Crunchy Garden Gates: I wanted to name these something May-like, so when I looked at the pretzels I thought that would work.  I whipped these up over Easter as I had all of my kids and grandchildren over and I wanted them to taste test and let me know which ones they liked the best. 

It was a tie between the teddy bears and the double pretzels, so I guess you'll have to make a variety too and let your little ones have a choice.  Anyway, they were fun and easy to make and tasted yummy. 

I love the taste of something salty and sweet together and the textures of creamy marshmallow, gooey caramel along with smooth chocolate with a crunchy pretzel are a real treat for your mouth.  I hope you enjoy making and eating them as much as I did!

Ingredients:

• a bag of square pretzels
• 5-10 rolls of Rollo chocolate-caramel candies (You can buy them by the box at Sams Club if you're a member.)
  
• a bag of small marshmallows,
• a small bag of whole roasted almonds,
• a box of honey Teddy Grahams
• large cookie sheet
• waxed paper

Directions:

1. pre-heat oven to 300 degrees.
   
2. put as many pretzels on your cookie sheet as you can, or that you have Rollo's for.
3. cut just a tiny bit of marshmallow off one end so that it will stick to the Rollo.  You may have better luck, but when I simply placed them on top of the Rollo's and popped them in the oven, some of them fell off!  I guess you could also insert a toothpick, but then you'd have the tricky job of trying to get those off.
   
4. Pop in the oven for just 3 minutes.
5. Set timer.
6. Carefully remove pan with potholders and gently place on a pretzel, teddy graham or almond so that you squish down the marshmallow-Rollo.  The Rollo is not that "melty" so that it won't spill over, but will pat down nicely into a blob of chocolate and the puffy marshmallow will deflate.
   
7. Set aside to cool and then put on a square of waxed paper and serve. Yummy yummy for your tum-tummy.
8. Children can make these with daddy and put them in a box for a sweet treat for mommy for Mother's Day!

Nursery Rhyme Time: Chocolate Mice

I like to do Nursery Rhymes as a theme during May. If you do that too, why not make up a batch of these chocolate mice as a fun surprise treat for your students.   After their snack teach them the nursery rhymes Hickory Dickory Dock and Three Blind Mice!  This treat is also fun for Halloween, just call them chocolate rats, and make them out of white chocolate.  (Eek!)

Ingredients:

• 1 bag of Hershey chocolate kisses
• 2 jars of Marishino cherries with stems ON.
  
• paper towel
• frosting in a tube (for eyes).
• toothpick
• waxed paper
• cookie sheet
• microwave-safe bowl
• spoon
  
• 1 tbs. Crisco
• 2 cups Nestles milk chocolate morsels
• Ears: Cocoa puff cereal, Wheat nuts, (You could also use Rice Krispies or slivered almonds.)
  

Directions:

1. Drain juice from the cherries and rinse cherries. 
   
2. Lay on paper towel to dry completely. 
3. Lay a sheet of waxed paper on a cookie sheet. 
4. Spill some cereal/wheat nuts on a paper plate so that everything is handy for you to use.
   
5. Unwrap as many kisses as you want to have mice heads for.  
6. Melt chocolate morsels and Crisco in bowl in the microwave.
7. Hold on to the stem of the cherry and dip into the melted chocolate 2-3 times.
8. Press on a Hershey kiss to the front of the cherry.
   
9. Lay the mouse on the waxed paper.
   
10. Press 2 ears between the head and cherry for the ears. I used Cocoa puff cereal in the left picture, and wheat nuts on the right.  The wheat nuts gave the candy a salty crunchy taste.
    
11. Because the melted chocolate will start to harden in the bowl, it's nice to have a helper to put the ears on, while you continue to dip cherries.  The helper could also press on the heads.
    
12. Continue 'til you have made as many mice as you want.
13. Let harden and then squirt some colored frosting onto a paper plate and apply dots for eyes.  I had yellow handy, but pink or red would look cute too.

Zingy Spring Tropical Punch for Mom:  

I wanted to make a pretty looking punch that children would have fun blending together to make their mommies as a special drink to "toast" all they do.  I experimented with my family for Easter and they loved it.  The concoction made a pretty salmon color. Put all of the liquids in the refrigerator to get cold, and then on Mother's day spill into a punch bowl, add your ice ring and sprinkle your pansies on the top.  You can freeze the leftovers and make slushies.

Ingredients:

• 1 liter Rudy-Red Squirt
• 1 carton of real lemonade
• 1 carton of pineapple juice
• 1 carton strawberry-papaya juice
• 1 bottle sparkling white grape juice
  
• 1 jar marishino cherries without stems
• 10 strawberries sliced up.
  
• 1 metal cake ring with hole in the center (for ice ring)
• real pansies
  
• punch bowl

• Cut the stems off the pansies. (Pansie flowers are edible!)
  
• Wash them and dip face down into a plate of sugar.  Set aside to dry.
• Spill liquids into a punch bowl and stir.
  
• Gently add the ice ring and sprinkle in the pansies in and around it so they float face-up on top.
  

Ice ring:

• Make ice ring 1 to 2 days before.
• Pour in the bottle of cherry juice, add the cherries and strawberry slices. (You could also add some pineapple tidbits if you wanted to.)
  
• Add any of the above juices to fill up the rest of the ring and then put in the freezer.

Flower Box Cookies: I was allergic to wheat as a child.  Wafer cookies were the first cookie my mom let my twin sister and I try that we weren't allergic to and they have been a favorite ever since.  I could eat 1/2 the package! 

I wanted to dream up a special treat little ones would have fun making for their moms that would involve some sort of flower.  Originally I thought of using real flowers like violets, as they are edible, and then dusting them with sugar.

I was still wracking my brain going up and down the isles when I went grocery shopping for the ingredients for the recipes on this page, when I came across Honey Comb cereal; thus the Flower Box Cookies were born.

They are a mini-mouthful of the "dirt cake" from April, so I know you'll enjoy the added crunch of the wafers! Don't they look cute? One is definitely satisfying.

Ingredients:

•  1 package vanilla wafer cookies
• 1 can of chocolate pudding
• 1 box of  cereal
• 1 package of Oreo cookies
• 1 can of vanilla frosting
• green & orange sprinkles
• tube of yellow frosting
• toothpick
• paper plate
  
• waxed paper
• cookie sheet
• plastic knife
• teaspoon
  

Directions:

1. Lay waxed paper on cookie sheet.
2. Make garden box by putting vanilla frosting on the edges of one vanilla wafer and pressing a wafer on either side.
   
3. Cut another wafer in half and put one 1/2 on each end.
   
4. Lay the cookie box on the cookie sheet that's been covered with waxed paper.
   
5. Fill with a teaspoon of chocolate pudding.
6. Crush up an Oreo cookie.
7. Spoon it into the cookie box.
8. Spill some cereal onto a paper plate and choose 2 small flowers and one large one.
9. Put a dollop of frosting on the back of each one.
10. Place the large flower in the middle and the two smaller ones on either side.
    
