Christmas Tree Math Craftivity (Number Combinations)



Hello Friends,
We have been talking about and practicing how to make different number combinations. I thought it would be fun for my students to create a Christmas tree using the same procedures as when we used red and yellow 2-sided counters.  The kids colored the ornaments with red and yellow oil crayons and then used green water paint for the tree. They added construction paper gifts and did the math story problem. Easy peasey! You can click the photo below for the words and Christmas tree.


The photo above shows 9 ornaments on the tree. I used the editable template included in this download to type the number 9. The colors are red and yellow on the editable sheet.






The template for the number ten with the ten ornaments on the tree is included in the download, too.


Until next time!

Blessings,



Fall Scarecrow Writing and Craft


Hello Friends,
Here is a fun scarecrow writing and craft that can be quickly and simply prepped for your students to do during these lovely days of fall.

This is a free resource in my TPT store. Here is what is included:




You can find this resource by clicking the image below! Happy Fall!

Until next time!
Blessings,







Pumpkin Life Cycle - Let's Make a Book in 3 different Ways!

Hello Friends,
It's October and that means learning about pumpkins! I have done these books with my students throughout the last few years and I thought that I would share you with you the different styles.

OPTION 1:
I wrote this original poem several years ago. It DEFINITELY is a shared reading activity. I read it to my little ones and we listen for rhyming words and as well as how the words describe how a pumpkin grows. When I have read the poem, we then go back to each part. My kiddos then use cut paper techniques to illustrate each stage in the life of a pumpkin. I give them templates to use if they become frustrated with the drawing and cutting.



OPTION 2:
The words in this book are written in a simpler, emergent reader style. We read the sentence together and then directions for how to illustrate the pages are given on each page.



OPTION 3:
Even those this option takes more time and teacher prep, this is my favorite book. I cut 12"x18" blue construction paper in half. My students glue the simple words to the top of the paper and illustrate the pages with cut paper. My students have tracers to create many of the shapes.


If you are interested in this pumpkin life cycle book packet, you can find it by clicking the image below.


https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pumpkin-Life-Cycle-Lets-Make-a-Book-4112725
 Until next time!

Blessings,








Respect Activities - For Young Children




Hello Friends!
One area that I feel is so valuable these first few weeks of school is setting the foundation for respect in the classroom. When my kinders come to school for the first time, everything is new and exciting for them, but it can also be overwhelming. Even though many of them come from a preschool or daycare setting, coming into a BIG school for the first time with new faces and places can be a bit scary. Teaching kids respect for each other, their classroom, and the school creates an environment of trust and kindness.

Before beginning our discussion of respecting the space of others, I allow the children the opportunity to blow bubbles. We look at how bubbles can float along without popping, but when you touch them, they pop!

 We discuss how we can pretend that everyone is surrounded by an invisible bubble. When we keep our bodies to ourselves, we all can all "float along" like bubbles without hurting the people around us. But when we touch someone inappropriately, we can pop their bubble and we do not want to do that.


 Using bubbles as a way to understand how to get along is a great discussion starter for how to use respect in other classroom activities.



 We discuss ways to line up that do not pop the bubbles of others.






We also discuss how to sit on the carpet. We start with "criss cross applesauce", but as the year progresses, we talk about other ways that we can sit without breaking someone's bubble.



Another important area of respect is how to control our bodies when we are angry. I read two books to my students to discuss anger. They are "When Sophie Gets Angry, Really Angry" and " Lily's Purple Plastic Purse."

https://www.amazon.com/Sophie-Angry-Really-Really-Scholastic-Bookshelf/dp/0439598451/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1565004934&sr=1-3



https://www.amazon.com/Lillys-Purple-Plastic-Purse-Henkes/dp/0439642876/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1565005073&sr=1-1
 After our discussion, we do a craftivity to reinforce the concepts in each book.


 We discuss steps to help us control our anger with respect.



We also do "What would you do" questions and role play to help us understand what to do in situations that might be upsetting or unclear.


We certainly do not do all these activities at one time! We revisit respect often throughout the year and will do the activities that build on that knowledge. Teaching kids to respect each other and their environment takes time, but is worth it when you see your students being respectful towards each other and their environment!

You can find my RESPECT resource by clicking the image below.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/RESPECT-Activities-for-Young-Children-807175

Until next time!!
Take care,





Unpacking my Classroom and Making New Slip Covers for my Dramatic Play Chairs



Hello Friends,
It is July and time to start getting into my classroom and making it look like a classroom again. I am not sure about you, but I often find myself like Chevy Chase in the movie "Vacation" when he gets to the Grand Canyon and instead of enjoying the scene, he nods a few times, turns around, and then leaves. I FEEL LIKE THAT EVERY YEAR THE FIRST TIME THAT I WALK INTO MY CLASSROOM! I pump myself up to go and think of everything that I am going to get done. But when I get there, I stand in the middle of the room and become overwhelmed with the WORK and leave.... LOL..... That is where I was last week. I looked at THIS and walked out.... Sigh.....


BUT.... towards the end of the week, I started to slowly get back into my classroom and decided to try little things. One thing that I love doing in the summer is sewing. When I stayed long enough in my classroom to take note of what I needed to do, I looked at my dramatic play center. I noticed that the chairs looked a little drab. They were cute as a button when I purchased them 10 years ago! But as with all things (especially in a kindergarten classroom), they were losing their shine. It is hard to tell from this photo, but they were becoming discolored - especially in the area where those little bottoms sat every day... LOL....


 So, I decided to make new slip covers for them and they turned out great!


I followed this tutorial from "Interiors by Sarah Langtry." Sarah gave an excellent, easy to follow tutorial for making slip covers for my classroom POANG chair. A disclaimer... I didn't know that they were called  POANG chairs until I read Sarah's tutorial.... LOL.... Her chair is from IKEA, but I purchased my chair at our local grocery store about 10 years ago! It didn't matter, though, because I was able to take the measurements for MY chairs and use them to follow Sarah's tutorial.

Here is the "new" chair - I love it! My main classroom color is teal with accents of primary colors, so these slip covers will fit in perfectly with my color scheme.

Following Sarah's directions and making my own measurements gave me a really nice slip cover that will brighten up the dramatic play area..... when I finally get to creating it!


So that's it for now, my friends. As I slowly work towards returning my classroom to the place in which I want to spend so much of my week, I will share photos along the way.

Until then, I leave you with one last photo... This is from my garden... I love this photo because it shows that there is beauty in everything; even when it is not perfect.....

 Peace and blessings,