Sunshine and Lollipops

Hola! Me llamo Señora Simpson.

Cuando enseñé primer grado, me encantó añadir un poco de español a mi reunión de la mañana! Aprendimos palabras de color, contando y frases comunes y a mis estudiantes les encantó!

So....since Spanish is the one of the world's most commonly spoken languages, you might also enjoy adding a bit of Spanish to your day!
As I said above or hope I said above: "When I taught first grade, I enjoyed adding a bit of Spanish to my morning meeting. We would learn color words, counting and common phrases...my students loved it! In fact when some of my former students came back to visit, they always remembered learning Spanish!

Now I am not claiming to know the language perfectly and there may be a few errors above, but I did minor in FLES or Foreign Languages in the Elementary School. At that time (45 years ago) it was simply something I wanted to do and I am glad I did it as it added a bit of fun to my classroom and teaching ideas. We played Simón dice, with easy commands like; Pon tu mano sobre tu cabeza, which was a huge hit.

I also read the Spanish versions of favorite books and the class LOVED listening to familiar books in a different language

So, where am I going with this you ask?

Cinco De Mayo is celebrated on May 5th and I thought why not share a few ideas that are easy and fun...ideas that are right at your finger tips or will be! So let's get started and celebrate

Cinco de Mayo!

But first a little history...

Cinco de Mayo or May 5th is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). i believe that the Mexican Army was not expected to win, but they did...so....time to celebrate!

🌟 How about dancing to the beat with Maracas?

You can easily make these spoon and egg maracas and perhaps you might want to make it a STEAM activity. Simply give each partner 4 spoons, masking tape and egg and some beads and tell them that they will be creating a musical instrument to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

🌟 Perhaps you want to have a little fun with some STEAM Musical activities:

Plastic spoons
Beads
Yarn or string
Sturdy plastic or China Made paper plates
Plastic eggs
Any other materials that you can think of that when combined might make noise.

Set up partners.
Tell the class that the challenge will be to create a musical instrument to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
Give each partnership a planning sheet to draw and decide what they might use to create the instrument.
Instruct your class to choose some materials to create their musical instrument to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
As you circulate or observe children experimenting with the materials provided to create their musical instruments, use the following questions to encourage learning:

Why did you choose those materials to create your instrument?
What kind of instrument are you creating?
How did you decide what instrument to make?
Did you choose any additional materials? Why?
Did you put back any materials that you originally selected? Why?
Show me how your instrument works.
What changes did you make when creating your instrument?
How did these changes affect the sound of your instrument?
Did the changes work? Why or why not?
Do you like the sound that your instrument produces? Why or why not?
Was this hard or easy for you? Why?
What have you learned about making a musical instrument?
If you had the opportunity to do this again what would you change and why?

🌟 Why not try a recipe that you can make with your kids at home or in school?

Have you ever tried Walking Tacos? They are easy and fun to make!

🌟 Here are some "Fun"tastic paper tacos to make:

I think your class would love making these tacos with or without reading the book....they look so yummy...almost good enough to eat!

🌟 How about this cute paper bag poncho?

Just imagine all those kiddos walking out the door wearing their decorated sarapes?

🌟 Your class might enjoy making their own piñatas!

Fill them up with sweets and let the party begin!

🌟 All that is left now is to share some great books about this fun holiday:

So there you have it...some fun ideas to get this holiday party started....Pick a book, add a little history, food, music and crafts and you have got yourself a great holiday celebration!

What ideas to you use to celebrate this holiday?

The air is feeling warmer...maybe....and you begin to witness signs of spring. Buds begin to pop their heads from under the soil, trees are beginning to show a tinge of green, the air smells a bit different, but you can't really decide on the fragrance and as a teacher, you want to open up your outdoor classroom and and feel that spring springing all around you and let the outdoor learning begin.

If you want to use those beautiful spring days for learning, here are a few indoor and outdoor ideas to add a little spring to your day!

🌷 Bring your students outside:

Grab those clipboards and take a walk outside to observe signs of spring!

Make sure you grab these sheets so your kiddos can observe spring using their senses. This Free Spring Fun Free Activities can be downloaded here:

Before you go outside have your students brainstorm and predict what they might, see, hear, smell and feel (advising not to touch nature that might not work for touching!)

Then go outside and have them write alone or with a partner their observations through their senses. At some point, stop and have everyone be silent for a minute or two( if that is possible😃) and listen for sounds they hear. It is amazing what can be heard!

Kids love to share what they discovered so, once you come inside, set up sharing partners and small groups. Have them share their ideas from their sensory walk and then call all groups back together and share out what they discovered, check their predictions, have them share out what they liked or didn't like, their feelings about spring and anything else that might come up! Oh and don't forget to save those clipboards for use with later ideas...actually I have one listed below!

