1-2-3 Come Do Some Spine Tingling Writing With Me!

I love playing around with words, particularly if it will get my students excited, or help teach a concept.

“Shudders Behind the Shutters!” does both.

Anytime I toss a bit of craftiness into a writing prompt, my students are all over it, and can’t wait to begin.

Thus, I designed this writing prompt craftivity with a window.

There are two writing prompt “window” options.

Students can make a list of 13 things that make them shudder OR

they can write a brief, spine tingling excerpt.

I've discovered that narrowing down what students have to write about, rather than saying, "write a spooky story", is a lot less overwhelming for them. 

This bite-size piece, is not only less daunting, but will have your students actually become excited about creating their list or a brief excerpt!

I’ve included samples of both, so that teachers can quickly & easily make an example to share.

Making an example, not only helps you explain what you want your students to do, it acts as a catalyst for getting them enthusiastic about getting down to the business of writing.

The writing prompt “window” becomes the base, for this 3-part craftivity.

Students illustrate their writing by drawing, then coloring something in the 4-paned window pattern. I drew a ghost in mine.

Shutters flip open to reveal this picture window, which then opens to reveal my list of 13 things that make me shudder.  You can use any number, but I chose superstitious 13. 

Did you know that the “fear of the number 13” is called triskaidekaphobia! (triss-kye-dek-uh-FOH-bee-uh).
You may want to share this bit of interesting trivia with your students.

I've also included another sample with a "shuddering excerpt". 

For some extra 3D pizzazz, I added some wiggle eyes, attaching them with glue dots. 

Assembling the 3-parts of the craft, is done with a glue stick.

I’ve also included a “shudder-shutter” definition poster, as well as one that explains homophones.

You can use these to introduce the lesson.

Encourage students to use their senses, as well as plenty of description, to evoke a shudder or two.

Students can use the (2-on-a-page) writing RUBRIC as a checklist.

I’ve included “definition-example” posters, to easily explain adjectives, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia and alliteration, which will definitely enhance their writing.

These are not difficult concepts to understand.

Actually, I’ve found that even younger students grasp them quite well, and are excited to share examples they’ve come across.

Completed projects make an amazing bulletin board or hallway display; you are sure to get a lot of compliments!

I’ve included several posters, as well as some rather spooky-looking letters, which spell "SHUDDERS [behind the] SHUTTERS" to add some extra pizzazz to your display.

Today's featured FREEBIE is an apple-pumpkin Venn diagram.

To help reinforce the information my students have learned about apples and pumpkins, I have them do a Venn diagram.

Venn diagrams are a quick, easy and fun way to introduce comparison & contrast writing to your students.

Instead of using the usual circles, I drew an apple for one half, while the other side is a pumpkin. An oval "slice" down the center, provides a place for "similarities".

You can do this as an individual worksheet or whole-group activity, that provides an excellent review and culminating activity for your apple-pumpkin studies.

Completed worksheets make an excellent bulletin board or hallway display.

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

It's nothing spooky over here that has me shuddering, just a bone-chilling wind that's rattling my window panes.

It's a small price to pay though, for the absolutely gorgeous fall colors that come with cooler weather. 

Wishing you a simply splendid day!

"Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understoond." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

1-2-3 Come Do Some Quick,Halloween Activities With Me

Halloween happens to be on a Monday this year, so some schools will be celebrating on Friday, others waiting 'til the real day. 

Since our party day is Friday, I still wanted to have some quick, easy and educationally fun Halloween-themed activities for Monday, so I whipped together a pumpkin glyph, writing prompt and class book.  They are featured on the blog, along with today's  FREEBIE.

First up is the pumpkin glyph. No matter what grade I taught, my students absolutely LOVED making glyphs.

They are a quick, easy & interesting way to practice and assess listening and following directions.  This pumpkin glyph will also review some 2D shapes as well.

Since this is one of my report card standards, glyphs also provide a "hard copy" to use as proof that a child does or doesn't listen & follow directions.

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

I've included 2 posters for the center of your glyph display.

Glyphs are also an interesting way to get to know your students.  The packet also includes a few posters for explaining things so even PK students can make one.  

The "Positive-Negative Writing Prompt Pumpkin" also makes an awesome bulletin board or hallway wall display.   

The controversy of Halloween, makes a nice comparison-contrast writing activity, where students list the positive aspects of Halloween that they like, as well as the negative ones that they don't care for.

Whenever I include a bit of hands-on craftiness to a lesson, I instantly have my students' attention; and they can't wait to get down to the business of writing.

So as a topper for their completed October writing prompt, children use an art form fittingly called: "positive-negative" and create a Jack-O-Lantern with my easy-peasy pattern.

