New Year writing prompts,

 1-2-3 Come Do Some More New Year Activities With Me

Tonight will usher in a New Year.  Before I get busy preparing for that, I wanted to blog about some New Year activities, for those of you who'll be in the mood tomorrow to plan a few lessons. 

new year crafts, new year activities, new year bulletin boards, new year writing promptsFirst up, is a New Year Place Value craftivity. It's a "growing" packet, as each year it will be updated with more dates.  As always, I try to combine math with literacy whenever I can.

Even though my kiddos are just doing 3-digit numbers, they have no problem wrapping their brains around this larger number, with an added place value section.

They trace, write, cut and glue the numbers under the appropriate "doors" that flip up, to reveal the year.

As a math extension, for the last “window” they practice subtraction, by subtracting the year that they were born, from the New Year, to get their age.

Older students can do the writing prompt: “Three things that are different from the New Year, than the year when I was born…” and glue this paper on the back of their flip up.

This can simply be basic information, or involve technology, by sending them to the Internet, and have them find 3 specifics and compare them. i.e., “The president when I was born was Bill Clinton. The president now is Barack Obama.”

new year crafts, new year activities, new year bulletin boards, new year writing promptsIf you think your students will need more room, or you want to do this as a separate writing block or Daily 5 activity, I’ve also included 5 writing prompt worksheet options. 
For more writing and comparison practice, there are  2 Venn diagrams in the packet as well. 

If your kiddos are learning to tell time to the hour, this  New Year emergent reader, is an interesting way for them to practice.

Students go from lunch time (noon) to midnight, as they trace and write words and times, draw hands on the clocks to show that time, and complete a few writing prompts, adding some illustrations.

There's a full-page template, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page one, to conserve ink and paper. 

new year crafts, new year activities, new year bulletin boards, Venn diagram templates, new year writing promptsFinally, no matter what grade I taught, and there were many(!) my students really enjoyed doing a Venn diagram.

I love them because they are a quick, easy and fun way to introduce and practice, comparison and contrast, plus the graphic aspect is perfect for my visual learners. Students can do them independently, or pick a partner and complete one together.

There are 17 different Venn diagrams in the Happy New Year Writing Prompt packet, plus I changed the header on the “head” pattern Venns, so you can use them any time of the year.

They are especially appropriate for Back To School, as a getting to know you icebreaker. Completed projects make an awesome bulletin board too.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a "High Fives New Year Writing Prompt" craftivity" “High fives for me! I made these New Year resolutions and am trying to keep them.” Encourage students to think of five.

new year crafts, new year activities, new year bulletin boards, Venn diagram templates, new year writing promptsAfterwards, children pick a partner and take turns tracing each others hand and wrist on a bit of flesh-tone construction paper, then trim.

Drawing fingernails, a watchband and rings adds extra pizzazz.  Have children write the New Year below the “knuckles”.  I’ve included a clock pattern students can cut and glue to their wristband, drawing hands to show midnight.

The girls LOVED adding flat-backed jewels to their rings. You can get self-stick ones, or use mini glue dots. Glitter nail polish was another option and highlight. 

new year crafts, new year activities, new year bulletin boards, Venn diagram templates, new year writing promptsWell that's it for now.  Thanks for stopping by. 

My "to do" list for today, is rather long but lots of fun.  Wishing you a safe and blessed New Year's Eve, filled with lots of memorable moments.  

"Cheers to a New Year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year-Themed Activities With Me

I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas break.  For those of you who might be in the mood to do a bit of lesson planning, for those first few days back from vacation, I thought I'd blog about some of the quick, easy and fun New Year activities that I just finished.

new year crafts, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year games, new year centers, new year writing prompts, new year bulletin boardsFirst up is a "Happy New Year" countdown slider.  It's a "glitter ball"  craftivity to practice counting backwards.  I've included countdown strips from 10-0, as well as 20-0.

Children trim, trace the numbers, and insert into the slits of their countdown ball. 
For that finishing touch, add a bit of silver glitter for extra pizzazz.

To practice, we start from a sitting position. My kiddos are holding their slider and counting backwards with me, as we pull the numbers through the "window" of their glitter balls.

As we approach zero, they get in a crouching position.  As we say "zero!" they jump in the air and yell "Happy New Year!" 

