Teacher Resources
November Bulletin Board Ideas and Giveaway! November 01 2010, 5 Comments
Gorgeous fall leaves can be incorporated into your curriculum in a variety of ways. Here are a few ideas - add your own and be entered into this week's giveaway!Teaching Summer Safety May 13 2010, 1 Comment
The end of the school year is almost here! Here's a lesson plan, simple project and craft to help you teach your kids personal safety skills and how to play safe in the sun this summer.Back to School Self-Portraits September 01 2009, 0 Comments
The afternoon of the First Day of School can be populated with hot and tired kids. Use that time to let students create a self-portrait. These art lesson plans provide some guidance concerning the very simple self-portrait done in colored pencil to the more complicated lesson plan about glyphs!Free Dolphin Multiplication & Division Craft Template August 15 2009, 0 Comments
[caption id="attachment_1499" align="alignright" width="249" caption="Doing math with dolphins makes this learning activity a LOT more fun for your kids!"]
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Each Dolphin Multiplication & Division craft represents a multiplication & division problem.
Dividing the dolphins swimming around each island solves the division problem.
Multiplying the dolphins swimming around each island solves the multiplication problem.
Materials:
- Free Dolphin Multiplication & Division Template
- Scissors
- Blue construction paper
- Crayons
- Glue
- Gold & blue glitter
Directions:
- Decide what the numbers will be. (e.g. 3 x 2 = 6 and 6 ÷ 2 = 3)
- Color & cut out the dolphins and islands to make the problem.
- Glue the dolphins swimming around the islands to create the problem.
(e.g. 2 islands, 6 dolphins, 3 dolphins swimming around each island.) - Write the numbers showing the problems underneath the picture showing the problems.
(e.g. 3 x 2 = 6 and 6 ÷ 2 = 3)
Free My Favorite Things Book August 14 2009, 0 Comments
Students will love creating and reading the My Favorite Things book. Appropriate for K-2 grades.
Materials:
- My Favorite Things printable template
- scissors
- pencils
- crayons
- stapler
Directions for Students:
- Cut out the My Favorite Things template.
- Staple the book together.
- Color the cover of the book.
- Write words and draw pictures to complete the sentences on each page.
- Read your book to your family and friends.
Free "Smart Cootie Catcher" Template August 13 2009, 3 Comments
A Fun Retro Craft Project for Class or Home
Why is it "smart"? The Smart Cootie Catcher can be used as a classroom instruction tool to help teach kids about coins and counting money!
We all know about the cootie catchers that got us into trouble while we were in school.
Teachers, let's put a twist on this cootie catcher and we can keep the students interested in learning.
Here's the free Smart Cootie Catcher template.
Smart Cootie Catcher Project Overview
Step #1 - Make the cootie catcher using the free down loadable template.
Step #2 - You can use the Smart Cootie Catcher to teach the students about money.
Materials
- Smart Cootie Catcher template (1 per student)
- pencils (1 per student)
- coins (penny, nickel, dime & quarter). If you separate your students into groups of four, you can give one set of the coins to each group.
- Money trivia questions or word problems. Tip - Write a list of questions on the board from the practice quiz from the chapter you are working on right now. Let the students choose the questions they would like to write inside.
Instructions for the "Coin Cootie Catcher"
- Emboss coins onto the front flaps and label each coin. (It works really well to roll up a wikki stix, like a cinnamon roll, and stick it to the back of the coin to keep in place while embossing it onto the paper.)
- Write values inside the cootie catcher, instead of just writing numbers. (e.g. 10 cents, 25 cents, etc.)
- Write questions under the numbers. You can write money trivia questions and answers on the board. The students can choose what they want to write inside their own cootie catcher.
To Play the "Coin Cootie Catcher" Game:
- Student #1 chooses a coin.
- Student #2 (holding the cootie catcher) spells the coin while opening and closing the cootie catcher.
- Student #1 chooses a coin value inside the cootie catcher.
- Student #2 counts the total amount.
- Repeat steps 3 and 4.
- Student # 1 chooses a value inside the cootie catcher.
- Student #2 opens the flap & asks the question.
- Student #1 answers the question.
- Student #2 gives the correct answer.
Check back soon for more instructional uses for the Smart Cootie Catcher.
Free Rainy Day Game August 10 2009, 0 Comments
Here's a Rainy Day Game. Create the game now, so it's all ready to go on rainy days. Choose any point system you want. If your students are learning to count by 2's, 3's or 10's, this game can help them learn to quickly add points.Free Daily Journal Writing Book August 09 2009, 2 Comments
Daily Journal Morning Routine
Every morning my students loved to write in their journals. The students enjoyed referring to the word wall as they wrote, but I encouraged my students to just write. Being concerned about spelling in their morning journals could block their writing ideas. (During Writers' Workshop, we focused on grammar and spelling.) The students were free to share their thoughts each morning, and they enjoyed the self expression. I encouraged the students to fill one page with writing and to make one illustration.
Finished Journals
I loved to get a finished journal on my desk. I'd read through the journal and write positive comments. I never corrected the grammar or spelling in these journals. I just wanted to hear what my students had to say. I'd stamp the last page and write a nice note. The students loved reading my comments. It helped me really see what was going on in their lives.
Free Daily Journal Template & Directions
- Cover - Copy one for each student and fold in half. (The lined pages, below, are stapled inside).
- Lined Pages - Create as many pages as you wish. You can make the journals double sided, or leave the back side blank for illustrations. In that case, one page will have lines and the other will be a blank page for an illustration.
- Schedule about 15 minutes every morning for journal writing.
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Purchase Journals
Free Back-to-School "Star Student" Bulletin Board August 07 2009, 1 Comment
Free Back-to-School "Star Student" bulletin board. Teaching good character & self-esteem is just as important as academics. When we teach, we are looking into the eyes of the future. Our students can learn to share their gifts and talents with the world while making a positive difference. It's amazing that they can learn this skill from us!- Page 1 of 2
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