1-2-3 Come Practice the Alphabet With Me

In a world where even young children have to be assessed, it is no wonder that little ones become apprehensive & a bit worried about doing well.

With that in mind I designed this cute scarecrow that’s holding a big sunflower.

It’s an alphabet wheel and will help make learning to match lowercase letters with their capital counterparts fun.

I’ve included two wheels.

One has the lowercase letters in alphabetical order, while the other one shows them jumbled up, making it a super-fun way to whole group assess.

After students have colored, cut & assembled their scarecrow, call out the letter A.

Students turn the smaller wheel ’til the lowercase letter a matches up. Afterwards, they hold up their scarecrow.

Teachers can see at a glance who is having difficulty. Play continues with another child calling out the next letter. 

Add to the fun, by having your kiddos name their scarecrow. Mine is Sebastian.

Since snipping a sunflower can be a bit challenging, I’ve also included an easy-peasy pattern, where students simply cut on the dashed lines.

I use a protractor to poke holes in the center of the circles, then attach with a brass brad.

Besides the scarecrow manipulative, I’ve also included a variety of “color me” worksheets to help practice upper & lowercase letters in quick, easy & fun ways.

These “print & go” activities are great for early finishers, homework, extra help for strugglers or a sub tub.

I've also included an upper & lowercase assessment mat, plus my recording sheets, which you can use for 4 different evaluations.  They are super-simple to use & save time filing.

Another fun way that I practice and easily whole group assess upper & owercase letters, is with “I Spy” game sheets.

The same worksheet can be used multiple times and my Young Fives absolutely LOVE playing this game. I’ve included four game sheets in the packet.

There's also a colorful collection of alphabet cards.There's a set for upper, as well as lowercase letters. The shape and size of each set is different, making them perfect for "Memory Match" games.

Use in a variety of games, such as “What’s Missing?” “Flipped” and “Kaboom”. I’ve included a tip list of all sorts of simple ways to use the cards, with directions for the games, which will help make learning especially fun.

There’s also a mini-certificate of praise, which is an easy way to reward your students’ efforts. Patterns come in color as well as black & white, with 8 certificates on a one-page pattern.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a Thanksgiving placemat your students or own children can color.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for popping in.

It's another snow-covered, cold and dreary day. 

A fire in our fireplace adds a warm & cozy atmosphere though, making it a  great day for designing some turkey crafts.  Wishing you a turkey-rific November.

Reflect upon your present blessings---of which every man has many--not on your past misfortunes, of which every man has some. -Charles Dickens

1-2-3 Come Do Some Scarecrow Crafts With Me

I love doing a variety of scarecrow-themed activities in the fall, so I created this cute “Peekin’ Scarecrow” writing prompt craft.

Whenever I toss a bit of creative craftiness in with our writing, my students get all excited to get down to business.

Since completed projects turn out pretty amazing, I also have an easy-peasy bulletin board or hallway display as well; which not only builds self-esteem, but gets us a lot of compliments too.

I find that if one provides students with a variety of interesting, fun and thought-provoking writing prompts, you will have hit a motivating “hot button”.

With that in mind, I spent quite a bit of time thinking up 42 engaging prompts, all with a scarecrow in mind.

For simple & quick printing, the writing prompt pattern provides 6 prompts on a one-page template.

TIP: Whenever I need to pre-cut things for my kiddos as a time saver, I stack at least 3 pages then staple around the edges. 

The staples keep the papers in place and with just a few snips across, I've cut out all 7 pages at one time.

After cutting, toss the "prompt cards" into a basket.

Students pick 3, choose their favorite, then toss the other 2 back in the basket.

This prompt is then glued to their completed project.

For extra pizzazz, have students add some color to the "quilt patch" border at the top.

There are 5 different, writing prompt worksheets for students to compose their final draft on.

These can be glued horizontally or vertically to their “Peekiin’ Scarecrow”. 

Take this teachable moment to build vocabulary by defining, then showing children a horizontal as well as a vertical sample. 

So that I have a pretty even amount, and a nice variety for my display. I assign half my students to glue their writing horizontally and the other half vertically.

For any of our writing assigments, I have students make a first & final draft.

To help them, I've included a writing rubric, which students can use as a checklist, before they complete their final draft. 

