1-2-3 Come Do Some More Zoo Activities With Me!

Do you go on a field trip to the zoo with your students or take a “virtual” field trip online?

If so, then I think you’ll enjoy this “What Did You See at the Zoo?” packet.

There are a variety of activities included, which are easy to diversify for different ages & skill levels.

The packet includes:

1. * “What animals did WE see?” colorful animal poster to use as a whole group activity, with a matching BW “What animals did YOU see?” worksheet.

2. * “Sizing Up the Animals!” worksheet, where students can practice their comparison & contrast measuring skills: “What animal was taller than you?” (shorter, heavier, longer…) “What animal would fit in your backpack?” A colorful option is also included so you can do this as a whole group.

3. * Two, “We Saw Animals!” worksheets in both color to use as a whole group discussion activity, as well as black & white versions, so you also have the option to do one or both as an independent activity.

4. * Fun Worksheet: “Oh My! An animal is escaping. It’s following you out of the zoo.” Complete the picture, by drawing your favorite animal, or one you’d like to take home.

This can simply be a “draw & color” activity for little ones, or a writing extension for older students, who will then explain their picture, or tell “how they escaped” or “what happens when they get home.”

5. * “What Did You See at the Zoo?” booklet, where students trace & write the animal word, then answer the question by marking an X in either the “Yes” or “No” box. They also color the picture of the animal.

6. * I’ve also included a colorful teacher’s edition, (“What Did WE See at the Zoo?” ) which you can do as a whole group activity with little ones.

Each full-size page, features 4 animal strips, so you can easily cut them apart to make a “Snip & Flip” Strip Booklet.

This allows you to make your booklet as long as you like; or limiting the number of pages for wee ones. There are 24 animal strip options, on 6, full-size pages.

These activities pair nicely with my
"We're Going to the Zoo!” Field Trip Packet I blogged about last week. Click the link to take a peek.

Today's featured FREEBIE is also animal-themed. Alpha-bird, is a super-fun craft that your students can either make. OR...

You can make just one for your classroom to use as a unique asssessment tool!.

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

We have relatives coming to stay with us this week from Washington, so my feet have hit the floor running. 

Wishing you a fun-filled and stress-free week.

"Always having somewhere to go is HOME. Always having someone to love is FAMILY. Having both is a beautiful BLESSING." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Activities For "Polar Bear What Do You Hear?"  

Bill Martin's ”Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You Hear?” is one of my Y5s all-time favorite stories.

With that in mind, I just finished designing some quick, easy and fun activities children can transition to after you read the tale.  I'm featuring 3 on the blog today.

First up is a story wheel craftivity, which is an interesting and simple way to assess comprehension and practice the sequencing and retelling a story standards.

There are full color patterns to use for centers, plus a black and white pattern so your students can make their own.

When everyone is done with their story wheel, have children pick a partner, and take turns retelling the story.

We sometimes do this with our older "reading buddies".

As a comprehension-assessment tool, and for fine motor practice, another option is to make the “Polar Bear Pie Puzzles”, which have BW & color templates.

In order to practice a variety of standards, there are 5 different puzzle-base options.

Simply choose which is most appropriate for your kiddos.

There's also a writing prompt worksheet, where students write what happened in the story, which will further check comprehension and reinforce chronological writing.  

Next up is the "Polar Bear What Do You Hear?" SOUND packet.

Because the characters in the story hear different sounds, the tale is perfect for explaining onomatopoeia & reinforcing the 5 senses.

Since most of my students have never heard the sound of these animals, I’ve included links to real animals roaring, hissing, snorting etc. (One for each animal in the story!)  
My kiddos absolutely LOVE this activity, and are truly amazed how animals “speak”.

The packet also includes:

* 3 writing prompt worksheets.
If your students are like mine, even your most reluctant writers will enjoy contributing their page to 3 class-made books.

1. “Animals Animals What Would You Like To Hear?”
( Fill-in-the-blanks & illustrate worksheet page).

2. “Chit Chat With The Animals”
( If a _______ (animal) could talk what are some things they might say?” Color-me worksheet pages featuring a variety of animals for children to choose from). 

Younger students can dictate or write one simple sentence, encourage older students to do a bit of research on their animal and write sentences that incorporate that information. "The zookeeper measured me today and I weigh 5 tons and an 11 feet tall."

3. “Children Children What Do You Like To Hear?”
(When it comes to awesome sounds, here’s a list of my top ten favorites: color-me worksheet pages).  Includes girl & boy options.

