Fall games,

1-2-3 Come Do Some Colorful Fall Activities With Me

Because of the Halloween Colors packet, I had 2 requests for something similar, that was less Halloween and more fall in content.  Both gals teach at schools where they don't celebrate Halloween, but do cover all of the Common Core that I incorporated into the packet.  

leaf activities, common core leaves, end punctuation activities, fall games, beginning capitalization activities, color word activities, color games, leaf games, fall poem, fall poetryI decided to revamp The Colors Of Fall easy reader.  It's one of my first booklets, before I took computer classes and bought lots of software, clip art and fonts, yet it's one of my personal favorites, as my husband helped me tweak my poem. 

He's a stickler for the appropriate number of beats for consistancy in a rhyme.  leaf activities, common core leaves, end punctuation activities, fall games, beginning capitalization activities, color word activities, color games, leaf games, fall poem, fall poetryI've included a poster poem to share with your students before they start working on their own booklet.

Children read the simple sentences (lots of Dolch and word wall words here). 

leaf activities, common core leaves, end punctuation activities, fall games, beginning capitalization activities, color word activities, color games, leaf games, fall poem, fall poetryThey correct the beginning capitalization and then add end punctuation

Using matching colored markers or crayons, they trace, write and color the color words and then color the pictures.

leaf activities, common core leaves, end punctuation activities, fall games, beginning capitalization activities, color word activities, color games, leaf games, fall poem, fall poetryThere's also a color word worksheet, graphing extension and spinner game.  

Click on the link to view/download The Colors Of Fall packet.

leaf activities, common core leaves, end punctuation activities, fall games, beginning capitalization activities, color word activities, color games, leaf games, fall poem, fall poetryAs long as I was on a roll, I decided to whip up an all-leaf themed one, using the same format. 

I wasn't sure I was going to use all of the colors, because purple, pink, blue and white are certainly not common leaf colors, but I managed to fit them all in.

As with the other two packets, there's a booklet, worksheet, graphing extension and game.  Click on the link to view/download The Colorful Leaves packet.

leaf activities, common core leaves, end punctuation activities, fall games, beginning capitalization activities, color word activities, color games, leaf games, fall poem, fall poetryAnna and Karla were happy about the new additions, and said "Just what I was looking for!"  so I hope you can use them too. 

Now that I'm calmer, I'm off to try and figure out 3 stupid TV remotes, (Isn't 3 times a charm?) so that I can watch a Disney movie with my grandson.  Things have gotten so complicated I'm ready to throw them all out the window!  Oh for the days of on-off-and fast forward, with only ONE remote.  If you hear a crash you'll know I wasn't very successful... Wishing you a stress-free day.    

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few engage in it." - Henry Ford

1-2-3 Come Do Some Apple and Pumpkin Activities With Me!

One of the much-needed skills for little ones, is the ability to cut.  Just learning how to hold a scissors is quite an accomplishment for some.  To help my Y5's strengthen their hand muscles and increase dexterity, I incorporated cutting practice in some form or another every day.  To make this less tedious and frustrating, many of the activities revolved around creating a craft that included other skills as well.

apple activities, pumpkin activities, apple crafts, apple puzzles, apple games, apple centers, apple math, pumpkin crafts, pumpkin puzzles, pumpkin centers, pumpkin math, harvest bulletin boards, pumpkin bulletin boards, apple bullein boards, skip counting by 10's activities, counting backwards activities, common core apples, common core pumpkinsKeeping this in mind, I designed "A-peel-ing Apples" so children could practice cutting in a circle.  This is a wonderful opportunity to add the term spiral to students' vocabulary as well.  Giving a red, yellow or lime green color choice for the apple, also reinforces that science fact. 

To add a bit more pizzazz, older students can glue two different colors together.  The thicker paper lessens the drop of the spiral, and the double-sided colors add interest to the dangler.  Students glue a stem and leaf to the top.  Punch a hole; add a yarn loop and suspend from the ceiling, or as a border against a hallway wall.  Click on the link to view/download the A-peel-ing Apples activity.

apple activities, pumpkin activities, apple crafts, apple puzzles, apple games, apple centers, apple math, pumpkin crafts, pumpkin puzzles, pumpkin centers, pumpkin math, harvest bulletin boards, pumpkin bulletin boards, apple bullein boards, skip counting by 10's activities, counting backwards activities, common core apples, common core pumpkinsCutting on a straight line is also not that easy for some little ones. These apple and pumpkin "strip" puzzles, will not only give your students practice with that skill, but review and reinforce sequencing numbers from 1-10, skip counting by 10's, or counting backwards from 10-1. I've used a dashed-line font, for the numbers on the apples and pumpkins, so that students can get some writing practice in.  Encourage children to count quietly as they trace the numbers.

apple activities, pumpkin activities, apple crafts, apple puzzles, apple games, apple centers, apple math, pumpkin crafts, pumpkin puzzles, pumpkin centers, pumpkin math, harvest bulletin boards, pumpkin bulletin boards, apple bullein boards, skip counting by 10's activities, counting backwards activities, common core apples, common core pumpkinsSimply choose a number concept you want to work on and run off the puzzles on construction paper.  Children choose a puzzle; trace the numbers; cut the strips, lay them in the proper sequence on a sheet of black construction paper, and then glue them down. 