Jumping around gets the wiggles out, then counting backwards in a whisper voice calms them right back down. Afterwards, they love "tip-toeing on marshmallow feet" to their cubbies, to put their ball away for another time. 

new year crafts, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year games, new year centers, new year writing prompts, new year bulletin boardsNext up is a Happy New Year balloon writing prompt craft.  It's  a “Growing” packet, as there are no worries of it ever being outdated, for I’ve included patterns through 2020, which I'll up-date each year.

I’ve found that if I toss in a quick, easy and fun craftivity, with my students’ writing prompts, they are eager and excited to get down to the business of writing.

This writing prompt rings in the new, while reflecting on the old:
* ”My favorite thing that I learned, my favorite thing that I did, and my favorite place that I went . . .” is the front of the balloon, and reflects the past.

The back balloon, contemplates the present and future:
* ”Something that I’d like to learn, something I’d like to do, somewhere I’d like to go . . .”

You can give students an option of which one they want to do, or assign both, completing them during two different writing blocks, then glue them back-to-back. 

new year crafts, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year games, new year centers, new year writing prompts, new year bulletin boardsAn added bonus is that completed projects make an awesome display.  Simply run off on a variety of colors of construction paper, add some Dollar Store curling ribbon and suspend from the ceiling. 

Finally, this sports-themed writing prompt, Having a Ball With Our Goals For The New Year, also makes an awesome January bulletin board or hallway display.

We discuss New Year's resolutions, then I use it as a segue into making some goals for school too.

Students write a list of goals on a sheet of scratch paper, edit, then write them on either a volleyball, football, baseball, basketball or soccer ball, which you've run off on appropriate colors of construction paper.

After students share several of their goals with the class, scatter them on a bulletin board.

I've included a colorful "We're Having A Ball With Our Goals For The New Year!" poster, which you can put in the center of your display. 

new year crafts, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year games, new year centers, new year writing prompts, new year bulletin boardsToday's featured FREEBIE is a set of Happy New Year number puzzles, which will also help your kiddos practice counting backwards.

Well that's it for today. 

new year crafts, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year games, new year centers, new year writing prompts, new year bulletin boardsI'm busy working on all sorts of fun Snowman, Mitten and Snowflake activities, as I  look forward to all of the special winter celebrations. 

Wishing you a creative and cozy day. 

"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." -William Blake

 1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year "Craftivity" Resolutions With Me!

new year activities, hand print crafts, new year writing prompts, january writing prompts, new year resolution writing prompts, january bulletin boards, winter daily 5, daily 5 activitiesWhen one thinks about the New Year, it’s inevitable that a few resolutions come to mind. This was a new word for my Y5’s, so I presented it as a "promise" to themselves, of what they’d like to improve on. 

For a quick, easy and fun writing prompt, have your kiddos choose a partner, and take turns tracing each other's hand on the New Year's template.  Once done, they fill in the details: "I made these resolutions and I'm trying to keep them..."

This simple January writng prompt makes an interesting Daily 5 activity too.  Have students include the year (written on their fingers) and glue their school picture somewhere on the page.

Be sure and make a sample to show your class.  My Y5's always enjoyed learning about me.  I added a bit more pizzazz by gluing on flat-backed rhinestones to my "rings."

After students share, mount their work on a variety of colors of construction paper and sprinkle over a wintry-printed bulletin board. (I buy discounted Christmas wrapping paper with snowflakes for this purpose.)

Click on the link to view/download the High Five's For A Happy New Year "craftivity."

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, For another New Year craftivity, I used Tagxedo, one of my favorite educational word art sites. Set this up as an independent computer center for students to think up their own designs and words.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, The packet has a list of 68-positive "resolution" words + an ABC booklet for students to "improve" themselves "alphabetically".

Completed projects make a very interesting January bulletin board.  Click on the link for this great verb reinforcement tool and vocabulary builder.  New Year's Word Art Craftivities.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, new year goals, new year resolution activities, january bulletin boards, january writing promptsAnother awesome bulletin board for January, features a  New Year's writing prompt as well.  Here, resolutions are viewed as goals.

Since basketball, soccer and football are all sports where players score goals, I thought it would be fun to have students write what their goals are for the New Year on the ball of their choice. I've included a poster that you can put in the center of your bulletin board as a caption. 

Besides the balls, there are also 2 writing prompt pages for journal writing, which includes one with a hockey theme.   Click on the link to grab the New Year Goals Packet. 

