Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats

Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats are perfect for Pre-K to 2nd grade. Students practice counting, numeral identification, and fine motor skills.

The packet contains the following:

• Level 1: (20) 8.5” x 11” Christmas tree playdoh mats with printed numerals 1 to 20. Each mat as the corresponding number of Christmas balls colored.
• Level 2: (20) 8.5” x 11” Christmas tree playdoh mats with printed numerals 1 to 20.
• Level 3: (20) 8.5” x 11” Christmas tree playdoh mats with printed number words only.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. I store all of the Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats grouped by level in a plastic file folder for easy access.
• To print multiple Christmas trees on one page choose the MULTIPLE PAGE PER SHEET sheeting under PAGE SCALING in Adobe Acrobat.

DOWNLOAD>> Christmas Tree 1 to 20 Playdoh Mats

Christmas Wreath Shape Match

Christmas Wreath Shape Match cards are perfect for one:one correspondence, listening and following directions.

The packet contains the following:

• (1) 8.5” X 11” Color Christmas Wreath shape mat.
• (1) 8.5” X 11” B & W Christmas Wreath shape mat.
• (10) Color Matching Shape Cards.
• (10) B & W Matching Shape Cards.
• (1) Christmas Wreath Shape Homework Activity.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability except for the homework sheet. Once laminated, cut along the dotted line. 

DOWNLOAD>> Christmas Wreath Shape Match

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Christmas Time is Almost Here

Well, it's that time of year again, Christmas. I can hardly believe how fast this year is progressing. My students certainly have come a long way since the beginning of the school year. They are so excited about the holiday season. This school year, I have various levels of learning, more so than in previous years. So, I have created activities that have several skill levels.

I have planned a lot of fun, creative, and engaging learning activities for them this year. Listed below are a few of the poems, songs, and activities that I am using this year in my PreK class.

Keep checking back often as I am continually updating the list of activities.

Poems

Christmas Tree

If I were a pine

With needles lean,

If I were a fir

With branches green,

Do you know what

I'd want to be?

A shimmering, shining

Christmas tree!

~ Author Unknown ~

Christmas Wreaths

Our Christmas wreaths

Are fat and round

Made of woodsy things

We found.

We tied brown cones

Upon the green

And stuck red berries

In between.

Upon the wreath

For our front door

We tied a ribbon from a store.

~ Author Unknown ~

Santa

Santa Claus is big and fat

He wears black boots

And a bright red hat.

His nose is red

Just like a rose

And he "ho ho ho's"

From his head to his toes!

~ Author Unknown ~

Five Christmas Candles

Five Christmas candles

With flames so gay,

Dance and flicker

On Christmas day

Five Christmas candles

With flames so gay

Melt away

On Christmas Day.

~ Author Unknown ~

Christmas Candles 

Christmas candles burning bright,

Shining in the winter night.

Shining there for all to see,

Christmas candles for all to see,

Christmas candles one, two, three.

Christmas candles burning bright,

Shine until the morning light.

~ Author Unknown ~

Oh

Oh, I took a lick of my peppermint stick

And I thought it tasted yummy!

It used to be on my Christmas tree,

But I like it better in my tummy!  Yummy!

~ Author Unknown ~

Santa Claus's  Ride

Santa Claus went for a ride

across

around

over

past

through

under

and got back in time for a snack of gingerbread cookies and hot  chocolate

and a long cozy nap.

~ Author Unknown ~

This Little Present

The little present is for Mary.

This little present is for Ted.

This little present is for Harry.

This little present is for Ned.

This little present cried,

"Boo, hoo, hoo!  Please put me in a Christmas stocking, too!"

~ Author Unknown ~

Songs

Where is Santa?

(tune: Are you sleeping?)

Where is Santa? (hands behind back)

Where is Santa?

Here I am! (arms out in front, making a belly shape!)

Here I am!

Merry, Merry Christmas!

