Crayons & Cuties In Kindergarten: Poems

Showing posts with label Poems. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Freaky Friday Week 2- Pumpkins!

Did you score some awesome 'Dollar Deals' last Friday when we kicked off 'Freaky Friday?!'

Friday October 13th we do it all again- but with 40+ new deals for you to choose from!

How will you find all of these deals?

Choose one of these methods:

1. Click this picture:

2. Use the linky at the bottom of this post that shows all of the participating stores!

You can click the first link to find a list of ALL the deals or click each individual seller to find their discounted deal for the day!

Many of the sellers on Instagram are using this hashtag when showing their deal:

#freakyfridaypegs

but you won't find ALL the deals that way.

The sellers listed below will also be posting about their deals on their Facebook pages too...just another reason to follow and 'like' your favorite sellers!

So what will you find from me this week?

It is a pumpkin patch slide show, reader & pocketchart word and picture cards pack!

Here's a video explaining what is included and how I printed some of the materials:

Last year while I was at the pumpkin patch with my own children I took photos because I found many of my students had never been to a pumpkin patch. I turned the photos into a slide show so that I could project it onto my EnoBoard for my students to take a 'virtual field trip' to the patch and learn about pumpkins!

Our PTA is awesome and they set up an area for our students to 'pick pumpkins' but it's not the same as being at a real pumpkin patch.

So last year I brought in the slide show I created at home:

and projected it on my screen:

Then we explored a real pumpkin:

*We looked at and felt the weight of the pumpkin, touched it's skin, flesh, pulp and seeds.

*We could smell the pumpkin once it was cut open (many did not care for the smell!)

*We listened to how the pumpkin sounded when we 'knocked' on it and the 'squishy sound' it made when we touched inside!

*We tasted pumpkin pie that was made with pumpkin (Read all about our Pumpkin Pie in A Bag HERE!)

I didn't throw the pumpkin away! We set up a pumpkin exploration station on our back table for the week! Students could go over and look inside, feel the sensory bag and read about pumpkins:

So that we could share what we learned about with those at home we made these 'peek inside' pumpkins:

Each child put some pulp and seeds in a ziplock bag. I had pre-cut the pumpkins for them (so that I knew the bag would fit in the space). We taped the bag to the back, added a stem, drew some flesh and then labeled the parts! The 'seeds and pulp' label was written on an Avery address label so that it could stick to the bag.

I could not find a 'Poem of the Week' that taught about pumpkins yet was simple enough for my students to read, so I created this one:

(Tune: I'm a Little Tea Pot)

Feel free to chart and use it too! The images were grabbed from a Google Image search, so if you like to include picture cues on your poems/charts as well, you can get them there too!

After our week of exploring pumpkins, my students created pumpkin shape books from the pre-cut books I found in Target Dollar Spot!

I saw them there again this year, so if you're looking for something to put inside the cute books, you can find these printables HERE:

My students were able to learn so much for the photos I had taken at the pumpkin patch and I would love for your students to experience the same!

So this week's Freaky Friday item includes all of this:

As you can see from the picture (or if you watched the video) I made the black and white book into a mini-book! It's super simple...

(Want to make it even easier for yourself? You can also print the book 'as is' and then copy it in 'collate' & 'staple 2- left side' mode. Once all the sets are copied, simply cut in 1/2 and you have 2 books stapled and ready to go!)

So to re-cap...

My Pumpkins Slide Show and Reader Pack includes:

1. Black and White version for printing and creating student books

2. Word and Picture Cards for use in a pocketchart

3. Slide Show to project in your classroom (that can also be printed as a full-color class book)

Normally priced at $5 but reduced to just $1 for FRIDAY OCTOBER 13th ONLY!

But that's not it!

Ready To Find All the $1Deals for Week 2 of Freaky Friday?

An InLinkz Link-up

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Magic Confetti!

If you follow my Facebook page you know that I have been trying real hard this summer to share ideas I have found on Pinterest- and other teacher blogs- to help making back-to-school a bit easier and more exciting!