🌷 Read outside:

Bring you class outside to read at the end of the day or anytime. Have your students pick books at some point during the day and either read alone or read with a partner.

Find a cozy spot outside your building, provide some beach towels or blankets and read for 15-30 minutes. if you want you can assign a focus for their reading.

Some focus examples might be...today we are focusing on ___________ be prepared to share out after reading time is completed:

Is your book fiction or nonfiction...how do you know?
Is there a problem? If so what was the problem and how was it solved.
Describe how this story made you feel. Why did you feel that way.
Did you like this book? Why or why not? Explain your thinking.
What was something you learned from this book, chapter, story.
As you were reading, did you make a prediction? If so share about the prediction you made. Were you correct with this prediction?
Share about your favorite part of the story. Why was this your favorite part.
Read a few sentences from your story with expression...like you are on TV.
What questions would you like to ask the author?
Name an event or something from the book that surprised you.
Name an event or something from the book that was interesting.
Quickly turn to a partner and state one sentence that happened in the beginning, middle or end. Can you share some thing from each part...BME?
Which character did you like best and why? or Tell us about a fact you learned that you liked.

You get the idea...all types of questions can be integrated and you might even have a little informal assessment going on at the same time and a bit of data collection!

🌷 Write some Spring Poems:

There are a few ways to motivate your students to write some spring poems. First of all you need to know that I LOVE writing and poems are my fave! I am jumping up and down just thinking about sharing my ideas!

Okay...use the sensory walk to motivate your students to think about and describe spring or if you cannot go outside to complete the walk and you still want to write, choose a book about spring to read to your class. If you go with the book idea, have your kids lay down on the rug or sit at their seats with their eyes closed in order to visualize the story...so...make sure you choose a book that describes spring. As they visualize, you can stop reading every so often...I call this "A 3 Minute Pause" so they can share out what they saw or visualized. using the same sheet used for the Sensory Walk, have them fill in some of the sheet and then continue on in this fashion.

Here are some ideas for Books about Spring!

Now that everyone is full of spring excitement, you can begin to collect words or phrases that describe spring (adjectives). One way to do this activity is to simply brainstorm adjectives and write them on your board and keep them up for use during poetry writing.

BUUTTTTT...this is the way I would do it: Divide your class into small groups. Assign a scriber to write down the groups' ideas on large chart paper or poster board. Then, in cooperative groups or partners, if that works better for your students, have them brainstorm their adjectives to describe spring and write them on the board. After a certain time frame, have the groups share out their ideas.

Now everyone is ready to write some poems...I can hear you right now..."just write a poem?"

No...it is not that easy...simply use these resources that were created just for YOU!

You can snatch up this freebie here.

If you are looking for something a little easier, then simply grab these ready to print and use spring poetry frames.

🌷 Snap some Pictures:

I love using photos to encourage kid's writing and I especially enjoy when I take seasonal pictures or snap photos during field trips or our day and give partnerships pictures and sticky notes and ask them to write captions.

It is the best...to see what they write!

So...why not take a walk outside with your kiddos and ask them to help you find some signs of spring so you can snap a few pictures to capture the season.

After you develop the photos or print them out, divide your class into groups or partnerships and give a photo to each group. Don't forget a sticky note so they can write captions!

Take the notes and the photos, type the captions that belong to each photo, compile into a book and voila....you have created an "All about Spring" class book! I bet it will be a hit in your classroom...mine always were!

🌷 Snatch up some Great Spring Themed Ideas:

Of course I am going to start with some of my own resources...because...well...this is...you know...my post! 😁 No worries...I will also show you where to find lots of other spring resources!

So...drumroll please:

You might want to try out these Spring Themed Literacy Stations.

Maybe this will make your classroom acting like spring has sprung! Spring Charades Dollar Deal

What's Included:

♥ Original Reader’s Theater Poem
♥ Original Reading Response Sheets/Frames
♥ Pick a Book from the Book Bouquet frame
♥ Writing Prompts for Beginning Spring Ideas
♥ Opinion Writing Frames for Spring Ideas
♥ Spring Words ABC Order
♥ Word Wall Spring Flower Frame to Write sight Words or Spelling Words
♥ Word Work Spring making Words
♥ Noun, Verb, adjective Sort using Spring Words.
♥ Spring Syllable Sort 1,2,3 and 4 syllable Spring words

This is a great game to play anytime you need a little action to the day.
Ideas for Use:

Morning Meeting Game
Reinforcing Verbs
Brain Breaks
Spring Party Games
Indoor Recess and MORE!