Merry, Merry, Christmas! (keep arms up through the rest of the song!)

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

~ Author Unknown~

We'll Decorate the Tree

(tune: The Farmer in the Dell)

We'll decorate the tree.

We'll decorate the tree.

Heigh-ho, it's Christmastime,

We'll decorate the tree.

The presents we will wrap,

The presents we will wrap,

Heigh-ho, it's Christmastime,

The presents we will wrap.

Carols we will sing,

Carols we will sing,

Heigh-ho, it's Christmastime,

Carols we will sing.

~ Author Unknown~

There Was a Man

(tune: BINGO)

There was a man in a big red suit

And Santa was his name-o.

S - a - n - t -a    

S - a -n - t - a  

S - a - n - t - a

And Santa was his name-o!

Additional verses:

2. He has a big white fluffy beard.

3. He rides a sleigh of 8 reindeer.

4. He has a sack all filled with toys.

5. He brings the toys for girls and boys.

6. He'll come again another year.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

~ Author Unknown~

Santa's Coming

(tune: Frere Jacques)

Santa's coming,

Santa's coming

Sleigh bells ring,

Sleigh bells ring,

It is Christmas Eve.

It is Christmas Eve.

Ding, ding, dong.

Ding, ding, dong.

~ Author Unknown~

Activities

Stocking Color Words

Setting: Small Group, Literacy Centers

Objective: Color sight word identification, matching

Materials: Stocking Color Word cards available for free. Click on the link below.

Directions: Seat your students around a table and place the Stocking Color Word cards in a basket. Have the students work in pairs matching the color sight word to the matching color stocking. There are two levels of play. Level 1: Color sight words are written the color represented. Level 2: All color sight words are written in black.

DOWNLOAD>> Stocking Color Word Cards

Stacking Gifts
[Block Center]

Wrap cardboard boxes (large and small) in Christmas gift wrap. Add them to the block center for children to stack.

Gift Box Guessing Game 
[Large Group] 
Decorate a large cardboard box to look like a gift box, and play this guessing game. While everyone’s eyes are closed, tap one child on the shoulder. That child will crawl in the big gift box. Tell the children to open their eyes and guess who is missing from the circle.

Christmas Wreath

[Take Home Project] 

Use a sturdy green paper plate and cut out the middle and send one home with each student.  Encourage their family to creatively help them decorate their wreath.

Christmas Sort File Folder Game

Setting: Small Group, Math Centers

Objective: Sorting

Materials: Use the Christmas Sort cards. Have students sort the cards into Christmas and Not Christmas. Two levels of play. Level 1: Students can place pictures about Christmas into a stocking. Level 2: Have the students place pictures about Christmas on the Christmas tree and pictures not about Christmas on the Christmas tree with a red X.

DOWNLOAD>> Christmas Sort File Folder Game

Polka Dotted Center Signs

Okay, here is another Polka Dotted FREE printable.

Polka Dotted Center signs are a set of (11) different center signs to use in your classroom for personal use only!

The images used to create the Polka Dotted Center Signs come from a wide variety of resources to include: Google Images, Scholastic, Borderbund, Art Explosion, and Microsoft Office Clip Art. Translation from English to Spanish was provided by Google Translate.

The packet contains the following:

(11) Different colored polka dotted center signs.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability.
• Original size is 12” x 18” and can be tiled over (2) 8.5”x 11” sheets of card stock. OR the center signs can be printed using the FIT To PAPER selection.

