets, where children trace and write the numbers by ones, fives and tens.

A "Happy 100 Day" color-me poster, as well as some mini-game cards you can program however you want, make for interesting centers as well.

There are several bookmarks and a certificate of praise you can give your students at the end of your 100th Day of fun. Both patterns come in color as well as black and white.

For your special snack that day, for continued math fun, why not provide ice cream with 10 different topping options.

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a 100 Day theme. It's an old fashioned game called "Dots & Boxes" that's a perfect partner center to practice a variety of math skills, plus strategy.  

The object of the game is to be the last person to connect the last line that will complete a box.

When you complete a box, you get to write your initial in it. I made the grid with 100 boxes. 

Well that's it for today. It continues to snow here in Michigan, which is lovely, but no sunshine and the wind makes it quite bitter outside.

To say I'm longing for spring and super-sick of the cold, is an understatement for sure. 

However, to be alive and healthy is certainly a blessing. Wishing you a warm and wonderful day.

"The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within." -William  Bryant

1-2-3 Come Do Some Groundhog Activities With Me

I do a variety of groundhog-themed activities during the week of Groundhog Day.

One day (February 2nd) is simply not enough time to take a look at these interesting animals, which provide a way for me to get in a bit of science, non-fiction reading, as well as use them as a fun theme for word work (GR blend, compound words) plus math centers, where we count groundhogs, do puzzles, and practice graphing (Will he or won't he see his shadow?) predictions.

With that in mind, I designed two groundhog “flip the flap for facts”  booklets. One includes fun facts about groundhogs, the other has interesting information about Groundhog Day.  First up, is the background information about Groundhogs.

Don’t know anything about groundhogs? No worries. I’ve done tons of research so you don’t have to.
Simply make the teacher’s edition booklet, familiarize yourself with whatever facts you want to share, then read them to your students.

I categorized simple and interesting information into: characteristics, habitat, home, diet, hibernation, young, predators & behavior.

There are 2 "flip up" pages to a one-page template for easy printing.

Besides the teacher’s edition, there are blank page patterns so you can program them however you want, as well as pages with the category headers, so that students have a guide for their research and written answers. 

I purposely did not number any pages, so that you can choose which topics you want your students to explore.

The booklet provides a simple and fun way to introduce research and writing a report, which can be done individually, with a partner, or in a small group of four.

The cover (head of the groundhog) is run off on tan construction paper. Students add highlights and shading with crayons. The base or back cover of the booklet is printed on card stock.

The pages are trimmed and just the top "glue tab" is glued to the base of the booklet.  When all of the pages have been collated, the cover is glued down on top of the base, so that the "mouth" portion of the groundhog "flips up" to reveal the informational pages underneath. Again you have the option to choose which pages you want your students to include.

There are just 8 pages to do independently, (if you choose all of the categories) which can also be divided into a 4-page partner assignment, or a 2-page small group activity; allowing you to do the project in a short amount of time. 

The groundhog booklet can be done in class during your writing/reading block, or be finished as homework then returned. Be sure and check out the non-fiction groundhog books your school library may have or do a bit of research with your students, during your computer lab time.

The packet is also appropriate for younger students, as I’ve included a “fun fact” worksheet for little ones to color, then write down a favorite fact that they learned from you reading the informational teacher’s edition.  As always, I've included completed samples for you to share with your kiddos to help explain things.

Completed projects make a cute February bulletin board. The booklets can also be displayed.

I’ve included 12 real photographs of groundhogs too. (Two-on-a-page for easy printing). Use them to introduce your lesson, then scatter them around your students’ work.

There’s a “Learning About Groundhogs” poster for the center of your display as well. 

The other "flip for facts" booklet features information specifically about Groundhog DAY, so if you’re looking for a little something to share with your students, I think you’ll enjoy this craftivity.

It can be a simple card for little ones to make. There are 3 “Happy Groundhog Day!” greeting options, which are revealed when you flip the legs of the groundhog cover up.

You can also make a “Flip the Flap For Facts” booklet, with interesting information about Groundhog DAY.

