Thanksgiving Fun!

Have you checked your blog feed lately?!   If you have I'm sure you have seen post after post about wonderful Thanksgiving Classroom Happenings.  Well, I don't want to disappoint you so I thought I'd share some of my activities, favorite stories, TpT Finds, and other awesome blog posts that you should definitely check out.  

To get started I'd like to share a few activities I made that I'd definitely be doing with my kiddos this week.  

We'd start off the week with a story about The First Thanksgiving.  Then as follow up we'd make and start to fill out this flip book.  I wouldn't do this all on one day.  The pages of this book would get filled out over the course of the week as we re-read, re-tell, and act out The First Thanksgiving Story. 

We would also spend some time talking about the Mayflower.  Scholastic has a great interactive text that allows for students to "take the journey" on the Mayflower.  Check it out HERE.   We'd discuss what we learned about the Mayflower and then create this craft listing 3 facts we learned.

For fun we'd make this silly turkey hat!  It'd be the perfect follow up to a turkey read aloud or even a turkey poem.

Our centers for the week would all be Thanksgiving Themed.  This is a picture of a Thanksgiving themed Write-The-Room center, the directions for a Thanksgiving measurement center, and a word family cut and paste activity.

We'd also compare and contrast pilgrim children and children today.  I'd do this on a large class diagram and then have students fill in their own recording sheet.  

I love these Native American and Pilgrim Writing Displays.  I'd let students choose which one they wanted to make and then display their "I'm thankful for" writing on them.

Lastly, we'd prepare for our Thanksgiving Day Feast.  One thing we'd do in preparation is make a placemat by weaving construction paper.  I'd laminate and cut out these mats so that they'd be ready for our feast.  

I LOVE teaching about Thanksgiving and really think it should be a FUN learning experience for the kiddos.  If you're still looking for more ideas why not check out the resources below.  Have a great week!

Books

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston

The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross

The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene

Pilgrims of Plymouth by Susan E. Goodman

A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

TpT Finds

My Thanksgiving Unit

Doodle Bugs Teaching: Native American Directed Drawing (FREE)

Wendy Boyd's: Thanksgiving Costume Patterns & More!

BB Kidz: Thanksgiving Emergent Reader

Krista Wallden's: Gobble Gobble! Clip Art

Fabulous Blog Posts by Fellow Bloggers:

"Together We Are Better" from Kindergarten Crayons

Pilgrim Class Project by Kelley From Teacher Idea Factory

"Thanksgiving Fun in Kindergarten" by Sharing Kindergarten

Fun Thanksgiving Stories & Freebies by Live, Love, Laugh...Everyday in Kindergarten

Pilgrims & Native Americans by Little Miss Glamour Goes to Kindergarten

Scarecrows!

It's November!  Can you believe it?!  I hope that you all had a relaxing weekend after a most likely busy, fun-filled Halloween!  So what does this month have in store?  Scarecrows, Veterans Day, Turkeys, and Thanksgiving all come quickly to mind.  Some teachers get off a whole week for Thanksgiving and others just a few days, either way it is sure to be another jam packed month.

The cute fonts above are from: www.kevinandamanda.com
 and the adorable graphics are from: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Fun-Classroom-Creations

I like to start off November by talking more about the season fall and a fun way to do this is to talk about Scarecrows!  These harvest helpers have been around for more than 3,000 years and today we see them all over as fun decorative characters for the season.  I don't know about you but I'd have fun making this a theme for a week!  So here are a few ideas I've created and found to help make planning a scarecrow week a little easier.  

1. Why not start the week off with a class graph:  Do you like Scarecrows?  Hold a discussion all about these cuties and then have students decide if they like them or not.  After creating the class graph have students record their results on a recording page like this:

Click to grab this Freebie :)

Clip Art from Fun-Classroom- Creations

2. We all know that teachers love to make scarecrow crafts with their kiddos, but before doing so I'd complete a scarecrow brace map with my class.  I'd use a brace map like this to help students identify the parts of a scarecrow.  I also created an emergent "My Scarecrow" printable book.  Each page follows the pattern "My scarecrow has _________" and builds the scarecrow from hat to shoes.

3. For science I'd give a lesson on the 4 seasons.  Following this introduction we'd spend the week talking more about fall.  I'd start off by reading the book I made below called What Happens in Fall and we'd also discuss our fall 5 senses.  Students would draw and write about their 5 senses for fall in the little book pictured below.

4. There are many great stories about scarecrows but one of my favorites is The Little Scarecrow Boy.  Below is a picture of story map pieces to accompany this story.  I'd do this whole class style in a pocket chart and then have students fill in their own follow up sheet. 