Completed work makes a wonderful bulletin board.

I've included 3 posters to use for the center of your displays.
Later, add the covers to make class-made books, which are great for parent-teacher conferences.  There's also . . .

* A set of puzzle cards where students match the animal section to the sound section. Fun for Daily 5 word work, or a vocabulary-building activity.

* 2 graphing extensions.

* A set of pocket chart cards, which helps reinforce the onomatopoetic vocabulary in the story.

Make an extra set for an independent center activity, where students match the sound card to the animal/zookeeper card.

These can also be passed out prior to reading the story.
As you read “Polar Bear What Do You Hear?” the child holding that card brings it up and places it on your flannel or white board.

Afterwards, pass the animal cards out and see if children can arrange them in the correct sequence of the story. Grab that teachable moment to practice ordinal numbers.

* I’ve also included a mini-set of the cards for “Memory Match” & “I Have; Who Has?” games. Children can sort, sequence & alphabetize these smaller cards, as well as use them to make up sentences.

Toss them into a container and have children choose an animal card then make that noise, or choose a sound card and tell which animal made that noise.

Finally, the farm unit, is one of our preschoolers favorites, so I wrote “Farmer Farmer What Do You Hear?” as a fun, parody-like writing prompt, for them to transition to after we read “Polar Bear What Do You Hear?”  Instead of wild animals, this story features animals on the farm.

Even beginning writers will enjoy filling in the blanks, then illustrating their page for a sweet class-made book. PK kiddos can simply dictate their answers.

Completed projects also make an adorable bulletin board.  I’ve included a poster for the center of your display.

Later, collate the pages and add the cover to make the booklet, which is perfect for parent-teacher conferences.

Besides the class book, I’ve also included an emergent reader.
There are 3, BW options, making it suitable for PK kiddos as well as kindergarten and first grade, or to diversify within your classroom.

I've also included colorful teacher templates as well.

The featured FREEBIE today is a cute "5 Senses" anchor chart poster.  I hope you find it useful. 

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

I'm watching 2 of our 8 grandchildren today, so it's time to switch to my "Nana hat"; we're going to make Valentines. 

Wishing a day filled to the brim with blessings.

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush." - Doug Larson

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

Yesterday's "Let's Do Something With Those Valentines!"  Math & Literacy activities, were such a huge it, that I decided to make a few more worksheets where students use their valentines.  These have to do with measuring.     

Because my kiddos rip through their valentine cards and are done in about 5 minutes, when I really wanted that activity to last longer, I designed these quick, easy and fun worksheets to extend my sanity-time on party day.

There are 2 worksheets children complete using their valentine cards.  They are independent activities, as well as one where they partner up.

Choose just one worksheet, or print both back-to-back.

Children will enjoy playing with their valentines longer, as they practice a variety of non-standard units of measurement, while you grab a few stress-free moments to relax before the next activity.

Another "print & go" activity is the Valentines For Sale emergent reader, which practices a variety of standards.

Children read the simple sentences filled with 37 Dolch sight words, trace and write the color, number and coin words, color the valentine hearts the appropriate colors, then cut and glue the matching coins to the boxes.

This quick, easy and fun activity is perfect for party day. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is "Lovie".  She's a fish made from heart shapes.  This craft is a simple and fun way to show small-medium-large and explain symmetry.  

Use it as a valentine craft for party day and give children some Fishy crackers to "o-fish-cially" wish them a happy Valentine's Day. 

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

February is so packed full of special celebrations and themes that my mind's on hyper-drive.  Wishing you a happy-go-lucky day.

"If you can believe it, Hollywood wanted to change my birthdate. I was born after Valentine's Day, so they wanted to change it to February 14. A Latin lover should be born on Valentine's Day. I said no." - Cesar Romero

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

Living in the midwest, we don't start school 'til after Labor Day,  so our 100th Day of school celebration doesn't hit 'til sometime in February. 

Today's blog features four of my favorite 100 Day activities.

First up is the skip count by 10s emergent reader, which features 43 Dolch sight words!

On 100 Day, I have my kiddos count to 100 in a variety of ways.  With that in mind, I designed this packet to give you a few interesting activities for practicing skip counting by 10s, that are sure to be fun for your students.

This is a mini, 4-on-a-page booklet, which they trim, collate and staple together. 
Children read the sentence, and dot 10 spots on the picture.

To include a lot of sight words as well as practice following directions, some spots are big, others little, and a few are a specific color.