11. Squirt some yellow frosting onto the paper plate.  Use a toothpick and put a dot in the center of each flower.
    
12. Spill out some colored Sprinkles.  Insert an orange "stamen" into the center of each yellow circle.
13. Sprinkle some green "grass" sprinkles onto the Oreo "ground dirt".
14. Make as many flower  boxes as you want.
    
15. Serve one to mom on her breakfast-in-bed tray, or have a tea party with her and serve these special cookies with a cup of tea. 

An Old Favorite:

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The Gist: Why I love it: The illustrations are adorable.  I love the Alfred Hitchcock like twist at the end of the story where the child's friend finds out that the backyard giant is really a sunflower!  My students too are amazed as they are thinking the same thing!  We review the story and the "lightbulb" comes on for them as they see the little boy who planted the sunflower is really explaining it pretty appropriately!  My students LOVE this story. 

I share with them about the time my own children planted sunflowers on our land behind our home and made a sunflower house, and then I also read the story Sunflower House by Eve Bunting.  This is a nice companion book to My Backyard Giant and offers a graphing opportunity.  Click on the link to view/print the storybook graph.

Story telling tips: I ask my students "What do you think will happen next?" while I'm reading the book.  Having students make predictions is a great way to get them involved; it's also a good way to improve their listening, comprehension and writing skills as they learn to build their own stories with various plots and endings. Ask them if they were surprised at the ending and if any of them guessed that the giant was really a sunflower.  Go back and review how the child described his "giant friend" and see if he really did it appropriately.

Sunflower Magic tricks: Because I don't want to give away the ending of the story, I do one trick after I'm done reading each of the stories. I show my students that the change bag is empty.  We review that in order for sunflowers to grow they need seeds.  I give each of my students a sunflower seed and have them drop it into my change bag. We say the chant: "Water-soil-seeds & sun, make growing fun!"  as magic words and then I produce a string of sunflowers.  I made this string by taking the blossoms off a bouquet of sunflowers and hot gluing 10 of them to a green piece of ribbon.  This makes for an awesome trick as I pull the string out very slowly and the string of sunflowers is taller than me! We then measure it with a yardstick.

I have a book of sunflower photographs that I show them as I read a few sunflower facts that amaze them. Click on the link to view/print my list of sunflower facts.

Sunflower Magic trick #2: I made icons for the chant above and pass out the 7 pieces.  Those children place them in my duck pan as we say the chant.  I put the lid on the pan and produce a bouquet of sunflowers. To view my magic videos and see what a change bag and duck/dove pan are, click on the link. I also sell these magic trick products.

Math Extensions: Buy a bag of sunflower seeds with the shells on, and a bag of salted-shelled sunflower seeds. Pass out one of each to the students. Discuss the similarities and differences. Make a Venn diagram on the board, and have the students compare and contrast them. Pass out the Venn diagram sheet and have them make their own copy.

Pass out a few salted and shelled sunflower seeds to each student.  Graph whether they like them our not.  Click on the link to view/print the sunflower seed Venn diagram and sunflower seed graph activities.

A great companion to this activity is my free easy-reader for the month entitled: The Seeds On My Sunflower. I have another math skill sheet included with that booklet too. 

Students TRACE & WRITE the numbers and number words, dot "seeds" on their sunflowers with a marker and then count the groups/sets of sunflower seeds in the boxes and GLUE them to the correct spaces in their booklet. 

I've also included a certificate of praise as well as 10 number word wall word-flashcards. The free easy-readers for the month are listed in the article after Books of the Month in the side blog. Click on the link to check out the other freebies, or simply scroll down to the bottom of this article.

Sunflower Skill Sheet: Have students look at the number on the sunflower leaf and make that many dots (seeds) on their sunflowers using a marker. I've provided a blank sheet so that you can make different numbers if you'd like.  Click on the link to view/print sunflower skill sheets. 

Art Project: To save time, I like to buy sturdy brown 8-inch paper plates for this project, but you can also purchase inexpensive white plates and then have your students cut out brown construction paper circles and glue them to the center of the plate. 

Run off copies of the sunflower petals on yellow construction paper, or make a tag board template and trace it. Have students cut out their sunflower and glue it to the back of their brown paper plate. 

Put a dollop of Aleene's Tacky Glue on a paper plate and have students use Q-tips to dab dots on the center of their sunflowers and then press a shelled or unshelled sunflower seed to the glue dot.  You can use either kind of seeds or a mixture of both. 

Pre-cut 2-inch by 12-inch strips of green construction paper for stems.  Students glue it to the back of their sunflower and add 2-4 leaves.  Click on the link to view/print the sunflower art project templates.

Bibliography for May.  Click on the link to view/print a copy. As you can see by the photo, I've added quite a few new books for Mother's Day. Click on the link to view/print a partial new list for books about mom's.  

I'm currently revamping my May bibliography as I've purchased more flower and frog books and want to include some books that spill over into the spring-summer category like Ten in the Meadow by John Butler.  I also like his Ten in the Den. 

The illustrations of these animal are cuddly-cute and offer a great opportunity to sequence animal characters.  I usually buy two books and cut up one to laminate and then put magnets on the back of the animals so that my students can put them on the board as we read the story. After the story, I pass the animals out again and we try and sequence the characters.

After story time I choose 10 students to lie on the floor and we chant "There were 10 in the bed and the little one said roll over..." We run through it twice so that everyone has a turn to roll over and fall off the "bed".  This is great counting fun and a cute way to review subtraction!

If you're looking for something special, or need a recommendation, feel free to drop me a line.  I'd love hearing from you if you have other books that you enjoy sharing with your students at this time.  diane@teachwithme.com!

Something else you might find helpful is the "100 New Book Lists" that just came out by Scholastic.  They tell you the grade level equivalent and even list if there's an Accelerated Reader quiz to go with the book.  They have lists for animals, biographies, families, folktales, holidays, read-alouds and science fiction with more categories under each one of those. Click on the link to check it out. 

Whatever you're reading this month, I hope you have a simply marvelous May!                                                                        

Mother's Day Gift Ideas:

If you're like me, you're probably wondering where on earth April flew off to, and thinking what should I do for Mother's Day that will soon be here!

I wanted to help children realize all the things busy mommies do for them, so that they could truly understand and appreciate their mom and why Mother’s Day is such a special Day; so I designed an easy reader with that idea in mind and followed it up with a blue ribbon-"craftivity" that students can make for their moms as a special card.

Start by having a discussion. Ask your students what things their moms do for them and what are their favorites.  Make a list of them on the board and see if they can think of a symbol or picture that would represent that task.

From a 5-year-old's point of view, here are some of the things my Y5's thought of: cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry (washing & ironing), helping with school work, taking me places, taking care of me when I’m sick or hurt, buying me things, doing things with me (listening to me), reading stories to me and my mom loves me (hugs me and kisses me goodnight!)

After the discussion, pass out the booklets.  

Students TRACE the words.  They find the matching pictures and CUT and GLUE them to the correct numbered boxes in their booklet. 

When everyone is done, read the booklet as a whole group a few times, ‘til everyone is able to read it independently, so they can take it home and share it with their moms.  What a wonderful gift that will be!

You can make the booklet even more of a keepsake by including their school photo; have students glue it over the clipart boy or girl. 