DOWNLOAD>> Polka Dotted Center Signs

Terms of Use:

Fair Use Rules:

Most of the layouts and designs are original; you can display or perform the material provided:

1. You give Lanie’s Little Learners credit by acknowledging www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com as the source
2. It is not for commercial use. It is for personal or classroom use only.
3. The digital version in the form of PDF’s are not altered or transformed in anyway.
4. If you share an idea or printable that is from www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com please use them in a professional manner, give credit, and do not claim them as your own.  If you find a downloadable file on www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com, you may not directly link it from your site.  You MUST direct traffic to the blog post where it’s contained.
5. Distribution is clearly prohibited. If others would like a copy of the material please direct them to www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lanies-Little-Learners or www.LaniesLittleLearners.blogspot.com.
6. The photos and clip art come from several sources to include, Art Explosion, Borderbund, MyCuteGraphics.com, KevenandAmanda.com, and Microsoft Office clip art. Under the copyright laws Circular 21, the images maybe used for educational purposes. The entire copyright circular can be downloaded from: www.copyright.gov/circs/circ21.pdf. The images are also covered under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported. The license terms of the work can be found here http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0.
7. Any questions, suggestions or comments, please email me at lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

Credits: 

www.KevinAndAmanda.com

Polka Dotted Classroom Labels

Okay I admit it, I have a thing for polka dots. So this year all of my individual labels in each center, classroom labels, and center signs ALL have a polka dotted border. I color coordinated each learning center in my PreK classroom. For example the Discovery Center (Science) is colored coordinated using the purple polka dotted scheme. All the individual labeled items, center sign, mini-word wall, and work cards all have the same theme. I did this for two reasons. First, I am kinda OCD about having things match, and second the students know which center an object comes from by matching the color coded labels. Pretty neat I think. So as a FREE download I am offering a set of (11) editable different colored polka dotted frames for you to use in your classroom. Keep reading for more information.

Polka Dotted Classroom Labels are a set of brightly colored polka dotted frames to use in your classroom for personal use only!

You could also use the labels for the following:

• Classroom labels
• Environmental print
• Small individual picture frames.

The packet contains the following:

• (11) Different colored polka dotted frames. There are four to a page.
• Each label is editable using Adobe Acrobat. The text is set to auto so it will shrink as you type. Each frame has (2) text boxes. The first is for English language labels, the second is for second language labels.

Pink Polka Dotted environmental print label.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. Type in the form fields using Adobe Acrobat. 

DOWNLOAD>> Polka Dotted Classroom Labels

Credits:

www.KevinAndAmanda.com

All About Shapes Activity Packet

All About Shapes Activity Packet is for students to discriminate, recognize, sort, and match shapes using both clip art images and photos.

You could also use the activity for the following:

• Shape recognition
• Matching
• Sorting
• Classifying
• Listening and following directions
• Cooperative play.

The packet contains the following:

• (9) Cookie jars with the following shapes: 
  

• rectangle
• square
• oval
• circle
• triangle
• diamond
• star
• octagon
• heart

• (6) Cookie per shape using both clip art and photos to represent each shape.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. 

• One suggested assembly method is making a file folder game. First, cut out each cookie jar and glue to the inside of a file folder. (2) cookie jars can be placed on one page. (1) file folder will hold (6) cookie jars. To add pages to the file folder for the remaining cookie jars, cut a file folder in half . Glue the remaining cookie jars to the file folder. Laminate the file folders. Then the additional page can be attached by using clear packing tape and taping the page to the file folder. 

• Laminate each page of cookie game pieces and cut out. The cookies can be attached to each cookie jar by using Velcro. Store the game pieces in a ziploc bag stapled to the file folder.

DOWNLOAD>> All About Shapes Activity Packet

Credits:

www.KevinandAmandaFonts.com

www.MyCuteGraphics.com

All About the Letter Pocket Chart Activitiy

All About the Letter Activity Chart is part of my circle time routine. Each letter of the alphabet has four photo picture cards. Suggested ideas:

• Letter recognition
• Alphabetic order
• Beginning sound identification
• Sorting
• Classifying

The picture is a representation of the All About the Letter Chart. The photo cards are Alphabet Soup Sorters the school district had purchased for the classroom. Instead of using the Alphabet Soup Sorter Cards you can use the photo picture cards in this activity packet.

The packet contains the following:

• (26) Letter Cards (Vowels are in red)
• (4) Photo cards for each letter of the alphabet
• (1) All about the letter... Sign
• (1) Question mark card.