Make your teacher booklet and read it to little ones so they learn a bit about Groundhog Day, then have them transition to making the card.

There are also 2 black and white versions so students can make their own booklet. So that you can differentiate your lessons, I’ve included an emergent reader option, packed with lots of Dolch sight words, as well as a preschool “trace the word & color the pictures” version.

Besides the 3 booklets and card, I’ve also included a “Fun Fact” worksheet.

Use this after you read your booklet to check comprehension. Children color the groundhog then jot down an interesting fact that they learned, or their favorite one.

Completed projects make a cute February bulletin board.  I’ve included a “Groundhog Day Fun!” poster for the center of your display.

There are also 2 graphing extensions to go along with the optional "question" pages.

Because Canada also celebrates Groundhog Day on February 2nd, I included 2 pages with the alternate “colour” spelling, as well as a Venn diagram activity comparing our Phil with their Will, plus a photograph poster featuring both groundhogs. (Willie is an albino groundhog, so grab that teachable moment to teach a new vocabulary word.)

There are several map worksheets of both countries as well.  If you studied Canada during your “Christmas Around the World” travels, this is a fun way to revisit those lessons.

So....you've covered non-fiction reading, a bit of science, some writing a dash of math, plus a smidge of geography all with one craftivity, which you can feature on an easy-peasy bulletin board!
Woo hoo for you!

Today's featured FREEBIE also has a groundhog theme and is titled: Groundhog Slappin' Games.  (I was inspired by the "Whack-a-Mole" arcade game, because the critter that pops up reminded me of a groundhog poking his head out of his burrow.)  The packet is a whopping 60 pages long!

Your students will really enjoy playing these games, as they slap a variety of groundhog cards, with a flyswatter, to show that they know specific standards.  This is a super-fun, quick and easy way to whole-group assess as well.

Students practice recognizing skip counted numbers, shapes, colors, groundhog-related words, (there are 54!) + upper and lowercase letters.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by. If you can believe it, it has started to snow here in Michigan.

Although it's quite lovely, and covers up the ugly dirt and dead things, I am quite tired of winter and ready for the warmth of sunshine-filled days.

If a groundhog can truly predict an early spring, here's hoping he does NOT see his shadow.  Wishing you a lovely day.

 "No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Letter Gg Activities With Me

I find that if my kiddos can compare the hard & soft Gg sounds side-by-side, with a variety of different activities, their reading and spelling of those words is much more successful.

A few little rules, lots of examples and fun ways to practice, will help reinforce the different Gg sounds.

So I created this packet. I started out with just the gorilla & giraffe flip booklets, but as I was designing, I also wanted to include other quick, easy, and fun activities, where students could practice in other ways. 

The variety keeps things fresh, while allowing for continued practice without reinforcement becoming boring.

Thus, the packet grew into jumbo size, as I combined both the hard and soft Gg activities into a BUNDLED packet.

They mirror each other, as the activities for the hard g have a matching soft g counterpart, which makes comparison super easy as well as fun.

Simply put, I know this “stuff” works because it’s worked for me.
My students are focused and engaged, enjoying learning some tricky things. I can use these centers year after year, which is a huge time saver. Win-Win.

The packet includes:
* A super-fun gorilla & giraffe flip booklet. So that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share, I've included full color templates, as well as black and white so that students can make their own. 

The "mouth" of the gorilla and giraffe flips up to reveal pages of a soft or hard Gg graphic, along with a "trace & write" word.

There are a variety of page options, featuring words beginning with that sound, as well as the sound within the word. 

Choose your favorites or run them all off and give children a choice.

* The packet also includes 60 picture word cards with a tip list of games you can play, plus other ways to use them, as well as a nice selection of
* Posters, which you can use as anchor charts and a way to introduce the lesson.

* There are also a variety of "Word Work Worksheets", which includes alphabetizing as well as word searches. As with all of my packets, answer keys are included. Here are some more things that are included...

* 36 Ekonin Box cards with matching letters, makes for a  quick, easy & fun independent center.
* “Mixing Math With Literacy number PUZZLES.