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, new year goals, new year resolution activities, january bulletin boards, january writing promptsFor another creative writing bulletin board and some parts of speech practice,  I know your kiddo's will enjoy playing the Fractured New Year writing prompt game.  Students take turns rolling the dice to fill in a word from the adjective, noun or verb list, which then creates a hilarious story. 

When everyone has completed the game, have students read their stories aloud, and enjoy all of the giggles, mount on construction paper, scatter on a few stars (suspend some from the ceiling) and you're done.  Click on the link for Fractured New Year fun. 

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, Finally, I’ve also designed a New Year's graphic organizer with some interesting writing prompts for students to complete. It also includes a box for their resolutions.

Children can draw a picture of themselves or glue a photo in the center oval.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, That's it for today.  I have quite a few finishing touches that I need to accomplish before I can finally rest and relax.

It's time to get some hustle bustle going, so once again I'm dashing.  Wishing you a productive and fun day.

"Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, it will be happier." -Alfred Lord Tennyson

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year Activities With Me

happy new year activities, happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, new year writing prompts, january writing prompts, january bulletin boards, january crafts, winter crafts, new year crafts for kids, As schools are coming to a close for a nice holiday break, I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a happy, healthy, safe and relaxing New Year.  I'm posting these popular New Year activities early, because if you're like me, I wanted to have my first day back, planned and run off before I left for a much-needed break.

I also didn't want to have to worry about putting up a bulletin board, so with that in mind, I designed some writing prompt "craftivities".  Completed projects make awesome bulletin boards or hallway displays.  (Easy-peasy and another thing checked off my list.)

Along with millions of others, we enjoy watching the Tournament of Roses Parade.  With that in mind, I made up 6 interesting writing prompts that you can give your students on the day they they return from break.  Quick, easy and fun, the "parade packet" fits in well for your writing block or  Daily 5

One prompt is specifically about the parade, and includes a Venn diagram comparing Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to the Tournament of Roses New Year's Parade.   Venn diagrams are a simple way for students to practice comparison and contrast writing.  The other 5 parade-prompts, are generic in nature, so children who don't watch those parades have other options.

Click on the link to view/download the New Year Parade Writing prompts. 

Another prompt, is a Happy New Year craftivity. Run the balloon pattern off on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Students choose one, trim, and complete the 3 writing prompts.  Children add hands to the clock so that it reads midnight.   happy new year activities, happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, new year writing prompts, january writing prompts, january bulletin boards, january crafts, winter crafts, new year crafts for kids, You can also have older students write a longer prompt on the back of their balloon.  

The photo shows last year's sample, but I've included two patterns with a blank for years (201____ as well as 202____) so that you can use this craftivity in years to come. 

For that finishing touch, tie on some curling ribbon & glue on a school photo. Completed projects look wonderful dangling bak-to-back from the ceiling, or scattered on a bulletin board.  Click on the link for the Happy New Year Writing-Prompt Craftivity to view/download it.

happy new year activities, happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, new year writing prompts, january writing prompts, january bulletin boards, january crafts, winter crafts, new year crafts for kids, Another simple New Year craftivity that makes a great January bulletin board, is entitled "Past Present and Future." Students reflect on the prior year, jotting down memorable moments from that year, as well as their current activities, goals and hopes for the New Year. 

My sample is also from last year and from a high school student's perspective.  As with the other dated activity, I've included templates through 2024, so you can reuse this idea for awhile as well.  Mount them on a variety of colors of construction paper, scatter on a few snowflakes and you're bulletin board's done.  Click on the link for the New Year Past & Future writing prompt.

Finally, my personal favorite, is a January writing prompt that I call "More or Less."  It's a nice way to review this math symbol as well. 

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards,  january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsHave students brainstorm a list of things that they think they should do less of (watching TV, playing computer games, fighting with siblings ...) as well as a list of things that they think they should do more of (studying, reading, exercising etc.). 

happy new year activities, happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, new year writing prompts, january writing prompts, january bulletin boards, january crafts, winter crafts, new year crafts for kids, Write these on the board to help with spelling.  Students return to their desk and write their own list on the pre-writing paper. 

When they are happy with their lists, they write complete sentences on the greater than and less than symbol pages. 

Have students color the symbols their favorite colors.  When they are done, students trim their papers. 