For some extra 3D pop, you can add a pair of wiggle eyes attached with glue dots.

Look closely & you will see that I've added some deeper shading with crayons, as well as some "stitch marks" to the nose, heart cheek & along the edges of the face & hat. 

Another way to add some extra pizzazz, is by putting a few sheets of yellow construction paper into a shredder.

Feed in one at a time (2 sheets did enough for my class of 20).

My kiddos absolutely LOVED adding "hay hair", which is a great fine motor skill that will  help strengthen finger muscles, and increase dexterity.

I've also included a hatband and a sunflower as "add on" patterns for the scarecrow's hat.

Fold the petals up for some added dimension.

As you can see by my samples, completed projects turn out so cute!

Your bulletin board or hallway display is sure to get a ton of compliments, while building self-esteem.

I've also included 2 posters to enhance your display.

 So that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share, I've also made templates for 3, of my completed writing prompts.

Sharing an example, not only helps easily explain what you want your students to do, but also gets them excited to make one of their own.

As with all of my packets, there are clear directions, with helpful tips & photographs.

Today's featured FREEBIE is a set of upper and lowercase, scarecrow-themed alphabet cards.

Use them for a variety of games.

Well that's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

It's started snowing quite heavily this moring here in Michigan.

Since it's only the frist week of November, I am so not ready for the craziness that winter weather creates. 

That said, it is quite lovely, and the quiet of the woods, frosted in sparkling white is quite peaceful.

"In teaching others, we teach ourselves." -Proverb

1-2-3 Come Make a Scarecrow With Me

Do you read the story “Scarecrow’s Hat” by Ken Brown? Click the picture to check out a nice reading of the book on YouTube..

My Young Fives really enjoy this story. Personally, it’s my favorite scarecrow-themed book.

Here’s the gist:
A very clever chicken admires Scarecrow’s hat, who will gladly swap it for a walking stick for his tired arms. Chicken REALLY wants that hat, but doesn’t have a walking stick; however, she knows who does! Thus begins her quest…But why does the chicken want an old straw hat?

Because of all the “swapping” going on with the various animal characters in the story, “Scarecrow’s Hat” is perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.

With that in mind, I designed this flip-the-flap scarecrow craftivity, which will help practice those two standards. My students absolutely love creating their booklet.

Completed projects make an adorable fall bulletin board too.

I’ve included a “We can sequence & retell a story, and that’s something to crow about!” poster, for the center of your display.

Fittingly, the top of scarecrow’s hat flips up and tells the tale.

Students color, cut & collate the “hump of the hat” - shaped pages into a little booklet, which is sequenced and glued to the top of scarecrow’s hat.

I purposely did not number the pages, so you can check comprehension.

This also allows you to choose less pages for preschool students, who can easily sort beginning-middle-end, then retell the story with a limited number of “picture prompts”.

For some 3D pop, add a jute bow to the knot on his neck, as well as some “straw hair”.

For my sample, I ran 2 sheets of yellow paper through my shredder, then glued just the end of a few strands under the brim of the hat, creating that finishing touch.

There are two booklet options.

The pages of the first version have only graphics, while the second option includes an unfinished “fill in the blank” sentence, which allows you to practice reading, writing, end punctuation, as well as check comprehension.

I’ve included black & white patterns, as well as colorful ones, so that you can quickly & easily make an example to share.

When everyone is done, have children pick a partner and take turns retelling the story of “Scarecrow’s Hat” to each other.
We sometimes do this sort of thing with our older reading buddies.

To further check comprehension as well as practice sequential writing, I’ve included a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet.

There’s a black & white template for students to fill in, plus a colorful pattern page so you can do this as a whole-group activity with little ones.

Today’s featured FREEBIE also has a scarecrow theme.
“My Scarecrow’s 5 Senses” is a rhyming, emergent reader packed, with plenty of Dolch words, and helps reinforce lots of Common Core State Standards.

Students read, trace, write, add end punctuation, underline the adjectives and color the pictures.

Well that’s it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

Time to put a costume together for party day.  Hmmmm I think I’ll be a nice witch.  Now where did I leave my wand…

Wishing you a magical day.