* "Going to the Zoo” alliterative, “hard & soft Gg” story craftivity, packed with Dolch sight words.

The reading passage is sprinkled with hard & soft Gg alliteration, which is  sure to tickle your students' tongues.

My kiddos LOVE reading this aloud, and enjoyed making their own "open the door" worksheet. 

* Giraffe & Gorilla word booklets for hard & soft Gg words. My kiddos keep these in their writing notebooks. (Colorful teacher's version, plus black & white patterns for students).

* “Feed the Gorilla & Giraffe” craft, with 194 (hard & soft Gg) word cards. (Snack crackers).The mini cards feature a banana (which gorillas love), as well as some acacia leaves, which giraffes are fond of.

I put the "head" on a Boutique Kleenex box, so that the "mouth" of the gorilla and giraffe goes over the oval opening in the box.  I cut the mouths using an Exacto knife.

My students actually ask to play this game they enjoy it so much! Woo hoo.  

Choose which words you want to reinforce, print the pages, laminate and trim.  Pass them out to your students. We gather in a circle and sit on the floor.  I hold both boxes. 

Students show their word card and everyone reads it together.  If you want, they can also point out the vowel that helps give the word its sound, or explain that this is a word that's an exception to the rule, or that this word contains both sounds.  They "feed" their card to the appropriate animal.  Play 'til all of the cards have been "eaten". 

I often do this as a quick review before lunch. (Munch a bunch of cards before lunch!) 

Besides using the cards for "feeding" the animals, you can also use them for an independent center, where children sort X number of cards onto a gorilla or giraffe sorting mat. 

Older students can pick 3-6 cards and use them to make up sentences which they record on their worksheet.

You can use the variety of activities for...
* A whole group
* An independent center
* Partner fun
* Homework
* Lessons for a sub folder
* A simple & quick time-filler or something for early finishers

* Assessments
* A game
* Something fun for ESL students or children who need extra help.

Today's featured FREEBIE is also a letter activity. The Alpha Cats packet is perfect any time of the year.  Fun for a pet theme, and especially teriffic if your students are Pete the Cat fans, as these little kitties are wearing shoes!

Besides the upper & lowercase letter cards, there are also a few worksheets, plus I've included a 3-page tip list of ideas for using the cards, including the Kaboom game.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.

My husband's brother flew in from Denver, so it's time to put on my hostess hat. Wishing you a happy day, filled with many memorable moments.

"It's all about quality of life. Finding that happy  balance between work, play, family and friends." -Phillip Green

1-2-3 Come Learn About Martin Luther King With Me

Will you be celebrating Martin Luther King Day on Monday?  If so, I think your students will enjoy this quick, easy and fun craftivity.

This Martin Luther King “flip-the-flap” booklet is very versatile, and easy to diversify for your students’ skill levels, making it simple enough for preschool, while being challenging enough for older students.

Don’t know much about MLK? No worries; as a huge time-saver, I’ve included a chronological list of 95 interesting facts about his life, so you can learn right along with your students.

The factual information makes it a breeze to make a timeline if you want.

I’ve included a student worksheet for this.

Perfect for your non fiction studies.

The packet includes a teacher’s edition with colorful graphics, along with factual information on each page, which you can read and share with your students, who’ll be excited to make a booklet of their own.

There are several “fact flap” booklets to choose from:

* Use the black & white graphic pages with no words, for little ones who simply color the pages. The pictures will prompt them to explain the graphics by sharing what they’ve learned.

This provides a quick, easy and fun way to assess comprehension as well.

So that you can create a booklet with fewer pages for little ones, I purposely did not number them.
This also allows you to check comprehension for older students as they collate their pages in chronological order.

* Older students can also use the BW booklet, then write a few sentences sharing what they know about the pictures. (See the last oval in the photo with the pen.)

* There’s also a BW emergent reader booklet, which is packed with Dolch sight words. Children read the simple sentences then color the graphics.

When everyone is done, as a whole group activity, call on students to read a page aloud.

