3 pages.
Glyphs are a fun way to learn more about your students and assess listening and following directions. This one also helps review shapes and colors. Completed projects make eye-catching bulletin boards.
A favorite book that many teachers read the first few weeks of school is Chicka Boom Boom. I wanted to dream up some new ideas, as many teachers also make a Welcome bulletin board with that theme, and gear several days around letter activities as well.
The first FREEBIE is entitled Trunk Tricks and has a variety of activities based around the trunk of a coconut tree.
I've seen others make painted handprints for fronds, which is cute, but sometimes messy and difficult, as well as time-consuming to do, especially if you're teaching a bunch of little ones all by yourself.
I decided to trace my handprints to see how they would turn out and I really liked the effect.
Have a room volunteer do the tracing and cutting for you, or send the green paper home and have parents do this step.
With the handprint portion out of the way, this adorable keepsake artwork can be whipped together in about 10 minutes.
For extra pizzazz, I used brown textured wallpaper for the trunk of my tree.
Brightly-colored foam letters also add that bit of 3-D pop and the student photo on the coconut makes it all the more precious.
In Trunk Tricks you can also make a Name Tree, a Vowel Tree, a Color Tree and a count by 10's to 100 Tree.
Any of these would make quick and easy bulletin boards: "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Look What The K's Did In Mrs. Henderson's Room!"
Make A Chicka Boom Name Tag:
This comparison not only involves various math extensions, but you can toss in some science exploration as well, by having a discussion with your students about what they think is inside the coconut etc.
Chicka Boom Envelope Letter Game:
There's nothing like a game to help students learn lessons. Children can play with a partner or in a group of 3.
You can make a class set of Chicka Boom trees, or allow each student to make their own "Chicka Boom Name Tree". Play the game several times in class and then let children take them home to enjoy with family.
Children glue construction paper to a sealed envelope making a trunk so that they can insert letters into the back of their tree's "pocket". Students roll a dice to determine how many letters they put in their envelope.
If they roll a 1 they take 1 letter out; if they roll a 6 they lose their turn.
Chicka Boom Popsicle Stick Puzzle:
I love making Popsicle stick puzzles. They are easy and inexpensive and fun for students to put together.
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"80% of success is showing up!" -Woody Allen
2 pages.
Make a quick, easy and inexpensive blue jean tote bag, that is super strong and large enough to hold even those huge big books. The many pockets, keep your pens, pencils and other supplies handy, so you don't have to search for them, as they won't be floating around the bottom of your bag anymore.
1-2-3 Make a Denim Tote Bag With Me!
I don't know about you, but I tote all kinds of things back and forth from school and I can never find a bag big or strong enough.
When I want to take my bag to the park, so I can get some fresh air while working, my pens, pencils, scissors and other supplies get lost at the bottom of the bag and I'm forever wasting time rummaging around looking for them.
There have also been many times where I'm lugging books and the strap breaks because the bag's too heavy, or the bottom seam gives out.
My solution: a sturdy denim bag, and it only cost me a dollar (!) because I bought a pair of old blue jeans at a garage sale!
This is how you can quickly and easily make one for yourself:
Click on the link for a copy of the directions and the photo. Blue Jean Tote Bag
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"Don't let the noise of other people's opinions, drown out your inner voice." -Steve Jobs
18 pages.
Why not have your students help create the decorations for your classroom with this cute super hero-themed "welcome" banner. On the 1st day of school, when things are hectic, it's nice to have an independent activity that students can do.
32 pages.
Why not have your students help create the decorations for your classroom with this cute frog-themed "welcome" banner. On the 1st day of school, when things are hectic, it's nice to have an independent activity that students can do.
19 pages.
Why not have your students help create the decorations for your classroom with this cute cowboy-themed "welcome" banner perfect for Western-decorated classrooms! On the 1st day, when things are hectic, it's nice to have an independent activity that students can do.
23 pages.
Why not have your students help create the decorations for your classroom with this cute cow-themed "welcome" banner perfect for farm-decorated classrooms! On the 1st day, when things are hectic, it's nice to have an independent activity that students can do.
15 pages.
Why not have your students help create the decorations for your classroom with this cute owl-themed banner. On the 1st day of school, when things are hectic, it's nice to have an independent activity that students can do.
16 pages.
Why not have your students help create the decorations for your classroom with this cute pirate-themed "welcome" banner. On the 1st day, when things are hectic, it's nice to have an independent activity that students can do.