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

Holy Moly where is September flying off to?  Constitution Day is this Thursday the 17th! Boy did that ever sneak up fast! 

Are you looking for something quick, easy & fun that your kiddos can do on Constitution Day that they can wrap their brains around?

How ‘bout a patriotic number puzzle? It’s a great way to fulfill the “Do something related to the Constitution on September 17th” requirement.

Later, you can still use these puzzles for any other patriotic holidays that roll around.

I’ve included a variety of puzzles that count by 1s to 10, count backwards from 10 to 1, as well as skip count by 10s to 100.

Print, laminate & trim the full color ones and use as an independent center.

I’ve included portraits of some of the “Framers”, so when you discuss the men who worked on the Constitution, you can show them a picture puzzle that they can assemble.

I’ve also included black and white options, so that students can color and cut up their own puzzle.

Be sure and give them some background facts to go with the various puzzles, so that they can share this information when they get home.

For an interesting “craftivity” have students glue their puzzle to a sheet of red or blue construction paper. Remind them to leave a little bit of a gap between each numbered strip to create an especially cool mosaic effect.

For an awesome “Look what we did on Constitution Day” bulletin board, scatter completed projects on a white background, trimmed with a patriotic stars & stripes border.

Older students can complete a writing prompt on the back of their puzzle. Share then suspend from the ceiling. This 58-page packet is just 2.95.  Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to take a peek and let the fun begin. 25 Constitution Day Number Puzzles

The featured FREEBIE today comes from the packet.  It's my personal favorite patriotic puzzle in the packet, and features the adorable clip art of Laura Strickland. 

Click on the link to grab your copy just in time for Constitution Day: Patriotic Number Puzzle FREEBIE

Well that's it for now.  Thanks for stoppin' by.  My brain is fried from doing research about Constitution Day. 

Time for a much-needed break.  Wishing you a carefree day.

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." - Benjamin Franklin

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Looking for something quick, easy & fun that your kiddos can wrap their heads around for Constitution Day?  How 'bout a number puzzle?

1-2-3 Come Do Question of the Day With Me

Do you do “Question of the Day?”

If not, you’re missing out on a terrific opportunity to reinforce math skills such as graphing, tally marks, greater & less than, as well as counting, and number recognition. All this in less than 5 minutes! Woo Hoo!

Children are eager to give their opinion. Doing so, builds confidence, which leads to self-esteem.

Besides all these advantages, a Question of the Day allows students a fun way to practice writing their name.

When everyone’s name is displayed on the white board, it’s also a way children learn to read and recognize their classmates’ names as well.

For me, the best part, is getting to know each other better through sharing.

With all this in mind I designed a Question of the Day packet.

The packet includes:

* An explanation of how I set up my Question of the Day activities.
* A question mark poster to make a display with.
* Yes and a No posters you can also use in your display

* A Yes/No graphing sheet, which you can use instead of having children write their names on your white board. 

* 5 things I’d say yes to writing prompt
* 5 things I’d say no to writing prompt
* Yes-No I have an opinion trace & write worksheet

* A list of 485 Yes or No questions, so you don’t have to wrack your brain in the morning thinking of something, or wondering if you’ve already asked that question.

Simply run off the pages, laminate & check off the ones you’ve done. (Reuse every year)
I use a permanent marker, so that my check marks don’t rub off, and then at the end of the year I use a Mr. Clean eraser to rub them off. Works like a charm!

* Finally, a pair of clipboard Tally Worksheets for girls & one for the boys.  I tossed these in to switch things up a bit once in a while, so that students get a hands-on opportunity to practice using tally marks, as well as data collection & analysis.  

A boy & girl is chosen to think up their own question of the day, then armed with a clipboard (my kiddos LOVE carrying around a clipboard) they interview their classmates, record data, then share their findings with the class.

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to get this 34-page packet.  It's just $1.95. Question of the Day Packet.

The FREEBIE for today is a Question of the Day Poster.  This one is not included in the packet, but just a little something to get you started. 

Well that's it for today.  The squirrels are scampering back and forth outside my window; their cheeks are stuffed with acorns.  I wonder if this is a harbinger of winter creeping up on us?

Anyone else out there think that fall should last longer? Wishing you a terrific week.

"Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt." -William Allingham

1-2-3 Come Read With Me

Hooray for Dollar Deals from Diane.
Here’s another emergent reader “just the right size”alphabet booklet. 