* As another booklet option, I’ve also included a template with 3 blank half-pages on a one-page pattern.
Run these off so students can write and illustrate their own booklets. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of MLK bookmarks, which make a sweet surprise placed on your students' desks, or tucked in their backpacks. 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping in. 

The bitter cold with minus temperature wind chills have subsided for a while, so it's time for some fresh air.

Love the sound of winter melting, with the promise of spring though quite far away, still in the air...

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face." - Victor Hugo

1-2-3 Come Make An Educational Santa Craft With Me

Clement Moore’s “The Night Before Christmas” is said to be one of the most famous American poems ever written.

Because of its popularity, easy cadence, rhyming words, and the fact that the poem is packed with over 60 Dolch sight words, I wanted to design a craftivity to incorporate into our reading activities, while covering the poetry genre and practicing the “sequencing & retelling” a story standards.

I came up with this “flip-the-flap” Santa booklet.

Children color, cut & sequence the “beard” pages, then glue their top tab to the base, adding Santa’s face as the “cover”.

To retell the story, they flip his beard up to reveal the graphics, which prompt them to explain what’s happening. 

For some extra 3D pizzazz and to help strengthen finger muscles, have children pull several cotton balls apart, brush Elmer's glue on the brim of Santa's hat, then press on the "fur". 

A large white pom pom glued to the tip adds the finisheing touch. 

While working on the sequencing booklet, I thought teachers could also use the pattern for a variety of other things.

So I tweaked the templates and included patterns for:

* A “Ho Ho Ho-ping you have a Merry Christmas” card.
Older students can compose, then write a letter to the recipient on the back.

* A “Dear Santa” letter with a twist.
Instead of having children write the usual “I’d like a …….” have students ask Santa to bring a specific gift to a special person in their life, then explain why.

For example: “Dear Santa, could you please bring a pair of boots for my baby brother Fred, so he can play outside in the snow with me. Love, Ean”  and finally,

* Blank patterns so that you can make a flip the flap booklet for another Santa story, or to use as a creative writing prompt of your choice.

Completed projects make a cute bulletin board or hallway display.

Also included in the packet are:

* A photo-poster of Clement Moore,
* Background information on the poem, and
* A copy of the story-poem, which you can read together as a whole group; calling on children to take turns reading a stanza. There's also
* An “alphabetize Santa’s reindeer” worksheet. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is "Snowman Name Stackers". 

I like to do some sort of January craftivity, before Christmas break, so that we don't come back to a bare-looking hallway.

Since we do a big snowman theme, my kiddos enjoy making a Snowman Name Stacker.
They are a quick, easy and fun decoration for your students' lockers, or as a wall display.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

I am literally "dashing through December" with more fun-filled activities and committments to attend than ever before.

I have to keep in mind, that it's important to savor the journey of getting things accomplished, and not just the accomplishment. 

 Wishing you lots of warm and cozy moments.

"He who has not Christmas in his heart, will never find it under the tree." -Roy L. Smith

1-2-3 Come Do Some Polar Express Activities With Me

“All Aboard! The Polar Express is now leaving for the North Pole!”
Do you read this classic Christmas story by Chris Van Allsburg?

It’s a personal favorite of mine, especially because Chris is from my home town here in Grand Rapids, Michigan, so you can imagine how popular this book is with the teachers in my school.

With that in mind, I decided to make 3 Polar Express craftivities that would reinforce some language arts standards. First up, is the Lit Express.

As you can see by the pictures, I chose Christmas colors of red and green for my train, but you can run off a variety of colors of construction paper and give children a choice.

By the looks of the photograph the train appears small, but the pattern for each car takes up a full page.  I purposely made the templates large, so that there's plently of room for wtudents to write.

Teachers can make the train, laminate & then do this as a whole-group discussion activity with preschool and kinders, writing their answers down with a dry erase marker, then reviewing the story.

Older students can make their own Polar Express.

I suggest doing this over a few days, making several cars each day, or sending part of the project home to be completed there, and then returned.

