Hop into Spring! Compare and Contrast Rabbits and Hares!

 

Spring is the perfect time to bring some hoppy-ness into learning! Check out this craft and language arts activity which will allow your students to explore the similarities and differences between rabbits and hares in a meaningful way. 

They will learn some cool facts and vocabulary about these furry creatures through close readings that are differentiated. Then, they will learn to gather information, organize it into a T-chart, compare and contrast it using a Venn diagram, and answer comprehension questions. 

Afterwards, students will create an adorable spring rabbit to culminate this activity. It's perfect for a bulletin board or an easy plan to leave for a sub.  Hoppy learning! Grab the 2-3 version here.

For the little ones (K-1), enjoy a spring emergent reader, craft, and writing activities as well.

Pair it with a spring acrostic poem freebie for an even cuter bulletin board! Grab it here!

Flip Book Fun: Sharing Holiday Traditions in the Classroom!

 

Looking for a fun way for your students to share their holiday traditions and unique family celebrations? Our holiday flip book is the perfect activity to get kids excited to learn about each other's holiday traditions, foods, and decorations!

Each student can create pages about how they celebrate—whether it's a traditional special meal, fun holiday decorations, or cherished traditions, it’s a great way for students to learn about different cultures and traditions from their classmates! 

It's also differentiated for the ability of your students.

This NO-PREP, easy-to-assemble flip book activity is a creative way to celebrate diversity and explore what makes each holiday season special for every student. Great to use in class to share with classmates and share with family members!

Our Winter Wonderland Snowflake Place Value Activity!

Engage your students in a winter wonderland of learning with this 

Snowflake Place Value Activity!

This hands-on craftivity allows students to explore and practice place value concepts by creating unique snowflakes.

It's differentiated for all levels of learners where students choose their own number (single, double or triple digit) and on each arm of the snowflake showcases a different way to represent the number, such as standard form, expanded form, word form, using coins, and more.

This will help reinforce their understanding of place value in a creative and interactive way, making math both fun and festive.

Perfect for a classroom activity or an easy bulletin board.

                     ENJOY THESE FREE SNOWFLAKE CLIPART IMAGES BELOW:

The Power of Teaching Nonfiction Text Features for First and Second Graders

 

Non-Fiction Text Features

Teaching young readers about nonfiction text features is a game-changer in helping them understand and engage with informational texts. Non-fiction text features are like little reading road signs that guide students through new information, allowing them to locate and comprehend facts more efficiently. It’s very important in first and second grade to focus on key text features which will allow students to be more successful and build their confidence when they encounter more complex texts later on.

Here are some important text features students should know:  

·        Headings – Titles that introduce the main topics or sections of a text. It gives readers an idea of what they’ll be learning about.

·       Subheadings – Smaller titles that break down the main topic into specific sections, allowing the reader to find information quickly.

·       Table of Contents – A list at the beginning of the book that shows all of the chapters or sections and the page numbers they can find it on.

·       Captions – A description under pictures or diagrams that explain what the image shows and gives more information about it.

·       Glossary – A small dictionary at the end of a book that defines the important words found in the text.

·       Index – A list at the end of the book in alphabetical order that shows where certain topics or words are mentioned.

·       Bold Words – Words that are darker in print to show they are important terms

·       Diagrams – Drawings or images with labels showing parts of something, providing a visual explanation of a concept.

      ·        Labels – Words or phrases on a pictures or diagram that name specific items or parts.

·       Charts and Graphs – Visual displays of information, like numbers or facts, that make it easier to understand data or relationships.

Check out some engaging activities below that let students practice identify and using these features while learning about incredible topics such as bats, bald eagles, spiders and more!

Includes follow up comprehension activities and writing activity.

 Check out Bats here!

Spiders is also available!

Here are some great books (fiction & non-fiction) to read about bats and spiders!

Monstrous Fun with Adjectives and Treat Yourself to Some FREEBIES Too!

 

Monstrous Fun with Adjectives!

Bring creativity to your classroom with a fun and  imaginative adjective lesson.

Students will first design their own unique monsters and then write descriptions using adjectives to bring their creations to life. There’s even a NO prep option to keep things super simple—perfect for a bulletin board display or a creative sub plan. Your students will love using, writing, and learning about adjectives in this playful and engaging way!  

Perfect for the month of October!

 Grab some treats for stopping by here!

Color Code Freebie

Pencil Tags for the Kids

Rev Up Your Back-to-School "Get to Know You" Activity!

 

Rev Up Your Back-to-School "Get to Know You" Activity!

Looking for a fun, back-to-school activity? Even better, recently updated with a new look!  Try using cars as a theme for an All About Me activity. Each student gets their own car to decorate and fill out with details about themselves (favorite color, career choice, family, etc.), and 'park' it on a class display.

It’s a great way to help students express their individuality and gets everyone cruising into the new year with a smile! Start your engines for an engaging and memorable start to the year!

Don’t Lose the Kid: The Perks of Bus Tags and a Stress-Free Dismissal

 

Picture this....it's almost 3:00 o'clock. You've survived the first day of teaching but the daunting task of getting 25 little ones on the correct bus is the most challenging part of the entire day! 

To anyone outside the profession, it sounds easy, right? Until little Johnny decides he’s suddenly going home with Grandma today, and Emma swears she’s riding Bus 12 even though she's a Bus 9 regular.  Dismissal time, especially with kindergartners after a long day is more like herding cats…if the cats had no idea what bus they’re supposed to be on.

Enter the hero of dismissal time: the almighty bus tag!  It’s a super helpful way to ensure every student gets on the right bus. Bus 12? Check. Bus 9? Check.  No more panic-inducing moments as children get on the bus and you’re triple checking the list for the tenth time.  Students can hand you the tag or you can clip it to their bag.  They also get used to seeing the bus number which will (fingers crossed) help them remember their bus.

So, the next time you’re gearing up for dismissal, just remember: bus tags are your best friend. Print them out, laminate them for year after year use and enjoy that feeling of a job well done—no lost kids and no extra gray hairs!

Grab it here!