I hope your kiddos are enjoying them as much as mine did. You know you've got a winner when your students ask for another one!

They're truly a quick, easy and fun way to reinforce a variety of standards.

Besides the 4-on-a-page template, I’ve also included an 8-on-a-page pattern, so that you can make an “Itty Bitty Alpha-bits” booklet if you want.

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.

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

Even though my Y5's were technically not really "reading", they "got it" because of the repetitious sentences and picture clues. 

I think one of the reasons they loved making these little booklets was because they could share them with their family.  They were really proud of themselves.

There’s also a "Color Me" alphabet poster, which comes on a full page, as well as 2-on-a-page, and is the featured FREEBIE today.  Click on the link to grab your copy.

Children can color their poster all at once, or keep the poster in their writing journals, and color only the letters that they have studied & mastered. 

This is a wonderful visual way for kiddos to see how much they are learning in a short amount of time--a real self-esteem builder.

You can also use the poster to play an “I Spy a Letter” game.
Give children an M&M or other manipulative.
Call out a letter; children cover it with their playing piece.

You can see at a glance who is having difficulty, which makes this a quick, easy & fun way to whole group assess.

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop for this latest Emergent Reader Dollar Deal.  While you're over there, I would so appreciate it if you'd follow me; you'll know when I post more Dollar Deals & FREEBIES that way. Thanks in advance. 

Well that's it for today. I need to get going on apple stuff before it's pumpkin time!  So LOVE fall.  Wishing you a day filled with giggles.

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." -Khalil Gibran

1-2-3 Come Practice the "Owl-phabet" With Me

I’m delighted to post anotherDollar Deal from Diane.
This “owl-phabet” craftivity is a super-fun way for students to practice upper & lowercase letters .

Look closely at Ollie the owl’s eyes.  You will see an uppercase letter in one, and a lowercase letter in the other.  Ollie is one of my "Turn & Learn” alphabet wheels.

Play "I Spy” a letter & have children turn the "eye wheels" 'til they've found both.

They hold their owl in the air, and you can see at a glance who is having difficulty.

You can also play “Whoooo has a clue?” Call on a child to choose a letter, then give 3 clues to the class. For example: “My letter is a vowel; it comes before P and after N. What’s the ”mystery letter?”

Children turn the owl’s “eyes” ’til they’ve found it. “Whoooo was the first? Is that person correct?”

I've also included a few owl-themed worksheets and a "color me" bookmark in the packet.

Besides playing games with Ollie, use it as a non-threatening way to assess.

Turn Ollie into an “Owl” miss you!” activity at the end of the year, so that students can review letters over the summer, lest they forget all you’ve crammed into their heads.

For a quick & easy way to make the letter “windows” in the eye, I used a circle paper punch. 

I set Ollie up as a center/station activity that children get to do after they have completed their morning table top work. 

All of the pieces and parts are on a table, with a variety of colors to choose from.  They pick out their parts & return to their desks to put Ollie together. 

You can also do this as a whole-group "monkey see-monkey do" activity, where you demonstrate the assembly step-by-step & children copy what you are doing. 

Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to grab Ollie for just a dollar.  I hope your kiddos enjoy their owl-phabet pal as much as mine did. 

The featured FREEBIE for today is a set of owl alphabet cards.  Click on the link to get your set today.  There are 3 sets in the packet. Owls showing both the upper & lowercase letters, as well as separate sets of each, so that you can play Memory Match, Speed, and "I Have; Who Has?" games. 

Well that's it for now. Thanks for visiting.  It's still chilly out, so time to grab my jacket and take my poodle pup Chloe for a walk. 

Right now she's asleep under my desk.  Maybe she thinks it's a bit too nippy today too. 

"I  don't know what my path is yet.  I'm just walking on it." - Olivia Newton-John

1-2-3 Make A Keepsake Name Booklet With Me

My Y5s were simply too young to keep track of a portfolio, and I didn't need more work collecting and filing "stuff" for it, so instead, to show my students' awesome progress, I designed what I call "monthly keepsake booklets". 

Today's blog features two name writing activity packets.  First up, is a very simple "color me" booklet.

Because coloring is great for strengthening those weak finger muscles, I drew pictures for each month, and for quick printing, put 2-on-a-page to make a "just the right size" booklet.

At the end of each month, students wrote their name on the appropriate page and gave their best effort coloring the seasonal picture.

The booklet provided a wonderful look at the progress children were making writing their name, as well as coloring.