When you’re done with the reading activity have students make the blue ribbon card for their mom. Remember to have them sign their name under the “I love you."

Click on the link to view/download the Mother’s Day: Thanks For All You Do booklet and blue ribbon activity.

Scroll down for another Mother's Day idea: Teaching your students how to sign "I love you!"

Several teachers have asked this question, and it’s always something that new teachers wonder about when they are deciding how to plan for the year and set up the various aspects of their program.

Some of the teachers in my school collect $20 from parents, others leave snack entirely up to each family to provide for their own child on a daily basis.  I’ve found that when dealing with young children, especially my Y5’s, snack time is very important to them.

In the past, when I’ve left snack up to the parents, I usually had more than just a few who came with nothing at all, then I’m left with tearful little ones with nothing to do but rescue them by providing something. Sometimes when other children see what they are getting they often want that too.  Some parents don’t seem to follow through with sending in a monetary donation as well.

I’ve found that the most successful thing for me has been the “Snack Sack”. My parents have commented that they really enjoy handling snack in this way as well.  I send a note home to parents explaining the Snack Sack; depending on how many students I have, students are usually responsible for only one snack per month.  If I have a large class, they might have to bring in snack every other month.   The last week of the previous month I send home a calendar for the new month listing the students’ names on the day they will be providing snack.

I have 2 heavy-duty vinyl bags that can be thrown in the washer if need be, that say: Mrs. Henderson’s Snack Sack on them.  One is used as a spare in case a child is absent.  Parents are informed that there is no need to get a snack bag to me should this happen.  I have a calendar posted on a small bulletin board so I know who to send the bag home with the night before.

The bag in their child’s backpack is an instant reminder that they will be bringing snack in the next day.  The handles on the bag make it easy to carry.  As soon as a child hands me the bag, I empty the contents, check the calendar and send the bag home with the next child.  I have a few snacks on hand incase a student is absent. Directions for this procedure are listed in my Sub Folder as well.

Parents have commented that they really like this system because it’s easy on the budget, easy to do, they don’t have to remember, figure out, and provide a snack every day; and the children get a wonderful variety of nutritious snacks that are above and beyond what a parent would be doing on a daily basis.  My students feel special as they get to be the Snack Helper for that day and everyone sings a "Thank You" song to them.  Everyone HAS a snack and is eating the SAME thing so no tears or grumpiness.

It’s a nice learning opportunity that teaches responsibility as well.  Many parents make it a quality-moment time with their child and allow them to go shopping with them to pick out the snack and beverage for their class.  Some moms bake something with their child and make the experience even more memorable, especially if we are celebrating a theme day.

I figure out the Snack Calendar so that I'm sending the Snack Sack home with the children who are celebrating birthdays that month.  I try to designate a day as close to their birthday as possible if we are not having school on THE day.  This makes Snack Time even more special.   However, I do not allow cake or cupcakes because of the mess and lack of nutritional value.

The Snack Sack has definitely been a win-win concept for the students, parents and even me as it has been truly hassle free!

Click on the link to view/print my class Snack Sack letter.

Click on the link to view/print a generic snack calendar to fill out.

As always, I’d love to hear your comments of how you handle snack time in your class! diane@teachwithme.com

Bon Appetit!

Mother’s Day Bookmark:

• This is a fun center activity that students can put together quickly.  It makes a nice tuck-in for the cards you may be making.   To make it extra special have students glue their student photograph to the back message.  Laminate them and then tie a ribbon or yarn bow and staple it to the top for an extra-special touch.
• Simply print off the bookmarks. Using a paper cutter, trim them and have students glue them to strips of yellow, blue, green or red construction paper.  Run off the message memo and have them glue it to the back of the bookmark and then trace the words, sign it and add their photo.   Click on the link to view/print the Mother’s Day bookmark masters.

What’s the tallest flower in the garden?

• Demonstrate the comparative adjectives tall, taller and tallest by having students make 3 flowers using green-colored straws for stems.  You can pre-cut the two shorter straws to expedite things, or add a math extension by passing out rulers and telling students how long you want these two straw-stems to be and then have them measure and snip.
• If you have a Big Lots store in your community, they have huge pastel colored straws that make the “tallest” flower even more fun to make. 
  
• Use a flower punch to make fancy centers for your flowers or simply run off my flower pattern on a variety of colored construction paper and have students cut them out. 
  
• Punch holes in the centers with a hole punch and then carefully insert the blossom.
• Run off leaves on green construction paper.  Each student needs 2 leaves for the short flower, 4 for the medium, and the tallest one, unless you are using the giant straws and then 6 leaves look nicer.  This can be a lot of cutting for little ones, so you may want these pre-cut and simply make a template and cut 5 at a time. 
  
• Stick the leaves to the straws using glue dots.  I’ve also made labels if you want to have students affix those as well.  Click on the link to view/print the tall-taller-tallest flower activity sheets. 

Flower Power Math:

Students look at the number inside the flower and then color that many petals, and match the uppercase flower to the leafy lowercase stems on the bottom in these springy-skill sheets.  I’ve made a blank tulip page for you to make more letter combinations if you want.  Click on the link to view/print the flower skill sheets.

Small, medium and large frogs on a log:

• Students glue pre-cut brown construction paper to a toilet paper roll and then add log-like details with a brown or black marker.  The frogs will be poked into the log so they can be used as a subtraction manipulative.  Poking holes with a protractor can be time consuming so you may want this done ahead of time.
• To expedite things you can send t.p. rolls, construction paper, directions and a sample home with a child whose parent has volunteered to help assemble projects at home.  The parent can simply staple on the construction paper and then poke holes for you.
• All children have to do then, is add the details and cut out their frogs.  You can add wiggle eyes to one of the frogs for a bit more pizzazz.  If you don’t want to make this an interactive art project you don’t have to poke the holes.  Simply add tabs to the frogs and have them glue their frogs to the log, or for younger children have them cut out the frogs as ONE unit and use only one toothpick, to simplify things.
• I’ve made two styles for you to choose from.  Run them off on construction paper so they do not flop over.  I use scotch tape to stick a toothpick to the backs of the frogs so that students can poke them into their log.
• This manipulative is great to use with frog stories and songs that have frogs jumping into ponds.  As you read the story, or sing a song, a group of students can stand in front with their logs and take a frog away (subtract) as he jumps into the pond.  Count the remaining frogs left on the logs and then continue.  Many stories/songs involve 10 frogs so you could make your own teacher manipulative using a paper towel tube, so that you have room for 10 frogs.  Click on the link to view/print the frogs on a log masters.

Etc.

For more fun spring art and activities check my 98-page May Art book.  I also have a 78-page Frog Unit as well as an 83-page Flower Unit chock full of wonderful lessons to keep your students actively learning!

Why not become a gold subscriber and get all of these things at no additional charge and enjoy an entire year of fun with new things added each month.

 Whatever you’re up to, I hope you have a marvelous May doing it!

April showers not only bring May flowers, they bring MUD and WORMS! Two of my favorite childhood aspects of spring!  I enjoyed making mud pies so much as a little kid I thought it would be fun to make up some activities for my Y5’s to reinforce report card standards using mud as well as worms as fun mini-themes.  I’ve also posted a few other rainy day activities!

