Valentine Lip Balm Tag

We love to show our teachers and daycare providers they are appreciated, so each holiday I try to find a little something to brighten their days!

This Valentine's Day my boys will be giving their teachers this:

The front has some fun Burt's Bees lip balm and the back valentine York Peppermint Patties!

These are SUPER SIMPLE to make and not that expensive! 

(the lip balm was $3.29 each and candies on sale 2/$7)

First print and cut the tags:

Then sort-of fold them in half to make a slit for the balm to slip into:

Slide the package of Burt's Bees (or any brand) lip balm into the slit and secure with a piece of tape:

If you happen to find the tubes without the cardboard box, you can just tape it to the card or tie with ribbon like I did with these two years ago:

(I couldn't re-use these tags because the cardboard version didn't fit- if you prefer these tags you can find them on this post!)

On the back I bagged 3 valentine York Peppermint Patties in a snack size baggie:

and stapled the frog topper to it and the lip balm card:

In no time I had all 9 ready:

and then I had the boys sign them:

I had 2 versions:

"I" for them to give to their own teachers and 'We' for our daycare providers!

You can find the tag for the lip balm and candies HERE and if you prefer the other tag, it can be found on THIS POST or by going HERE to download!

Speaking of a SWEET Valentine Surprise....

Consider visiting The Primary Pack to win a $100 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card!

Visit the blog from February 7th to February 13th to enter to win!

Winner will be announced on February 14th!

And you can find February resources (both FREE and PAID) here

An InLinkz Link-up

Happy crafting and until next post,

Numbers to 100!

We are currently working on identifying numbers and counting to 100!

We don't celebrate the 100th Day of School until February 23rd this year, but I know many schools are already in full swing!

Whether you are planning a day of '100 Fun' or simply looking for an activity to practice identifying numbers to 100, this SIMPLE & NO-PREP activity had my kids engaged the entire time:

The materials for this activity are super simple to gather:

*100 Tracing Chart

*Markers (you can use pencil but my kids thought they were the cat's meow because I let them use markers!)

*Counter (pennies would work great too!)

Before we 'played' we talked about a 100 chart and how the numbers follow patterns.

They are familiar with it because we count and add to our 100 chart each day!

I showed them whole group how to shake and drop the counter onto the 100 chart.

I reinforced how the counters have a SMALL drop to the chart and none should be flying upward!

We also talked about what to do if a counter lands on a line...they had the choice of either sliding it to one of the boxes it was near or to pick it up and try again.

I told them this was something we were not going to finish the first day and I wanted them to really practice naming the numbers their counters landed on OR counting to find where their number landed on if they did not know the number.

After materials were distributed, it was time to play learn!

Here are some 'in action' shots to show the process...

They had a choice at this point.

If they knew the number it landed on and could say what it was they went right to tracing, but if they weren't sure they counted until they reached the counter and then said what it was:

They continued to shake, drop, count/ID and trace for the remainder or our math block.

Many of them had about 20-30 numbers traced.

Tomorrow we will do this again and I will have them use a different color marker.

If they happen to land on a number they already traced they can say it again & traced over it again or they can try again.

It will get tougher as the board gets filled to land EXACTLY on the numbers needed, but it just offers more practice with number ID and counting along the way!

If you think this is something you would like to try in your classroom, I have put the tracing chart up for free HERE!

Enjoy!

Until next post,

Valentine Gift Tag

I know February isn't even here yet, but I found these fun eye pointers (rings) in Michael's right after Christmas (as in RIGHT next to the 70% off Christmas goodies!) and decided they would make the perfect non-candy Valentine treat for my kindergarteners:

 

Seeing that I am STUCK inside today due to the blizzard we are being hit with, it was a perfect time to get them all prepped and ready so that I can cross one thing off my never-ending 'to-do' list!

I love to play on words, so I made up some cute tags.  I wasn't sure which size would work best for the plastic eyes, so I tried out 2 and guess what...they BOTH work!

I did a set with a pink border and one with a blue border because I wasn't so sure the boys would be keen on receiving a pink paper!

I wrote my name on the tags... 

and then attached the pointers/rings! 