5. And of course we'd do a scarecrow craft, just look at the cute one I found below under tpt products.  But I wouldn't want to leave out the crow, so this is a torn paper crow I created along with a crow poem.  Isn't he cute?!  We'd for sure be making him!

All of the activities above can be found in my scarecrow unit on TpT.

Now here are a few more ideas to help you plan your perfect scarecrow week!

A great story by Ken Brown all about a chicken who is on a mission to solve a problem.  Your littles will love the beautiful illustrations and the fun repetition.

This is one of my favorites!  Margaret Wise Brown has written this super read aloud about a little scarecrow boy who doesn't give up.  This story is great for story maps, sequencing, and making predictions!

If you're teaching about fall this book by Heidi Press Gray is perfect.  Her water-color illustrations accompany simple text which describe the many happenings of fall.  Ooooo this story could lead to a great art activity!

Check out these fabulous finds!

Check out this product at MY TpT store by clicking on the photo.

Love these adorable scarecrow crafts by Lauryn Kirk Balogh!

Click the picture to check this product out in Lauryn's TpT Store

And this scarecrow glyph by Crayonbox Learning :)

Click the picture to check this product out at Crayonbox Learning's TpT Store

Before making my unit I purchased these cute graphics from Scrappin Doodles.

Click the picture to check this product out in Scrappin Doodles TpT Store

Here are some blog posts I found with great scarecrow/fall ideas!

Scarecrows & Fall by Growing Kinders:

 http://growingkinders.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/scarecrows-and-fallyes-i-am-bit-behind.html

Scarecrows! by Mrs.Lee's Kindergarten: http://mrsleeskinderkids.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/scarecrows_23.html

Scarecrow, Scarecrow by Kinder Korner:

http://www.kinderkorner.com/scarecrow.html

Scarecrow Fun from Mrs. Jumps Class:

http://mrsjumpsclass.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/scarecrow-fun.html

Are you planning a scarecrow theme?  I'd love to see all your fun happenings.  Be sure to comment below and let me know.  Happy Planning!

Pumpkins & Halloween!

The last week of October is upon us and like many primary teachers, if I were in the classroom this week, my plans would be filled with pumpkin activities and Halloween fun!  Here are some books, products, and posts that'd help me to plan an engaging, spooky, jam packed week.

Graphics by Krista Wallden of Creative Clips: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krista-Wallden & Fonts by www.kevinandmanda.com

For this week I'd start off with a K-W-L about pumpkins.  I like to know what the little ones know about pumpkins and what'd they want to know.  This of course not only provides insight on what the they already know but it helps me to guide discussions and activities throughout the week. Whenever possible I like to answer their questions as we learn about the topic.  It helps keep kids engaged and is a fun way to wrap up each day of learning.

After an introduction to the theme, the subject areas would be filled with pumpkin type activities. Such as...

Reading:  Both fiction and nonfiction Pumpkin stories.  For both text types we'd focus on story retell.  The nonfiction of course would be retell of facts and these would help tie into our writing for the week.

Writing:  Informational Writing following the can-have-are chart

Math: Review #'s1-10  and Comparing numbers (Pumpkin themed centers) & Pumpkin Investigation Math

Science: Life Cycle of a Pumpkin - Read Aloud, Sequence Story - Cut/Paste

Craft: Sponge Pumpkins

Song/Poem: Five Little Pumpkins

Halloween Dress up Day: Afternoon Halloween Stations instead of a Party

Click picture to see this Pinterest Link I found :)

  

Your students will laugh the whole way through this funny story by Kevin Lewis.  It is about three siblings who find a great big pumpkin and decide to take it home.  But, when they cut the vine it starts rolling down the hill and then through the town!  The rhyming chorus is fun and the illustrations show great detail.  Check it out :)

Elizabeth King has written this great informational story which includes real color photographs!  A perfect read aloud for teaching about the life cycle of a pumpkin.

If you're planning to do a Pumpkin Math activity then this book by Margaret McNamara is the perfect introduction. 

Click picture to see this in my TpT store.

Click picture to see this in "From the Pond's" TpT store.

Click picture to see this in "Creation Castle's TpT Store.

Click picture to see this in Tamara Russell's TpT Store.

Here are some pumpkin/halloween related posts by other fellow bloggers that you might want to check out!

Kindergals Apples & Pumpkins Post:

http://kindergals.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/peek-at-my-week-week-12-apples-and.html

Deanna Jumps Halloween activities post:

http://mrsjumpsclass.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/halloween-unit-completely-revised-and.html

Simply Kinders Pumpkin Book Report Post:

http://www.simplykinder.com/2014/10/pumpkin-book-reports-last-years-pumpkins.html

First Grade Blue Skies Pumpkin Week Post:

http://firstgradeblueskies.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/pumpkin-week-freebies.html

Mrs.Pauley's Kindergarten Pumpkin Fun Post:

http://mrspauleyskindergarten.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/pumpkin-fun.html

Wow!  Can you say Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins!  This is just a glimpse at the many wonderful ideas out there and I hope it helps you finish up your plans for the week.  Let me know what you're up to and feel free to put a link to your pumpkin post in the comments below.  