Not enough time, but still want to give this cute craft a whirl? Simply have students do just the engine along with the “stat” car, or a -3-piece train with the engine, stat car and caboose.

Completed projects make an absolutely adorable, hallway wall border.

I’ve included an “All Aboard For Literacy” poster for your display as well.

Gluing a child’s school photo peeking out the engine’s window, makes them the conductor, and adds to the “awww” keepsake factor.

Later, the entire train accordion-folds, making the project small and flat, which easily tucks in a backpack, then unfolded, one car at a time, to retell the tale of The Polar Express to their family.

The project helps reinforce the parts of a story: Author, Illustrator, Setting, Characters, Problem & Solution, as well as practicing the ”sequencing & retelling” a story standards, via the “Beginning, Middle & End” writing prompt train cars. 

I've included extra page patterns, so students can write more if they want.

I have my kiddos write their rough draft on scratch paper, then after their final edit, then using red, black & green markers, they record their work on the approriate train car.

I’ve also included a “Here’s What Happened” worksheet, should you opt for a shorter train.

So that you can quickly and easily make an example to share, I’ve included the templates of my completed samples, plus plenty of photographs, with step-by-step directions.

Next up is a "Polar Express" storytelling wheel. This craftivity is another quick, easy and fun way to practice the "sequencing & retelling" a story standards.   

There are 5 “print & go” cover options to choose from. Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.

When everyone is done, practice retelling “The Polar Express" using the manipulative. Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that the boy in his pajamas appears in the “pie-slice window”, then call on a child to begin the story,

Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”.

For writing practice, and to assess & check comprehension, and reinforce the “sequencing a story” standard, I’ve also included a “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet.

Besides BW, there’s a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.

I’ve also included a circular “Polar Express” puzzle. Use the colorful patterns for an independent center, and the black & white version so students can make their own puzzle to take home.

The base, which students place the puzzle pieces on, includes ordinal numbers so you can practice that standard as well.

Finally, my personal favorite is this Polar Express "flip-the-flap" Train Engine booklet.  It too, is a super-fun way to practice the "sequencing & retelling" a story standards.

Run off the engine on construction paper.

I chose the Christmasy colors of red & green, but you could print on a variety of colors and give children a choice.

Students color, cut & sequence the “window pages” and then glue them to their train.
Gluing a child’s school photo peeking out the Engine’s window, makes them the conductor, and adds to the “awww” keepsake factor.

Another way for students to sequence the story, is with the “Let’s Sequence The Polar Express” worksheet.

Children color, cut and glue the “picture tiles” in the correct order on the train car “windows”.

I’ve included a full-color version for teachers. You can do this as a whole group with little ones, as well as make up some independent, reading center activities.

To assess and check comprehension, I’ve included a “Here’s What Happened” worksheet for older students.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a TICKET to ride "The Polar Express" in your classroom. 

Besides the colorful ticket, I've also included a BW option, but I think it's more fun for children if they get a lovely and vibrantly colored ticket. 

Also in the packet, is an "I Believe!" gift tag to attach to a Christmas jingle bell. 

Sign your name on the back after the "A Merry Christmas Remembrance From", add a date, then run off.

A room helper can cut the tags out, fold them in half and glue the front and back together. 

Punch a hole at the top, insert a piece of ribbon or yarn (curling ribbon is inexpensive & adds extra pizzazz) then tie on a bell.  The entire thing can be hung on a tree.  Pass out to your kiddos as they leave for vacation.

Well that's it for now. Thanks for breezing in. 

As usual I'm off and running today.  This Santa's elf has much to accomplish. 

Wishing you a very merry day filled with the wonder of Christmas.

"The true magic of Christmas, is not in the presents, but in His Presence." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Make a Nativity Craft With Me

Would you like your kiddos to be able to sequence & retell the Christmas story?  With that in mind, I designed 2 simple & fun craftivities, which will help them do just that.

First up: “Follow the Star”, which is a nativity “flip-the-flap” booklet,

If you do a "Christmas Around the World" ed-venture, this craftivity makes a nice addition to your travels.