Photo List:

• Aa: apple, ambulance, ant, Apple Jacks 
• Bb: balloon, butterfly, bear, button 
• Cc: cat, cake, cookie, car
• Dd: doughnut, domino, dog, duck 
• Ee: elephant, eraser, eagle, ear 
• Ff: fork, football, firefighter, feather
• Gg: goat, gas, grapes, glasses 
• Hh: heart, hat, hamster, horn 
• Ii: ice cream, ice, iron, insect
• Jj: jacks, jet, juice, jar 
• Kk: kick, keys, ketchup, kite 
• Ll: ladder, lamp, lock, lemon
• Mm: mushroom, magnet, motorcycle, milk 
• Nn: nurse, newspaper, nest, nickel 
• Oo: ostrich, orange, olive, owl
• Pp: pig, pumpkin, pot, pizza 
• Qq: quilt, quarter, queen, quail 
• Rr: rabbit, rake, rope, rhino
• Ss: socks, snake, soap, stove 
• Tt: turtle, tomato, table, teeth 
• Uu: unicycle, umbrella, underwear, uniform 
• Vv: violin, vase, vulture, van 
• Ww: watch, wagon, watermelon, window 
• Xx: x-ray, xylophone , box, fox 
• Yy: yarn, yak, yogurt, yellow 
• Zz: zebra, zucchini, zigzag, zipper

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. Actual size for each letter card is 3.25” x 3.75” and each photo card is 2.625” x 2.6667”.
• Once printed cut on the solid black line for the letter cards. This way the background goes all the way to the edge.
• Once all pieces have been laminated and cut I used a calendar pocket chart to place all of the cards in and the photo cards are placed behind the letter.

DOWNLOAD>> All About the Letter Pocket Chart Activity

Credits:

Yogurt photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/theimpulsivebuy/5013251526/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Zigzag photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryandjc/3630419433/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Queen photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pixel_addict/1401218685/sizes/l/in/photostream/
www.MyCuteGraphics.com
www.KevinandAmanda.com

Mailbox Student Address Cards

These mailbox shaped cards are the ideal printable to use for students to learn their name, address, telephone number and birthday.

You could also use the activity for the following:

• Name recognition
• Address knowledge
• Telephone knowledge
• Birthday
• Letter recognition
• Concepts about print
• Emergent reading skills
• And so much more!

The packet contains the following:

• (4) Mailbox Cards with lines for writing information on.
• (4) Editable Mailbox cards that you can use Adobe Acrobat to type in student information. 

Directions:

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. Then cut out along image lines and write student information on the cards with a permanent marker AFTER laminating. To re-use cards, simply scribble over permanent marker with a dry erase marker, then wipe clean. Something in the dry erase marker enables the permanent marker to be cleaned off the laminated card. Perfect to reuse the card instead of having to re-print new ones!

If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

FREE Download>> Student Address Cards

Credits

www.MyCuteGraphics.com 

www.KevinandAmanda.com

Number Tracing Cards

Number Tracing Cards are perfect for little hands to use. Simply supply your little ones with dry erase markers or dry erase crayons and let them practice their fine motor skills while they are recognizing their numerals.

Directions

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. For added durability I cut the cards apart on the dotted line and folded the cards in half on the solid line. Then I glued the two folded pieces together with stick glue. I then laminated the Number Tracing Cards. NOTE: If you decide to assemble your Number Tracing Cards this way, leave at least an 1/8th of an inch of laminate film around each card when trimming. This way the laminate will not peel (if it’s the good kind). Then I punched a hole in the top right corner and used a book ring bind my Number Tracing Cards together. I am using the cards in my writing center this year.

If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

DOWNLOAD >> Number Tracing Cards

Credits

• www.MyCuteGraphics.com    
• www.KevinandAmanda.com

Alphabet Tracing Cards

Alphabet Tracing Cards are perfect for little hands to use. Simply supply your little ones with dry erase markers or crayons and let them practice their fine motor skills while they are recognizing the letters of the alphabet.