“If the broom fits, ride it!" - Unknown

1-2-3 Come Make A Glyph With Me

If you have never made a glyph with your students I highly recommend you give it a go with one of these quick, easy and super-fun fall glyphs.

My latest creations are an apple glyph and scarecrow glyph.

No matter what grade I taught, my students absolutely LOVED making glyphs, which is saying a lot because besides 4th, 6th & 7th grades, I've taught them ALL, beginning with PK all the way up through college freshmen!!

Glyphs are a quick, easy and fun way to practice listening and following directions.

They also provide a "hard copy" to use as proof that a child does or doesn't, which comes in handy during parent-teacher conferences, and selecting the yes or no box on a student's report card. 

Completed projects make an adorable bulletin board, as each one will be different.

I've included a colorful glyph poster in both the apple & scarecrow packets, to use for the center of your display.

Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students and build a classroom community, so the apple glyph is wonderful for a back-to-school icebreaker as well.

Both packets include several posters you can show to explain directions, which is particularly helpful for younger children.

To practice data collection & analysis, as well as process of elimination, have students pick a partner and try to figure out which glyph they made.

I’ve designed the glyph directions in such a way, that you can easily tweak them to fit your needs and levels of your kiddos, making things super-simple, or a bit more challenging for older kiddos in order to test their listening skills as well as comprehension.

Be sure and make a sample of your own, so your students can get to know you as well. 

After everyone is done with theirs, you can share yours and practice inference by asking them questions. 

Last fall I designed a pumpkin glyph you may also want to check out.

All 3 of these glyphs are part of "Diane's Dollar Deals".

Today's featured FREEBIE also has an apple-pumpkin theme.

Just like glyphs, my students really enjoy making Venn diagrams, which are a siimple, quick and fun way to practice comparison and contrast writing.  They too make an awesome bulletin board. 

This Venn diagram compares apples with pumpkins and is an easy way to reinforce all sorts of science facts.

Children can do these individually or with a partner. If you teach younger kiddos, doing one together in a whole-group setting is beneficial.

Well that's it for today.  Thanks for stopping by.

I'm watching 2 of my 9 grandchildren today, so we're going to visit Robinette's Apple Orchard and pumpkin patch.

One of the many reasons why I love fall here in Michigan. 

Wishing you a fun-filled day.

"Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadows of your wing." -Psalm 17:8

1-2-3 Come Do A Storytelling Craft With Me  

Do you read “The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid Of Anything” by Linda Williams? 
It’s perfect for practicing the “sequencing and retelling a story” standards.

With that in mind, I designed this quick, easy and fun storytelling “slider” craftivity, that will help your students retell the tale in the proper order.

Children color the objects on the “slider strip” then cut and glue it together.

As they pull on the end of the “slider” the various pictures go through the ”window”, so that children can take turns retelling the story to a partner or reading buddy, then take their “Little Old Lady” home to share with their family, once again practicing these standards.

Storytelling sliders are also an easy & interesting way to assess comprehension.

I’ve included a “sequence the story” worksheet for this, where students color and trim the picture “windows” then glue them in the correct order on the blank worksheet.

I introduce the lesson by reading ”The Little Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid Of Anything”, then share my completed "slider craftivity” with my students.

So that you can quickly and easily make an example, I’ve included a full-color slider pattern.

After I read the story, we retell the tale together using the picture prompts on my slider. I have them guess which object they think comes next, before I pull the picture through the “window”.

My students now know what’s expected of them, and are very excited to transition to making a slider of their own.

I’ve also included a “Here’s What Happened…” writing prompt worksheet, as another way to check comprehension plus practice sequential writing, hopefully using a variety of ordinal numbers or other transitions. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is entitled "Halloween Boo Boos" .

For a fun language arts activity for Halloween, have your students become the teacher.  Pass out the ghostly paper then set a timer.  How many boo boos can they find before the timer rings?

Students circle the mistakes and then write a corrected sentence.  You decide what sentences you want your students to correct.  They circle those numbers and then begin the game. 

Well that's it for today. Thanks for popping in. Dashing this off before I turn in for the night.

I have a bit of a cold, and am hoping a good night's sleep will perk me up in the morning.  Wishing you a pleasant and relaxing evening.