The stable is the base of the booklet and is printed on card stock to make it sturdy.

Once the booklet is complete, it is free standing and makes a cute decoration.

The “doors” of the stable open, to reveal graphics of the major events that take place; from Mary & Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem to the birth of Jesus.

Besides black & white patterns for students to color, cut & glue, I’ve also included colorful templates so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

There are several page options as well.

I’ve provided pages with text for beginning readers, as well as pages without words for younger kiddos.

You can also use these pages for older students, so they can write about what is happening and explain the graphic, or find a matching Bible verse to record on the appropriate pages.

To use for extra writing practice, I’ve also included a completely blank page.

On the back of the stable, students can write “Jesus loves me.” or “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

There are add-on graphics included as well: 4 star patterns for children to choose from, plus a cow & donkey they can glue to the back of the last, opened pages, so that when the doors are completely open, the animals flank the manger.

Brushing some Elmer’s glue on the star, then sprinkling with gold glitter adds extra pop & pizzazz. 

The "looking down" photo on the right,  shows how the pages support the stable.

When everyone is done, read the booklet together as a whole group, calling on students to explain the various events taking place. Encourage children to sequence & retell the story of Christ’s birth to their families, as they share their nativity booklet at home.

Next up is a nativity "storytelling wheel".

Since my storytelling wheels have been so popular, I thought it would be fun to design one for the Nativity.

Great for parochial schools, Sunday school, Christmas Around the World activities, or simply for your own child.

Storytelling wheels are a quick, easy & fun way for students to practice the “retelling & sequencing” a story standards.

There are 3, “print & go” cover options to choose from. Pick your favorite, or give students a choice.

There are full color patterns to use for an independent center, as well as a sample to share, plus a black & white pattern, so students can make their own.

After students have completed their wheel, practice retelling the nativity story using the manipulative.

Everyone starts by turning their wheel so that Mary & Joseph, who are traveling to Bethlehem, appear in the “pie-slice window”.

Call on a child to begin the story. Continue to turn the wheel, calling on different students to tell you that portion of the story, explaining the “picture prompt”.

Afterwards, have students pick a partner and take turns sharing their nativity wheel with each other. Sometimes we do this with our older reading buddies.
This is a quick, easy & fun way to check comprehension too.

For more sequencing & retelling practice, I've also included a nativity puzzle . There are two "base" options, which will help practice ordinal numbers as well as reading.

For writing practice, have students complete the “Here’s What Happened” writing prompt worksheet, then color it.

There’s a full color template so you can quickly & easily make an example to share, or do as a whole group activity with little ones.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a "Wishful Thinking" writing prompt craftivity.

Students finish the prompt: "If money were no problem and I could have 5 super-fabulous gifts for Christmas, I'd like..."

Completed projects make an adorable December bulletin board.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Two of my nine grandchildren are coming over today, so my feet have hit the floor running this morning. 

I've planned some "merry making" Christmas crafts.  Wishing you a day filled with warm hugs and happy giggles.

"Christmas is the kindling for hospitality." -Washington Irving

1-2-3 Come Do A Gingerbread Man Craftivity With Me

This “flip-the-flap” storytelling craft, is a super-fun way to practice the sequencing & retelling a story standards, using the popular tale of the “Gingerbread Man”

Simply run the fox pattern off on orange or brown construction paper.
Students trim & add a few highlights with crayons.

The “head” of the fox, is the “cover” of the booklet that flips up to reveal 6 oval pages, which feature graphics that help students recall the story, so they can retell the tale.

I purposely did not number the pages, so you can check comprehension, when students sequence the story.

Children color, cut & collate the oval-shaped pages into a little booklet, which is then glued to the fox’s face, making it a “flip-the-flap” activity. 


Besides the black & white patterns,  I’ve also included colorful ones, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

Since there are two versions of the fairy tale,  I’ve also included page options with both endings of the story, as well as a gingerbread man pattern, to use as an extra manipulative.