Remind students to keep a small space between the strips.  Students add a stem and leaf to the top.  You can make the pumpkin more of a keepsake, by having children, or a room helper, trace their hand, with their fingers spread, onto green construction paper.  They trim and glue next to their stem.  Completed projects make a sweet harvest bulletin board.

You may want to laminate one of each kind, to keep in your math center.  Each puzzle has its own Baggie.  Children can work indepently, or pick a partner to play "Speed" against.  The first one who completes their puzzle, is the winner.  Click on the link to view/download the Apple and Pumpkin Number Puzzles.

apple activities, pumpkin activities, apple crafts, apple puzzles, apple games, apple centers, apple math, pumpkin crafts, pumpkin puzzles, pumpkin centers, pumpkin math, harvest bulletin boards, pumpkin bulletin boards, apple bullein boards, skip counting by 10's activities, counting backwards activities, common core apples, common core pumpkinsThanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  To ensure that "pinners" return to THIS blog article, click on the green title at the top; it will turn black, now click on the "Pin it" button located on my menu bar.  If you'd like to take a look at all of the wonderfully creative stuff I PIN for school, click on the heart to the right of the blog.

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly." -Lauren Bacall

1-2-3 Come Make Some Autumn Activities With Me!

Since the apple puzzles and flip-to-find puzzle-booklets, were such a huge hit, I decided to make them for each season and major theme.   I just finished 12 fall puzzles and have included leaves, spiders, owls, scarecrows, pumpkins and Halloween in the pictures. 

fall number puzzles, spider puzzles, leaf puzzles, number puzzles, halloween puzzles, scarecrow puzzles, skip counting by 10'sAs with the apple puzzles, there is a set using numbers 1-10, as well as a skip count by 10's set.  I design every day and welcome suggestions, so if there's a fall theme I've missed, that you'd like a puzzle for, shoot me an e-mail: dianehen@teachwithme.com and I'll whip something together.  

number puzzles, math centers, sequencing numbers, counting activities, skip counting by 10's, activities for skip counting by 10's, pumpkin activities, bat activities, Halloween activities, scarecrow activities, fall puzzles, Halloween games, Halloween puzzles, puzzle pictures, number strip puzzles, leaf puzzles, pumpkin puzzles, leaf activitiesThe puzzles are a quick, easy and fun way to get your kiddo’s sequencing numbers. One of my Y5 report card standards, was to be able to put a puzzle together, so these are especially beneficial.

number puzzles, math centers, sequencing numbers, counting activities, skip counting by 10's, activities for skip counting by 10's, pumpkin activities, bat activities, Halloween activities, scarecrow activities, fall puzzles, Halloween games, Halloween puzzles, puzzle pictures, number strip puzzles, leaf puzzles, pumpkin puzzles, leaf activitiesPrint off the puzzles on construction paper, or card stock, laminate and trim.  Keep each puzzle in its own Ziplock Baggie. Pass them out to your students and set a timer.  See who can complete their puzzle the fastest.  When they are done with one, they may exchange theirs, with another student, who has a different puzzle.

You can use these each year, or skip the lamination and give each child a puzzle to take home. They can cut their own strips, mess them up and put them together.

number puzzles, math centers, sequencing numbers, counting activities, skip counting by 10's, activities for skip counting by 10's, pumpkin activities, bat activities, Halloween activities, scarecrow activities, fall puzzles, Halloween games, Halloween puzzles, puzzle pictures, number strip puzzles, leaf puzzles, flip booklet templates, flip booklet patterns, number flip booklet pattern, pumpkin puzzles, leaf activitiesAnother thing you can do with the puzzles is make a puzzle flip book.  I used 3 puzzles for the booklet in the photo. Print the puzzles, and cut into strips.  Alternate the 3 different puzzles, so that when you make your flip book, the puzzle picture is now all jumbled. 

Glue just the number portion to the top of the 1-10 or count by 10’s puzzle template, gluing all of the #1 strips, onto the #1 square, the 2's onto the 2 square etc. Children decide on a puzzle to "flip and find" and then flip the puzzle strips up 'til they find a match. Click on the link to view/download the Fall Number Strip Puzzles.

number puzzles, math centers, sequencing numbers, counting activities, skip counting by 10's, activities for skip counting by 10's, pumpkin activities, bat activities, Halloween activities, scarecrow activities, fall puzzles, Halloween games, Halloween puzzles, puzzle pictures, number strip puzzles, leaf puzzles, flip booklet templates, flip booklet patterns, number flip booklet pattern, pumpkin puzzles, leaf activitiesThanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  If you'd like to see all of the terrific educational items that I pin, click on the big heart to the right of the blog. 

I try and blog every day, and post the newest FREEBIES that I've just designed, so I hope you can pop by tomorrow.  As always, I enjoy reading any comments you wish to share.

"One of the secrets of teaching, is to appear to have known all of your life, what you have just learned this afternoon." -Unknown