Go ahead; dive into the past and pretend you’re a child once more.  Get out those pots and pans, grab some wooden spoons, wait for a warm spring drizzle and then go splash in some muddy puddles as you take your pot and pan parade down the block.  It’s one of my favorite memories that I used to do with my own children.

Wiggly Fun!

Going for a worm hunt is also fun, then have a worm race!  Whose worm will wiggle the farthest?  How many inches did they wander?  Bring them home and toss the worms in your garden.  Click on the links to check out these websites to learn more about the great earthmovers!  Interesting worm articles and background.    Short list of worm facts.   Top 10 facts about worms.

Now write your 3 favorite facts on the worm flip sheet. Click on the link to view/print the Worms: Flip for facts! Activity sheets. There are 2 sheets. Print the numbered sheet for a cover then fold in half and cut the numbered “doors” so they flip “up”. Print the “picture page” on the BACK of the number page.

Write 3 facts about worms under the pictures and you have a quick mini-science lesson about worms that includes reading, writing and computer skills!  (Great adventure with a Smart board.) I know your students will enjoy learning about these interesting creatures that can actually live even if they are cut in half and have no lungs but breath with their skin!

Worm Writing:

Stir those imaginations and ask your students what they like to do in the mud, then practice those writing skills and have them each make a page for a class Mud Book.  Make the book a keepsake by having students glue their school photo over the man's face in the picture.  I’ve included a cute mud poem if you’re also studying poetry at this time.  Click on the link to view/print the mud writing extension.

Worm Math:

Toss in some math and have your students make a Making Mud Pies counting booklet.  Using their fingerprints makes it a nice keepsake.  Students TRACE the number words and numbers and then WRITE the number somewhere on the page. After they have done that, they press their index finger on a brown stamp pad and press it on top of the pie pan to make a mud pie.

When everyone had completed their booklet, read it aloud as a whole group to reinforce concepts of print.  It’s a great way to reinforce number word recognition and is an easy reader that builds students’ self-confidence.

More mud pie fun that reinforces color words is a booklet entitled: My Many Colored Gumdrops. It has a teacher manipulative as well as 2 graphing extensions.

Mudlicious Art:

Just in time for Mother’s Day, for a fun art project that makes another great keepsake, make some “Mudlicious” art prints by pressing a child’s hand in brown paint and putting it on either the boy or girl stationery provided.

I’ve also included a pig.  You can print this off and have each child cut it out and glue it on a piece of light green or powder blue paper.  Have them draw a pen for their pig and then using a sponge, have them add mud to their picture, dabbing some in the pen and on their pig.  I use an Ellison die cut for this and have them dab paint inside the template as well.  See photograph.  Click on the link to view/print the Mudlicious art projects.

Shape Fun:

If you’d like to review shapes, Shapely Pig is a fun way to do that and includes all of the major shapes in one quick and easy art activity that makes a great center. I've also included a skill sheet of words that rhyme with pig. Have your students brainstorm their own list and write them on the board and then put them in alphabetical order. Students can trace then write them on this skill sheet. Click on the link to view/print Shapely Pig and rhyming skill sheet

This art project is a nice go-together with the booklet: The Shape of My Mud which is a fun easy-reader booklet that includes a graphing extension and word wall flashcards.  Another April-themed booklet that reinforces shapes is The Shape On My Cloud.

It’s Raining the Alphabet:

To make mud you have to have rain.  I still remember my grama Lydia bringing my raincoat and umbrella to school when unexpected showers happened in the late afternoon.  I also had those wonderful little red rain boots to splash away many an hour puddle jumping.  Once I was late for school jumping in every one I happened upon along the way!  Make copies of this cute “dressed-for-rain” child, laminate him, cut out cards and have your students match the lowercase umbrellas to the matching uppercase letters. I've also included a set for shapes and a blank set if you'd like to do something with numbers.  Click on the link to view/print the umbrella cards.

Rainy Writing:

Make a class booklet by having your students each write and illustrate their favorite rainy activity and then graph the results.  Click on the link to view/print the class rain booklet.

Raindrop Art:

Complete your rainy day fun by making some “April showers bring May flowers” raindrops.  They look lovely dangling from the ceiling suspended with fish line.  Simply make a template out of tag board or a file folder using my master.  Have a room helper trace and cut out 2 clear contact paper raindrops for each student.  I buy it by the roll from the grocery store.  You can find it in the housewares’ section with shelf paper.

Have the helper peel back just the tip of the raindrops so that it will be easy for you to peel off the rest of the backing quickly on the day you will make the raindrops.  Write each child’s name in tiny print on the bottom edge of one of the drops.  The other drop is the back of the raindrop.  On the day you want to do the raindrops, start with this project.

Peel back the contact backing and lay the raindrop sticky side up.  I bend and fold the top pointy part of the raindrop and press it down onto the table so that it sticks to the desk/table where each child will sit.  I inform them that their raindrop is sticky and not to move it, but simply place their flower confetti on top of their raindrop and then raise their hand when they are done.  I come over and place the other raindrop on top of this raindrop so that two sticky sides are together.  Older students can do this on their own but my Y5’s need assistance getting the two drops to match up or they don't have their entire drop covered before they press it down.

Punch a hole in the top and tie on a piece of fish line.  Packages of floral confetti can be purchased at any party store.  I buy several different kinds and spill them on 8” paper plates that I have in the middle of the tables.

My students can put on as many flowers as they want, as long as they put on only ONE at a time and count as they place them on their raindrop.  They have to put on at least 10.  I also let them sprinkle on a little opalescent or silver glitter so that the raindrops sparkle and show up a little better when they shimmer from the hallway ceiling.  Click on the link to view/print the raindrop template and photograph.

Rainy Day Activities:

For more fun rain activities click on the bolded links. Rain Rain Go Away Come Again Another Day, is an easy reader booklet that reinforces days of the week words, Where’s My Umbrella is a spatial direction booklet, Where Have All The Raindrops Gone and 10 Little Raindrops are booklets that reinforce numbers and math skills.  My 87-page Rain Unit is chock full of a variety of skill sheets and fun ideas for rain-themed centers as well! Become a gold subscription member and get all my activities at no additional cost!

Tinsel Rain:

One of the prettiest April art projects my students create is their rain cloud mobile.  The rain is made out of silver tinsel that I buy on sale after Christmas.  We tape it to the bottom of one of the clouds and then put another cloud over the top.  This project can be found in my 98-page May Art Book and is one of my students’ favorites!

Books:

It’s pouring right now as I put the finishing touches on this article.  The perfect weather to do some fun projects or snuggle with your little one and read some great books! Puddles are beginning to pool and there’s mud everywhere!

One of my personal favorites is Mud Puddle

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It’s my favorite book by this author.  Can a mud puddle really sneak up on a child and get them dirty?  How fun is that? The repetitious verse and “What do you think will happen next?” predictability, make it a wonderful read aloud, and will have your students waiting in anticipation and giggling!

I also recommend Mud by Wendy Lewison.  My Y5's LOVE this book.  It's an easy read and the pictures get them giggling.  They'd love nothing better than to jump into the pages and join the characters getting dirty playing in the mud.  It's a wonderful "what do you think will happen next?" prediciton book as well. 