During one of my Pinterest browsing ~~sessions~~ marathons, I came across pins for 'Magic Confetti!'

There were several versions and not one poem was exactly the same, but they each followed the same idea.

I KNEW it was something I wanted to try out for the upcoming school year!

I do not know who the original creator of 'Magic Confetti' is, or who wrote the poem, so I cannot grant proper thanks an acknowledgement, but that somebody had a real cute idea...so whoever you are...THANKS!

I ~~had an excuse~~ went to Michaels and got all that I needed:

*glitter cardstock

*fancy punchers

*jewelry bags

*washi tape

I could have just bought confetti, but I was not too keen on the itty bitty tiny stars and such that would've made my soon-to-be-new-parents despise me before they even met me!

Scrapbook paper packs happened to be on sale that day (WHOOO HOOO!) so I bought the 'big pack' (I only used one of each color, so I have A LOT of glitter cardstock left for the year!)

And then the 'fun' began...endless punching!

(I did try to think of how I could use these scraps, but did wind up throwing them- I know I will think of something and wish I had saved them!)

After I had a nice bowl of confetti, I started putting it in the bags (TEDIOUS!):

I chose to use 2x3 jewelry bags so that they could be neatly taped to the card, but a snack size ziploc would work too!

Now to make the 'card!'

I used the majority of the wording from the ones I found on Pinterest, but changed it slightly (the last line) and then printed them out.

I chose to trim the white edges, but that is not necessary if you are in a rush:

And then cut each into 2:

I have been secretly dying for an excuse to buy and try washi tape! I first used it to make these fun bulletin board 'tacks' after seeing Stories and Songs In Second post a picture of hers on Instagram!

But then decided I would use it to tape the confetti into the card to make it more colorful and fun!

This is what the front/back of the card looks like (I just covered up my contact information!):

So now I have 25 all ready to be mailed out...once I get my class list that is!

I chose to put some info on the back, but it could also be used with a plain back:

Now for a confession!!!

My boys saw me punching out the confetti and wanted to know what it was. I told them- but then thought- AHHH- what if their teacher sends them some too! So I quickly added to my story that I needed to send the confetti to the 'Magic School Fairy' (I may have used Wizard) who would make it magical. S/he would then send it back to me to give to the kids!

Phew...UNTIL...

'Will the fairy/wizard give us some?'

AHHH...

'Well, of course s/he would!'

So....here are the cards for my boys! They don't start school until 9/1, so I have some time before I have to lay it out (with a trail of magic dust too, I suppose!) for them!

I couldn't have it come from their teacher because:

1. I don't have their teacher assignments yet

2. What if their teacher gives them some too- that would be weird

3. They are SURE to say something about it in school!

I also made a pack for our neighbor who starts kindergarten too!

So...after all that 'tweaking' of the poem, I figured I might as well have it get some use!

So...

Here is an editable version for you to download for FREE!

It has the 'kindergarten' version just like I used (with back). Just click the text boxes to add your name and information!

It also has a 'general' grade version (with back)- do same as above to edit!

AND...there is one for general grade from the famous 'Magic School Fairy' with a blank back!

You can make your own confetti like I did, or choose to buy confetti from a party store!

You will also know my version includes a disclaimer! If parents are not comfy with their kids 'dumping the bag' under the pillow, it says it works just the same from the bag- either under their pillow or from their table/dresser!

Enjoy...and best wishes for a wonderful school year!

Until next post,

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Fall Favorites Blog Hop!

The air is crisp,

The leaves are falling!

Hello squirrels looking for food....Goodbye birds full of tweeting!

Apple, Pumpkins, Acorns & More...

31 Bloggers are bringing 'Fall Favorites' to your door!

Next to summer, Fall is definitely my favorite! I love the 'smell' and 'feel' of Fall! I love all the fun associated with Fall too! But there is one thing that signifies it is Fall...

It is my guilty pleasure...and thanks to Starbucks now posting the calories in this little cup of heaven, I only indulge in one each year- but Fall is not Fall without one!

But my pumpkin obsession does not end there!

I love making

pumpkin pancakes- and when my husband works late my boys and I love to have them for dinner!