As children finish retelling the story, I thought it would be fun for them to place the gingerbread man inside the fox’s mouth, to tell the version where the cookie is eaten, then hold the gingerbread man and have him scamper off, to explain that he escapes in the other story.

For extra pizzazz, I used white puffy paint to add realistic-lookig "frosting" to the gingerbread man.

My students absolutely love this "finishing touch", which really adds to the "way cool" cuteness factor. 

For writing practice,  have students complete the extra “last” page, where children  circle the ending they liked best, then explain why.

To check comprehension & further reinforce the sequence of the story, older students can explain “What Happened?” on the writing prompt worksheet.

When everyone's  done, have children pick a partner and take turns telling the story of “The Gingerbread Man” to each other.
We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies. 

Today's featured FREEBIE isa set of gingerbread-themed "Parts of Speech" posters.

Thanks for stopping by.  I have a long "To Do" list of "must do" activities, so my feet have hit the floor running this morning.

It's all Christmas related, so especially fun, at the same tiime exhausting. 

Wishing you a "merry & bright" day.

"Christmas isn't a season; it's a feeling." -Edna Ferber

1-2-3 Come Make Some Christmas Around the World Ornaments With Me

Few of us have the time or luxury, of being able to do a craft “just because”…

- Just because it’s fun.
- Just because the children will absolutely love it and be happily engaged.
- Just because completed projects make an awesome display, which will instill pride and build self-esteem,
And…
-Just because it’s “hands-on”, which I truly believe is the best way to learn.

And because of all those positive things, I wanted to design something “extra special” for the holiday season, that’s quick, easy and fun, as well as very educational, to make even the Grinchiest of Bah Humbugs smile their approval.

Since many teachers dare to dally with a bit of craftiness during December, especially with their Christmas Around the World geography lessons, I designed this set of “Around the World” ornaments.

Each ornament features the country’s flag, a map of the country, as well as a sweet graphic, which people readily identify as being symbolic of that country. i.e. The Eiffel Tower for France.

You decide how you want to make each country’s 3-part ornament as well. There are quite a few options: 

They can be kept as three, single flat ornaments, or add the "blank" ball and use it for a writing prompt, then glue them back-to-back to make two, flat ornaments.

For added sparkle & pizzazz, I added gold and silver glitter to the "metal" top of the ornament.

Another easy-peasy option is to simply staple the 3 balls at the top to make a "flip up" ornament.

Add a blank-ball page in-between each one, so older students can describe the flag on one, write an interesting fact about the country on another, then explain what the symbolic picture balll means on the other.

Children an also make a "Dangler" out of their ornmaments, by gluing them together vertically. They look wonderful suspended from the ceiling as a wall border in the hallway. 

Finally, my favorite way to make them is to fold the balls in half,  and glue them together to make a 3D ornament with either 3 or 4 sides.

How you use the ornaments is also up to you.
- As a whole group activity:
Do that country’s ornament as a culminating lesson when you’ve finished studying about it.

Easy-peasy: No more thinking about what craft to match up to the various countries, buying materials & then spending hours prepping.

These are “print & go”, plus, once you’ve explained the directions the first time, you no longer need to spend time doing that again. Another country—a new ornament.

Children feel empowered by the consistency, and can get right down to business; plus, they enjoy collecting them, much like they would a souvenir ornament from that county.

The beauty of even the 3D ornament, is that they fold down flat, and can easily be tucked into students’ “Around the World” suitcases after you're done displaying them. 

I've included a storage envelope children can tuck their ornaments in, to keep them from getting tangled. 

Another option:
Each student can make the ornament that matches their “Country Report”. After they’ve finished their presentation, have them add their ornament to your classroom tree, or attach to a pine garland you’ve displayed as a border in the hall.

Besides the black & white patterns for students, I’ve also included full-color templates, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share, to help explain what you want students to do.

You can suspend your set from the ceiling. They look wonderful swirling & twirling as you “study abroad”.

This is the first set in a series, and includes the following countries:
* Canada
* England
* France
* Germany
* Ireland
* Italy
* Mexico
* Russia
* Scotland
* Spain
* Sweden
* The United States &
* Wales Plus a United Kingdom BONUS ornament.