To turn this into a really interesting January bulletin board, have students trace their foot (with their shoe on).  Offer a variety of colors for students to choose from. 

They cut out their foot, glue on the "More or less I will try to put my best foot forward in the New Year" square, add a photo, name and the year.  Click on the link to view/download the More or Less New Year Writing Prompt packet.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsThat's it for today.  Thanks for visiting.  I hope you found a few things here that will help launch the New Year with enthusiasm for writing. 

I have a few last-minute things to get for tonight's special dinner, so I'm hitting the floor running.  Wishing you a stress-free day. 

"Remember to enjoy the doing of your "to do" list, and not just the accomplishment of getting it done."

1 2 3 Come Do Some New Year Writing With Me

I realize people have been wishing each other a Happy New Year for a week now, but I thought a few more New Year-themed writing prompts would still be appropriate, since quite a few schools in the midwest have not gone back yet, because of all of the cancellations due to snow and below zero weather conditions. 

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsMy home state of Michigan included, as we are enjoying another snow day with a -25 windchill as I blog.

This photo is of the St. Joseph Lighthouse on Lake Michigan. with the caption: "Today, it is encased in ice as the Midwest is hit with a "polar vortex", causing wind chills to reach -50 degrees! "  The waves froze as they crashed over the pier.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsInez, from equally cold Canada, requested some New Year puzzles that counted down from 10 to 0.  Great idea Inez!  I so enjoy hearing from other countries.  On any given day we have visitors from over 150. 

I'm always amazed at how the Internet makes everything so much cozier.  Click on the link to view/download 5 New Year counting puzzles.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsWhen I'm designing within a theme, the ideas just keep coming, so I also made a pair of New Year spectacles

I enjoyed seeing these goofy glasses being worn by a lot of New Yorkers as they watched the ball drop.  I thought it would make a cute writing prompt "craftivity." 

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsStudents can write what they "see" in their future for the New Year, or write things they are hoping and wishing for. i.e. health, happiness, success etc.  

After I finished my sample, the only "person" I could find to model them, was our poodle Chloe.  She'll do just about anything for a treat, and kept the glasses on long enough for me to take a picture. 

I've included a set of numbers so that you can make future years.  Click on the link to view/download the New Year Writing Prompt Glasses.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsI really liked that chunky number font and thought it would make a nice writing prompt as well, so I designed a New Year craftivity entitled "Past and Present."

Students reflect on the prior year, jotting down memorable moments from that year, as well as their activities, goals and hopes for the New Year.  My sample is from a high school student's perspective. 

I've also included templates through 2024 so you can reuse this idea for awhile. Who knows where we'll all be in 10 years.  Completed reflections make a sweet January bulletin board. Mount them on a variety of colors of construction paper, scatter on a few snowflakes and you're set.  Click on the link for the New Year Past & Future writing prompt.

hny posterWhile doing research I came across a cute poster over at Dimple Prints.  Show the poster to jumpstart your students' creative minds, and have them design their own word poster.

Finally, my personal favorite, is a January writing prompt that I call "More or Less."  It's a nice way to toss in a little math as well. 

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsHave students brainstorm a list of things that they think they should do less of (watching TV, playing computer games, fighting with siblings ...) as well as a list of things that they think they should do more of (studying, reading, exercising etc.). 

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsWrite these on the board to help with spelling.  Students return to their desk and write their own list on the pre-writing paper. 

When they are happy with their lists, they write complete sentences on the greater than and less than symbol pages.  Have students color the symbols their favorite colors. 

When they are done, students trim their papers.  To turn this into a really interesting January bulletin board, have students trace their foot (with their shoe on).  Offer a variety of colors for students to choose from. 

They cut out their foot, glue on the "More or less I will try to put my best foot forward in the New Year" square, add a photo, name and the year.  Click on the link to view/download the More or Less New Year Writing Prompt packet.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year writing prompts, new year puzzles, number puzzles, new year crafts, new year bulletin boards, january bulletin boards, new year glasses pattern, january writing prompts, winter bulletin boards, january bulletin boardsThanks for visiting today.  I try to design and blog daily, so I hope you can stop by tomorrow to check out the newest FREEBIES.  Feel free to PIN away.

"While I relish our warm months, winter forms our character and brings out our best." -Tom Allen       

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year "Craftivities" With Me!