To add some variety to your display, I've included 5 writing prompt worksheet options with different Halloween-themed graphics and fonts for your students to choose from.

PK teachers can do this as a whole-group discussion activity, where students give their opinion and you jot down their answers on one of the writing prompt worksheets, then each child can make a positive-negative pumpkin, which can be scattered around the prompt.

Finally, if your kiddos are like mine, they are constantly talking about what costume they are going to wear for Halloween.   I take advantage of their excitement and enthusiasm by having them make a costume class book.

They are super-excited to get down to the business of illustrating their own page, which is a great activity for the week of Halloween, or even on party day for something educationally fun to help channel all of that energy.

I’ve included 2, full color cover options to choose from, as well as 3 different page designs. (See PREVIEW).

There’s a black and white pattern for your students, as well as templates in color, so that you can easily make a sample to share to help explain things, then contribute your costume page to the book too.

On party day I snap everyone’s picture, then add their photograph to our book as well.

Class-made books are one of my students’ favorites in our classroom library; they are terrific to share during parent-teacher conferences too.   Besides the book, I’ve also included 2 song posters.

I enjoy making up songs to familiar tunes. One is “Trick or Treat” to the tune of “Are You Sleeping Brother John?” the other is “What Costume Will You Wear” to the tune of “Farmer in the Dell”.  

Today's featured FREEBIE is a collection of tried and true Halloween party games that my students really enjoy.  I call the packet "Ready-Set-Ghost!"

Click on the link or photo to grab your copy and let the spooktacular fun begin!

Well that's it for today... Gotta dash, as there are treat bags yet to make for the neighborhood children.  We don't have that many, so I like to make something extra special. 

Wishing you a very Happy Howling Halloween!

"There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight!" -Unknown

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

Halloween party day, tends to be a bit wild and crazy because of all the energy your kiddos have. 

With that in mind, I designed some trick or treat-themed activities that practice a variety of standards, while still being a lot of fun for your kiddos. 

With a theme like candy and trick or treating, you will definitely get your students’ attention, so that you can reinforce:
graphing, tally marks, skip counting, upper & lowercase letters, 2D/3D shapes, plus the -ick & -eat word families.

Pick & choose from worksheets, writing prompts, crafts, puzzles, songs, & games!

The packet includes:

A “Trick or Treat” writing prompt craftivity, with 2 options, plus completed samples to share, along with 4 other interesting & fun writing prompts.

A Trick or Treat bag craftivity that reinforces the -it & -eat word families. The “sliders” practice 15 -eat words, as well as 14 -ick family words.

There are 3 options, plus trace & write word cards in color as well as black and white.

A “How many words can you make using the letters in “Trick or Treat”? worksheet, which includes an alphabetized answer key, with 158 words & a poster to introduce the lesson.

Perfect for a fun, yet educational, Halloween party day game too.

Two songs: “T-R-I-C-K” to the tune of Bingo, & “Trick or Treating” to the tune of “Brother John”. 

"T-R-I-C-K" is a wonderful way to practice letter recognition, spelling & subtraction!  My kiddos LOVE singing & clapping too.

Lots of graphing worksheets to practice that skill, plus worksheets with tally marks, data collection & analysis, and a graphic organizer.

8 “Trick or Treating at a Haunted House” I spy game sheets, that are a quick, easy & fun way to whole group assess: listening & following directions. upper & lowercase letters, numbers 0-20 and shapes.

Includes a blank template so you can program with whatever.

There's an assortment of “Candy Bones” activities & worksheets, plus an awesome collection of . . .

2D & 3D candy shape posters. What a fun way to practice/review shapes!

Who doesn't remember excitedly spilling out their treat bag?

Have your kiddos sort & then graph the different shaped candy, using the recording sheet. 

And finally, there's ...

A dozen, “Trick or Treat” number puzzles, to help practice sequencing numbers from 1-10, counting backwards from 10-1, as well as skip counting by 2s & 10s.

Puzzles come in color for an independent math center, as well as black and white, so students can make their own.

This is a Perfect activity for Halloween party day.

The packet is a whopping 133 pages of fun.  Click on the link to pop on over to my TpT shop to have a look see. Trick or Treat-Themed Activities.

Today's featured FREEBIE, "Midnight Magic" is also a quick, easy & fun craftivity for party day. As you can see by the photo, the results turn out quite spectacular & take only about 5 minutes! 

Well that's it for today.  Halloween brings back some of my most favorite childhood memories.

Here's wishing you a “fang-tastic” rest of October, filled with lots of special treats.

"Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative." - Judy Gold