Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Mother's Day Free Craft Ideas and Poems for K-1


Last week I shared some great websites with free resources and activities for grades 2-3 which you can check out by clicking HERE. I also found some great craft ideas and poems that would be wonderful for those who teach K-1 that I'd like to share with you, too. I got lots of comments about the Tulip Craft that I though I would share again. All the instructions and free tulip templates are included. Just click on the picture below to find out how to make it.
I also found some great earth friendly recycled  mother's day crafts which you also might be interested it. Just click on the picture below to check these out.
How about a cute foldable card for your students to make? This one I found at DLTK. Just click below for directions. You can also link to lots of other free activities for Mother's Day.
If you are looking for free poems I have found some at Apples4theTeacher- there are quite a few to choose from.
If you are looking for a Shared Reading Book, Guided Reading Books and Writing Activities for K-1, I have just finished my Moms Are Special People Mother's Day Unit. On May 3rd, 2014 I revised and updated this product. You can click on the picture below to download the Preview file to see the new revised Preview file and get 2 free activities.

Last but not least is a special free Mother's Day poem that I wrote. If you are planning a Mother's Day Luncheon or Special Class Celebration, this would be a great poem for your students to learn and present during your special celebration. Just click on the poem below to get your free copy.

It has been fun bringing you all these great free resources and hope that you have found some great activities to use in your classrooms. Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.



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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Mother's Day Free Resources and Activities

I love Mother's Day. I will get to spend the day with my children and all my grand children!!! There are so many wonderful resources on the internet where you can access great crafts to make, printables, books to read for Read Aloud, Writing Prompts, and more. I found several that I wanted to share with all of you.

When I taught in Alaska this was my favorite Mother's Day book. I bought one for each of my grand kids. Wouldn't it be fun to read it to your students and have them learn Alaskan native words and a little about their culture. You can access this and other Mother's Day books by clicking on the picture below.
If you are teaching K-2 you might want to check out some of these interesting craft ideas. I loved this Tulip one where students can put a picture of themselves in the middle. If you click on the picture below you can download the tulip craftivity and directions.
 
You can also find great craft ideas, poems and printable at apples4Teachers and DLTK
You can also check-out my free K-1 resources and activities by clicking on the image below.

Looking for a new twist on teaching about Mother's Day? Check out Educationworld.com by clicking HERE. You will find 5 lessons plans!

I decided to create something different for Mother's Day this year. I created a Mother's Day unit for Grades 2-3 called, Mother's Day Traditions Around the World.  Students will learn about how Mother's Day is celebrated in 6 different countries as well as the U.S through Reading Texts, Writing Activities, Poetry and Center Activities. You can check it out by clicking on the picture below and download the Preview file to see sample pages of  all the materials and activities in the packet. I learned a lot while I was doing research for this unit. This product has been revised and edited on May 1, 2014. If you purchased the original product you can go to your purchase page and download this revised one.
If you are looking for some great writing prompts for Mother's Day, I have a free packet of 4 Writing Prompts: It includes 2 Informational Texts and 2 Opinion Piece Writing Prompts.
Just click on the picture below to download your freebie. I hope you will leave some wonderful feedback!
I hope you find some great activities to include in your class Mother's Day celebrations. Don't forget to check-out my new Pinterest boards by clicking HERE. Would love to have you follow me!

Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students. I hope you will pin this post so that others can find some great free resources.

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Saturday, April 20, 2013

On the Farm: Free Resources and Free Activities


Whether you teach in the city or the county young children love to read and learn about the farm, especially all the animals that live there. When I taught in Alaska many children were unfamiliar with farm life and farm animals. Teaching about the farm is also a wonderful way to bring the farm to life for many children living in poverty. It can also be taught at any time during the year. I have put together some wonderful free resources from the internet where you can access free lessons, poems, songs, and crafts.

Let's begin with wonderful read aloud books. No time for Flash Cards  not only had great books for also some wonderful crafts for your students to make. Just click on the pictures below to find out more.
Next stop is Alphabet Soup. I found links to free puzzles, booklets, spelling activities, poems and lots more. Interested? Click on the picture below.
At All Kids Network I found free crafts  like this Peek-a Boo barn below and free worksheets,too. You can also access their free farm worksheets by clicking HERE
Finally I found some great free farm poems at Kinder Korner which you can check out by clicking the picture below.
I had lots of fun creating my own Farm Unit which you can check out by clicking on the picture below. It has my own original Shared Reading book, 3 Guided Reading books at the Early Emergent and Emergent (1st Grade) reading levels, Word Wall, Picture/Word cards for Matching and other activities, and a Farm Picture/Word Sort. It also includes several writing activities such as a Farm Word Web, "My Farm Book" an Informational Text Writing Prompt and 2 Opinion Piece Writing Prompts. Students can also earn the "I'm crowing about your writing or reading" Award.There are 2 free activities when you download the Preview file.
And last but not least a free activity for all my followers and viewers. I had such great feedback on my other Roll the Die and Read thematic freebies that I made one for "On the Farm" There are 3 pages, one for each reading level. All the words, phrases and sentences are from all the guided reading books in my "On the Farm" K-1 Unit. Just click on the picture below to download your free packet.
Don't for get to check out all my new Pinterest Boards. Check them out by clicking HERE
Here's my most popular one.