"There is a harmony in autumn, and a lustre in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!" -Percy Bysshe Shelley

1-2-3 Come Do Some Shape Activities With Me

Are you studying 2D shapes?  If so, I think your kiddos will really enjoy learning & practicing with these super-fun, hands-on activities, featured in my newest packet: Scarecrow Shapes.

The packet is stuffed with a variety of hands-on fun for learning 2D shapes.

Here’s what you’ll get:

* An emergent reader, “The Scarecrow’s Nose”, which practices a variety of standards, and packs a lot of sight word clout, as I’ve included 33 Dolch words.

Children read the sentence, add end punctuation: (period, question mark & exclamation point).

They trace and write the shape & color word, trace and draw the shape, then color the picture.

There is a pattern with 2-on-a-one-page template, as well as 4-on-a-page to make an Itty Bitty booklet.

On the last page, children draw a scarecrow. The nose is their favorite shape and color.

* There’s a whole-group graphing activity to graph the results.

* I've also included a really cute “My Scarecrow’s Nose” slider craftivity. 

"Socrates" is not only super-fun, but a quick, easy, and interesting way to whole group assess 2D shapes.

I’ve included a full-page size, as well as a smaller, 2-on-a-page pattern.

* There's also 7 shape worksheets that practice a variety of standards, as well as ...

* 6 colorful pocket chart cards, plus a matching black and white set, so students can make a Shape Flip Booklet, plus ...

* 5 shape games along with ...

* 4 assessments using just one worksheet!  And finally,

* A bookmark-size, “color me” certificate of praise. 

This packet is a whopping 63 pages long. 

Click on the link to zip on over to my TpT shop to have a look: Scarecrow Shapes: Emergent Reader, Games, Worksheets & Craftivities and let the learning fun begin.

I hope your kiddos enjoy learning with "Socrates" as much as mine did. 

Today's featured FREEBIE is also another fun way to practice shapes.

Back in 2009, I designed Silly Shaped Penguins. 

Because it's one of my most popular downloads, throughout the years I've added to the menagerie. 

Since it's fall, I thought the Silly Shaped Owls were perfect for a fall FREEBIE.  Hope you enjoy them.  

Well that's it for today.  I have so many projects "in process" and scattered all over my desk , that I'm not sure where to begin. 

October is flying by way too fast! Wishing you an awesome autumn. 

"I craft so hard, I sweat glitter!" -Unknown

 1-2-3 Come Make A Common Core Scarecrow With Me!

So much to do and so little time to cover it all.  Sound familiar?  It's a no wonder that teachers constantly complain that there's simply no time for any of the fun craftivities of yesteryear. 

But wait!  There's hope! I spent a zillion hours making a comprehensive "Patches" the Standard Scarecrow. 

He's 17 scarecrows in one, so you can pick the standard(s) you want to practice.  Patches covers the following Common Core/Report Card Standards in a quick, easy and super fun way:

upper & lowercase letters, numbers 0-30, odd & even, skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s, 10s, 2D shapes, 11-colors, vowels, telling time to the hour and half hour, and words: SC blend, contractions, compound words, beginning Ss sound words, CVC words that begin with S, plus rhyming words!

Wow!  That's a whole lotta bang out of one little scarecrow craftivity, and completed projects make a wonderful fall bulletin board, or look sweet hanging back-to-back from the ceiling.

To make this extra special, fold a sheet of white construction paper, have students trace their hand and then cut once, to get two hand prints for their scarecrow's "gloves".  I ran yellow construction paper through a shredder to make the "hair". 

Run off the scarecrow's body templates on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Students trim and glue together. 

For more fine motor practice, cut yellow rectangles with a paper cutter.  Have students snip the bottom portion and glue the "hay" to the back of the scarecrow's pant legs, then crumple.

I purposely made these patterns super simple to cut out, but if you think this is too much for PK kiddos, have a room helper trace once and then cut 3-6 shirts and pants out at a time,  leaving just the head for preschoolers to cut out.  

There's a blank head so children can draw their own scarecrow face, as well as a completed template for little ones to color.

 Students make their scarecrow and then trim and glue on the appropriate patches.  The vowel scarecrow is especially versatile, as it not only covers vowels, but shapes and colors too. 

The packet also includes shape and color cards, along with a variety of worksheets for more practice.