However, you can also do this booklet with PK, non-readers as well.  Simply read each page and have students “monkey-see, monkey-do” what you’ve done in your sample.

Afterwards, read the booklet as a whole group, then count the spots by 10s, to come up with 100 “spots and dots”.

The packet also includes 4 “slider” craftivities, featuring one for boys and one for girls.  There is a 100 Day option, as well as one for any time, with a 2-on-a-page pattern, plus one with 4-on-a-page.

I designed sliders as a quick, easy, and fun way to practice a variety of standards, as well as whole group assess.

Because children see the numbers “slide” by as they count, this is especially helpful for visual learners.

I often have my students trace the numbers to show an AB-AB or ABC-ABC color pattern. 
There are 4 worksheets, plus a certificate of praise as well.   

The skip counting to 100 by 5s emergent reader matches the format of the first one. 

Here children read the sentence, and dot 5 spots on each picture instead of 10. 

This booklet features over 70 Dolch sight words, but again, is easy enough for a PK student, when you make the booklet as a whole group activity. 

All of the pictures for both books are different. 

My students enjoy doing both throughout the week, then we graph which one was their favorite. 

Finally, if you're looking for a writing prompt with a creative twist, then I think you'll enjoy the 100 Day Writing Prompt Quilt Packet.

There are two ways to use the quilt patterns.

Make a whole-group classroom quilt, where each students contributes 1-3 squares, or give each child a copy of the quilt and have them make their own 100 Day quilt poster.

For the classroom quilt idea, run off X amount of copies of the pattern (there are 12 squares on it) for however many squares you want your students to contribute, then cut them up and toss them in a container for children to pick.

They fill in the two blanks, add end punctuation to complete the sentence, then draw or glue on clip art pictures that match.

Provide a variety of scrapbook squares to glue their completed quilt square(s) on, then arrange them on a piece of tag board or bulletin board paper, to make a big classroom quilt.

Even PK kiddos can make a square by dictating their answers, then drawing a picture.

Since the pattern only has 12 squares on it, and the prompts are super-fun to answer, the quilt is also do-able as a personal, 100-Day quilt "poster", which students mount on large, square sheets of scrapbook paper.

It only took me 15 minutes to make my sample, so this is a great homework assignment too.

If you don't want to do crafty, but need a super-fun 100 Day writing prompt, I've got you covered.

I know your students will really enjoy not only completing, but sharing this "fill-in-the-blank", "Print & Go" writing activity.

There's a colorful version, as well as a black & white option. Students add end punctuation where appropriate. 

Afterwards, "popcorn" around the room, and have students share a portion of their work, (fun way to get to know more about your students), then mount on construction paper and display on a "100 Days Smarter" bulletin board.

PK kiddos can also do this as a homework assignment, so they can dictate what they want their parents to fill in.

Today's featured FREEBIE is an "Oldie 100-Day Pennant" craftivity. 

Challenge your students to think about how they might look if they live to be 100.  Have them draw a self-portrait or use an aging app to create a photograph. 

Suggestions and links for apps are included, as well as templates for an "Oldie 100-Day Pennant Banner." 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by. I hope you found something useful here, that will add even more fun to your 100 Day celebration.

Speaking of celebrations, I have to get going on making some special things for my mom's 90th birthday bash this weekend.  We are planning a surprise party and I have much to do. 

Wishing you a productive and energizing day, brimming with warm fuzzy moments.

"The more you praise and celebrate your life.  The more there is in life to celebrate!" - Oprah Winfrey

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

Are you studying colors or color words with your kiddos? Do you read Brown Bear Brown Bear, by Bill Martin & Eric Carle? If so, I think you'll enjoy Brown Bear's Colors.

I designed this color packet to go along with the story because it's one of my all-time favorites; my students really enjoy Brown Bear too, and it's perfect for sequencing as well as reinforcing colors.

You’ll LOVE the versatility of this packet, as it’s suitable for PK through 1st, and particularly helpful for ESL students.

Practice a variety of skills & standards, by simply taking the teachable moment to point out & explain, or skip that skill if it doesn’t apply to your age group/level.

The packet includes:

An emergent reader (2 options) One booklet is entitled "A Rainbow of Colors" and reinforces 6 colors of the rainbow. 

The other, "Lots of Colors" includes 11 basic colors.

Students read the simple sentences, which are packed with plenty of Dolch words, trace and write the color word, then color the crayon and bear's sweater the matching color.