Directions

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. For added durability I cut the cards apart on the dotted line and folded the cards in half on the solid line. Then I glued the two folded pieces together with stick glue. I then laminated the Alphabet Tracing Cards. NOTE: If you decide to assemble your Alphabet Tracing Cards this way, leave at least an 1/8th of an inch of laminate film around each card when trimming. This way the laminate will not peel (if it’s the good kind). Then I punched a hole in the top right corner and used a book ring bind my Alphabet Tracing Cards together. I am using the cards in my writing center this year.
If you have any suggestions and/or comments to make this learning packet better, please feel free to email me at: lanieslittlelearners@gmail.com.

DOWNLOAD >> Alphabet Tracing Cards

Credits

•  www.MyCuteGraphics.com       
• www.KevinandAmanda.com

Rain, Rain GO AWAY!

Alapaha River on HWY 122

Lately it has been raining cats and dogs for the last two weeks. The Alapaha River is out of its banks and my yard looks part lake, part jungle because the grass is so high. So why not add some rainy day activities you can use at home or in the classroom.

Language Activity

To develop language skills practice this rain poem:

Rain on the green grass
And rain on trees.
Rain on the rooftops,
But not on me!

Science Activity

Rain Gauge
Use an empty can or jar to make a rain gauge. Place the container outside to measure the rainfall. Have the rain have your child investigate how full the container is. Use words like more, less, about, estimate to build vocabulary. Also, as an extension activity have your child draw a picture to how much rain is in the rain gauge. This will develop scientific observation skills.

Art Activity

Eyedropper Painting
Materials: Assorted plastic medicine droppers for safety, and food coloring, plastic cups, white construction paper

Directions: Fill the plastic cups half way with water and add a few drops of food coloring to each cup. Let you child practice fine motor skills by using the plastic medicine dropper to get the watercolors. Then encourage your child to hold the plastic medicine dropper above the paper, then release the color creating a colored “rain” drop. REMEMBER it is the creative process and not the end product that contains. To promote language skills ask your little one to describe his/her painting to you. Then you can write his/her words directly onto their artwork and display.

Cooking Activity

Rainbow Fruit Parfait
Ingredients:

• red = strawberries 
• orange = oranges 
• yellow = bananas 
• green = kiwi 
• blue = blueberries 
• indigo = blackberries 
• purple = grapes 
• vanilla yogurt, granola bar

Directions: Cut up each of the fruits above, layer each fruit with vanilla yogurt in a cup and crumble up a granola bar on top. Chill for about 30 min. Then enjoy!

Literacy

Little Raindrop
This is the sun, high up in the sky, (hold hands in circle above head)
A dark cloud suddenly comes sailing by, (slide hands to side)
These are the raindrops, (make raining motion with fingers)
Pitter, patter down,
Watering the flowers, (pouring motion)
Growing on the ground. (pat the ground)

Thunderstorm
Boom, bang, boom bang! (clap hands)
Rumpety, lumpety, bump! (stomp feet)
Zoom, zam, zoom, zam! (swish hands together)
Rustles and bustles (pat thighs)
And swishes and zings! (pat thighs)
What wonderful noises
A thunderstorm brings.

Math

Rainbow Matching
Materials: Assorted fabrics matching the colors in the rainbow.
Directions: Cut the assorted fabric in 2 inch, 4 inch, and 6 inches squares. Have the children sort the fabric into groups by colors, textures, and size. Differentiation: For children having difficulty in sorting by colors, provide a corresponding colored paper cup or bowl for the children to use. The children can match the fabric to the container.

Gross Motor

Worm Wiggles
The purpose of this game is to move like a worm. Show you child how to lie on the floor and move their body forward without using their hands or elbows. This game will surly get a giggle or to and hopefully burn some energy off as well.