For extra reinforcement, when everyone is done, play an "I Spy" game and give students a piece of candy corn to use as a manipulative.  Choose a student to call out a "patch". 

Children locate that letter, number, shape or whatever, cover it with the candy corn, and then raise their hand. 

This is a fun way to practice and review standards, as well as a quick and easy way to whole group assess, as you can see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

I've also included blank patches for you to fill in with whatever, plus ideas and templates to use the number, letter and shape scarecrows for matching games.

i.e. match the lowercase patches to the uppercase letters; match the number word patches to the numbers match the colorful patches to the color words, and/or match the shapes to the shape words.

For more scarecrow-themed letter fun, click on the link for a set of scarecrow alphabet cards.

The following scarecrows are wonderful for vocabulary building and Daily 5 word work: Carl is the Compound words scarecrow; (Click on the link for a FREE alphabetical list of over 3,000 compound words.)

Connie, is a contraction action scarecrow; (With an alphabetical list of 72 contractions)

Sam, is a scarecrow that loves 37, 3-letter words that begin with S; (CVC practice!)

Scott, is the SC blend scarecrow, with a list of 50 word cards as well as pocket chart cards.

The packet also includes an entire SC blend section, with lots more activities.

Sophie, is a scarecrow with 47-picture patches, for simple words starting with the letter S. 

For a quick review, I've also included 4, Ss word, picture posters.

Rodney, is the Rhyme Time scarecrow, with 56 words that rhyme with scare and a list of 274 words that rhyme with crow.

Write the words that rhyme with scare on the front of Rodney, and have children choose some words that rhyme with crow and write them on the back.

In the sample, I chose 24-scare rhyming words and wrote them on the shirt, and then wrote an equal amount of words that rhyme with crow, on the pants.  The alphabetical lists include rhyming words that start with every letter except U & X.  I chose one of each.

Finally, the number scarecrow, has several options and serves double duty.  There are number patches from 0-30, which  I traced in a variety of colors. 

You can make Odd Todd and Even Steven scarecrows (front and back) or put the odd numbers on the top and the even numbers on the bottom.  (See photo.)

For more math number practice, I've also included skip counting patches.  Children can skip count by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's. 

There are matching worksheets in the packet as well, along with number cards, plus number puzzles in color & black and white. 

The puzzles review counting from 1-10, counting backwards from 10-1, as well as skip counting to 100 by 10s.

Two emergent readers also reinforce numbers, as well as colors.

For more odd and even scarecrow number fun, click on the link to practice numbers from 1-120, in the Scarecrow's Pumpkin Patch packet.

If your kiddos are familiar with that concept, but need to work on matching numbers to their number words, use the Norman & Nancy number scarecrow patterns, with numbers 0-10, along with their matching number word patches.

Glue the numbers on the shirt and the number words on the pants.  For more practice, have students write the words above their matching number patch.

The Common Core Craftivity Scarecrows are part of a whopping 184-page jumbo packet in my TpT shop for just $5.95. Click on the link to pop on over. Patches, The Standard Scarecrow Packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  It's a really hot July afternoon, with temps expected to flirt with the 90's, which is too hot for this midwest gal.  Time to put the AC on and make some lemonade.

“I know I am but summer to your heart, and not the full four seasons of the year.” -Edna ST. Vincent Millay

 1-2-3 Come Make A Multi-Purpose Scarecrow With Me

Since there are so many standards on our plates these days, there never seems to be enough time for everything, let alone a fun seasonal craft that we know our students would enjoy. That's why I spend so much time designing hands-on "craftivities" that revolve around all sorts of standards. 

Because it's so comprehensive, it took me several days to complete this Common Core scarecrow, and even more hours to make a sample of all 11 scarecrows, but it was time well spent, as they turned out so cute, are easy for your kiddos to make, and reinfore the following: 

Upper and lowercase letters, vowels, sc blend, beginning s sounds, matching words with pictures, numbers 0-30, odd and even, skip counting by 2s, 3s, 5s & 10s, shapes, telling time, colors, contractions, number words, color words, compound words, CVC words, and rhyming words.

Completed projects make a wonderful fall bulletin board, or look sweet hanging back-to-back from the ceiling.

To make this extra special, fold a sheet of white construction paper, have students trace their hand and then cut once, to get two hand prints for their scarecrow's "gloves".  I ran yellow construction paper through a shredder to make the "hair". 