And...thanks to all those lattes of Falls past, these little gems are my 'sweet treat' without the guilt

Pumpkin Muffins- 2 ingredients and only 2 points on Weight Watchers!

Simply mix 1 box of carrot (or spice) cake mix with 1 15oz can of pumpkin. If it is a little too thick add 2T of water. Bake in lined mini muffin pan (for 1 point muffins) or regular muffin tins (for 2 point muffins) in a 425 degree oven for 12-15 minutes (longer for the larger muffins- until the toothpick comes out clean). Allow to cool and store in an airtight container. I find they are even better the longer they sit!

So it probably wouldn't surprise you then that I LOVE to bring pumpkin fun into my kindergarten classroom!

This past week we 'carved' in! I am excited to show you all we learned- and the fun we had!

Here are my pumpkin books and resources I used this week:

And our 'Poem of the Week' was a simple one so that we could focus on some sight words, 1:1 reading, rhyming and initial sounds!

We started the week by exploring a pumpkin using our 5 senses. We carved it open to explore all of its parts (I don't have any pictures because I was covered in pulp!)! We even took the seeds out and I brought them home to roast. Most of them LOVED the roasted seeds!

We learned all about a pumpkin's life cycle through books and magazine resources. The children then helped me demonstrate by attaching pictures to a giant pumpkin:

We ended the week and our life cycle discussion by making life cycle crowns! It was a great way for them to demonstrate what they learned and will help spark some conversation at home too I'm sure!

In addition to the crowns, they worked with a few readers this week. We are really working on reading with 1:1 correspondence and using pictures to support the text.

These books then went into their Readers Workshop baskets for independent reading and sharing!

To piggyback that, they also read a simple repetitive text about the locations of pumpkins. This helped review what we had just finished in math!

For shared writing we made a list...

And for interactive writing we labeled the parts of a pumpkin!

I have always done the same project for students to show the parts of a pumpkin but wanted to change it up this year...I wanted something to show the outside AND inside of a pumpkin. So after a few botched up prototypes, this was born!

I have put all the steps into this graphic for you so that it is easier to reference- just pin it to your Fall craft board and you are all set!

When it came time to label, many of my students walked up to our class model to check their label to the class one!

Each pumpkin was unique! I had them cut the plate in half so I got some pretty interesting and almost 'life-like' representations of a 'carved' pumpkin!

So when we were all done we were able to show everyone what we had learned about the inside and outside of a pumpkin!

And needless to say, it made a great bulletin board display of ELA and Science learning!

(If we didn't have strict fire marshal/code rules I would have loved to have hung these from the ceiling so that both sides could be seen at the same time!)

So now that we had explored and really learned all about pumpkins it was time to...taste them!

A few years ago a colleague shared this recipe for 'Pumpkin Pie in a Bag'- her daughter's preschool had done it and she was able to snag a copy to share!

It is so much easier than attempting to make and/or purchase and serve a 'traditional' pumpkin pie!

I put it into this graphic for easy pinning:

One bit of advice...

The kids really LOVED smashing the crackers!

Next was to knead the pudding/milk mixture...

Then you open up the bag and add in the pumpkin...

And knead it some more!

You will know it is ready when your filling looks like this:

While the kids are kneading the mix, put 2T of crackers into each cup

Next you snip the corner off the bag and squeeze some of the 'pie' into each cup

I had doubled the batch and it was perfect for my group of 19 (plus extra for some teachers!)

Add a squirt of Redi-Whip and you are set to go!

I sprinkled the tops with some pumpkin pie spice too!

The kids GOBBLED them up and were ready to take me down if I didn't give them seconds!

These cups were made for a kid, but it's also a perfect (and easy) treat to bring to a holiday gathering- just fill them up a tad more!

In addition to the craft idea and recipes, I have this 'Fly In the Pie' set of counting games for FREE! It has 3 different games to play using sets of pumpkins from 1-10 (Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs recently posted sets of counting graphics- perfect for these types of activities!).

Directions and other suggestions for use and included in the free download!

Feedback is greatly appreciated!