name writing crafts

1-2-3 Come Do Some Name Writing Activities With Me

Put some fun into “name writing” practice.
This important skill can be daunting for little ones just learning how to hold a writing utensil.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsLikewise, “practice makes perfect” can become tedious and boring.
With these things in mind, I designed this “kid topper” name craftivity.

There are a variety of ways you can use this packet.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsThe first way is to use as a worksheet with a “child topper”.
Run off the boy & girl patterns on copy paper, or to make them sturdier, use white construction paper.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsThere are 18, BW girl options, as well as 18 boy options. Children color the child, then trim and glue to the top of one of the worksheets.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsThere are 4 “I can write my name" worksheets. Choose which is most appropriate for your students.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsTo add variety & make things more fun, students write their name with a crayon, pencil, marker, pen & piece of chalk.

If your kiddos are like mine, this is a “big deal” that meets with lots of enthusiasm.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsAnother option, is for students to simply write with one utensil. My kiddos’ favorite is markers.

They can do this all at once, writing their name six times, or do this once each day for the first week of school.

IDEA: Have students choose two different colored markers, then show an ABAB color pattern to cover yet another report card standard.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsCompleted projects make an adorable bulletin board. I’ve included 2 posters to add extra pizzazz.

IDEA: After you take your bulletin board down, save your students’ work, then have them repeat the assignment, the last week of school.

You should see wonderful improvement in coloring, as well as writing! What a great keepsake too. 

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsThe other option is to make a “strip booklet”.

To make one, staple X number of pages together, add the cover, then staple to the base of each students’ “kid topper”.

Children write their name on the first day, then again, once each month.

This is great to share during parent-teacher conferences, and also makes a wonderful keepsake at the end of the year.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsI've also included 3, "bookmarks of praise" for boys, and another 3 for girls, which you can hand out when they pass this report card standard.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. name map icebreaker activity, icebreakers, 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boards, nameToday's featured FREEBIE is a "Getting to know you!" name map.

name writing activities, back to school activiteis, activities for the first day of school. 1st day activities, back to school bulletin boardsWell that's it for today. Thanks for popping in. 

It's summer; it's Friday, and I'm feelin' oh so fine! 

Time to don my straw hat & flips flops. Hoffmaster Beach here we come.

"A little sand between your toes, is a simple way to take away your woes. " -Unknown.

 

1-2-3 Come Do Some Name Writing Activities With Me

“Elmer” by David McKee, is a wonderful story about the beauty and importance of diversity. This colorful, patchwork elephant, enjoys making others happy and is an instant favorite of my students.

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesInspired by this heartwarming character, and because I’m always looking for quick, easy and fun ways for my students to practice writing their names, I designed some name writing activities featuring a patchwork elephant.

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesThe packet includes:

* Several posters
* 5 worksheets
* 3 different name cards as well as . . .

* Colorful name tags
* Several games plus . . .

* 3 super-cute craftivities
The mosaic letter craft is a personal favorite. 

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesChildren color the squares inside their initial then cut it out.  On another day, they color the patchwork elephant and complete the worksheet.

When everyone is done, children choose their favorite color to glue their creations on. Completed projects make a sweet bulletin board.

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesWhen you take your display down, collate the pages in alphabetical order and add the cover for an awesome class book. 

My Y5s absolutely love painting with watercolors. It's an easy-peasy center for me, so I created an elephant watercolor craft using a coffee filter.

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesStudents can write their name around the circle, or cut out the elephant, mount it to a paper "blackboard" and write their name with colored chalk. 

Writing their name with sidewalk chalk outside the school, is also a super-fun activity for your students.  

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesThe other name craft is a "so proud pennant".  Children write their name on the pennant color of their choice.

They color the patchwork elephant however they want, then attach the pipe cleaner "staff" around his nose. 

The pipe cleaner can be bent up a bit so that this is a free-standing place marker, or keep them flat and scatter them on a bulletin board. 

Besides these craftivities, the packet also includes . . .

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activities* 5 options for a class-made name booklet with inside pages plus covers.

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesThere are two, 2-on-a page booklets. The one pictured in the mosaic craft, as well as this one, which features a child's favorite color as well.

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesMy personal favorite is the big "color me" elephant featuring a child's initial.  And finallly, I've also included ...

* A mini certificate of praise. 

For more name writing practice, check out this other name writing packet in my TpT shop which makes a super keepsake. 

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesAs long as my students were learning to write and recognize their names, I decided to make practicing especially fun, with this assortment of activities.

Since some of my kiddos came in with just a scribble, I also wanted to show their progress and how much they had improved by the end of the year.

I needed a simple assessment tool for the beginning of the year as well, to see where my students were at, that was also fun for them and easy for me.

With these things in mind, I designed several monthly keepsake booklets specifically for name writing practice

Finally, I created a "color-me" name writing practice packet too, because my kiddos are simply too young to keep track of a portfolio, and I don't need more work collecting and filing "stuff" for it. 

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, elephant activities, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, back to school bulletin boards, Elmer activitiesBecause coloring is great for strengthening those weak finger muscles, I drew "color me" pictures for each month and put 2-on-a-page to make a "just the right size" booklet.

At the end of each month, they write their name on the appropriate page and give their best effort coloring the seasonal picture.

The booklet provides a wonderful look at the progress children are making, and is perfect to share during conferences.
At the end of the year my students have a wonderful keepsake to take home. 

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, Elmer activitiesToday's featured FREEBIE is from my Name Writing Activities With An Elephant packet mentioned above. 

I've pulled the reminder poster, the "Don't get behind practicing" name cards, plus the 2 "trace me" alphabet bookmarks (one with uppercase letters, the other with lowercase). Use them for practice, then later as an assessment tool

Click on the picture to zip on over to grab today's FREEBIE: Name & Letter Practice With An Elephant.  

Elmer the elephant activities, name writing activities, name writing crafts, back to school name activities, back to school ideas, icebreakers, elephant crafts, Elmer crafts, Elmer activitiesWell that's it for today. I'm happily snuggled in my office creating new stuff, as a storm rages outside my window.

We so needed the rain and I love the sound of the thunder.  Wishing you a refreshing and relaxing day.

 "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest." -Unknown