  Stuck in the Mud, by Jane Clarke, is also a “must have” for your “mud collection”.  A little chick is stuck in the mud and 1-by-1 the farm animals try to get her out.  Rhyme and repetition of (s)he pushed and (s)he pulled make this another fun read aloud with a surprise ending.

Finally, Mud by Mary Lyn Ray is a lovely free-form poem that includes great descriptive words with lovely illustrations that make mud and springtime come alive.

 Well it’s time for me to don my umbrella and boots and brave the rain, puddles, and mud--not that I really want to go out, but we have a new puppy and she needs to, sort of fitting as it’s raining cats and dogs!

Making Dirt Cake:

April Showers Bring…..Mud!

• A fun thing to make during spring time is Dirt Cake! A favorite with my own children, this makes a great Girl or Boy Scout snack. My sons Jason and Steven are both Eagle Scouts. 
  
•  
• Line terra cotta pots with Saran wrap and put layers of dirt cake inside. Stick Gummi worms around the top and then stick a realistic-looking red silk geranium in the pot. You not only have your table decorations but the snack as well! 
  
•  
• When someone asks:  “Where’s the snack?” You can reply:  “It’s on the tables.  We’re eating dirt tonight!” Have a helper scoop out their dessert onto a small paper plate and then plop a worm in the middle. Kids gobble it up with a plastic spoon.
• 
  
• When I make it with my Y5’s I use clear plastic cups so that they can see the layers.
• This recipe will make enough to fill 25 - 9 0z. clear plastic Solo cups ½ full.
• You don’t want to eat more than that because it’s a sweet treat! Enjoy! 

You’ll Need:

• A large plastic bowl + another bowl or empty ice cream bucket to dump “dirt” in as it is made.
• Masher. (This can be the big wooden kind or a metal potato masher)
• 2-3 packages of Double-Stuff Oreo Cookies. I like to have that extra package to allow for spillage + sometimes parents come to help and bring siblings. 
  
• If I have leftovers, I make extra cups for the principal, secretaries and librarian and include a little thank you note for all they do.  They enjoy this snack as much as the children.
  
• 25 -  9 0z CLEAR plastic cups (Solo makes them)
• 4 cans of ready-made chocolate pudding. (If you can find dark and light pudding that would be awesome to show the various shades in your layers. You need 2 cans of each.)
• 25 spoons
• I serve it for snack so the beverage I have is a gallon of white milk.
• If your students are chocolate milk lovers you can substitute chocolate milk and call it mud puddle drink, but I find that drinking chocolate milk is a bit much with the sweetness of the snack.
• I ask for a gallon because this is a “thirsty snack” and my students sometimes drink 3 small Dixie cups of milk when they eat dirt cake.  Since this is a special snack and milk is healthy for them I allow refills.
• Small Dixie cups for the milk
• Napkins
• 24 Gummi worms.

I have a different child that provides snack each day so I ask that mom if she can bring milk for the beverage and one package of cookies.

During Open House in the summer parents sign up to volunteer to be called upon to bring in items for special events.

I send a note home explaining Dirt Cake and ask these parents to provide the other items. I ask a week in advance so they have plenty of time to get the things in before Dirt Cake Day.

Directions:

• I call 6 students up at a time to watch and participate. They mash up 2 cookies at a time with the masher in the bowl.
• Head’s Up: Tell them to go slow and keep the cookies inside the bowl. Things tend to fly if they get a bit wild mashing.
• You want them to mash them up, but not too fine, so you still have chunks., but look like the consistency of dirt.
• I empty the bowl into an ice cream bucket as each child mashes their cookies so things don’t fly out of the bowl. The chunks of cookies look just like topsoil.
• When all of the cookies have been crushed, you are ready to begin layering the cups.
• You can do this or you can call your students up to do this.
•  
• Put a layer of dirt in the bottom.
• Then spoon in a layer of chocolate pudding.
• Then another layer of dirt.
• Then a layer of pudding. ( Alternate light and dark chocolate pudding if it was available.)
• You will have just enough dirt left to sprinkle some on each of the cups.
• Stick a Gummie worm in the middle and tuck in a spoon.
• Children take their cups to their desk along with a napkin!
• I’m not sure how, but quite a few get chocolate on their faces.
• I pour the milk and bring it to them while they chomp away. Yum Yum!

 Click on the link for my dirt cake letter home.

Bunny Head Cupcakes:

Hop on down to the grocery store and buy a box of white cake mix and follow the directions to make cupcakes.  Get a can of white frosting and a package of white coconut.  After you have frosted the cupcakes have your child sprinkle on the coconut.  This will be the bunnies fur.  Cut a black jelly bean in half for the eyes, push in a pink jelly bean for the nose, cut a thin piece of black licorice into 6 small pieces for 3 whiskers on each side, cut a red jelly bean in half for his mouth. 

We painted tiny Popsicle sticks white and inserted those for the bunny ears and then re-used them each year, but if you want your entire cup cake edible you could snip off the side tips of wafer cookies, frost the tops and gently insert them, or for very short ears tuck in two white Good 'n Plenty pieces.  

RAINBOW Play Dough

This recipe helps teach children that primary colors make secondary colors.  I feel “seeing is really believing.” This is a fun way for students to do that.  During April we’re reviewing all of the secondary colors.  Knowing our colors is a report card standard. We study rainbows in March and continue that study through April so this “experiment” also relates to that bit of science.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 4 cups of water
• Red, yellow, and blue food coloring
• 1 medium sauce pan
• 1 mixing spoon
• Sandwich-size Ziploc Baggies

Directions:

1. Mix cornstarch, water and sugar in saucepan until thick.
2. Remove from heat and wait for it to cool
3. Put the mixture into the Baggies.
4. Add one drop of each of the primary colors
5. Have children gently squish the Baggies to make the different colors

You can also use your regular Play dough recipe.  Tell your students to keep the bags closed so that they don’t get the food coloring on their hands. If you add a few drops of alcohol this is supposed to keep the dye transfer down.

Our rainbow song: To the tune of All Around the Mulberry Bush: There’s red and orange and yellow-green and blue and purple too! Look I made a rainbow!

We review that red + yellow makes orange; yellow + blue makes green and that blue + red makes purple.  I write these out as equations (red + yellow = orange) on our white board and follow this up with a change bag magic trick using colored scarves which go in and then I produce the new colored scarf!  They LOVE it! Check out the magic videos by clicking on the link. The color trick is the 8th one down.

Tornado Twirler:

We study storms during April.  I have a hand-held "tornado maker" that I bought at a science store. I also bought the gizmo that you attach to two plastic pop bottles so that you can invert the bottles, twirl and swirl and make a tornado. 

With a little bit of experimenting, I've discovered that you can make a pretty good tornado of your own.  You can do this as a science-art extension with your students/children and have everyone bring in a clean clear 16 oz plastic soda bottle with a cap.  The rounder the botter the better the tornado will work. Here's how to make one:

Materials needed:

• A 16 oz clean clear soda bottle for each student.  Make sure that it has a cap. 
  
