1-2-3 Come Fly Away With Me!

This adorable hot air balloon is a quick and easy writing “craftivity.” The 3 sides of the balloon each hold a different writing prompt, that your students will enjoy doing.

One side says, A place I’ve been is . . .  I like it because . . . Another side says: My favorite place to go is . . . because . . . Finally, the 3^rd balloon says,  A place I’d like to go is . . . because. . .

To make these cuties, simply run off the balloon templates on a variety of colored construction paper.  If you want the balloons to be of the same color scheme as the book, then you need to run off pink, powder blue, light green, orange, yellow and light purple.

Students take one of each writing prompt and complete it.  Remind them to have spaces between their words, use proper capitalization and include end punctuation, so that you're covering those common core state standards as well.

Afterwards, students fold the balloons and glue, ½ of each one, to the other, so that the balloon now has 3 sides.   This is a lot easier for students to do, if you demonstrate how it’s done.

If you look closely at the photograph I took in the mirror, you can see the green side of the balloon in the picture as well as the back of the basket.

Run off the basket on brown construction paper. Students need a right and left basket, so that when they glue it together they fit, so that you can also view the basket from the front or back.

Punch a hole at the top of the basket, on either side. Tie a piece of yarn on both sides. So they don't show, these ends will be tucked inside the rectangular opening of the balloon.

It's nice if students can have 2 of the same photo, so their "body in the basket" also has a front and a back.  Insert yarn ends INSIDE the base of the balloon. You may want to use a bit of Scotch tape.

Punch a hole in the top of the balloon, in the middle, and tie on a piece of yarn. These look wonderful suspended from the ceiling.  Click on the link to view/download the Oh The Places You’ll Go Writing Prompt Balloons.

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“The task ahead of you is never as great as the power behind you.” -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Do All Sorts Of Fun Activities With Elmer, Horton and Me!

I am so excited to share this 42-page Horton and Elmer activity packet with you.  I've been working on it all week, and it's finally done! Woo Hoo!

I've tried to design things around quite a few Common Core State Standards so you'll be able to review all sorts of things.

Since students have to compare and contrast, explain data etc.  I thought it would be fun for students to compare 2 of my favorite elephants: Horton and Elmer.

The packet includes:

• Horton 3 character, setting, event cards
• A Horton begginning, middle, and end graphic organizer or anchor chart
• Horton retell the story bookmarks
• Horton who, what, why, when, where, how anchor chart
• Horton who, what, why, when, where writing prompt craftivity
• 15 "Fix the sentence" (with capitalization and end punctuation) Horton cards.
• Label the Horton bookcover anchor chart activity.
• 2 Venn diagrams. 1 compares Horton Hears a Who with Elmer.  The other compares the character of Horton with that of Elmer.
• 2 Hexagon adjective practice activities.
• An Elmer Color Spin Game
• Black & White, and Color Spinners
• 4 graphing extensions
• An elephant mask craftivity
• A find the letters elephant craftivity
• Tally mark activity
• 30 elephant color cards + a cover so that you can make an Itty Bitty booklet. Great for playing all sorts of games.
• Rhyming-alphabetical order worksheets with 47 words that rhyme with who and
• A Horton-Elmer Lollipop certificate of praise.

Click on the link to view/download the Horton and Elmer Activity Packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away.  For more Horton FREEBIES scroll down to check out a sweet Horton writing prompt "craftivity."

"A person's a person no matter how small!" -Horton, from Dr. Seuss's book Horton Hears A Who

1-2-3 Come Write With Horton and Me!

Are you looking for a writing prompt for your Dr. Seuss activities?  Do you need a quick and easy Seuss bulletin board for March is Reading Month?  Well, you've stopped at the right blog.

I think your students will enjoy making a Horton Hears  "craftivity." Simply run off the templates on gray construction paper.

Children cut out the pieces, and glue their "ear flap" on Horton, so that it flips open.  Students complete the thought: Horton hears a Who how about you? and think of something that they hear and describe it. 

Challenge older students to use rhyme in their writing like Seuss does.  Remind them that made up words are OK as well.  After children have completed their writing, they draw a picture of what/who they heard, under the ear flap.

For that finishing touch, add the child's school photo to the front of the ear.