So that you can have a "teachable moment" to review end punctuation, I've purposely included sentences with a period, question mark & exclamation point. 

To ensure that students are really reading their booklets, instead of repeating "I see a ________(color) crayon." I switch up the pronouns, so that you can  practice pronouns, which are also on the Dolch lists.

An anchor chart pronoun poster is also included.

I figure as long as my kiddos are learning to read these words, I might as well briefly explain pronouns, adding yet another word to their growing grammar vocabularies. 

The packet includes games galore! There are 4 separate games, plus 10 more you can play with just the colorful crayon poster!

I've made full-color sets to use as independent centers, as well as black & white games so that students can make their own to practice at home. 

Add the Kaboom cards for even more fun.  The packet also has . . .

* A whole group assessment
* Worksheets
* An assortment of anchor chart posters

* A  Rainbow Color song
* Favorite color graphing activity and
* A bookmark and certificate of praise

Since I have a lot of visitors from Australia, Great Brittain and Canada, I've also included templates with the "Colours" and "Grey" spellings.

* As always, directions, photographs and completed samples. Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to have a look at this 80-page packet of color fun: "Brown Bear's Colors.

Today's featured FREEBIE, comes from the packet.  There are two; woo hoo!  The first one is the "Favorite Colors" graph. Click on the link or picture to get your copy.

The graph comes in color, to use as a whole-group activity,  as well as black and white, so that students can collect data on their own. 

The other FREEBIE is a set of posters. "We know our colors!" and "We know our color words."

Pick the one that's right for your kiddos. When they have mastered the standard, they get to sign the blank poster that's displayed underneath. 

This provides a nice incentive that promotes self-esteem.  There's also a "colours" set for my non USA teacher friends.  

Well that's it for today. Art Prize has started here in Grand Rapids, so I'm off to go meander around downtown with my hubbie and grandson.  Wishing you an ed-venturous weekend as well.

"The purpose of art is to wash the dust of life off our souls." - Pablo Picasso

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

I've been working like mad today to finish up a few of the Constitution Day activities that I was designing.  I hope someone out there can still use them.  

I'm all for easy, when the administration throws these "According to the law, everyone has to teach something about the Constitution on April 17th..." zingers at us.

With that in mind, and because I couldn't find an emergent reader that simplified the Constitution for PK-K, I decided to make my own.

This little, non-fiction Constitution booklet, is filled with basic facts, in easy to understand, kid-friendly terms, that help explain what the Constitution is all about.

So...Woo hoo! Simply "print & go" and you're all set with a quick, easy, and interesting little something to plug in for Constitution Day.

Students "read" the simple sentences (I used plenty of words from the Dolch lists) then trace and write the main idea word.  Doing so, will help build vocabulary and reinforce comprehension.

Besides the "kiddy" emergent reader version, I added more factual information to make a non fiction booklet, suitable for 3rd & 4th graders.

For quick printing, there are two pages on one template.  The booklet for older kiddos has 5 more pages. 

Click on the link to pop on over.  Emergent Reader Constitution booklet.

I turned the last page of the booklet into a Constitution Day coloring page.  It's one of today's featured FREEBIES. Click on the link to grab a copy. 

The other FREEBIE is a pair of parchment-look scrolls.  Use them to have your students write their own classroom Constitution, Bill of Rights or class contract.

Also hot off the press today is a set of Constitution themed Memory Match cards.

They match my Constitution Day Number Puzzles, which makes for a nice coordinated center/station.

Students can match the picture to the picture or the picture to the word card.  I've numbered them, so children can self-check.

You can also play an "I Have; Who Has?" game. "I have George Washington. Who has his name card?"

Use the picture cards to build vocabulary and explain a bit about the Constitution.
"The men on these cards are some of the "Framers" that worked on the Constitution." etc.

Use them as flashcards to see who can tell who or what's on the card and how it relates to Constitution Day.

Later in the year, bring the game out again in February for Presidents' Day, posing the question: "Which of these men became President? Who was the first?" 

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.  Our server was having issues for a bit, so it was timing out and driving me crazy! 

Every time I tried to save my work the page errored out and I lost everything.  You are reading my 4th redo of this article. 

Of course a killer headache has insued, so time to quit.  Wishing everyone an interesting Constitution Day tomorrow. 

"The Constitution is never tested during times of tranquility; it is during times of tension , trumoil, tragedy, trauma, and terrorism that it is sorely tested." -Mike Honda

1-2-3 Come Learn About Seasons and Months With Me

Since the alphabet emergent readers have been so popular, I decided to do a seasonal one, as my kiddos have to learn the seasons, as well as the months of the year, plus other aspects of the calendar.