• CLEAR liquid dish washing soap.
  
• Silver glitter
• Blue food coloring.
• My city panorama border
• Glue stick
• Water
• Elmer's glue
• Black permanent marker
  

• Write students' names on the bottom of their bottles with a black permanent marker.  
• Fill up the students' bottles with water 'til they are almost to the top.
  
• Leave about 3-4 inches not filled.
  
• And 2-3 drops of clear liquid dish soap to each bottle.
• Add one teaspoon of silver glitter to each bottle.
  
• Put Elmer's glue on the cap's threads and screw it to the top of the bottle so that it will be glued shut.
  
• Students rub a layer of glue with their glue stick on the bottom of their city skyline and then wrap it around the bottom of their bottle. (You can omit this part if you want.)
  
• Students should hold their bottles by the neck and turn them upside down.  Instruct them to rotate their wrist a few times in a CLOCKWISE motion.
  
• When they stop rotating (twirling) a tiny tornado should form inside the bottle!

Click on the link to view/print a city skyline strip to make with your soda bottle tornado. I've made two different kinds for your students to choose from.  They'll need 1 1/2 strips to go entirely around their bottle.

Butterfly Crunchies:

Ingredients:

• Bag of twisted pretzels
• Jar of cheddar cheese spread
• Jar of peanut butter
• Jar of cream cheese
  
• Stalk of celery
• Sunflower seeds
• Raisins and/or craisins or dried apricots
  
• Thin pretzel sticks
  
• Wax paper
• Plastic knives
• Paper towel
• Pitted black olives.
  

• Cut celery into 3 inch sticks and wash well.
  
• Dry celery on a paper towel.
  
• Using a plastic knife have child fill celery to overflowing with their choice of peanut butter, cream cheese or cheddar cheese.
• It's great to make an assortment of butterflies, because they will all taste and look different.
  
• Have them gently squish the celery (thorax) face down on top of the middle of the pretzel (butterfly wings).
  
• Using a dollop of whatever "glue" (peanut butter, cream cheese, cheddar cheese) that they want they can decorate their butterflies with raisins, craisins, sunflower seeds, or cut up pieces of apricots.
  
• Cut an olive in half. Add some filling to use as "glue" and put the olive (butterfly "head") on top of the celery end. 
  
• Use two sunflower seeds dabbed in cream cheese for eyes.
  
• Carefully insert two thin pretzel sticks in the head of the butterfly for antennae.
• As children finish making the butterflies they can lay them on wax paper.
• These are so yummy they are hard not to eat as you make them.  Snitching the ingredients is also delicious.
  

Recently,  on one of the mail rings that I enjoy, several kindergarten and first grade teachers have "had it" with all of the tattling that has been going on in their classrooms.  I plan ahead for this problem with one of my classroom management stuffed animals.  His name is Tattle and he's a turtle. 

I find that little ones are prone to tattling. To help them learn the difference between tattling and letting an adult know things of importance, I tell them that what they need to say is important, but that Mrs. Henderson doesn’t have to hear everything. If someone is not ill, or hurt, breaking a rule or in danger, Mrs. Henderson is not the one to tell!

Those other kinds of things Tattle would love to hear about. When a child begins “Kelli said….” and all the other tattling tales… I interrupt and say: “Go tell it to the turtle.” Children need someone to spout off to and Tattle The Turtle helps them get little tiffs off their chest. 

It’s also something they can hold on to that gives them a little comfort and helps relieve the “crankies”.  Tattle resides on a shelf.  Above him is a poster.  Click on the link to view/print one for your class.  Tattle Poster.

Tattle really has solved many tattling problems.  I'll often find a child sitting in a beanbag pouring out their woes.  One time a boy was actually having a conference with Tattle and several other children.  I found the entire mediation process quite amusing, but told the children I was very proud of them.  Once Tattle was even a sort of punching bag for a child who was really frustrated. 

I find that I have more tattling problems toward the end of the year when children act more like siblings.  I find too that most of the tattling goes on between my female students and usually begins with: "Susie doesn't want to be my friend anymore." 

If I see that children are hurting each other's feelings and it's becoming a problem, I'll sit them all down and we'll discuss being a friend and how words can hurt. 

I use the book Chrysanthemum as a wonderful lead-in story with that subject in mind.  I Xerox off a picture of Chrysanthemum.  Each time someone hurts Chrysanthemum's feelings I pass the paper around the circle.  We each crumple up the paper, say "I'm sorry" and then smooth it out.  By the time I am done reading the story the picture of Chrysanthemum is in shreds and full of holes as well. 

We discuss the fact that words hurt, and even though we say that we are sorry and smooth things out with that person we are still hurting them, as the dilapidated paper visually demonstrates. 

I also want children to understand that being critical of each other and saying things like "I don't want to be your friend" or leaving them out of a group when they play, is also hurtful.  I'll ask them a question like: how would they feel if Mrs. Henderson said that to them, or how would they feel if I gave everyone else a toy or piece of candy, or let everyone go out for recess and didn't let them go?  It really gives them a wake up call. 

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According to my online dictionary a tattletale is someone who gossips, discloses a secret or talks idly.  Certainly something that should be discouraged. Explaining telling things of importance versus the trivial “tattling” is not as easily understood by a young child.  They think that everything that they have to tell you is pretty much of the utmost importance. I’ve helped my Y5’s learn to distinguish what they need to tell me, and what they can talk to Tattle the turtle about, by having them ask themselves these questions:

• Does someone need the teacher’s help?
• Is someone breaking a rule?
• Is someone hurt?
• Is someone in danger?

 If the answer is no, then they can get immediate attention and tell it to the turtle.  Hopefully your turtle or whatever stuffed animal you choose to be a sounding board for you, will help be a time saver for you as well.

Children have very basic reasons for tattling. I think most of my Y5’s tattle simply to get attention. They seem to hope that the information they provide may somehow prove useful, and they will be rewarded with something as simple as a smile and “Thank you for telling me that.” Other times, I think they want to get their “friends” in trouble so they can say, "I told you so” or feel a bit superior.

I try to empower my Y5’s and teach them how to resolve their problems themselves. Our school is involved in anti-bullying programs that also equip them.  I tell my students that if they see someone being bullied or they feel they are being bullied they should tell me and that this is NOT being a tattletale. We have discussions about verbal abuse to show that it can be just as hurtful as physical abuse.

Marie Montessori found that children tattle because they are trying to figure out the difference between right and wrong so they question everything. They come to adults for confirmation.  I think she makes a good point and that’s why I try and define what the difference between “tattling” and “informing” is. 

When I taught first, second and third grade I had a Tattle Box.  Students simply WROTE their tattle on a pad of paper and put it in the decorated shoe box.  At recess or the end of the day I’d read the tattles. 

Some were very humorous since their spelling and writing skills weren’t the best.  The first few months we had so many more tattles than later months.  Students began to realize the difference between tattling and informing as well as the importance of being kind.

They also didn’t feel it was worth the extra bother to write it all down, consequently I didn't have that many tattles come the middle of November.

