Here A Turkey, There A Turkey, Everywhere Turkeys And Turkeys!

Looking for a different and simple way to create the turkey bird with little people?

 

 This project uses pinecones which can be found anywhere that there are evergreen trees. While there are many different kinds of cones, for this activity I used the rounded ones. They have an evergreen tree shape when sitting on their flat bottoms.

After gathering them, I want to make sure that they are free of any tiny hosts that could be
hiding in them. I place them on a foil lined cookie sheet and 

bake at 250 degrees for about 45 minutes.

It makes the house smell like a pine forest!

To make the turkey body turn the cone on the side and glue it to a circle paper base. Allow it to dry for a day before adding the other parts. 

I used a heart punch to create the pieces, but you do not need a punch to do this activity. 

I will explain with two other ideas, so keep reading!

The head is one half of a heart and add a paper beak and waddle from paper scraps. The eyes are wiggly just for fun, but can simply be paper circles from scraps. Make the head completely flat on the table and let dry for a little while. It goes on the front of the cone with the branch pieces called scales sticking out.

The tail feathers are colored papers, but can be printed ones for a different look. They go near the back side of the pinecone between the scales with a touch of glue to keep them in place. See the picture above of the side turkey.

Little touches like hats, bows and fake leaves are not needed, but fun to add.

No heart paper punch, no problem!

A simple way for little people to create hearts is to have them fold a piece of paper in half. They grasp the paper on the folded side with their thumb on the top and pointer finger behind as shown in the picture. Thank you to my husband for letting me use his thumb in the picture!

They can then trace around the thumb or have another child do it, then cut on the line. When they open it, they have a heart! It is such fun to see all the different shapes and sizes of the hearts.

 Another easier way is to have them fold the paper in half and write the number 2 on the fold. Then they only cut the half heart part of the two on the fold and not the tail.

When they open it again there is a heart!
They are always so proud that they have learned how to make hearts and
will remember forever!

A Thanksgiving activity that is fun to do with making these turkeys is to have the child creative spell what they are thankful for and write it on each tail feather. The littlest learners can dictate what they are happy to have and someone can write them on the feathers for them.

This little turkey is thankful for his friends, family, dog, food, house and toys!
What a cute keepsake for the feast table!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Free! 1-10 Booklet Of Number Forms for Review or Introduction!

This is the most popular free activity in my  

TeacherspayTeachers Store!

Free! 1-10 Booklet Of Number Forms

It includes these various number forms;

Dice, Fingers, Tally Marks, Ten Frame, Ordinals, Counting Kids, Number Line, Coins, Number Formation, Formation Poem, Number Word, and Counting Cubes.

Run the booklet, printing on the front side only. The cover pages can be run on heavier paper to make the project sturdier.

Pass the six pages out to each child. They cut them apart on the dotted middle line, then put the pages in the correct sequence with front cover, pages 1 thru 10 and back cover.

The pictures can be traced or colored during introduction or review. Many other forms of the number can be added by the students on the blank left page across for the number page.

There are links in the description to other number sense products and activities in my store!

Planning For Next Year.....Already!

Is it too early to start thinking about educating little learners for next year?

No!     Yes!    No!    Yes!    No!    Depends.....

It is never too early to start thinking about getting ready for the next group of littles, 

but I may not be ready to act on it yet. It varies from year to year. 

Sometimes I just need a break. 

Other times I am ready to jump right in creating new activities and products! 

Jumping in now!

I have created a fun product to welcome each student.

Hello and Welcome Animal Rhyme Cards & Posters, Farm, Zoo, Jungle & Wild Animals

 What an exciting and fun way to have the children enter or lineup each day!

There are 3 poster pages, 22 card pages with two animal welcomes on each sheet for 44 sentences, 4 welcome sentences without animals, the title page and a page of directions.

Assembly: Print the pages out on the front side only. The thicker the paper, the more durable they will be. Laminate if desired.

Poster: The poster has three parts, simply line them up together. The page with the top line is at the top and the page with the bottom line goes at the bottom. Notice the middle section does not have a top or bottom line. They can be stapled or taped together. You can also not use the middle section and just put the top and bottom together. 

You will need to trim a little off the posters to have the border match exactly right.

Cards: There are 44 welcoming animal cards with words and pictures. There are two animal card sentences to each sheet. These can be cut apart into two separate cards or simply keep them together.

The name of the animal is on each card with a rhyming word of welcome or movement. I have also used the color words red, yellow, green, blue, purple, orange, black, brown, gray, tan and white in some sentences.