One of my favorite childhood memories  was going over to my Grandma Lydia's house for a sleepover with my twin sister Kathie.  "Grama" was one of the most influential people in my life and a big reason I enjoy art and reading so much. 

lydiaShe was a teacher too, back in the day when "rules for teachers" included not wearing a dress that showed your ankles and lighting the pot-bellied stove in the classroom, so she ragaled us with all sorts of wonderful stories, and always had and endless supply of craft ideas to amuse us.  

On one particular Saturday morning in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, it was pouring the proverbial cats and dogs.  Grama decided it was a great day to make something, so she hauled out a roll of "butcher block" paper. 

new year activities, hand print crafts, new year writing prompts, january writing prompts, new year resolution writing prompts, body tracing activities, body tracing art, january bulletin boards, winter daily 5, daily 5 activitiesI laid very still on the long sheet of white paper as grama traced the outline of my entire body.  Then she did the same thing for my sister. 

Even though we were barely 6-years-old, I still vividly remember designing a lovely "frock" for my "shadow" to wear, complete with rings on all of my fingers that sported hot-pink nail polish. 

As the rain pelted against the windows and thunder boomed, we happily colored away.  I highly recommend this activity.  I know it's a lot of bulletin board paper, but the memory will be lasting. Just think of the cuteness of your paper "students" lining the hallway walls too! 

For writing practice, have students label the parts of their body picture.  Before hand, have children help you make a list of all the parts of their body that can be seen on their picture.  Write them on the board, to help them with spelling.

new year activities, hand print crafts, new year writing prompts, january writing prompts, new year resolution writing prompts, january bulletin boards, winter daily 5, daily 5 activitiesIf you're not up for a full-body experience, how about just your kiddo's hand.  Have them choose a partner to trace each other's, and then fill in the details. 

I've included a template, so these can become your first writing prompt for January.  Have students include the year as well as their school picture. 

This makes an interesting and fun Daily 5 activity.  Click on the link to view/download the High Five's For A Happy New Year "craftivity."

new year activities, hand print crafts, new year writing prompts, january writing prompts, new year resolution writing prompts, january bulletin boards, winter daily 5, daily 5 activitiesBe sure and make a sample to show your kiddo's.  My Y5's always enjoyed learning about me.  I added a bit more pizzazz by gluing on flat-backed rhinestones to my "rings."

After students share, mount their work on a variety of colors of construction paper and sprinkle over a wintery-printed bulletin board. 

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  My "Pin it" button is on the menu bar.

I design and blog daily, so I hope you can stop by again tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES that will hopefully be memory making!

"Wiggle fast; now wiggle slow; let's learn about our body from head to toe." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Fun New Year Activities With Me

Each month I tried to introduce more vocabulary words to my students.  It was always amazing to me, that my Y5's had no clue what some of the simple seasonal words meant and some of my kiddo's had never even heard the words before.

alphabet activities, alphabet booklet, telling time, 1.MD.3, telling time to the hour activities, vocabulary activities, new year's vocabulary words, new years activities, new years writing prompts, venn diagrams, new year venn diagrams, making class books, ideas for class books, writing prompts for the new year, writing prompts for January, january writing prompts, With that in mind, I designed this ABC New Year booklet.  It was fun and challenging to think of words with a New Year-theme that started with each letter.  

You can make one for each student so they can trace and write the words, or you can simply make a teacher's copy and share a page a day for the first week back after break. 

As you read the booklet, have students shoot up their hand if you come to a word they are unfamiliar with, and take a moment to define it. Discuss the words and what they mean.  See if they can come up with anymore and add them to the list.

For individual practice have children write that day's words in their writing journals or student-made dictionaries. This makes a wonderful Daily 5 word work activity too.  Click on the link to view/download the New Year's Alphabet Booklet.


alphabet activities, alphabet booklet, telling time, 1.MD.3, telling time to the hour activities, vocabulary activities, new year's vocabulary words, new years activities, new years writing prompts, venn diagrams, new year venn diagrams, making class books, ideas for class books, writing prompts for the new year, writing prompts for January, january writing prompts, Since the New Year revolves around time, I thought it would be interesting to design a New Year easy reader, that takes a child from noon, on New Year's Eve, to ringing in the New Year at Midnight. 

You can send the booklet home to be completed with their family, and then returned, or have this ready to go on students' desks for their first day back after break.  Children trace and write the digital time to the hour + draw the appropriate hands on the analog clock. 