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Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students. Hope you find some great activities and maybe some of you will be able to take a field trip to a farm!
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What month do you think is the best to teach a unit about the farm?

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Spring Poetry: Free Poetry Resources and a Free Spring Poetry Activity


April is National Poetry month and a perfect time for celebrating spring with poems. I have put together a few websites and books that you might want to check out. For me I think poetry should be part of every Balanced Literacy Curriculum not only for students to read but to write and share as well. How about teaming up with another teacher and have students share their poems with each other. If you are looking for some great poetry books to read to your students just click on the picture below.
I love Shel Silverstein and this is one of my favorites: You can find another great list by clicking on the picture below.
If you are looking for some free resources you will find lots materials and free printables at Scholastic. Just click HERE . Teacher's First has a long list of websites and free activities which you can access by clicking on the picture below:
If you are looking for free poetry forms to teach you can find quite a few by clicking HERE. I have found many forms to use when I am creating my own poems.

This spring I have put together my own packet full of fun springtime poetry for 1st and 2nd grades. You will find poems such as "Spring is Here to Stay", "Let's Plant a Garden", "At the Pond", "Busy Bees", Cinquain, "Bees" and "How to Be a Ladybug." There are several writing activities with each poem including an Informational Text Writing about Spring and an Opinion Piece Writing Activity, "What I like most about spring." Students will also write 4 different forms of poems. Also included are 2 Spring plays with character cards in color and B/W. Here is a sneak peak: The 2nd grade play can also be used as a Readers Theater activity. Just click on the picture below to see all the materials in this packet and get a free poetry activity.
What I love most about poetry is that it is great for building fluency. You may also like to check out my new Spring Fluency Activities by clicking on the image below.

I have had so much fun revising my Frogs and Toads unit that I wrote an "Ode to a Frog" poem and writing activity just for all my followers and viewers.
Just click on the picture above to download your freebie. Hope your students enjoy it.
Don't forget to check out my new Pinterest Boards by clicking HERE. Hope you will follow.

Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students. Have a great week!

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Monday, April 8, 2013

Earth Day: Free Resources and Activities

I was so excited to see so many wonderful free resources on Earth Day that I wanted to make sure to share them with all of you. It seems that Earth Day becomes more and more important to teach about how each and everyone of us can do something to help our earth.  Let's start with Scholastic. If you click on the picture below you will find lots of free printables, lesson plans, math, and writing activities and so much more. Hope you find something you like.
Next on the list was at Royal Baloo. There are packets for Pre-K through 2nd grade. You do not want to miss these wonderful free packets so click on the picture below to access this website.
At the Holiday Zone you will find find links to Arts and Craft projects, Classroom Activities, Songs, Writing Topics, Discussion Questions, and Free printables. To access all these links just click on the picture below.
How about some wonderful crafts for Earth Day? There are 20 fantastic ones at "No Time For Flash Cards" to check out. Just click below. They really look great.
You can also check out my all new and revised K-1 Packet called "I Can Help the Earth." It has a wonderful Shared Reading Book called "Why Do We Need Earth Day?"

3 Differentiated Make and Take Books at the Pre-Emergent through 1st grade reading levels,

There is a Word Wall, Picture/Word Cards and Activities, Writing Activities, and a fun Chant. I hope you will click on the picture below and download the Preview file to see sample pages of all the differentiated reading and writing activities in the packet.

To go with my Earth Day packet I made an Earth Day Edition of Roll the Die and Read to give students more practice at becoming fluent with the words, phrases and sentences they will see in the Make and Take books. Here is a sample.
You can download your free Earth Day: Roll the Die and Read Packet by clicking on the picture below.

If you are looking for more free Earth Day resources for grades 2-4 click HERE

Hope you find lots of great materials to use with your students on Earth Day and all week long. 
Don't forget to check out all my Pinterest Boards by clicking HERE. Hope you will follow. 
Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.

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What activities do you like to do with your students on Earth Day?

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Monthly Mishmash April Linky: Great Resources to Check Out

 
My friend Megan over at Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade is having a fun linky to share your favorite products
(both free and paid for April. I've just revised some of mine which I'd like to share with all of you.

First is my Earth Day packet for K-1: You will find a free activity when you download the Preview. Just click on the picture below and check it out.
 If you haven't tried my Making and Writing Sentences Packet for Grades 1-2 here's your chance to try my Spring Edition. You will also find a free activity when you download the preview! Just click on the picture below to download the preview and see all the activities in this packet.
For those of you into themes you may like my Busy Bees unit which I have also revised and added many more activities. You got it- another free product with the Preview file. Just click on the picture below!
If you are looking for great free resources about Honeybees you may want to check out my blog post by clicking HERE
Working on Compound Words? Here's my freebie for April. Would love for you to leave some "sweet" feedback if you like it!
Have your students been reading the "Year with Frog and Toad" books? Maybe you would like to do a unit about real Frogs and Toads. Did you know that Frogs live most of the time in the water but Toads live most of the time on land? Your students will learn a lot about how they are alike and different through reading and writing activities. Do you think their might be a freebie when you download the Preview file- just click on the picture below to find out!
How about a free packet Comparing and Contrasting Real Frogs and Toads to Fictional ones? You will find this freebie and other great resources by clicking on the picture below.
Don't forget to check out all the wonderful resources at Mrs. Wheeler's First Grade Linky and add your own. Have a great April!
Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.