Need to add a little Fluency to your day? These Spring themed Sight Word Fluency Strips using Fry's First 100 Words Including End Marks for Inflection will definitely fit the bill!

Some Ideas for Use:
✿These phrases can be laminated, cut and put on a ring to have partners practice during free time.

✿ Send home for Homework practice or make one for everyone and have a Fluency Free Time where students practice and then pick a few phrases to “perform” for the class like they are on television.
I even made a 12x18 “TV” out of cardboard to hold up in front of their faces as they read. You can also use a puppet theater for the performance.

✿ However you choose to use these phrases, your students fly into fluency and the more they practice, the more fluent they will be!

Looking for some other Spring Ideas? Just click through to my collaborative Pinterest Boards and have a bit of fun checking out all the resources right here!

So as soon as the weather changes and you can feel that Spring has Sprung, grab those clipboards and scoot outside to enjoy learning! ENJOY! Comments are welcome. please add your ideas in the comments!

If you live in the Northeastern part of the United States, even though we are nearing spring,you will agree that we have had beautiful spring weather one day and a snowy blizzard the next!

This can really confuse nature...some trees never lost all of their leaves and others show buds ready to burst open and announce that spring is here!

So for that reason this post will focus on some snowy resources that you can use any day whether it is frosty or sunny!

So with Punxsutawney Phil predicting 6 more weeks of winter, here are 3 Fun Snowy Resources and Ideas for your Early Learners:

1. Bring the Snowman inside with this fun maze worksheet. For more creative preschool activities, go to Education.com!

At first glance you might think...this is just a simple maze, but do you all the benefits of children completing mazes and the skills involved?

⛄ Tracking:
Following a maze allows emergent readers to practice tracking skills and adds to eye development. I had a few children in my previous classes who had difficulty tracking left to right when reading and a developmental ophthalmologist suggested doing mazes!

⛄ Hand Eye Coordination:
Mazes also provide support of hand and eye coordination which supports the ability to pick up, grasp and manipulate objects. As the hand moves the eyes and brain have to ready to make the turns to coordinate with the eyes. Throwing a ball against a wall and then catching it is another idea to support this skill.

⛄ Brain Development:
Following mazes support developing both sides of the brain. When brain dominance has not been developed and there is a mixed dominance, mazes help the brain to figure out a dominant side or can also develop both sides.

⛄ Fine Motor Skills:
Mazes also develop fine motor skills. When you complete a maze you need to move precisely between the lines of the maze to completion. This pencil/paper skills helps children write more carefully and use movements with the wrist, hands and fingers to coordinate the fine motor movement and support coordination.

Have I convinced you to grab up this maze for your kiddos?

2. Ignite your Kinders or Firsties' Imagination with this fabulous book "Snowmen at Night" by Caralyn Buehner and See Where the Creativity Goes!

⛄ A Wonderful Youtube Video of this Story:

A Youtube Video of Snowmen at Night set to music and the words are sung to an original tune. This is a great way to motivate your students and engage them in the story!

⛄ A Differentiated Snowman at Night Craft and Writing Activity:

If you are looking for a fun, engaging way to encourage your Kinders or Firsties to write creatively, this will definitely fit the bill and can be found right here.

Here is what is included:

⛄3 different sized circles to trace and cut to make a snowman. These can be used as tracers or simply run them off onto card stock, cut and glue.

⛄Various templates for hats, shirts, a tie, and bow

⛄2 easy writing frames.

⛄1 longer writing frame for stronger writers with handwriting lines.

⛄1 longer writing frame for stronger writers with only lines for writing.

⛄1 planning sheet for jotting down ideas.

⛄ 2 Beginning Middle and End frames for easier writing or just simply writing what the snowman may do for a rough draft and then writing a good copy to display.

⛄I then add lots of beads, scraps, tissue, shape stickers, and all kinds of craft media materials to assist creativity.

⛄An idea with an outline of directions for a lesson.

⛄Sample craft.

3. Have some fun with Snow Dough!

⛄ All kids love snow or at least most of them do...

If they have ever played in snow, they will remember the cold crackling feeling of making a snowman, snow angel or snowball.

You can make snow dough with simply 2 ingredients...YES...I did say 2. Baking soda and water. All you need is one cup of Baking soda and 1/4 cup of water and you will bring that cold snow right into your classroom.

Here are a few ideas to use this in your classroom:

⛄Make it and simply let your kiddos play with it...this "snow" feels cold, which makes it even "cooler" to manipulate. This is great for sensory needs and you can talk a little about Science!

