January 2012

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 13:05

Presidents' Day

Learning About President Lincoln, President Washington and Money All Rolled Into A Few Fun Art Activities

February 20^th is just around the corner when government agencies will be closed for President’s Day.

After Valentine’s Day I take a few days to study Washington and Lincoln, and add the color blue to our red and white décor for a patriotic look.

It’s also the time I launch our coin studies, as these two famous gents are on our money.

Making mobiles is an easy and fun center activity, that quickly creates a great hallway decoration, as they dangle from the middle of the ceiling or twirl as a border against the wall.

They help reinforce shapes, listening and following spatial directions and are a wonderful way for students to learn facts, as they compare and contrast the lives of these legendary presidents.

All of these mobiles can be found in my February Art and Activities Book.

Click on the link to view/download it.

The Money Mobile is one of my personal favorites and a terrific way for your students to review all of the coins at once.

I find if children do hands-on projects where they can compare and contrast coins, they are able to identify them more easily when they are assessed.

Arranging them from smallest to largest also helps them get this fact in their mind.

Little ones seem to think that because a dime is worth 10 cents, it should be larger than a nickel and penny.

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The Lincoln and Washington Information Mobile, helps students learn a few facts about the presidents; Lincoln is on one side, Washington is on the other side.

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I’ve made money poster-poems that you can put up in your room/read to your students.

I found the poems all over the Web so I don’t know who to give credit to. If you know the originator, please drop me a line so I can credit the source.

I revamped the 50 cent one as fries are no longer that price, and also changed the dollar because of ITunes.

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Click on the link to view/download the Coin Poster Poems

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Since these are two different standards, I've made certificates for both.

Our Y5's do not have to identfy the quarter, but I've included certificates with the quarter on them as well. Click on the link to view/download them. Coin Certificates

For your convenience I’ve posted last year’s President’s Day article after this one, so you don’t have to hunt through the archives for more tips.

If you're looking for coloring pages of the presidents, Lil Fingers has all of them! Click on the link to check out their selection.

They also have coloring pages for all of the coins too.

I use coloring pages to make a variety of skill sheets like Pinch and Pokes, bingo dot a pattern, dot-to-dots, I Spy a Number etc.

Be sure and pop back tomorrow for more fun teaching tips.

Published in Getting to the Core

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 10:47

Coin Certificates

4 pages. Reward your students after they pass their assessments by giving them a certificate. Jazz them up with a sticker or two. Since being able to point to a coin to identify it and being able to point to a coin and name it are two different standard

Published in Downloads

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 08:28

Coin Poster Poems

7 pages. These poster poems will help your students learn to identify coins. They make a nice bulletin board too.

Published in Downloads

Tuesday, 14 February 2012 06:56

Small Medium Large Coin Identification Sort

2 pages. A great way to review the concept of small medium and large. Students will find it easier to identify coins if they can look at them as a whole group and identify similarities and differences. This activity will help them do that.

Published in Downloads

Monday, 13 February 2012 17:32

Valentine: You Mean The World To Me!

A great keepsake valentine for parents and an easy center for Valentine's Day

Print off my clip art, run off my template on red construction paper and have students keep their paper folded and cut out a lovely paper heart.

Glue everything together and you have a cool keepsake in a heartbeat!

I used Martha Stewart's heart punch, but any will do, even stickers will add that bit of pizzazz.

Click on the link to view/download You Mean The World To Me Valentine

I hope you have a love-filled day tomorrow.

Published in Getting to the Core

Monday, 13 February 2012 11:44

Melted Crayon Valentine Ideas

15 pages. Make these easy and inexpensive valentine gifts for your students out of broken crayons and follow it up with a valentine crayon rub - center activity, that's perfect for party day!

Published in Downloads

Monday, 13 February 2012 11:27

Valentine Crayons

A Special Valentine From Your Teacher

It’s incredible how beat up a box of crayons gets in a Y5 classroom. “I broke my crayon!” seems to be called out within seconds of our first creative endeavors in September.