Amazon Book List

Rain or Shine: All About the Weather

Let It Rain by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Maisy's Wonderful Weather Book

Whether it's snowy, rainy, or sunny, readers can explore the natural world with Maisy and find out how wonderful weather can be!

What's the weather, Maisy? It's sunny — hooray! It's windy — hooray! It's raining — hooray, hooray! Whatever the weather, Maisy knows how to make the best of the day. Little fans will be proud to help with the forecast by pulling the tabs and turning the wheels to make the rain come down, the snow fall, the lightning flash, and even a rainbow appear!

Splish!Splash!: A Book About Rain

The Rain Came Down

What Will the Weather Be? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Resources/Credits:

• Flooded Alapaha River image: http://www.wwals.net/tag/alapaha-river/ by JSQ 
• Clip art images provided by: http://www.MyCuteGraphics.com
• Juddy Herr, Yvonne Libby Larson. (2009). Rain. In Creative Resources for the Early Childhood Classroom (pp. 549-557). Cliffton Park: Thompson Delmar Learning.

Who Came to School Today?

I have continued working on my "Under the Sea" theme for my classroom. I can hardly believe that it is only 14 DAYS until the start of the new school term. I am both disappointed and excited at the same time. Disappointed because it means less time in the pool but excited to see how the new ideas and activities I created will work this year.

The activity I created is all original artwork. The Who Cane to School Today Attendance chart will be part of our morning ritual. The students will come in find their name on the sign-in sheet, sign-in, put their fish in the fishbowl, and then decide how they feel for the day on the How Do I Feel Today Chart.

Who Came to School Today? is used for attendance. The children come in and move their fish name tag to the fishbowl.

You could also use the activity for the following:

• Name recognition
• Letter recognition
• Counting letters in a word
• Counting how many are in school
• Listening and following spoken directions to name a few.

The packet contains the following:

• Who came to School Today? Finished size: 17” x 33”
• Editable Individual Fish for students’ names.

Directions:

It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. To attach the fish names to the chart use the Velcro dots.

Who Came to School Today? Fishbowl chart is tiled over (8) pages with a 1/8” overlap. To assemble cut, along image’s outline. When all pieces have been cut out, simply lay the corresponding piece a 1/8” over until print edges match. Finished size: 32” x 17”

I also have included Who Came to School Today Fishbowl chart as one piece measuring 32” x 17” on page 15 for those of you who would like to take it to a print shop or Sams Club which also offers large format printing at a reasonable price.

The individual fish for students’ names are (6) to a page and can be printed (2) ways. I created an Adobe Form for the individual fish names where you can type the name of your student directly on the fish. The form is set up to AUTO so it will shrink large names to fit on the fish. The second way is to simply print the individual fish names onto card stock, write individual students’ names, and then laminate for durability.

DOWNLOAD>> Who Came to School Today Attandance

Summer Cooking with Your Little Ones

As everyone might suspect summer time is great but also extremely hot. Here are a few treats to help you cool down with your little ones.

 

Popsicles

Ingredients:

Pineapple juice

Grape juice (or any juice of your choice)

Craft sticks

Small paper cups

Directions: If frozen juice is used, mix according to the directions on the can. Fill the paper cups 3/4 full of juice. Place the cups in the freezer. When the juice begins to freeze, insert a craft stick in the middle of each cup. When frozen, peel away the paper cup and serve.

Watermelon Popsicles

Ingredients:

Watermelon

Crafts sticks

Small paper cups

Directions: Remove the seeds and the rind from the watermelon. Puree the melon in a blender. Fill the paper cups 3/4 full of juice. Place the cups in the freezer. When the juice begins to freeze, insert a craft stick in the middle of each cup. When frozen, peel away the paper cup and serve.