These countries match those in my “Travels Around The World” packets that I’ve posted thus far.

The 2nd ornament packet in the series, includes the following countries:

* Argentina. *Brazil * China* Greece * India * Israel * Japan * Netherlands * Norway & * Switzerland

The 3rd ornament packet in the series, includes the following countries:

* Cuba * Egypt * Iran * Jamaica * Kenya * New Zealand * Philippines * Saudi Arabia & * Vietnam 

Today's featured FREEBIE is from my jumbo "Christmas Around The World" packet. It's a "color me" greeting card.  Hope you find it useful.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

My feet have hit the floor running this morning, as my "To Do" list is beyond long, but I'm excited to prepare for Thanksgiving.

Wishing you a relaxing and stress-free day.

"Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse." - Henry Van Dyke

1-2-3 Come Do Some More "Needs & Wants" Craftivities With Me   

One of my favorite clip artists, Melonheadz, came up with some adorable "big mouth" kiddos, which inspired me to use them to design two new "Needs & Wants" packets. 

These clip art kids, are telling about their needs & wants, via a wheel craft and a "flip-the-flap" booklet.

When it comes to “I need and want this, that & whatever…” children can have a pretty big voice expressing themselves; so these two craftivities are  super-fun ways for students to practice "Needs & Wants" economics.

First up is the "flip-the-face" flap booklet.

There are 4 girl & 4 boy “face covers” to choose from. Patterns come in black & white for students, as well as full-color , so that you can quickly and easily make a sample to share.

Children choose a “face cover”, then color, trim and fold the “mouth” so that it flips up.

There are blank “mouth” pages so that students can illustrate their own “needs & wants”, as well as black and white “needs” graphics on a page, so that students can color and label them.

Children think of some “wants” then illustrate the blank pages.

There’s a definition page for “needs” as well as “wants”, which acts as an introduction and separation in the booklet.

Students also have the option of gluing their “wants” to the back of their booklet. A back page pattern is included.

Break up the lesson for little ones, by doing “needs” on one day; then completing the booklet on the following day, finishing the “wants” pages.

When everyone is done, read the booklet as a whole group for a nice review. Call on children to share one of their “wants” pages.

This activity also makes a super-fun homework assignment for older students.
Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board display.  

As a culminating assessment activity, have children complete the worksheet, which can be done individually, or as a whole group with little ones.

Next up is the Big Mouth, "I Need! I Want!" Wheel.

There are 3 girl & 3 boy “wheel covers” to choose from.

I’ve provided blank templates for the “center” pie wheels, so that children can illustrate their own graphics.

The first “pie slice” section, defines “needs”. The “wants” wheel has a definition section as well.

There’s also an option where the “needs” wheel, has black & white graphics for students to color and label.

So you can quickly and easily make a sample to share, I’ve also included full-color patterns.

Students color and trim, then fasten their “needs” wheel to their “kid cover” using a brass brad.

Keep things easy-peasy by having students take that wheel out, and then insert their “wants” wheel to finish explaining things.

Give older students the option of gluing their needs & wants wheels back-to-back, fastening with a front as well as back cover; so they just flip their wheel over to explain their wants.

There are are 3 boy & 3 girl back cover options, as well as 2 others.
This packet also has the culminating assessment activity.

Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, today's featured FREEBIE  is a super-cute "The Shape Of My Turkey" packet.

Make the large turkey head shapes and use them for a cute November bulletin board, review or interesting way to assess. 

Students can choose their favorite shape and turn it into the body of a turkey by adding the construction-paper parts.

A set of turkey shape word cards is also included.  Use them as pocket or flashcards for review and assessment as well. 

Make extra sets to play Memory Match or "I Have; Who Has?" games.  You could also cut them apart and turn them into puzzles.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

The sun is finally shining after way too many damp, chilly and dreary November days; so it's time to take my poodle pup Chloe, for some much-needed fresh air. 

Wishing you a happy-go-lucky day.

"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings." - William Arthur Ward