I tried both taping them and putting dots of glue.  Both work great but the glue took some time to dry, so if you are in a rush, go with tape!

Here they are! 

We have been using these Scholastic Science Readers in class and they are perfect at each level and for a class of differentiated learners!

So I ordered a set (20 books is $20- you get 5 of each level) and will tape the card with pointer/ring to each book and put it into their Valentine bags! 

I actually bought enough of these pointers so that I can send one home and they can use them in class during Valentine's week!

I will let them choose a pointer... 

and then use it for guided reading, independent reading and Readers Workshop that week! 

If you can't find these 'Valentine-colored' eyes, Michaels also has a generic set you can use!

Grab the tags for FREE HERE!

Last year I made scratch-offs for my kids for Valentine's Day to use for a center in class and for part of their gifts:

You can read all about it HERE and grab the cards for FREE too!

Wishing you a 'love'-ly Valentine's Day...and for those stuck inside battling the blizzard...stay warm!

Until next post,

100th Day Take-Home Project

Last year I had my students complete a 100 Days Take-Home Project:

I was scheduled for parent/teacher conferences on our 100th Day so I was BUMMED I could not do my traditional 'make and wear something with '100 things' on it.

*********************************************

You can read all about my usual '100 Day Fun' HERE!

*********************************************

I had done '100 collections' before but they always seem to cause drama or heartache is a favorite toy, sticker, etc goes missing!

SO, I decided to make their 100 Day project somewhat similar YET still allowed for creativity!

As you can see I got many different interpretations!

About 2 weeks prior to our 100th Day I sent home a note explaining the project, a copy of the gumball machine base and a 12x18 piece of white construction paper:

Many chose not to use the construction paper, but I wanted to provide it in case a family didn't have the means to get a piece large enough!

As the projects came in the students explained what they used and how they made it and then it got displayed outside.

I did have a handful of children not return the project and I gave them the option of making one at my back table during indoor recess so that they didn't feel left out!

If you would like to do this project, I have included the letter and gumball machine base in this FREE DOWNLOAD!

Want to make the 100th Day even sweeter?

Here is a fun treat to send them home with:

It is FREE in my TpT Store!

And speaking of Teachers Pay Teachers...

is going on NOW!

PLUS I have extended the 20% off EVERYTHING sale in my store through Friday January 22nd!

You can find all of my 100 Day Resources, Winter, Black History and more by visiting the Custom Categories that are outlined on the left-hand side of my store:

Hope your 100th Day is BUBBLING with FUN!

Until next post,

'Sneezy the Snowman' Visits Our Class!

Do you know this amazing winter story?

I was introduced to it last year when I read this blog post on The Primary Pack by Kristen from Loving Teaching Inspiring.

It is actually one of the top visited blog posts on The Primary Pack!

I had never heard of the story but the project looked super cute!

Unfortunately due to so many snow days last year I never got to do it- HOW IRONIC!!

So this year I was determined to include it in my plans!

So this past week we read the story and used it as a springboard for discussions about items that are hot and cold.

We talked about what melts snowmen (things that are hot) and what would be good for a snowman (things that are cold).

We spend 20 minutes at the beginning of our writing block each day engaging in interactive writing.  We are also working on making lists, so we made interactive writing lists this week that were inspired by this book!

Although I loved the idea of the puffy paint for the melted snowman, we simply did not have the time to fit it in, so I opted for construction paper projects.

I showed them how to make a 'melted snowman' and we talked about all the different things a snowman has and would be found in his/her 'melted puddle'

Then I let them get to work!

While they were constructing their snowmen, I walked around and assisted each child as they wrote what melted their snowman (I reminded them to use spacing, a period and helped them stretch out the words).

[I wrote their translations on the bottom after they left for the day]

Here are a few of our creations and ideas:

Some of the ideas were inspired by the story, others from our interactive writing lists and others were unique and new!

Look at how ADORABLE our display is:

You can find this printable from Loving, Teaching, Inspiring here:

and be sure to check out all her pictures and how-to on this blog post!

Don't forget to check out the Penguin Palooza that is going on Jan 14-19th!

Click for more info:

     

Until next post,