I am big on recycling, so I rarely throw anything out and my home is a testimony to my pack rat behavior.

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I melt them in mini muffin tins for a sweet surprise for my students treasure boxes for Open House and revisit the concept in February for Valentine’s Day.

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Peeling is easier if you just score the wrapper with an Exacto knife. I also cut crayons into smaller pieces with a kitchen scissors.

Spray your muffin tin with Pam.

Put a variety of rainbow colors together in the same tin, or mix shades of one color together if you have a child or grandson like mine, who is simply ape over green!

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Gently remove tray and set on stove 'til the wax solidifies. I put mine in the freezer for a few minutes so they pop right out.

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Put a paper towel down. Put cut up crayons in a micro safe glass mug. (My handle got hot so just a head’s up.)

When my crayons were almost to the top, they melted down to ½ a mug full of liquid which only filled up ½ my chocolate molds, (depending on size) so be prepared to melt lots of crayons if you have lots of kiddo’s.

Bend the rim of a paper cup so that it has a pointy pouring spout. Pour wax from mug into paper cup.

Make sure you cover your counter top. I made a big mess, but I cleaned up with Scrubbing Bubbles. Forget ever using the mug for coffee again tho’.

Carefully pour wax into molds. The paper cup will be hot.

I experimented with making layers of different colors with deeper molds, and that looked really cool.

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If your little ones are like mine, they will want to try them out right away, so why not set up a valentine center. Tell them to save their crayons for home and take them to their lockers, but they can use your "class set" at the valentine center.

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I added a bit more pizzazz by allowing students to punch a small, medium and large heart with metal heart punches and then glue them on the matching size hearts.

Carry it a step farther and have them label the appropriate hearts with an S, M and L. Older students can write "I love you with all of my hearts." Younger students can glue on the phrase.

Click on the link to view/download these Melted Valentine Crayon Activities.

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I picked the papers up every now and then and let the wax puddles run and then put the paper back on the pot. I experimented with making a heart and my grandson's initials. I think they turned out super.

Do NOT do this with kids as this was even tricky for crazy me. I'm going to put contact paper over them and give them to them for a bookmark. Anyway, I had a fun afternoon and hope you enjoy these ideas for your students as well.

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I took this picture and will glue them together to make my husband a 3-D poster valentine that says: Life can be messy. Thanks for allowing me to be creative and coloring my world with LOVE.

I hope whatever you're whipping together for the ones you love turns out simply smashing! Have fun with your endeavors and Happy happy Valentine's Day!

Be sure and pop on in tomorrow for who knows what!

Scroll down for article #3 and my last valentine idea for this year. It would make a fun center for party day!

Published in Getting to the Core

Monday, 13 February 2012 10:32

Valentine Heart Wand

Last Minute Fun:

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These Valentine Wands are super easy, and your students will LOVE finding them on their desk as a special surprise tomorrow.

Here's how to make them:

Run off the master on red/pink construction paper.

Cut out the hearts.

Cut the smaller back heart out of old file folders so that the wand is sturdier and won’t flop over.

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Glue the heart on the back on top of the skewer point. Tape the skewer in place. I’m big on finishing touches so I added two stickers to cover the tape.

Cut 3 pieces of 15-inch long curling ribbon. Use one strand to tie all of them to the end of the heart and curl the ends. I think metallic really gives it that extra sparkle.

You can simply write a student’s name on the back, leave it plain or really add pizzazz by writing their name in glitter glue. It’s worth the extra effort for the “wow!” effect you’ll get.

Lay them name up on your students’ desks on party day.

Click on the link to view/download the Valentine Heart Wand

Whatever you’re doing I hope it truly is magical!

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Scroll down for article #2 - another quick surprise for your kiddo's.

Published in Getting to the Core

Monday, 13 February 2012 06:21

Valentine Heart Wand

5 pages. A wonderful surprise for your students on party day. This is a quick, easy and inexpensive valentine for you to make your kiddo's that has a great "Wow" factor.

Published in Downloads

Sunday, 12 February 2012 14:49