Run off the scarecrow's body templates on a variety of colors of construction paper.  Students trim and glue together. 

For more fine motor practice, cut yellow rectangles with a paper cutter.  Have students snip the bottom portion and glue the "hay" to the back of the scarecrow's pant legs, then crumple.

I purposely made these patterns super simple to cut out, but if you think this is too much for PK kiddos, have a room helper trace once and then cut 3-6 shirts and pants out at a time,  leaving just the head for preschoolers to cut out.  

There's a blank head so children can draw their own scarecrow face, as well as a completed template for little ones to color.

 Students make their scarecrow and then trim and glue on the appropriate patches.  The vowel scarecrow is especially versatile, as it not only covers vowels, but shapes and colors too.

For extra practice, when everyone is done, play an "I Spy" game and give students a piece of candy corn to use as a manipulative.  Choose a student to call out a "patch". 

Children locate that letter, number, shape or whatever, cover it with the candy corn, and then raise their hand. 

This is a fun way to practice and review standards, as well as a quick and easy way to whole group assess, as you can see at a glance who is having difficulty. 

I've also included blank patches for you to fill in with whatever, plus ideas and templates to use the number, letter and shape scarecrows for matching games.

i.e. match the lowercase patches to the uppercase letters; match the number word patches to the numbers; and/or match the shapes to the shape words.

For more scarecrow-themed letter fun, click on the link for a set of scarecrow alphabet cards.

The following scarecrows are wonderful for vocabulary building and Daily 5 word work: Carl is the Compound words scarecrow; (Click on the link for an alphabetical list of over 3,000 compound words.)

Connie, is a contraction action scarecrow; (With an alphabetical list of 72 contractions)

Sam, is a scarecrow that loves 37, 3-letter words that begin with S; (CVC practice!)

Scott, is the SC blend scarecrow, with a list of 50 words. The packet also includes an entire SC blend section, with lots more activities.

Sophie, is a scarecrow with 47-picture patches, for simple words starting with the letter S. 

For a quick review, I've also included 4, Ss word, picture posters.

Rodney, is the Rhyme Time scarecrow, with 56 words that rhyme with scare and a list of 274 words that rhyme with crow.

Write the words that rhyme with scare on the front of Rodney, and have children choose some words that rhyme with crow and write them on the back.

In the sample, I chose 24-scare rhyming words and wrote them on the shirt, and then wrote an equal amount of words that rhyme with crow, on the pants.  The alphabetical lists include rhyming words that start with every letter except U & X.  I chose one of each.

Finally, the number scarecrow, has several options and serves double duty.  There are number patches from 0-30, which  I traced in a variety of colors. 

You can make Odd Todd and Even Steven scarecrows (front and back) or put the odd numbers on the top and the even numbers on the bottom.  (See photo.)

For more math number practice, I've also included skip counting patches.  Children can skip count by 2's, 3's, 5's and 10's.  There are matching worksheets in the packet as well, along with number cards, plus number puzzles in color & black and white.  

For more odd and even scarecrow number fun, click on the link to practice numbers from 1-120, in the Scarecrow's Pumpkin Patch packet.

If your kiddos are familiar with that concept, but need to work on matching numbers to their number words, use the Norman & Nancy number scarecrow patterns, with numbers 0-10, along with their matching number word patches.

Glue the numbers on the shirt and the number words on the pants.  For more practice, have students write the words above their matching number patch.

Click on the link to view/download the "craftivity" portion of the Common Core Scarecrow Packet.

This section will be FREE for an entire year!  After that, you can pick up the whopping 184-page jumbo packet in my TpT shop for just $5.95.  Click on the link for Patches, The Standard Scarecrow Craftivities packet to pop on over.

Thanks for visiting today.  I need to unclutter my brain, so we're off to a nearby fall festival.  It's a beautiful autumn-weather day, if the rain just holds out for awhile. 

 "If stars can shine with darkness, so can you." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Make Some Scarecrow Craftivities With Me

I really believe that if you give students a simple and quick little craft to attach to their writing prompt, they will be a lot more excited to get down to business. 

With that in mind, I designed "Peeking Scarecrow".