Activity: When introducing the activity at the beginning of the year show the children the cards and explain what each animal is. Read the sentences and discuss the meanings of the different words.

 

You decide or decide together what movement or motion is to go with each card. For example, “You rock, peacock.” could be a fist bump as they come in the door. “High ten, brown wren.” could be two high fives with both hands. Part of the fun is making up and creating an action that goes with each animal!

As the little learners practice the different cards and sayings they will be able to read them, plus they become a learned memory. They will also be able to pick and choose which animal they might decide to be as they enter each day or lineup and doing their own movement or motion! 

What animal do they feel like today! 

See other jungle or zoo activities and products here:
Zoo, Jungle and Wild Animals Calendar Pieces Make Monthly Patterns
Math Zoo, Jungle or Wild Animal Theme Skip Counting Color or Blackline
Zoo or Jungle Picture Attachments For First Day, 100 Day, & Last Day Of School
10 Little Zoo or Jungle Friends Songs, Number Flashcards and 10 Puppets
Back To School Jungle or Zoo Welcome Banner
Zoo or Jungle Position Word Posters Left, Right, Front and Back
Zoo or Jungle Song And Posters For T-I-G-E-R Was His Name-O
Zoo or Jungle Alligator Bite The Bigger Number Greater and Less
Zoo or Jungle Geometric Elephant 2D Shapes

 

Are you ready to jump in?

Picture Frame Attachments for the First Day, 100th Day, & Last Day Of School!

A popular way to create special memento pictures of each child during the year is to use picture frame attachments! I have a wide variety of themes in my store and I am always making more!

This one is called

School Picture Frame Attachments

There are pieces for the First Day of School (shown), 100th Day of School, and Last Day of School. The quickest way to use this activity to put Velcro on the empty picture frame corners and on the back of the picture attachments. Then just add or change them as needed. There are extra pictures for added decoration. You can use the extra pieces to write your name or grade level to add to the frame! 

 

Decide what size empty picture frame you are going to use. The 8” by 10”, 11” by 14” or 16” by 20” are great sizes for these attachments. The example frame shown is 11” by 14.”

Picture Frame Themes 

Have the child hold the empty frame with the pictures attached, centered in front of their face and smile! You take their picture and they will have a wonderful remembrance keepsake! 

This activity is fun for teachers, parents, homeschools, daycares, preschools, and even roadschoolers!

Free Bingo Game!

Fall my most favorite season of the year!

 

My freebie is called

My First Number Bingo Game for Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving.

 

This colorful, fun math product will help to introduce students to the concept of playing Bingo, or provide practice for proficient players. It uses the concepts of left/right, top/middle/bottom, corners and even diagonal, if your students are able to understand that concept. Differentiated instruction allows for a variety of levels of abilities to play this activity, making it more difficult as needed.

 

This game includes 3 pumpkin board templates, a nine grid, a twelve grid and a sixteen grid. Also included are little pumpkin calling cards 0-15, plus directions and suggestions for playing. I've added little leaves, jacks and turkey pumpkins cards as an extra surprise to create some excitement. I used candy corn as my counters to mark the numbers and when a picture card is shown each student gets a piece of candy to eat!

You will need to write the numbers on the pumpkin boards. I had a parent volunteer (Gotta love them!) do that, and laminated them.

 

Another way to use this activity is to give each student a pumpkin and have them write the numbers in the various squares. For example, you assign the numbers 0-10 on the 9 space grid pumpkin. They use a pencil to write the numbers first in any spaces, to make sure they have written them correctly, and then trace over them with crayon or marker. Then play the game. Students can trade cards for each game because each board is different.

This product can also be printed in grayscale to save colored ink.

The children look forward to practicing their numbers and you get a good visual evaluation of their progress. Great to play during fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving.

 

Another number pumpkin product is

 Fall Pumpkins and Leaves Number Matching Color or Black & White.

What a great way to practice number matching with a fall theme of pumpkins and leaves! Just laminate and use over and over every year! 

Introduce or review the concepts of number matching. This activity can be used, even if only a few number concepts have been introduced. Then add the other pieces as they are learned.

Great center or group activity too! Download Preview to see the complete activity.

 

Plus follow my blog to find out about giveaways, freebies, linkys, educational tips and my newest activities!

Enjoy!

Play Is The Work Of Children!

I love this poster! Thank you Dr. Jean!

 

Father's Day Fun and Spelling Activity!