Happy Pumpkin Week!

Get your Bats!

Hi All!  

Hope you are enjoying your weekend and squeezing every last minute out of it.  But if you're starting to look at your plans for the week and need some theme inspiration then I'm here with a post for you to read.  Since I'm not in the classroom I decided to change up my "plans"  a bit and instead of creating full weekly plans I'll just be posting about the theme I would be focusing on for the week if I were in the classroom.  For each weekly theme I'm going to include a list of favorite books, tpt product finds, and links to fellow bloggers that are must reads.  Basically this is an inspiration post where I hope to list my favorite theme ideas and finds.  Enjoy!

So today I'm here to talk about....

Graphics by Krista Wallden from Creative Clips: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krista-Wallden

Like many teachers, I like to teach about bats in October.  Little learners seem to be intrigued by these interesting flying mammals and with Halloween on many of their minds this theme fits in perfectly.  I like to start the week off with bat observation charts.  To do this I find pictures of different things that have to do with bats.  For example maybe a cave, an outline of a bat, picture of things that they'd eat etc.  I tape each picture to the center of a large sheet of paper and then set these out on tables around the room.  When students enter they grab a marker and move from picture to picture adding their own words, sentences, pictures and such, to the chart in response to the question:  What do you see?  Then we gather whole group to discuss their observations.  After our discussion I make a list of what they think our theme is for the week.  They love guessing!  If needed, I provide clues and after a few guesses I reveal our theme!  It's so much fun and really helps students to learn how to make observations.  

After introducing the theme I like to read a story about bats!  Sometimes I start the week with fiction and sometimes nonfiction it just depends what I want to start with first.  The week is filled with bat books galore!  Here are a few of my favorite fiction and nonfiction bat books!

I really like this nonfiction book by Ann Earles.  It is a perfect read aloud for kindergarten or first grade students and provides a simple introduction to bats.  It helps to encourage positive views about these animals and even includes instructions for how to build a bat house!

This is another great nonfiction read aloud by the well known Gail Gibbons.  This book is filled with beautiful illustrations and includes information about the different kinds of bats.

I think we have all read this fiction book!  If not you must go and read it now! Ha-Ha  No but really this is a fantastic story with great embedded lessons about similarities, differences, and acceptance.

A delightful rhyming and counting book by Kathi Appelt.  This story is sure to bring fun and smiles to your class.

There are many, many more bat books out there!  What are your favorites?

For activities and lessons to teach about bats I'd look to TpT.   

Each picture is linked to where it can be found and purchased on TpT.  These are some of my favorite products by fantastic sellers!

Here are some fun math centers from Cara Carroll.

Click Picture to grab this from Cara Carroll's TpT store.

Here is my set of Bat tree map activities!  It includes pieces to make a large class chart, a recording sheet, and a bat craft/writing activity.

Click picture to grab this from MY TpT store.

A super cute bat clip art set by Krista Wallden!

This is Deanna Jump's Amazing Bat Unit!

Click picture to grab this from Deanna Jump's TpT store.

These sets by Kindergarten Printables are perfect for centers, mini-lessons, or homework.  

Click picture to grab this from Kindergarten Printables TpT store.

Click Picture to grab this from Kindergarten Printables TpT store.

A fun bat hat by Robin Sellers.

Click Picture to grab this from Robin Sellers' TpT store.

Is your week starting to fill up with plans?  If not be sure to check out these fellow bloggers who have  awesome posts about bat themed activities.  I know I loved reading about what they do and checking out their products!

Deanna Jump from Mrs. Jump's Class Bat Post: http://mrsjumpsclass.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/batty-over-bats.html

Cara Carroll from First Grade Parade Bat Post: http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/its-tuesday-im-little-batty.html

Check out this Idea from Jodi Southward from Fun in First Grade: http://fun-in-first.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/more-bat-activities.html

More Ideas from Danielle at Kroger's Kindergarten: http://krogerskindergarten.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/bats-bats-bats.html

Look at these ideas from: http://izziemacandme.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/bat-activities.html

Bat Science fun from Reagan at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits: http://tunstalltimes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/bat-science.html

Ideas about pumpkins & Bats from Jessica Williamson at Welcome to Room 36:

http://mrswilliamsonskinders.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/pumpkins-and-bats.html

If you can think of more or have a batty post of your own please leave a comment with your link below.  Happy Bat Week!