It was perfect to share during conferences, and then at the end of the year, my students had a wonderful keepsake to take home.

In celebration, the last page of the booklet is a certificate of praise.

The other name writing packet, has  3 keepsake options for you to choose from, along with a variety of other name writing activities to make practicing especially fun.

The 1st option, is simply a 2-pager in both color as well as black and white.

Simply staple them together & have your kiddos write their name at the end of each month & then color the small picture. 

Keep these in their writing folder or journal.

The 2nd option, is also a two-pager, but has 6 page strips on one page that children cut apart to make an Itty Bitty pencil keepsake name booklet.

Finally, the 3rd option is a bit like the "color me" name booklet I first discussed, as this one has monthly-themed pages to color as well. 

However, I’ve also added quite a few extra pages to work on later in the year, that involve a variety of math & language arts skills appropriate for kindergarten.

Such as vowels, syllables, counting, comparing, word work, greater & less than, as well as simple addition.

Besides the keepsake booklets, there are also a variety of name-related worksheets.

Such as the three "find your name" worksheets, where teachers write everyone's name on a heart, gum ball, and star. 

For another activity students "rainbow write", "stamp" & "cut and glue" their name. I've included a set of letter tiles to make this easy. 

To get in a bit of ABC order practice, there's also an "alphabetize your classmates' names" worksheet. 

My personal favorite worksheet, is the "I can write my name with a ...." (crayon, pencil, marker, pen, and piece of chalk).

Since apples are a big theme in September, I've also included several apple craftivities.

In the first activity, students find their name then give the apple 3 layers of "skin" to reinforce the fact that apples can be red, yellow & green. 

I also made matching apple cards.  Glue a student photo on one, and write their name on another to make Memory Match & "I Have; Who Has?" games, as a fun way for students to learn their classmates' names as well. 

I do the other apple craftivity after we read Dr. Seuss's story "10 Apples Up On Top".

Students count how many letters they have in their name, then place that many apples on top of their head, which is either a photograph or self portrait. 

The apples spell their name, and show either an AB-AB or ABC-ABC pattern.  Older students can cut out the larger apple pattern, while younger kiddos cut squares & color them.

Children share their creations with the class, then color in the appropriate number box on the "How many letters in your name?" apple graph.

Completed projects make a sweet fall bulletin board.

The "Build your name" activity, where students color the construction bear and glue the letters in their name to the worksheet,  as well as the "puzzle name" also make cute bulletin boards too.

Finally, another fun way for your kiddos to learn how to recognize & write their names, is my Spill & Spell game.

I write the letters of each students' name on colored Popsicle sticks & put them in a Snack Baggie.  They spill them out & put their name puzzle together. 

This simple game reinforces colors & counting too.  Children can also pick a partner and compare their names.

I also pass out extra sticks so that everyone has 6; then I call out a shape and students arrange the Popsicle sticks to create whatever shape I ask for.  It's a quick, easy & fun way to whole group assess.

Students can also practice making a variety of capital letters with their sticks as well. 

This 50-page packet is just $2.95 in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to pop on over: Name Activities & Keepsake Monthly Name Booklets.

While you're there, I'd so appreciate it if you'd follow me.  I only need 30 more followers to hit 600 then I'll post a celebration FREEBIE. I know it seems silly to get all excited about reaching this goal, but that's just me.  Thanks in advance.

I have two featured FREEBIES today.  Both of them come from this packet.  They are the "Apples Up On Top" craft, as well as the "Find Your Name" apple worksheet.  Click on the links to grab them.  

Well that's it for today. Mother Nature has decided to pitch a fit, delivering 40 degree temps today. 

Brrrrr! I'm so not ready to give up the warmth of summer.   Wishing you a snuggly day. 

 "There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!" -Percy Bysshe Shelley.

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

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Help your students remember the 4 seasons with this poster poem.  This FREEBIE is part of the Months & Seasons Emergent Reader packet in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to pop on over.  For your convenience, I've included a PREVIEW here, along with the free poster.

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Help your students remember how many days there are in each month with this up-dated nursery rhyme poster poem. 

This "Color Me" alphabet poster FREEBIE is part of my Emergent Reader Alphabet Booklet packet featured in "Diane's Dollar Deals" in my TpT shop.  Click on the link to have a look.  For your convenience, I've included a PREVIEW with the FREE Alphabet "Color Me" Poster here.