Zippy Drink

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas

2 cups orange juice

2 cups orange sherbet

Ice cubes

Orange slices

Directions: Peel the bananas, place in a bowl and mash with a fork. Add orange juice and sherbet and beat with a hand mixer or whisk until smooth. Pour into a pitcher; add ice cubes, and orange slices. Serve and enjoy!

Sand Dollar Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup oil

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

4-1/4 cups plain flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Dried fruit bits or sunflower seeds

Directions: Cream butter, oil, sugar, salt, baking soda, cream of tartar. Add in eggs. Slowly add in flour. Make balls and press into cookies. Place 5 sunflower seeds and/or pieces of dried fruit in middle of cookie to resemble a sand dollar. Bake 8-10 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Who Took the Cookie?

I had another ideal in the middle of the night, so I had to get it out of my head and on to paper! In September I am introducing the letters A, C, M, T and focusing on these letters the entire month. One of the books I am using is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. I thought why not tie the "cookie" theme together with a whole/small group activity reinforcing name recognition in print. I took an adaptation to the chant, "Who Took the Cookies from the Cookie Jar?" Below is the information about the printable which can be purchased from my Teacher Pay Teachers Store.

Who Took the Cookie? Activity Packet

Who Took the Cookie? Is based on the game, who took the cookies from the cookie jar. I am using the activity in both large group and small group for name recognition and print concepts.

You could also use the activity for the following:

• Sight Word recognition
  
• Letter recognition
• Reading directionality
• Counting words in a sentence
• Counting letters in a word
• Listening and following spoken directions to name a few.

The packet contains the following:

• Cookie Jar Chart with the words to, who took the cookie? Finished size: 17” x 33”
• Editable Individual Cookies for students’ names.

Directions:

• It is suggested to print all pieces on card stock and laminate for durability. To attach the cookie names to the chart use the Velcro dots. 
• The Cookie Jar chart is tiled over (8) pages with a 1/8” overlap. To assemble cut, along image’s black line. When all pieces have been cut out, simply lay the corresponding piece a 1/4” over until print edges match. Finished size: 17” x 33”
• I also have included The Cookie Jar chart as one piece measuring 17” x 33” on page 12 for those of you who would like to take it to a print shop or Sams Club also offers large format printing at a reasonable price.
•  The individual cookies for students’ names are (6) to a page and can be printed (2) ways. I created an Adobe Form for the individual cookies where you can type the name of your student directly on the cookie. The form is set up to AUTO so it will shrink large names to fit on the cookie. The second way is to simply print the individual cookie names onto card stock, write individual students’ names, and then laminate for durability.

DOWNLOAD>> Who Took the Cookie? Activity Packet

Let me know what you think! Is it good, can it be approved upon? Comments, suggestions, likes and dislikes are always welcomed.

Blog Overhaul

I have worked pretty much the entire day and into the wee hours of the morning giving my blog a much needed overhaul. My son has come in the room several times to say enough is enough. Yet, I'm the type that has to get the creative idea out of my head and in to production. If not, then I lay awake tossing and turning.

I decided to take on the challenge of overhauling my entire blog because, I wanted a more polished theme that went with both my personality and my blog topic. So, like everyone else I ‘Googled it’ to find a FREE blogger template that was just right. A blogger template that was not too small, nor too big, but the perfect one. I found one that I like as you can see. With some minor tweaking I am pleasantly pleased with the outcome. The only thing I wish I could change is the columns’ width. I have so much information that I needed three columns, but the drawback is the width of the actual "post" column. I'll keep tweaking with the code until I find the perfect match.

Take a look at the changes and use the comment box to let me know how you feel, good or bad!