D-A-D-D-Y Was His Name-O

 What a fun activity for giving Fathers special attention for Father's Day!
It is a great way to learn some letters of the alphabet!

There is a song poster, the Love poster and the letter posters that spell DADDY. Included is a cover sheet and directions. Each poster is 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Sing to the tune "Bingo."

Introduce the song using the song poster. Pass the letter cards out and have the students participate with the singing.

To make the activity harder, sing the song with flipping a letter to Love for each verse and do a motion and/or sound instead. For example, sing D A D D Y for the first verse. Then turn the first letter D over for the second verse and have the children hug themselves and sing Love for the letter D. They would hug, then sing Love A D D Y. The third verse would be Love, Love, and sing D D Y. Do this until all the letters are turned over and the last verse is Love, Love, Love, Love, Love.

Lots of love for Father's Day!

Tiny Books!

Do you need some activities to make your teaching year successful or have items in your TpT wishlist, that have been sitting there? 

 

Try this new educational activity, Tiny Books!

 

Christine Maxwell Hand to Heart

 

Well, I have added a new search label in my CUSTOM CATEGORIES!

Tiny Books

I have several different topics of booklets listed and I plan on adding many more!

 

Tiny Book of 2D Shapes Print, Fold, Cut and Glue.

 

This is a quick and easy way to introduce or review shapes. The six shapes included are circle, square, triangle, rectangle, rhombus and hexagon. Simply print, fold, cut and glue.

Directions: Run the two booklet pages, printing on the front side only. The six colored shape examples can be run colored or grayscale. There are three sets to each sheet, but each child only gets one set of six pictures for their booklet.

Activity: Pass the two pages out to each student. They are to fold each sheet in half on the dotted line and again in half on the dotted line. Place the two pages together with the title on the front and The End page last. The booklet then gets stapled or glued together on the left side.

The booklet shapes maybe traced or colored during introduction or review. Pass out the set of six pictures strip to each student. They cut the six pictures apart and glue them in the box on the correct shape page.

 

Tiny Book of Solid Shapes Print, Fold, Cut and Glue.

 

Another easy way to introduce or review solid shapes. The six shapes included are sphere, cone, cube, cylinder, pyramid, and rectangle prism. Again simply print, fold, cut and glue.

 

These two booklets can also be found in a money-saving bundle too!

 2 Tiny Books of 2D and 3D Shapes Print, Fold, Cut and Glue.

 

 

There is a money tiny book called

Tiny Book of Money.

 

Here is a simple intro or review of money. The six money pages included are penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half dollar and dollar. Plus there is a money poem for each one, to help them remember the amount it is worth!

 

The tiny book of colors which I have talked about in a previous blog post called

Tiny Book of Colors.

In this activity are the colors; red, yellow, blue, green, orange, purple, brown, black, white, and pink.

 

The newest tiny book is  

Tiny Book of Numbers, Counting, Writing and Ten Frames.

 

The quick and easy way to introduce or review numbers. Plus each child will have a great take home and review booklet to keep! Included in this activity are the numbers 1-10.

 

Each of these books can also be cut apart and used in centers, magnetic boards or with Velcro! 

As shown in this picture!

 

 I always like to give my Followers something extra for following my blog and social media! All my media links are included in the blue strip line under the Blog header picture too!

 

So be sure and Follow, you never know when I might post a new freebie to enjoy!



Thank An Educator!

Here is a set of free bookmarks for you or someone that you know, that has made a difference in the life of a child or another person.

The Starfish Story

It is a great product for administrators to give to staff members. It can be run on heavier paper and laminated for a lasting keepsake.

There are three bookmarks on the sheet. The poem listed below is centered on each bookmark. There is a set in color and another set in black and white.

THE STARFISH POEM
by Loren Eiseley
Once upon a time there was a wise man
who used to go to the ocean
to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking on the beach
before he began his work.
One day he was walking along the shore.
As he looked down the beach,
he saw a human
figure moving like a dancer.
He smiled to himself to think
of someone who would dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he saw
that it was a young man
and the young man wasn't dancing,
but instead he was reaching
down to the shore, picking up something
and very gently throwing it
into the ocean.
As he got closer he called out,
"Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man paused,
looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish in the ocean."
"I guess I should have asked,
why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"
"The sun is up and the tide is going out.
And if I don't throw them in they'll die."
"But, young man, don't you realize that
there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young man listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another starfish
and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said-
"It made a difference for that one.“

You make a difference!

Mother's Day Is Coming!

Mother's Day in the United States is annually held on the second Sunday of May. It celebrates motherhood and it is a time to appreciate mothers and mother figures.