Another thing that helps, is going over the Golden Rule and discussing treating people the way you want to be treated.  I cut out a large red paper heart.  We discuss tattling to get people in trouble which is mean and hurtful, tattling in the form of telling secrets or breaking a promise, and saying unkind things to each other.

As my students give me examples, I tear a section of the heart off.  When we are done, I lay the pieces in the middle of our circle and we put it together.  Even though the heart is put back together, it is still scarred by the hurtful words that we inflicted and will never be the same.  This visual helps them to realize that tattling can hurt, especially when it’s meant to be mean.

Another thing that helps older students decide if it’s telling to “inform” or simply “tattling” is by using the popular text-speak.  Two signs on my desk and next to the Tattle Box help students re-think.  MYOB (Mind Your Own Business) which reminds them to ask themselves: Is this something pretty trivial where they should ignore it and just mind their own business? They decide, and if it’s yes, they can do nothing and move on, or if still bothered they can leave a note.  If it's no; they may come tell me. I also post TNK (Threatening? Necessary? Kind?)  Is this "something" that you need to tell -- any of these?  If not, then it’s probably tattling and can be put in the Tattle Box.  Click on the link to view/print these posters.

When someone approaches you starting to tattle, you can simply say: “Is it TNK?” They’ll stop and think and then can decide whether to proceed and spill the beans or trot off to the Tattle Box to relieve themselves.  Either way they get to express themselves, which makes for happier campers and less time wasted for you.

If you have a successful way that you deal with the problem of tattling, I'd enjoy hearing from you. 

Thanks in advance for making the time to share and care!  diane@teachwithme.com

For more writing prompts, click on the link.  I've made a booklet that contains some for each month on a variety of topics!  April's Page.

Younger writers can make a Class Rain Book. Click on the link to view/print one.

It’s National Car Care Month.  Here’s the scenario: You’ve reached your sweet sixteen birthday and you can now drive! Wahoo.  Your parents also happen to be millionaires so there’s a bow on top of your dream car waiting for you in the drive way! What kind of car is it?  What color, make, model, interior, extra’s …details please!  Where will you take it for your first spin and who will you have along and why?

It’s Couple Appreciation Month.  Who do you think is the cutest/best couple in your school, or on TV, in the movies, in literature, history etc. and why? or…What makes a great/lasting couple? Or…At what age do you think it’s appropriate to be a “couple” and why?

It’s Frog Month. Pretend you’re a frog.  What do you look like?  What kind of frog are you?  Where do you live?  You’re a frog so give me a day in your life with plenty of description! Ribbit on.

It’s Home Improvement Time: You’ve got $5,000 to improve your home.  What projects are you going to tackle?  What will the outcome look like?  Or… you’ve got that much money to improve your room and make it a dream bedroom!  Describe it to me.

It’s Keep America Beautiful Month.  How can young people make a difference?  Write about what you can do and then go out and do it!

It’s Month of the Young Child.  Write about your favorite memory as a young child.  Or…write about the rights of a young child.  Or…write about how young people can and should make a difference in our world and how you’re going about doing that.

It’s National Donate Life Month. Do you believe in donating your organs should you die in an accident so that someone could benefit by your gift?  Why or why not?  Write about it.

National Garden Month takes place in April.  You have just won $10,000 to make a dream garden in your backyard!  What does it look like? What will you plant?  Who will you get to help you?

It’s National Humor Month!  Do you have a good sense of humor?  Why is that important?  What are some of the things that make you laugh?  Write about these things.  Or… What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?  Or… who is the funniest person you know?  Tell me why you think they have such a great sense of humor or why you think they are so funny.

I’m not sure why April, instead of March is National Kite Month, but it is.  So build your dream kite and describe it.  Where will you fly it?

It’s also National Pet Month! Your parents have just given you permission to go out and buy ANY; yes you heard correctly, ANY pet of your dreams.  So what are you buying and why?  What will you name your pet and what does it look like?  Plenty of details please.

April is National Poetry Month.  There are lots of different kinds.  Do a little research of the different types, choose one you like, follow that format, then sit down and write your very own creation!

It’s Physical Wellness Month.  What kinds of things are you doing to keep yourself healthy?  Could you do more?  Like what?

April is Prevent Animal Cruelty Month.  Have you ever seen anyone being cruel to an animal?  What can kids do about animal cruelty?  Have you ever been cruel to an animal?  Read about it in an article online.  Choose one of these things and write about it.

It’s Stress Awareness Month? Are you stressed out?  What causes stress in your life?  What can you do to reduce that stress?  What do you do now to de-stress?  Write about it.

Observe the Golden Rule week is April1-7^th . Why is it so important to treat others the way we want to be treated?  Do you try to do this?  Challenge yourself this week to really try and do this all week long, then write how behaving that way affected your world.  How did you feel?

The 1^st through the 7^th is also Laugh at Work Week.  What makes you laugh?  Write about it.  Little kids laugh 12 times more per day than older people.  Make it a point to laugh more this week!

The 3^rd through the 9^th is Explore your Career Options.  Write about what you want to be when you grow up and tell me why.

The 4^th-10^th is National Networking Week.  Who do you network with and why?  Include why you think networking is so important.

The 10^th- 16^th is National Volunteer Week.  Have you ever volunteered?  Write about what you did and why?  If you haven’t try it out!

Cleaning For A Reason Week is the 17^th-23^rd.  What will you clean and why?

April Fool’s Day is the 1^st:  Write about a time you felt really foolish or dumb.

National Fun Day is also the first:  If the sky was the limit, and money was no object and you could do anything you wanted, or go anywhere you wanted on this day, what would you do for “fun” who would you do it with, and where would you go?

“Sorry Charlie Day” is also the first.  Write about something that you are really sorry about.

International Children’s Book Day is the 2^nd.  What is your favorite children’s book and why?

It’s World Party Day on the 3^rd.  Where in the world would you like to go “party” and what type of party would you like it to be, and who would you like to party with?

National Deep Dish Pizza Day is the 5^th.  What kind of pizza is your favorite?  You’re having that at a party!  Who’s coming and why are you celebrating?

April 10^th is National Farm Animal Day.  What’s your favorite farm animal and why?  Or…YOU are a farm animal.  Which one are you most like and why?  Or… you get to live on a farm for an entire year if you’d like to.  Would you choose to do that?  Why or why not?

National Sibling Day is also the 10^th.  Maybe you wish they were an animal on the farm, or banned to the farm.  I guess you could write about that…. Do you have brothers and sisters?  Write about what you like about them and what drives you crazy about them!  If you don’t have siblings write about the pro’s and con’s of that, or…if you could have a brother or sister which would you want and why?

National Library Day is the 12^th.  Make a thank you card for your school librarian.  Have everyone sign it.  Write about why you appreciate her/him and having a school library.  OR….Write about your favorite library book, or your first trip to the library. Or… the importance of having a library. or…. Pretend you and your friends are locked in the large city library over night.  What would you do?

The 15^th is “That Sucks Day!” Write about what sucks in your life.  Or… write about something that happened in your life that really sucked.

The 17^th is Blah Blah Blah Day.  Write about what gives you the blahs.

April 21^st is National High Five Day!  What do you think you do that deserves a daily high five?  Or…what’s the best thing you’ve done in your life that deserves the high five award?  Write about it.