Summer Ideas

Fix an area outside to let you child enjoy painting. Some ideas include inexpensive watercolors, white construction paper, and of course water. If painting is not something you’re interested in than choose markers, colored pencils, crayons, etc. Before your little one begins their “plein air” (outside) master piece, go on a nature walk through your yard, neighborhood, or local park and talk about all the different colors and textures you see along the way. To promote language skills use as many describing words when talking with your young child. Words such as enormous, tiny, hairy, smooth, bumpy, bright, dull, shiny etc. Describe the shape of the object, its dimensions anything to expand your child’s vocabulary. When you return from your adventure encourage your child to remember details from the walk and paint them or draw them. Remember it is about the creative process and not the end product. Talk with your child about their painting. Ask, “Tell me about your painting,” leaves an opened conversation as opposed to “what are you drawing?” For a science experiment, encourage your child to observe how fast the watercolors dry. Most of all have fun!

Credits: www.MyCuteGraphics.com     www.KevinandAmanda.com

My Many Colored Days

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss is a wonderful way for parents and teachers to talk with children about their feelings. Each day is described in terms of a particular color, which in turn is associated with specific emotions. Using a spectrum of vibrant colors and a variety of animals, this unique book covers a range of moods and emotions. (Ages 3-8)

I am introducing this book during the first month of school as part of my Feelings Theme. I used the information provided from the Book Nook based on My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss to create visuals to retell the story with.


To purchase a copy of My Many Colored Days click here.

My Many Colored Days Activities Packet contains the following:

• Each animal is in colored and coordinates with the story. 
• Each colored boy is in color with the color word written on the cutout. 
• Pages 12-27 are a printable book based on the story by Dr. Seuss. The printable book is used for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY! It may not be sold or re-distributed. The book is copyright protected and may be used for classrooms purposes only. The images are from the Ideas for Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss and can be found here: http://www.csefel.vanderbilt.edu/booknook/many_colored_days.pdf.

Directions: It is suggested that all pieces are printed on card stock and laminated for durability. Pages 2-11 print single sided, laminate, and cut individually. If you plan on using the visuals on a felt board simply attach the rough side of self-adhesive Velcro dots to the back of each piece. Another option is to use self-adhesive magnets. Also, to act out the story, print another set of visuals, laminate, and glue to craft sticks. Place the puppets with the book in your library. The book on pages 12-27 can be printed manually on both sides, laminated, and then either comb-bound or use book rings to make the book. Both the book and the puppets are being used in my Safe Place from Conscious Discipline.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Many Colored Days Activities

Examples of activities that can be used while reading My Many Colored Days and throughout the day to promote social and emotional development:

• While reading the story, pause after each animal and discuss the animal’s color. Ask the children to share a time that they were in that mood. After reading the story, discuss the spectrum of colors in comparison to moods and feelings.
• Extend the story by discussing different colors and their association with emotions. Explain that sometimes feelings are described in colors. We are all different and may have a different feelings or moods with each color. For example, although some associate blue with being sad others find it very peaceful and happy. Make a chart with different colors across the top. Ask children to pick which color represents how they are feeling. Talk about why they picked the color to represent their feeling. Write the children’s names under the color they pick.
• Color spinner—Trace two hands, with the two palm edges touching, on one piece of card stock paper or file folder. The fingers will be facing the outer edge of the paper/file folder, while the palms are toward the center. (Note: Once traced, the hands will form a mirror image of each other.) Cut out an arrow and attach it with a brad to form a spinner between the two hands. Color each finger a different color using the colors represented in the story. Have the children pass the spinner around taking turns spinning the arrow and discussing what the color means for them. Talk about how different people may have different feelings associated with the same color. For example, in the story, purple makes the boy feel sad; for others it could mean feeling loved.

The ideas used above are from: Ideas for Using Books to Support Social Emotional Development: My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss.

FREE DOWNLOAD>> My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss – Book Nook Ideas and Activities

Useful Social & Emotional Development Links

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. CSEFEL is a national resource center funded by the Office of Head Start and Child Care Bureau for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country.

Creating Teaching Tools for Young Children with Challenging Behavior is a FREE product developed by the Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children (TACSEI) that gives teachers practical strategies, developed from TACSEI’s research activities and experiences in Positive Behavior Support, to create a plan to support young children who are having challenging behavior.

Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning and discipline.