The story ends with a writing prompt about what children did on New Year's Day and how they celebrated.   Click on the link Happy New Year Telling Time Booklet.


alphabet activities, alphabet booklet, telling time, 1.MD.3, telling time to the hour activities, vocabulary activities, new year's vocabulary words, new years activities, new years writing prompts, venn diagrams, new year venn diagrams, making class books, ideas for class books, writing prompts for the new year, writing prompts for January, january writing prompts, I've made 3 matching Happy New Year cards to go with this booklet.  They make a nice little surprise tucked on or in their desk when they return from break.  Click on the link to grab them.

alphabet activities, alphabet booklet, telling time, 1.MD.3, telling time to the hour activities, vocabulary activities, new year's vocabulary words, new years activities, new years writing prompts, venn diagrams, new year venn diagrams, making class books, ideas for class books, writing prompts for the new year, writing prompts for January, january writing prompts, Venn diagrams are an easy and fun way to help students understand the concepts of comparison and contrast.  They are a great precursor to help students write that type of paper, and are extremely helpful for the visual learner.  Click on the link to take a look at 7 Venn diagrams with a New Year's theme.

alphabet activities, alphabet booklet, telling time, 1.MD.3, telling time to the hour activities, vocabulary activities, new year's vocabulary words, new years activities, new years writing prompts, venn diagrams, new year venn diagrams, making class books, ideas for class books, writing prompts for the new year, writing prompts for January, january writing prompts, Finally, my first graders especially enjoyed making class books. 

Students complete the writing prompt and share their page with the class; collect, collate add a cover and you have a student-made book for your classroom library. 

I had a special book basket for these.  My students enjoyed looking at their endeavors.  You could really see the improvement that happened as the months flew by and the basket filled up. They are great to share during parent visits and conferences too.

 Click on the link to view/download the 3 writing prompt pages for a New Year's class book.

alphabet activities, alphabet booklet, telling time, 1.MD.3, telling time to the hour activities, vocabulary activities, new year's vocabulary words, new years activities, new years writing prompts, venn diagrams, new year venn diagrams, making class books, ideas for class books, writing prompts for the new year, writing prompts for January, january writing prompts, For 16 more writing prompts for January, click on the link. These are great for the writing portion of your Daily 5, or interesting ideas for your students' writing journals.

alphabet activities, alphabet booklet, telling time, 1.MD.3, telling time to the hour activities, vocabulary activities, new year's vocabulary words, new years activities, new years writing prompts, venn diagrams, new year venn diagrams, making class books, ideas for class books, writing prompts for the new year, writing prompts for January, january writing prompts, Thanks for visiting.  Feel free to PIN away.  If you'd like to see all of the creative educational things I spend way too much time pinning, click on the big heart to the right of the blog. 

I hope you can pop back tomorrow for the newest FREEBIE. Wishing you a blessed New Year!

"I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years'." -Henry Moore 

1-2-3 Come Do Some New Year Craftivities With Me!

I wanted to get some “Happy New Year!” items designed and posted before you leave for Christmas break, so you can get a few things ready for when your kiddo’s return, before you take off that teacher hat and truly relax.  

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, Start things out by leaving a bookmark on or inside your students' desks, as a sweet surprise when they come back.  I've taped a lollipop on the back of mine, that they can quietly suck on while they do their morning tabletop lessons.  Click on the link to print some off now.  Happy New Year bookmark.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, The Place Value “Happy New Year!” craftivity can be done as a whole-group or independent center. Students trace and write the numbers, cut them out, arrange them in correct order to form the New Year and then glue them under the appropriate place value “door.”

The last door helps children practice subtraction as they subtract the year they were born, from the New Year, to get their age. It’s self correcting, because they know how old they are!

Before hand, demonstrate yours on the board to review how this is done. Even when I was in my 20’s children always thought that was so “old!” Click on the link to view/download the Place Value New Year craftivity.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, Some of my kiddo’s had not mastered counting backwards from 10 to 0, so I designed the New Year’s Glitter Ball Slider to help them practice.   Even little ones are familiar with the New York, Times Square countdown ball, so this was a great Segway.  

I’ve also included a strip to count from 20.   Add some silver glitter for that extra bit of pizzazz. I had my kiddo’s crouch down and then jump up and yell “Happy New Year!” when we got to zero. Click on the link to view/download the Happy New Year Countdown Slider.

