Thanksgiving Free Resources and Activities

I think that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the fall, the smell of the turkey, and even preparing all the special dishes that I love. Most of all I love getting together with my whole family! 

I am so thankful to be so close to my children and especially all my grandchildren at this wonderful time of year. I have put together some great free resources, activities, books to read, crafts to make, and a new lesson from me. 

If you are looking for a great list of Thanksgiving books to read for Read Alouds you must check out Amazon by clicking on the picture below. This was one of the books I read to my students. I also had my students read Kate Waters' books about the Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl or Boy which you can check out by clicking HERE.

One of my favorite sites is Hubbard's Cupboard which has lots of links to The First Thanksgiving, Pilgrim Children, the Mayflower and more. Just click on the picture below to access the information.

National Geographic Kids also has a text about The First Thanksgiving. It is an easy read for your students. There are links to other activities as well. Just click on the picture below.

There is another on-line slide show of the First Thanksgiving at Scholastic which you can access by clicking HERE.

There are so many wonderful websites with free Thanksgiving crafts to make. How about this one and there are 20 more?

If you are looking for some more great crafts click HERE.

I finally finished my own unit: Thanksgiving Past and Present. It is designed to teach students about The First Thanksgiving,  and Pilgrim Girls and Boys through Reading Texts, Comprehension Questions that are differentiated at the 2nd and 3rd Grade levels, Picture/Word or Fact Cards Match,and Word Sorts.

There are also Informative Text and Opinion Piece Writing Prompts, and Comparing and Contrasting Activities. 

You can see sample pages of the differentiated reading texts, writing and other activities when you download the preview file. Just click on the image below.

Don't forget to check out all my new Pinterest boards. Just click HERE to follow. Here are few you may like.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin


 Thanks for all you to make a difference for your students. I am truly thankful for all of you and hope this is a special Thanksgiving holiday for you and your families.

                                                                                           

What kinds of activities do you do in your classroom for Thanksgiving?

Hanukkah: Free Resources, Craft Ideas, Lessons, and Activities

This is a very unusual Hanukkah this year as it begins on Thanksgiving night.In 2014 it begins on December 17th.  It is a happy holiday that is celebrated by Jewish families all over the world. It is also known as The Festival of Lights. Children love this holiday. Do you know why? They get lots of presents and play dreidel. For those of you who are able to share about Hanukkah in your schools I have put together some wonderful free resources for you to check out and a few of my packets and freebies as well

I finally had a chance to revise both of my Hanukkah lessons. For Grades K-1 there is my new "It's Hanukkah Time" packet. I think my favorite activity is the Shared Reading Book called "Latke, Latke What Do You See? Here's a sneak peek. There is also the Poem, "Latke, Latke, What Do You See?" and a Writing Book Activity to go with the Shared Reading.

There is another Shared Reading Book called "The Symbols of Hanukkah" along with 3 different leveled guiding reading books and 3 differentiated comprehension activities. Your students will have fun making a Dreidel headband and reading the poem: "Dreidel." To see all the materials and activities in this product just click on the picture below.

You can also download this free Dreidel book by clicking on the picture below. It has the Dreidel Game directions and students will write what happens when you land on the different letters. Hope you'll leave some nice feedback.

There is also my "Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights" for Grades 2-3 which includes a Shared Reading, 2 leveled Reading Texts and Comprehension Questions, Fact/Opinion Writing Activity, Picture/Fact Card Match, Informative Text and Opinion Piece Writing Graphic Organizers and Writing Prompts and more. Just click on the picture below to download the preview to see all the materials and activities in this packet.

I also have a fun free activity called "It's Hanukkah Time" Making Words and Sentences which you can download by clicking on the picture below.

How about a great list of Hanukkah books? I have this one below. Just click on it to get the full list.

Looking for some fun crafts? How about this cute hat? You can find lots of other ideas too by clicking on the picture below.

You will find some free activities and other crafts at the Activity Village by clicking HERE

Scholastic has wonderful ideas and resources for teaching about Hanukkah which you can access by clicking the picture below. You will find crafts, activities, printables, and lesson plans.

You can also find 8 free lesson plans at TeachersFirst by clicking HERE

Don't forget to check out all my new Pinterest boards and follow. Just click HERE.

I hope you find lots of great ideas and activities for teaching about Hanukkah. Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Thank You to Our Veterans

Today I would like to say "Thank You" to all our veterans who have fought so bravely to protect our country and our freedom. To my dad who was stationed in the Philippines in WWII, my mother-in-law who served in the WAC in India and China during WWII, my husband who is retired from 30 years in the army and all our veterans far and wide I honor you all today. Please join me in saying "Thank you" today.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Themes Matter: Tips for Using Word Sorts to Improve Reading and a Free Activity

Most of you know that I create lots of Thematic Units. Themes help teachers create a literacy-rich environment by emphasizing the importance of speaking, reading, and writing. They also engage students in meaningful activities over a longer period of time. Classrooms using themes are full of pictures and labels to help students connect with specific language that they need to know in order to read and understand. This is so important for the struggling readers and ESL students in your classrooms.

Today I want to talk about the importance of using word sorts with thematic units and some tips about using them in your classroom. Why word sorts? Words sorts engage students in analyzing words by sorting them into different categories. Once students know the words and the skill such as understanding syllables, they can then use that knowledge to find similarities and differences of selected words. Word sorts also provided multiple exposures to selected words and get students to think about these words from a particular perspective. This helps students to develop an in-depth knowledge of the words which is so beneficial for struggling readers. Words sorts can be individualized for students needing more practice with a specific skill and are student-centered. Pictures can be used along with the words as extra support or for building background for ESL students.

Here are just a few examples of word sorts to focus on:

• short and long vowel sounds
• number of syllables
• word families
• parts of speech: nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.
• word usage

The list could go on and on. When incorporating word sorts into a theme it helps students have multiple exposures to the same words that they will be speaking, reading, and writing about.

Here is an example of my Syllable Word Sort from my "Gobbling Up Thanksgiving Word Work Activities" Unit. Using pictures with the word cards give students more exposure to the vocabulary words they will be reading and writing about. Students will place the 1,2, and 3 Syllables Cards at the top of a table or on the floor, choose a word card, say and clap the syllables, and place it under the # of syllables they hear. Then they will write the words on a recording sheet.

In another word sort using pictures and words, students will determine which words belong to Native Americans, which belong to the Pilgrims and which belong to both. This is also a great way to assess your students' understanding of the words and help to improve comprehension.

There are 6 Word Sorts in my "Gobbling Up Thanksgiving Word Works Activities" which you can check out by clicking the picture below. You can download the Preview file to see sample pages of all the word sorts and activities in this packet.

I also have a free Thanksgiving Word Sort for all my wonderful followers and viewers.

Students will sort Thanksgiving Words into 3 Categories about what the Pilgrims and Native Americans used, lived in, and what they made. Just click on the image below to download your free packet.

Lots of great new Pinterest boards for you to follow. Just click HERE. Look at the one TpT just started to follow.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Thanks for all you do to make a difference for your students. I hope each and everyone of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving.