1-2-3 Do Some Fall Games With Me

Since the apple and pumpkin shape games, as well as the apple and pumpkin number games, were such a huge hit, I decided to design some for the rest of the popular fall themes.  There are sets for leaves, spiders, bats, owls and turkeys.  If I've missed a theme that you do, and would like games for, simply shoot me an e-mail: diane@teachwithme.com and I'll see what I can do.

Number words were always part of my word wall.  I found that the more contact my students had with these words, the easier it became for them to automatically recognize and read them.  Playing word games made learning them interesting and fun.  To make the games, print off the cards, laminate them and then trim. 

Students clip a clothespin to the number that matches the number word on the themed-card.  So that students can self-check, put an X on the back of the card in the location of the correct answer.  I kept clothespins in a tub and games in their own separate Baggy. 

There's a blank set of cards for each theme, so that you can program higher numbers, or use for whatever.  Click on the link to view/download the Fall Themed Number Word Clothespin Games.

To go along with the apple and pumpkin shape games, I also made 5 more fall-themed shape matching games.   They too include the above sets: leaves, spiders, bats, owls and turkeys. 

Run off the shape template on a variety of colors of construction paper; laminate and trim.  Students place the colored shape tile onto the matching shape on the themed card.   The shapes on the cards also include the shape word, to help reinforce word recognition as well. 

I've included a blank set of cards with these sets too, so that you can program them with more shapes or whatever.  Click on the link to view/download the Fall Shape Matching Game packet.

Thanks for visiting today.  I design and blog every day, so I hope you can stop by again tomorrow, for the newest FREEBIES.  Feel free to PIN away.  I think sharing makes everyone's life easier.    If you'd like to see all of the educational items that I pin, click on the heart to the right of the blog. 

"This above all else: to thine own self be true." -William Shakespeare

1-2-3 Come Practice Letter Recognition With Me!

The more you emmerse your kiddo's with letter activities, the more likely the light bulb of understanding will easily come on.  Although important, trace and write worksheets, can become tedious and boring after awhile. (skill-drill & kill) It's important to give little learners a variety of hands-on activities.

I try to think up ideas that involve some sort of crafty aspect.  Children LOVE these; they provide fine motor skill practice, and completed projects make great bulletin boards and wall displays, that help build a child's self-esteem.  I call today's quick and easy letter "craftivity" Search & Find. I strived to do at least one activity a month that recycled something, so using old newspapers to trace on, fit the bill and the results look terrific.  These are wonderful for a seasonal Daily 5 activity too!

Here's what to do:

• Print off the fall-themed templates.
• Cut out; trace onto an old file folder and then trim. 
• Make several templates to expedite tracing by students.
• Allow children to choose a shape and trace it on a page of the newspaper, that has plenty of writing on it. I try to include several standards when I design an activity, so I made a prediction page to practice some math skills. 
• Students cut out their shape, and fill out the prediction part of the data on the matching worksheet. (Common Core State Standard: 1.MD.1)

Students find and circle the upper and lowercase letters that the shape starts with.  i.e. If a child chooses an apple, they will search for Aa’s. I tried to think up themed-shapes for fall, and added a football, to help excite the boys in your class.  To make this a bit more difficult for older students, have them search and circle all of the letters that are in the WORD and then tally or total, how many of each letter they found.  

When they are done, students color their newsprint craftivity, with a watercolor marker or highlighter, so that the newsprint still shows through.

Students glue their work to the matching worksheet and fill in the data. Older students can use the greater, less than, or equals symbol, to show THEIR answer, to the correct answer.

When everyone is done, you can graph how many of each beginning letter, that your class found, counting by 10’s.  Write each child’s amount on the board and show the addition, one step at a time, to get to a grand total.

Before graphing, have students predict which letter they think they will find the most of, and why. Click on the link to view/download the Search & Find Alphabet Craftivity packet. For more Alphabet FREEBIES, click on the link, to pop on over to that section of my site. Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting.  Feel free to PIN away.  To ensure that "pinners" return to THIS blog article, click on the green title at the top; it will turn black, now click on the "Pin it" button on my menu bar.  If you'd like to take a look at all of the creative-educational items I pin, click on the heart to the right of the blog. Hope you can pop back tomorrow, for my newest FREEBIES hot off the press!

"Those with a lively sense of curiosity, learn something new every day of their lives." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Play A Telling Time Game With Me!

I keep telling myself "April showers bring May flowers" to help chase the dreary-drip feelings away, because of all the incessant rain we've had here in Michigan for the last 4 days straight.

I do love how the air smells, but still, a little sunshine would certainly be welcome. 

Since it was pouring outside, I decided to make a rain game to help students review and practice telling time to the hour in one game, and telling time to the half hour in another. (Common Core State Standard: 1.MD.3)

Students spin the clock spinner.  Whatever number they land on, children write the digital time at the top of the raindrop, and then draw hands for that time on their analog clock as well.

If the paperclip spinner lands between two numbers they may choose either.  The first one with all of their raindrops filled in and colored is the winner.

If you want everyone to practice completing the clocks, then have those who have finished, color the children or the turtle on the page 'til everyone gets done.

If you'd like to review simple addition, instead of using the spinner, have students use 1st one, and then 2 dice to achieve the time.

Click on the link to view/download It's Time To Play In The Rain.

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

"A person's most useful asset is not their head full of knowledge, but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen, and a hand willing to help." -Unknown

1-2-3 Come Learn About 3D Shapes With Me

One of my Y5's favorite units was on butterflies.

We'd study them for the entire month of April, as we watched real larvae morph into fat caterpillars, spin their chrysallis and finally hatch as lovely Painted Lady Butterflies.

I worked hard at dreaming up butterfly lessons for all of the subjects, incorporating many of my standards.

Designing the 3D Shapes Butterfly book was especially enjoyable.

Because I like to incorporate several standards in every activity, this easy reader reinforces spatial directions, and is an interesting way to review/teach the 3D shapes. 

Students trace the words and shapes, as well as cut out butterflies and place them in the appropriate spatial direction - positions on the pages.

Click on the link to view/download the 3D Butterfly easy reader.

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

"Minds are like parachutes.  They only function when they are open." Thomas Dewar

1-2-3 Come Do A Whole Lot Of Math With Me!

It took me quite a few hours to design these math anchor charts, but it was well worth the effort as I think they turned out pretty spiffy.  I hope you enjoy them.

Print and laminate.  They make a terrific math bulletin board that you can refer to daily.

Laminate extra sets so that your students can cut them apart and make them into puzzles.
I’ve made a puzzle grid so students can use this as a template to place their pieces on.

They are great for games too.  Two sets can be used to make a Memory Match game.  Since there are 13 pieces to each poster, it would be a good idea to only have students Match 2 posters at a time.

Toss 2 cut up number posters into a container.  Have each child take out a piece and play “I Have; Who Has?”  A student with the #1 crayon can ask for any other piece to start building the puzzle on the floor or on the white board, if you decide to attach a magnet. Play continues ‘til however many puzzles you are working on, are completed.

Have students use the greater and less than symbols between the posters.

Review: fractions, colors, patterns, telling time, fact families, money, tally marks, ordinal numbers, number words, measurement with a ruler, +1 addition, sequencing numbers, counting groups and sets of objects, and using a ten frame for addition + these Common Core State Standards: K.CC.2, K.CC.4a, K.CC.4b, K.CC.4c, K.OA.1, K.OA.3, K.OA. 4, K.OA.5,  K.CC.6, K.CC.7, 1.MD.3, 1.G.3, RF.K.3c

I’ve made a blank 10-frame for you to run off so that students can show you addition or subtraction answers, after you give them a variety of equations.

Call out a question and have students use the anchor charts to point to the answer and then explain it.

Give students 2 different colored bingo dot markers and have them complete the ABAB pattern that’s on the 10-frame.Using the bingo dot markers have students show you their answers to equations you put on the board.

Ask children to compare the coins and see if there are other combinations that I could have used to show that number.Can they think of anything else that they do/use at school that could be added to the chart to explain that number.

Make two sets of posters and play “Speed” Students choose a partner; mix up the cards and see who can put theirs in order first.

Explain the fractions and reinforce the vocabulary that goes with it.   Call out a number and everyone begins counting from there. Sequence the cards backwards and “blast off.”  Have students sort the pieces into their matching piles.  i.e. students put all of the clocks in a pile and sequence them. 

Wow! So much covered with a simple poster! Woo Hoo!   Click on the link to view/download the Math Anchor Charts

Thanks for visiting today.  I'm off to add some things to my pin boards.  I know what I think will take a few minutes, will likely turn into an hour, as there is so much "pinspiration" out there and it's quite addicting.  One pin leads to another, and then I hop over to that board, and all of a sudden the morning's gone! Anyone else out there on the same page?  Have a good one.

"When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know, but if you listen, you have the chance to learn something new." - J.P. McEvoy