Mount on a green-backed bulletin board; sprinkle some jungle leaves around the edges to act as a border. Your caption can be the same as the one on Horton's ear, or Stampede To Read.   Click on the link to view/download the Horton Hears writing prompt craftivity.

Looking for more Dr. Seuss activities? Scroll down for other articles, or click on the link to zip to that part of my site for over 40 Seuss FREEBIES, and if you count all of the activities within the packets, there are over 100 Seuss ideas to help you have a wonderful Seuss Day/Week!

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"The more that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you know, the more places you'll go." -Dr. Seuss

1-2-3 Come Make A Horton and Who With Me!

I always try to design some sort of "craftivity" to go with my lessons.  This helps motivate students to get down to business and stay on task, so that they can transition to the fun center.

I especially love making a manipulative that students can use while I read the story, or to show me that they understand spatial directions.

I've also found that some quiet students really come out of their shell. when they are behind a mask, or talking for a puppet, so I designed a double puppet with this Peek A Boo activity. 

How To Make Horton:  Run off the elephant on gray construction paper. Because of copyright laws I did not draw the “real” Horton.   Students color the tusks white and then cut their elephant out. Add wiggle eyes with glue dots for extra pizzazz.

The toilet paper trunk is simply covered with matching paper. Cut 2 slits so that you shove it between the elephant's tusks.  Students cut out their clover “flower” curl the end of a green pipe cleaner and tape it to the back of the clover.

I fastened a mini white pom pom for the “dust speck” but you could also use a little piece of cotton ball.  Stick the clover to Horton's trunk with a glue dot, or piece of rolled Scotch tape. The little poem on the clover says: Peek-a-me, Peek-a-you-Peek a Who from Whoville too!

Making a Who Popsicle stick Pop Up Puppet:  Tape or glue-dot 2 Popsicle sticks end to end.

I got the picture of the Who from Coloring pages ABC.  They have a variety of licensed characters that you can use to make worksheets to match your themes.

Because of copyrights, I did not make a page of Whos. You can click on the link and check out the Whoville characters you want, and then just copy and paste them into a word document so you can make them smaller.

Run off a master set, rough cut, and let students have a choice of  a Who.  They could also design their own.

Children color their who, trim and glue to the end of the Popsicle stick. I chose this girl from Whoville, because she had a feather on her head, so I added a feather for that finishing touch.

Children manipulate their puppets to show all sorts of spatial directions: “Poke your Who up, down, out, in" etc. "The Who is between the elephant’s eyes."

Students can also manipulate Horton and place him above their head, behind their back, in their left hand, in their right hand etc.  If you don't want to fuss with the toilet paper roll puppet, you can use Horton for all sorts of writing prompts. 

I've included 22 writing prompt  "trunk" templates. Students' completed projects make an adorable Seuss bulletin board, for March is Reading Month.

Click on the link to view/download The Horton Writing Prompt Puppet.  

Thank you for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN away. 

"Think left and think right and think low and think high.  Oh the thinks you can think up if only you try!"  -Dr. Seuss

1-2-3 Sport A Mustache With Me!

Anyone know why a mustache is so popular right now?  I see them everywhere, in all sorts of novelty, craft and stationery stores.

Well, because they are the "it" thing right now, I decided to whip up a big-yellow fluffy-Lorax one!

Making a mustache/moustache to launch a writing prompt, is an interesting and "Suessical" way of doing things. I think your students will enjoy it.

Make a sample, cover your nose, and ask your students in a deep voice: "I mustache you, would you save a Truffula tree?"  Thus begins the fun writing prompt "craftivity."

For an adorable bulletin board, take everyone's photograph wearing their mustache and put it next to their writing. 

Your bulletin board title could be the same question you asked: "We mustache you, would you save a truffula tree?" 

Flank the board on either side, with 2 colorful truffula trees.

Make them out of strips of neon-colored tissue paper, and rolled up green bulletin board paper for the trunk. Stripe it with brightly colored border.

Or you could really make them sturdy with PVC pipe.  Mrs. Lodge, a very creative librarian, did just that.  I LOVE her Truffula trees! Click on the link for directions.

