Valentine's Day Freebies

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching so I thought I would share some of my favorite Valentine's Day Printables!

This is what I do each year with the kiddos so they have something to hold their class valentines.  

All you need is the printables provided (click on the picture for link) and a paper sack!

This can be used for any grade level as I have done it with Kindergarten and 4th grade and both age groups loved it.

Another cute activity to send home with kiddos to give their parents is this kangaroo.

Have them write a love letter to their parents and stick in the pocket.  They can also write chore cards to stick in the pockets.  I did this with Kindergarten, but a blank heart could make it easily adaptable to upper grade levels.  Click on the picture above for a link to printables!

Finally, for my class I give them a little coupon for 5 problems off an assignment.  They must attach to their homework. 

Enjoy!

Some People are Worth Melting For

Oh the weather outside is frightful, 

but Olaf will make it delightful...

 

We all love Olaf!  So how about combining a little winter writing with a fun Olaf craft to brighten your bulletin boards!

 Olaf's most meaningful line from FROZEN (in my humble opinion) is "Some people are worth melting for."  Who in your life is worth melting for?  This is the theme of the writing activity we did.

My kiddos had a blast making these Olafs which they told me they cannot wait to take home and hang up in their rooms!

 

This week's Friday Flash Freebie is this Olaf Writing Craftivity! 

Power through to winter...spring is only weeks away!

Our Family Fav Toys

Our family got some fun new toys this Christmas season and in holidays past.  Here are some of our favorite learning toys that can be played with at home or in the classroom!  These have been tested and approved by my own kiddos!  (and they can be tough critics!)

 

 

First up...and probably our #1 favorite...is our Snap Circuits!

This is the set we have...

It comes with a book that gives step by step instructions on how to create awesome circuits.  This is my 8 year old daughter doing it all by herself and getting my 1 year old son involved as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up...our Learning Resources Gear Set.

We have the Light and Actions Set, however there are many different sets to choose from.

Again, my 8 year old can pretty much put the gears together on her own.  Sometimes she will ask for adult help because it can be challenging...but isn't the challenging part the best part?!?!?  How else do they learn???

 

 

Our set comes with an electric gear turner which my son absolutely LOVES!

Not all the sets do include this...so if you are planning to purchase...do your homework!

Our next favorite thing is our Laser Maze Game.

My 11 year old daughter actually prefers playing by herself and just making laser beams even though the game is met to be competitive between more players. 

   The idea is to get the laser beam to reach your target using a series of mirrored angles.  It is hard to see the beam in the pictures, but the piece with the red button on top is where the beam comes from and she is directing it to her target pieces below. 

Finally, our last favorite toy is the Lego Fusion.

 

The idea is to build a Lego home, take a picture with your iPad, and it uploads and becomes a virtual reality.

 

All they need to do is download the Lego fusion app, snap a picture (the app gives you hints), and play!

 

 

If I had all the funds I could ever hope for...I would buy each of these in bundles for the 4th graders in my room!  They would make AWESOME centers!  But for now, we settle for playing them in our home!

 

 

 

 

 

For our Friday Flash Freebie, let's ring in the New Year FROZEN style! 

 

 

 

This is a fun and easy prep writing craftivity...Perfect for New Year's Goals and Resolutions!!

 Students will write an essay on their goals for the year using the quote, "It's time to see what I can do to test the limits and break through" as a reflection. This Unit has student templates to fill in as they go through the writing process to get their final published piece perfect!

 

 Also included are templates that can be copied to make your very own "self-portrait" Elsa or Kristoff holding your essay!

Everything you need is included so prep is as easy as making some copies!

Common Core Aligned

 

Enjoy!



Celebrating Birthdays and a Friday Flash Freebie

I love celebrating birthdays in my classroom, but in the past, have struggled to stay organized and on top of each student's birthday (especially those summer half birthdays we celebrate in the winter).

I thought I would share how we celebrate birthdays in our classroom!  It is a "can't go wrong" system!  I promise!

Create a bulletin board where each student has two cards recognizing them for their birthday. 

The top card is their "ticket" for a birthday surprise.  When it is time to celebrate their birthday, they get to tear off their ticket and turn it in for their surprise.  

The bottom card stays up all year long.

No one will be forgotten and it makes it easy to remember!

One might say it is foolproof!

Click on the picture for a FREE birthday sign.

Today's Friday Flash Freebie is an early elementary unit on hibernation, migration, and adaptation.

It is a fun "winter is coming" unit!

It includes an interactive student booklet.

It also includes a no prep interactive lap book.

There a fun review activities!

And more!

Page 1 - Cover

Page 2 - Copyright

Page 3-6 - All About the Desert Writing

Page 7-14 - Migrating, Hibernating, Adapting Interactive Lap Book

Page 15 - Hibernating Animals Worksheet

Page 16 - Winter Alphabetical Order

Page 17 - Winter Writing

Page 18 - Winter Words

Enjoy!

Snowmen Unit

Our Snowmen Unit this week turned out super cute!

We read the book, All You Need For A Snowman, by Alice Schertle, and followed up with some activities.  

We made snowman story maps!  

 

We made several different snowmen to hang around our room and in the halls.  See below!

 We read quite a bit about snowmen in our booklet!

To download this activities and more, click on the picture below!