As you can see by the pictures, there are 2 ways to display children's work.  Completed projects make an awesome bulletin board, or look sweet hanging back-to-back from the ceiling.

I've included 24 scarecrow-themed writing prompts for students to choose from. 

Run them off, trim and give students a choice, or toss them in a basket and have them pick one. 

If they are unspired, they have the option to choose another, or swap with a classmate.

Children glue the prompt to their scarecrow and record their final draft on a complimentary color of construction paper.

The packet also includes a sample, so that you can easily whip off an example to share with your kiddos.

For that extra touch of pizzazz, there's a blank border template that students can write inside. Encourage older students to type their final drafts.

Click on the link to view/download the scarecrow writing prompts.  

Thanks for stopping by today.  Happy TGIF.  I'm off to hit some garage sales with my daughter.  Wishing you love and laughter and a happy-ever-after. 

"What you allow, is what will continue." - Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do Some Scarecrow Craftivities With Me

Since TBT (Throw Back Thursday) has become so popular on Face Book, I decided to share some "oldies" but "goodies" every now and then on my blog as well.  I have loved doing arts and crafts since I could hold a crayon, and began drawing the Flintstones, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck when I was only six-years old. 

The wonderful ability to easily draw all sorts of things, was truly a gift and especially encouraged by my grama Lydia.  She was always buying all sorts of materials for my twin and I to do crafts with. 

My love for art spilled into my classroom, where I incorporated lots of hands-on activities to help teach my students a variety of standards. I call these projects "craftivities".  I'm featuring a few scarecrow favorites in today's article. They were designed prior to all of the software programs, fonts and clip art that I now have at my disposal, but I think you'll still enjoy making some of these cuties from my hand drawn patterns. 

Completed projects make wonderful bulletin boards and hallway decorations, at the same time building a child's self-esteem, as well as strengthening finger muscles and listening and following direction skills.

My Y5's favorite scarecrow craftivity was their "personal scarecrow".  They are "jointed" so you can pose them in different ways.  Be sure and make a sample of yourself to help explain what you want your kiddos to do. 

I did this as a whole-group, listening and following directions activity and included a variety of colored construction paper shapes to use as "patches" for a quick and easy shape review.

I enlarged my students' school photo on the copier.  The picture appeared very pixilated, which added to the awesome scarecrow looking effect.

If you don't have the ability to do this, I've also included a scarecrow head template your children can color, cut and glue.

When I was a freelance writer for Mailbox Magazine, my editor asked me to write a scarecrow poem.  The personal scarecrows were my inspiration.

I've included the poem in the packet, along with a longer version, and hung them under my students' adorable scarecrows. 

We received zillions of compliments on this hallway display, and my Y5's really enjoyed making them. 

Click on the link to view/print the Personal Scarecrow craftivity.

Patrick, the paper chain scarecrow can help your kiddo's countdown to your Halloween party, field trip, or Thanksgiving break. 

Choose 2-colors for the links and review an ABAB pattern, or add a 3rd color to do ABCABC. 

As I tore off a link at the end of each day, we reviewed a variety of math standards like greater and less than as well as subtraction.

You can simply make one to hang in your classroom, or set this scarecrow up as an independent center and have children work on one of their own.

(Assign as many links as are appropriate for your age group.)  To incorporate blends, have students write an sc word on each link.

I think you'll find that if you incorporate a bit of art into your students' writing, they'll get a lot more excited.  An easy way to do this is with a topper or banner. 

In the Happy Harvest banner, students choose a writing prompt, (there are 3 options) complete it and then glue it to the back.  If they don't get down to business and complete the writing prompt, they will not have enough time to do the banner. 

Finally, for a quick, easy and fun way to review 2D shapes, have students make this paper plate scarecrow.  (They look wonderful spinning from the ceiling.) 

Cover more shapes by having students draw or glue colorful "patches" on the scarecrow's hat or around the poem that's featured on the back: 

"Hello little scarecrow with the face so round.  Going no place--stuck in the ground.  Staring at crows without making a sound."

Thanks for visiting today.  The weather is gorgeous so it's time for a break.  I'm going to collect some nature "stuff" for another fun "craftivity" that I'm working on.  Wishing you a fun-filled fall.

" Be a voice, not just an echo." -Unknown