At the beginning of the year, when my Y5s are just learning about the calendar, they always make me laugh with the names that they come up with for the months.

"What month is it?"  I ask. "It's pumpkin month!"  or... "It's snow month." They exclaim excitedly. They also confused the seasons with the months, often thinking they were the same thing.

With that in mind, I incorporated both in this sweet emergent reader, which will help reinforce a variety of skills in a fun way; helping your kiddos learn the 4 seasons, as well as the months of the year, plus information about those months.

Students read the repetitive sentence, trace & write the season, month & the number of that month.

(January is the 1st month so it's number one.)
They also jot down the number of days that are in that month.

Students color the picture, as well as the monthly word, then fill the blank in, to complete the sentence writing prompt.

To reinforce end punctuation, I have left it out of the sentences, so that students can practice writing in the period.

The packet includes 2 mnemonic poster poems to help students remember the seasons and how many days are in each month.

There are 2 size choices for the booklet: A 2-on-a-page template, as well as 4-on-a-page pattern, so that you can make Itty Bitty booklets & save paper.

When everyone has completed their booklet, read it together as a whole group to reinforce concepts of print.

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to check it out. 

This 20-page packet is just $1.95.

There are 2 FREEBIES today.  Both come from the packet.

One is the seasons mnemonic poster poem, the other is the "How Many Days?" poster poem, which I tweaked a bit. 

Click on each link or the pictures to grab your copy.  

Thanks for visiting. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and it's a sweatshirt and bonfire kind of Friday. 

Wishing you a whimsical and wonderful weekend.

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." - Albert Camus

1-2-3 Come Make An Emergent Reader Alphabet Booklet With Me

Woo hoo for another one of Diane's Dollar Deals.

This packet contains a colorful, emergent-reader, alphabet booklet, which contains 47 words from the Dolch word lists.

I've included an alphabetical list of the words.

Laminate a copy of the booklet for your classroom library.

Print an extra copy, cut the pages apart and use in a pocket chart, to read as a whole group.

I've also included 26 letter cards.

Use them as mini flashcards, for games like Speed, Memory Match & "I Have; Who Has?" or in a center, where students can sort & alphabetize them.

So that you can make an "Itty Bitty" booklet, I've also included a cover to go with the alphabet cards. 

Make one for each child in your classroom, and give them a copy for their birthday. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is a really cute alphabet poster, which comes in the packet. The letters on the poster, match the letters in the colorful booklet.  Click on the link to grab your copy today.

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to get the latest Dollar Deal: An Emergent Reader Alphabet Booklet.

Click here, to see the rest of Diane's Dollar Deals.

To see more alphabet activities click on this link.

That's it for today.  I'm having lots of fun making Dollar Deals. 

They are way less time consuming than when I'm working on a jumbo 100+ page packet, which tends to be a bit overwhelming trying to keep track of it all.

Wishing you a wonderful day filled with special moments, as one clings to the end of summer. 

"The tans will fade, but sweet summer memories last forever." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Make An ABC Booklet With Me

Diane's Dollar Deal today, is a sweet emergent reader alphabet booklet. My Y5's enjoyed making these "just the right size" booklets. 

Using the pictures as a guide, children read the page, trace the letters, write the letters, then color the picture.

Afterwards, they cut the pages into 1/4ths (grab that teachable moment to review fractions if you're studying them) collate the pages and then staple their booklet together.

I've included a cover, as well as a "trace the alphabet" page, to go at the beginning of the booklet. 

There's a template for a 4-on-a-page booklet, as well as one with 8-on-a page, to make an Itty Bitty Alpha-bits booklet. Choose which one's right for your kiddos.

As a whole group, read the booklet together to review concepts of print. To reinforce the lesson, encourage students to read the booklet with their families.

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to grab the Alphabet Emergent Reader Booklet. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is the "color me" alphabet poster that's included in the packet.  Click on the link to get one. 

That's it for today, the rain is gently falling outside my window this morning. It's Labor Day Weekend, so of course it's raining.

Wishing you a very relaxing weekend that doesn't zoom by too quickly.

 "If all the cars in the United States were placed end to end, it would probably be Labor Day Weekend." -Doug Larson

31 pages.

March is a very windy month here in the midwest. With that in mind, I designed this Wind Tricks poetry packet, to go along with my other wind-themed activities.  I hope you find it helpful.