Gingerbread Friends Easy project and Freebie.... Merry Christmas!

Hello Friends,
I am one of the lucky ones who have the next two weeks off. I know, though, that some of you will be working this next week. I thought that I would share with you an easy and cute project that can be linked to the Common Core Standards as well as be fun for your students!

 We read 4 gingerbread stories which took a couple of days, BUT it was fun to announce that we were taking "A Gingerbread break" and then the kids stopped what they were doing and came over to listen to one of the stories! When the stories were all finished, we discussed the similarities and differences between the four stories as well as define the character in each one. We looked at the illustrations in each book and talked about the way illustrators create.

The four stories we read were: The Gingerbread Man, The Gingerbread Girl, The Gingerbread Pirates, and Gingerbread Baby.

The children chose their favorite gingerbread character, created it from paper, and then wrote about it. (I actually cut out the gingerbread shape from brown construction paper and they glued it upon their paper.) They used construction paper and oil crayons to decorate. I love how they are working so hard to construct sentences; some have taken off and others are still struggling BUT they ALL are trying hard and I LOVE that!












 If you would like to do this gingerbread project with your students, you can find it free by clicking HERE.


So.... that's it for awhile, my friends.... I will be taking a short break from my blog as I enjoy this special time with my family. I wish you all happiness and health for the coming year! I will be back soon!



Until next time!

Blessings,


Advent Wreath craft and I Teach Kinder linky

Hello Friends,
I am linking up with my friends from I Teach Kinder. We are sharing fun seasonal ideas that are perfect for our kinders!
I am sharing THREE options for creating an Advent wreath. All 3 are created from paper plates that have been painted green. If you can find green plates, they would work, too! Just make sure that they are strong plates. My students use Chinette plates because they are strong and can withstand paint and glue.
OPTION 1: 


After the plates are dry, hot glue four 5 ounce paper cups that are turned upside down upon the plate. I try to use cups that are not overly decorated, but since the kids will be covering them, it really does not matter that much.

Using small pieces of NON-BLEEDING purple and pink tissue paper, students use a glue wash to attach the tissue to the cups. 
It IS messy when they are painting with glue. Make sure that you have wet wipes for hands available!
When the cups have been covered with tissue, students glue rolled up pieces of green tissue paper to the top of the green plate. Use a box cutter to make a cut at the top of each cup. Insert a craft stick with a paper flame attached for candles.


 OPTION 2:

This wreath is not as messy, but is a bit more complicated for kids to make. It involves rolling construction paper into tubes, closing with clear tape, and making cuts along the bottom edge of each tube. Dip the tubes in glue and attach to the plate. Kids will have to hold each tube for awhile to make sure that they continue to stand. The tubes can also be hot glued to the plate, that involves an adult, of course!

 Once the candles are attached, the plate is decorated with green tissue paper. The candles are created in the same way as explained in Option 1. They are dropped inside each candle. 

 OPTION 3:

 This option is the easiest, but also the most expensive. You will need 3 purple and 1 pink cup for each child. As you can see, I could not find a PLAIN pink cup, so had to settle for a decorated one! Hot glue the cups to the top of the plate.
 
 The kids use rolled up pieces of NON-BLEEDING tissue paper to decorate the outside edge of the plate. 
The flames of the candles are created from craft sticks and construction paper.


 Insert the flames into the cups!

I add a zippered bag to the BOTTOM of the plate in which to store the flames.


So, that's all for now, my friends... Check out these other links for more seasonal kindergarten ideas!

Until next time!

Blessings,