April 24^th: Happy Easter.  Write about your favorite Easter. Or… Pretend you’re the Easter bunny and you deliver the baskets to the kindergarten children at your school one day.  Write about that adventure.  

April 27^th is Secretary’s Day.  Write a note of appreciation to your school secretary.

April 30^th is Sense of Smell Day.  Write about what it would be like to be without your sense of smell.  Or…. Pretend you are a dog and write a comical story about the day the puppies lost their sense of smell and how that happened.

April 30^th is also World Healing Day.  Pretend you are a super hero and you have the power to touch a person and they are immediately healed.  Write a short story about your adventures.

Whatever you choose to write about this month I hope it's FUN-tastic for you!  Remember, the more you write the better you get at writing and the easier it becomes!

Happy April!

Butterfly Mask:

One of my themes in April is butterflies.  It's a month-long science unit for us as we study the life cycle and actually watch our real caterpillars form the J-position, spin their crysalis and finally emerge as Painted Lady butterflies in about 14 days. 

The Imagination Station Dress Up box is one of my Y5's favorite play centers. During April I have 4 pairs of butterfly wings and a 1/2 dozen foam masks for them to play with.  It's so popular that I thought I'd make the time for everyone to make their own mask as a quick art center.  It's always a big hit. 

Pretending to be a butterfly and fluttering around the room is a wonderful gross motor activity.  We have a "Quiet as a butterfly" parade in the hallway and flit and flutter in a line as well.  We also do the Butterfly Pokey with our masks on.  We lay our eggs, take our mask off, turn into hungry caterpillars, pretend to eat, spin and roll into our crysalis and then don our masks and emerge once more to flit and flutter as a butterfly.  It's a great way to review the life cycle of a butterfly when you really become one!  I hope you enjoy this science-art activity as much as we do!  Click on the link to print/view the  butterfly mask pattern and directions. 

Bunny Bags: I LOVE when Easter is in April.  It's hard for me to make time for baby animals (bunnies, chicks, lambs, ducks etc.) in March with reading month and everything else that goes into that already-crammed season.  Here in Michigan it's also still snowy in March and let's face it, who is in the mood to don spring-like clothes and white shoes when you're still tromping around in soot-covered snow and the north wind is blowing off those pretty little bonnets! Not me!  

With Easter at the end of the month this year, I have plenty of time to make these adorable little bunny bags.  It's a super easy and quick center that my students enjoy.  I buy 2 bags of jelly beans and some plastic eggs from the Dollar Store. 

As my Y5's complete their Tabletop lessons and bunny bag art center they get to come over to my table and work one-on-one with me. They tuck some Easter grass in their bag, choose an egg, drop it in their bag and then we tie it shut with bows if they are a girl and staple it shut if they are a boy.  If you don't want to do the jelly bean part you can have them stuff their bag with some tissue paper.  

When everyone is done with their bag we get in a line and I play the Bunny Hop.  We do that for a few minutes and then everyone takes their bunny bag to their backpack.  I don't instruct them to do so, but most of them hop to their lockers.  Too funny! 

I make these every year for our grown children and set them at our Easter dinner table.  I use them as place settings and put everyone's names on them.  They are much cheaper than traditional Easter baskets, and look festive on the table.  I simply fill them with an assortment of candy. 

Just because they are young adults doesn't mean they don't enjoy a sweet treat!  You can also buy tiny white bags and make a much smaller bunny version and fill with jelly beans or a few chocolate eggs. Click on the link for a Bunny Bag pattern.

Bunny Handprints:

I have a monthly handprint keepsake booklet idea that you can do each month.  Click on the link and it will take you to my free September stuff.  It's listed there.  It makes a wonderful Mother's Day gift or end-of-the year gift to tuck in a bag for graduation.  My favorite handprint is the bunny.  It is also the handprint that gets the most ooh and ahh comments when I hang them in the hallway. 

Cut 5x7 rectangles of powder blue construction paper for boys and bright pink for your girl students.  Paint the child's palm, pinkie and pointer fingers white and press onto the middle of the paper.  When their prints are dry they work with me one-on-one.  I give them a dab of glue to fasten a small pink pom pom nose and two wiggle eyes to make a face for their bunny head.

While it's still wet I let them sprinkle on some opalescent glitter to add a bit of sparkle so that it looks like bunny fur.  It adds just that extra bit of pizzazz!

Holding their hand we make a mouth with hot pink puffy paint.  If you're not making a keepsake booklet, these make adorable spring cards for the children to take home and give to their families.  If you're a Christian school you can make these into Easter cards.  Our verse is: Happy Spring! You're some-bunny special!  Love from your little honey bunny ____________.   Click on the link for the Spring card insert.

Grass Heads:  

Since everything is "greening" up especially the grass, it's the perfect time to make "grass heads"!  All year long we have been studying how things grow, from our initial science unit on apples through October's pumpkins and then in March with our potato-pot study.  It's now time to grow some grass!  I call these "Cutie Cups!"

I teach my students the chant: Water - Seeds - Soil and Sun make growing Fun! (We do finger movements for each word. i.e. The rain falls on the seeds that we planted in the soil, that we patted down, and then out comes the big round sun. We sign the word fun. )

My students put spoonfuls of topsoil in a styrofoam cup 'til it is almost filled to the top.  I write their names on the cups.  They sprinkle a spoonful of grass seed on top and move it around with their finger so that it is spread around, and then they sprinkle a bit more topsoil on top of their seeds and finally add a tiny bit of water.  Finally, they put their cup on the window sill in the sun. 

We have a cup that we put in the shade that will not get sun but will be watered and a cup in the sun that will not get water so that the children will see what happens to those cups.  A child is chosen each day to "spray" the cups until they are damp. I use a water mist bottle.  I found this was the best way to water them as little ones tend to literally drown the cups with too much water from a regular sprinkling can and the seeds would be floating every day. 

We graph how many days it takes before the grass sprouts.  At the end of a few weeks our grass is long enough for the boys to give their grass heads a crew cut.  I remind them not to cut it too short.  The girls decide if they want to have their "grass head" have a pony tail or pig tails and then I help them tie their hair do's with ribbon or yarn bows.  The children draw faces on their grass heads with markers and then everyone takes them home.  These students were absent so I drew their faces for them to be sent home for spring break with their siblings.  Wiggle eyes are also a fun addition.

My Y5's really enjoy this activity and it's a fun way for them to learn more science. Sometimes I'll keep these around 'til Mother's Day and tie them up with Red, white and blue ribbons and send them home with my Cutie Cup poem.  If I decide to do this, I'll have the children plant their grass in an extra Dixie cup and insert it into the styrofoam cup. 

I'll have them spend more time decorating the outside face cup so that it's more of a keepsake.  I'll also have them glue thier school photo on the back and write "Love from your little sprout" on the back of the cup with the date. 

I hope these ideas gave you a few more things to plug into your spring activities, or something that you can do with your little ones who'll be home with you over spring break. 

As always if you have something fun that you do with your students/children I'd enjoy hearing from you. diane@teachwithme.com  Thanks in advance for making the time to care and share.