 

For this special day, I have an activity called

 Mother's Day Song And Posters M-O-M-M-Y Was Her Name-O.

Hopefully you are a Follower on my blog, because many times 

I will have an activity for sale in my

TeacherspayTeachers Store

and I will post it here for free! This one of those times!

 

 There is a song poster, the HUGS poster and the letter posters that spell MOMMY. Included is a cover sheet and directions. Each poster is 8 1/2 by 11 inches.

Sing to the tune "Bingo."

Introduce the song using the song poster.

Pass the letter cards out and have the students participate with the singing.

It also fun to discuss where the Mother is located in each card!

What a fun activity for giving Mothers special attention for Mother's Day!

It is a great way to learn some letters of the alphabet!

To make the activity harder, sing the song with flipping a letter to HUGS for each verse and do a motion or sound instead. For example, sing M O M M Y for the first verse. Then turn the letter M over to HUGS for the second verse and have the children hug their arms around themselves and sing HUGS for the letter M. They would hug, then sing HUGS O M M Y. The third verse would be HUGS, HUGS, and sing M M Y. Do this until all the letters are turned over and the last verse is sung HUGS, HUGS, HUGS, HUGS, HUGS.

Enjoy!

I appreciate every follower and love to show my appreciation!

You can also follow my other social media resources using the blue dots, plus I have more using the blue tabs at the top under my header!

Two Patriotic Days in May!

Armed Forces Day is a day to recognize members of the Armed Forces that are currently serving. Armed Forces Day takes place on the third Saturday in May.

 

Free! Patriotic Bookmarks "We Salute You" and "Veterans We Salute You"

 

Memorial Day is a Federal holiday celebrated the last Monday of each May to honor the men and women who died while serving in the military.

 

Several activities are fun to do to encourage respect for our men and women in uniform fighting for our freedom and our flag. These are great for teachers in classrooms, homeschools, roadschools, daycares or any educational setting!

 Flag Do Together Parent/Child Homework Activity

 

This is a creative arts and craft project that includes the cover sheet, flag template and parent letter. There are so many suggestions for decorations: glitter, pompoms, tissue paper, felt, foam, yarn,
sprinkles, colored rice, beads, sequins, shells, feathers, macaroni,
flowers, nature materials, sand, fabric, papers, foil, string, recycling
materials, whatever you have around the house.

 

 Patriotic Skip Counting

 

Here are two free examples of this activity for you to use to practice math skip counting!

Cut apart the strips and glue them down on another piece of paper in the correct sequence. If the order is correct the picture is correct, then color.

For continued number practice, just cut the pieces and do not glue them down.

These can also be laminated and used over and over. For example, glue magnets to the back of each strip and use on a cookie sheet. Put a colored dot on the back of matching pieces set to keep them from getting mixed up!

 

Enjoy! 

Testing.....

I have never liked standardized tests for any age group, but especially for the youngest learners!

 

Good educators already have a true picture of each child's different abilities and talents without using a test that's administered, scored, and interpreted in a standard, predetermined manner.

 

Tests are neither fair nor objective! Their use promotes a narrow curriculum and excessive testing undermines our ability to produce innovators and critical thinkers.  Test-related jitters cause stress especially among young students.

 

The pros and cons of this debate about testing will continue for years to come, but children are not standardized. They are each a "one of a kind" precious creation, with special abilities and talents unique to them and should be treated as such.



St. Patrick's Day Free Writing Paper!

St. Patrick's Day is when I begin to feel like spring is just around the corner! The warm temperatures have me thinking about spring, even if there is a snowstorm expected the middle of next week!

 

To celebrate this coming holiday a little early, I have a set of free writing papers!

 Free! St. Patrick’s Day Writing Paper 2 Different Grids

 

This is a simple St. Patrick’s Day writing activity. It has 2 different writing grids, plus a blank page for a variety of writing levels. There are three different versions of the different papers, color and gray scale!

 

I just added a new activity to my

TeacherspayTeachers Store!

 

St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Letter Sound Match

 What a fun way to practice letter matching and beginning sounds with shamrocks! They look really cute completely cut separately, but if you don't have time they can be cut on the box straight lines. Then decide if cutting the shamrocks apart using straight lines or

do each one differently to be self-checking!

 

 

They also come in blackline to save on ink.

 

 I have included several game ideas to use with these shamrocks. They can be used with large or small groups, plus one on one and in centers!

 

 May the luck of the Irish be with you!