⛄Create a snowman. Name the snowman and use a frame from the packet above or you own frame to write a story about your snowman.

⛄Create a snow scene by adding small trucks, people, cars, houses etc.

There you have it...a few FUN WAYS TO BRING THE SNOW INTO YOUR CLASSROOM OR HOME! Don't wait too long...it will be spring before you know it!

I am not sure about you, but I always love to watch Punxsutawney Phil slowly emerge from his burrow ready to "predict" the weather. Kids love to make weather predictions to see if we will have 6 more weeks of winter or if spring is coming early.

Here are a few resources, activities and crafts that will motivate your young learners to write, predict and more!

⛅ Groundhog Craft and Writing Frame: This craft and or headband is perfect for K through 1.

Everything you need is included from tracers and shapes to directions and writing.

It is "easy peasy" and will have your students making all kinds of predictions along with explaining their thinking!

⛅Are you looking for something a little more challenging?

Everybody loves that cute weather predicting Groundhog from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania! Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day is a part of our weather predicting history and has been celebrated for many years. Punxsutawney Phil comes out once a year to let us know if spring is near! A Jam-Packed Groundhog Day Packet with Tons of Fiction/Non-Fiction Ideas to Make Learning Fun for Grades 2-3

⛅Maybe you need a quick morning work sheet to complete on February 2nd.

This is more for first grade, but you may have some kinders who are "Math Smart" and love challenges and this would work for them as well. Here you go:

⛅ Do your kiddos need something to support Counting?

Counting by 1's, 2's5's and 10's This resource especially designed for Kindergarten is a great way to reinforce counts and also informally assess your little ones in a fun and easy way!

⛅ Are you a few books to add the icing to these resources?

Well here are a few of my faves:

Everyone of these books can be a shared reading for any of the above resources...Try one or try them all.

⛅ Here are some crafts and activities you might like to try:

This cute graph can be adapted in so many ways.

You can use a smaller groundhog head to graph whether "Phil" will see his shadow or simply a sticky note on which each child can draw a little groundhog face and "stick" it under their heading of choice! Here is an example:

⛅ Check out this tasty treat to celebrate Punxsutawney Phil:

You can find all of these items in your local grocery store. The brownie cups can usually be found in the Bakery Department.

They are soooooo much easier to use than baking them...UGH! not my favorite thing to do when I am in a hurry!

Oops! I almost forgot...Before you put the "Teddies" into the brownie, add a dot of the icing for the nose and you have a little groundhog peeking out of his burrow! Well...you can pretend they are Groundhogs!!!

So what are you waiting for? Get started and grab up some ideas and resources to make this a "GROUNDBREAKING" Groundhog Extravaganza!

Learning about animals of the Polar Regions always sparks a strong interest in young/er children. This Non-Fiction Report Writing Fun Activity for December or Anytime is fun easy to follow and ignites that motivation to learn!

Young children LOVE learning about Animals of the Polar Region especially Reindeer, Polar Bears and Penguins. Winter would not be complete in my classroom if we did not at least read a book about these animals.

So... I would not feel complete without sharing some ideas that I have used or found to support your kiddos so they can have fun learning about these unique animals!

So here are some tested and tried fun ideas to add to your lessons about Reindeer, Polar Bears and Penguins!!!

⛄ 1: Let's not forget this: Animals of the Polar Region: Reindeer, Polar Bears and Penguins

This Non-Fiction Report Writing Fun Activity for December or Anytime is fun easy to follow and ignites that motivation to learn!

This mini unit includes fact cards, written in kid friendly language, about Polar Bears, Reindeer and Penguins and encourages children to explore in further depth information about the these animals.

⛄ 2: I absolutely love this Polar Bear Paper Plate mask.

It is easy and fun and if you want to add a little creative fun to these report writing activities provided above, why not have those 'Polar Bears" present their reports while holding up or wearing these mask??? doesn't sound like something you might want to do? Then, just make the masks, put black circles for eyes and tack the reports below the paper plate polar bear after it is shared!!!

⛄ 3: If you are looking for a cute, easy to create, paper plate penguin, this could be it!

Just think how cute this would look hanging with those reports or whatever you decide works best for your students. You can also add some google eyes for a personal touch!! Too cute or what?

⛄ 4: The most popular reindeer in the North Pole is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, but of course not all reindeer have red noses!!!

This cute easy to create paper plate craft has an adorable red pom-pom nose, but if you want to change it up and make a regular ole reindeer, then just simply add a black pom- pom nose!!! Easy and cute...that's my style!!

⛄ 5: Are you looking for some books to enrich this mini unit?

Here you go! Check out your school or local library for some of these titles!!