As a surprise, while you're "truffulling" why not whip together some Truffula pencils.  I think students would think it rather cool, to write about saving a Truffula tree, with a Truffula pencil! These were made by Jin Yong. Click on the link to get directions over at the inspiring Under The Cherry Tree Blog.

Click on the link to view/download the Lorax Mustache writing prompt craftivity.

Thanks for visiting today.  Feel free to PIN anything you think others may find helpful.Do you have a Seuss idea you could share with us?  I'd enjoy hearing from you: diane@teachwithme.com or post a comment here.

"You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself any direction you choose!" -Dr. Seuss

1-2-3 Come Write With Me! Waddle You Write About?

I love using a poster as a segue for a writing assignment.  Dr. Seuss's "Lucky Duckie" quotation is a great vehicle for that. 

It's from his book Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?  which is a wonderful story for discussing the theme of contentment, and being happy with who you are.

"Thank goodness for all of the things you are not! Thank goodness you're not something someone forgot...That's why I say, "Duckie! Don't grumble! Don't stew!  Some critters are much-much, oh, ever so much-much, so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!"

Print off the poster and share it with your students. In a discussion before hand, brainstorm why a person is lucky.  What things do they have, that others who don’t live in America, or who are poor, don’t have etc.

Print off the cover for the class book + the writing prompt page for each of your students. 

Remind them of beginning capitalization, end punctuation and spaces between their words and you have covered 3 common core standards.

Students trace the beginning prompt and then complete the sentences: "I think I'm a lucky ducky because..." and "I'm glad I don't..."

Collect and collate the pages and share the completed book with your class, by having each student read their page when you come to it.   If you don't want to make a class book, you can use the duck template and make an adorable spring bulletin board for March is Reading Month.

Here's How: Run off the ducks on yellow construction paper.  
Students cut them out and then write why they feel they are lucky.  

For more pizzazz, add a wiggle eye. student photo, feather, and a 3 dimensional beak. Mount the ducklings on a blue background bulletin board, so that the ducks look like they are swimming in a pond.  Add clouds to the sky.

Glue the poster to a sheet of pastel construction paper and put it in the middle of the board. Add some toilet paper roll “cat tails” for a 3D effect + some pastel polka dot or striped bulletin board boarder for that finishing touch.

Click on the link to view/download Dr. Seuss Lucky Ducky Packet.

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"Today you are you; that is truer than true, there is no one else that is youer than you." -Dr. Seuss

1-2-3 Come Be A Thing With Me!

Seuss was always on the loose in my classroom for March.

I think I own every book Dr. Seuss ever wrote.

One of my favorite theme days was Cat In The Hat Day.   It was school wide, so everybody was in on the fun.

I think it’s more interesting for students, if you can add a “craftivity” to a writing assignment, sort of like an illustration.

I think it motivates them to get down to the business of writing, so that they can go to the “craftivity” center afterwards to complete their assignment.

After reading the Cat In The Hat story, my Y5’s often said they liked Thing 1 and Thing 2 even better than the cat!

Since the duo is so popular, I thought it would be fun for students to become Thing 3.

I’ve designed 2 body templates for your students to color. One is a full body, as a small blue hand, which is the hair of Thing 3 will fit on.

Since older students have bigger hands, I also made a partial body template.

Children can take turns tracing each other’s hands on a blue sheet of construction paper, or you can have a room helper trace them, as well as cut them out.

I recommend the 2^nd alternative to expedite things with little ones, as well as insure that the hand looks like one, after they start snipping away.

Enlarge your students school photo, or take a head shot of them and print them off.

I pre-cut them into the shape of an oval, for the same reasons stated above.

Children glue their hand to the neck of Thing 3 and then glue their picture in the center of the hand., and then color their Thing 3.

This is the cover of their “Something” booklet.

Run off copies of the writing page. Students fill in their answers to the 6 writing prompt questions.

You can collect all of the pages and collate them into a class book, or mount their writing on Seuss-colored construction paper (red, blue, yellow, green) and then staple the pages next to their “craftivity” on a black-background bulletin board.

There are lots of Seuss borders available that will add the finishing touch around the b. board.

Click on the link to view/download the Thing Three Something Booklet.

Thanks for visiting today. Feel free to PIN anything you think others might find useful.

“Why fit in, when you were born to stand out!” –Dr. Seuss