When one thinks about the New Year, it’s inevitable that a few resolutions come to mind. This was a new word for my Y5’s, so I presented it as a promise to themselves, of what they’d like to improve on.  

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, With that in mind I designed some New Year word art craftivities last year, using Tagxedo, one of my favorite educational sites. You can set this up as an independent computer center for students to think up their own designs and words.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, The packet has a list of 68-positive "resolution" words + an ABC booklet for students to "improve" alphabetically.

Click on the link for this great verb reinforcement tool and vocabulary builder.  New Year's Word Art Craftivities.

vFor more parts of speech practice,  I know your kiddo's will enjoy playing the Fractured New Year writing prompt game.  Students take turns rolling the dice to fill in a word from the adjective, noun or verb list, which creates a hilarious story. 

When everyone has completed the game, have students read their stories aloud, and enjoy all of the giggles.  Click on the link for Fractured New Year fun.

cFinally, I’ve also designed a New Year's graphic organizer for students to fill in with some interesting writing prompts.

  Children can draw a picture of themselves or glue a photo to the center oval.

happy new year activities, new year activities, new year crafts, writing prompts for january, new year writing prompts, resolution activities, graphic organizers, alphabet activities, alphabet crafts, alphabet games, math activites, subtraction activities, January Daily 5 activities, activities for January Daily 5, Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN away. I hope you can stop by tomorrow for the newest FREEBIES.

"Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passsed." -Cavett Robert

word art, New Year's lessons, New Year writing prompts, January writing prompts, January bulletin board ideas, Daily 5 activities for January, Daily 5 word work activities, verb activities, free posters for the classroom, verbs, alphabetizing activities, New Year's words, resolutions,

A Winning Lesson With Word Art!

Verbs are something that can be a bit boring to teach, so liven up your lesson with Word Art!

I made these New Year word art pictures using a list of positive verbs and then turning them into a picture using Tagxedo.

Turn it into a reading and writing lesson by showing your students the posters and my alphabetical list of 88 positive verbs.

word art, New Year's lessons, New Year writing prompts, January writing prompts, January bulletin board ideas, Daily 5 activities for January, Daily 5 word work activities, verb activities, free posters for the classroom, verbs, alphabetizing activities, New Year's words, resolutions,Read the words aloud and have students circle the ones that they want to promise and do in the New Year.

They need at least 1 for each letter of the alphabet.  Challenge students to make their own word art poster and list. This is a nice way to incorporate technology in your day.

word art, New Year's lessons, New Year writing prompts, January writing prompts, January bulletin board ideas, Daily 5 activities for January, Daily 5 word work activities, verb activities, free posters for the classroom, verbs, alphabetizing activities, New Year's words, resolutions,Students can also make a New Year’s dictionary of their promise words.  I've included a cover, simply add lined paper.

For more skill building, I’ve included trace and write pages. 

Fill in and laminate a set and then cut them apart and store in an envelope, so students can arrange them in alphabetical order.

Make up 2 sets so students can play “Speed” against each other to see who can alphabetize the words the quickest.

Any of these activities make fun Daily 5 Word Work lessons. Encourage students to look up any words they don’t know and to use their new vocabulary.

Make a copy for your word wall.  Make sure you do your own to use as a sample.  word art, New Year's lessons, New Year writing prompts, January writing prompts, January bulletin board ideas, Daily 5 activities for January, Daily 5 word work activities, verb activities, free posters for the classroom, verbs, alphabetizing activities, New Year's words, resolutions,If students do the word art activity, you have an awesome January bulletin board.

Have them mount their finished work on various colors of blue construction paper.  Arrange on a background of aluminum foil and sprinkle some paper snowflakes on the corners of each one.

At the end of the month or school year, ask students to re-visit their list.  Have they done all of the words they circled? Have they added anymore?

This evaluation can then become a writing prompt of why or why not, and how they can improve etc.

word art, New Year's lessons, New Year writing prompts, January writing prompts, January bulletin board ideas, Daily 5 activities for January, Daily 5 word work activities, verb activities, free posters for the classroom, verbs, alphabetizing activities, New Year's words, resolutions,Click on the link to view/download the New Year Word Art activities packet.

Thank you for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful. I hope these New Year's ideas have helped and that you have the best New Year yet.

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." -Hal Borland