Summer Vacation Memory Jars

Uh-oh, is that our good ol' summer, waving goodbye around the corner? No problem; preserve your summer memories! I just found this terrific summer vacation memory project on Martha Stewart's website (http://www.marthastewart.com/266957/vacation-memory-jars)  where paraphernalia from summer holidays are artfully arranged and displayed in glass jars. Use recycled jars with lids, or try the always adaptable mason jars for this purpose.

Build a Robot - with Syllables!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/soundandspell/syllables/game.shtml
Learning how to break up a word into syllables helps kids with spelling. In this interactive game, they get to help build a robot for each selection they divide correctly into syllables.

Teachers Mount Their Own Campaign - no unions required!

Go, teachers, go!
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/10/139392900/teachers-feeling-beat-down-as-school-year-starts

Happy Face Door Sign

Children entering a classroom for the first time are always a bit nervous. It's understandable; they are not entirely sure what to expect, they must adapt to a new environment, new friends, and a new teacher. Set the tone right away with our printable Happy Face to post on your door, greeting your students with that familiar smiley face even before they set foot in the classroom. (Note: please click on link, rather than image, for a full-size printable.)

http://everydayteaching.com/b2s/EarlyElem09/HappyFace1.pdf

A to Z Summer Journaling

http://www.everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Summer/summer_alpha.php

These printable A to Z summer-themed writing pages can be used for all kinds of summer projects, from collecting vocabulary words over the summer months for younger grades, to creating memory logs for upper elementary, or acrostic poems. They can also be used during summer camps for autograph pages, where fellow campers leave their autograph according to the letters of their names. Try them out today! (Please click on the link above, rather than the image, for full size printable.)

Watermelon Math

Keep the math practice happening this summer with the occasional, summer-themed worksheet. Try our printable watermelon math worksheet to maintain and reinforce skills.
http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Summer/Watermelon_Math.pdf

Printable Summer Stationery

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Summer/summer_stationery.php

Sunny summer days! It's a great time to find the shade of a tree, write a letter from camp, journal what's been happening each day, or jot down some great story ideas! Use our brightly adorned and lined stationery to help you out. (Please click on the link, rather than the image, for full-size printable. Enjoy!)

Make a Bug Jar!

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Summer/bugjar.php

Bug jars are fun to make in the summer time, and encourage young naturalists to observe insects. All you need is a clean, dry mason jar, some acrylic paints (add glass medium if you wish, but we didn't find it necessary), one nail, and a hammer. Be sure to carefully hammer a few holes in the lid (taken off the jar for hammering purposes and set solidly on a hard surface) - for air. Paint your bug jar however you wish - imagination counts! - we did ours with some cute ladybugs. When dry, put a bit of grass into the jar, add bugs, and sketch, photograph, or write your observations in a nature journal this summer. One caveat: make sure you let your insects go after a short amount of time. They need to forage and find their own food, and it will allow your young biologists to collect other bugs to study.

4TH OF JULY Memo or NOTEPADS

Happy 4th!

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Independence/Patriotic_Notepads.php

4th of July PICK-UP STICKS Game!

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Independence/PickUpSticks.pdf
Here's a unique idea for 4th of July fun! Students (or you, your family, guests....) will paint simple skewers with red, blue, and white designs. Then paint or roll tissue paper around a paper towel roll for your holder. Two small pieces of patterned red fabric are secured with a rubber band at each end. Have fun!

Make your own 4th of July banners!

Print, cut along red and white lines up to blue star border (leave blue star border to hang it with), and hang up for 4th of July fun and celebrations - these banners also look great on bicycles, wagons, and parade floats! (Click on the link below, not the image, for full-size printable.)
http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Independence/July4th_banner.php

Summer clipart

Great selection of summer clipart!
http://everydayteaching.com/Gallery/summer.php?we_lv_start_ImageGallery=6

Stars & Stripes Headbands!

Easy to assemble Stars & Stripes headbands! Make some for 4th of July parades or for Flag Day. Download either in black and white, or in color.

http://www.everydayteaching.com/Holiday/memorial_day/StarsStripesHeadbands.pdf

http://www.everydayteaching.com/Holiday/memorial_day/StarsStripesHeadbandsColor.pdf

Father's Day Coupons - in a Pocket Protector!

Our Father's Day coupons are a little bit different - they are written onto "pens" that get inserted into a "pocket protector". Find the templates at the links below the pictures (remember to click on the links, not the pictures, for full-size pdf printables) - and Happy Father's Day to all dads!

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Fathersday/fathersday_pocket_pens.php
http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Fathersday/fathersday_pocket_protect.php

Should homework be limited - or even banned?

Reevaluating the time and effort spent on homework in American public schools...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/education/16homework.html

Summer Word Search

http://everydayteaching.com/Printables/Wsearch/summer_wordsearch.php

Click on the link above for a fun summer word search and summer terms!

Summer Beach Day Primary Lined Stationery

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Summer/BeachDayStationeryPrimaryColor.pdf

Flag Day Word Search

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Independence/independence_wordsearch.php

Celebrate Flag Day with a word search of patriotic terms, all to print out on the good ol' red, white, and blue - on a flag background! 

Summer Days Activity Worksheet

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Summer/Summer_Days_worksheet2-4.php

Print out this worksheet for a summer vocabulary wordsearch - with a twist. Students have to use clues first to find the term they're looking for. An answer key is provided.

Printable Summer Bookmarks

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Summer/SummerBookmarks2011.pdf

Give out these bookmarks at the end of the school year to encourage summer reading, or use them as rewards for your own summer reading program.

Kindergarten Graduation Certificate

With a poem that's perfect for kindergarten accomplishments during the year,
print out this colorful graduation certificate for your students. Find it at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Barron

End of Year Certificates

Show your students that you had a great time with them this year, and send them off to their next grade level with a smile and these cheerful certificates. Choose from preschool or kindergarten.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Barron

Letter to My Teacher

Get feedback from your students on what worked best during the school year with this free printable end-of-year worksheet for your classes!
http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/End_Year/LettertoTeacher.pdf

Summer Clipart

Lots of fun summer clipart - enjoy! (click on link - not image - for all clipart.)
http://everydayteaching.com/Gallery/summer.php?we_lv_start_ImageGallery=18

Kindergarten Memory Worksheet

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Barron
With room for handprints, student's age, and classmate's names, this simple worksheet for graduating kindergarten (or even 1st & 2nd grade students) will be sure to be long treasured. 

NEW! Summer Clipart

http://everydayteaching.com/Gallery/summer.php?we_lv_start_ImageGallery=18

Take a look at our new summer clipart entries. Be sure to scroll through the pages to find what you need.
http://everydayteaching.com/Gallery/summer.php?we_lv_start_ImageGallery=18

Kindergarten Poem & Graduation Certificate

Need a graduation certificate for Kindergarten or Preschool? These ones are adorable,
complete with a sweet little poem!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Barron

Memorial Day Word Search

We have a few Memorial Day word searches up on our website to download and print out (as well as other Memorial Day student worksheets); here's one of them. (Please click on the link, not the picture, for full-size printable.)
http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/memorial_day/mem_day_wordsearch1.php

Thank you cards for Classroom Volunteers

We have some useful and printable Thank You! cards for all your classroom volunteers.
Simply download them from the link below (not the picture, but the link), print them
onto card stock, fold, and include a personal message. Scroll down...

 
http://everydayteaching.com/Forms/thanks.php

AMERICA: An Acrostic Poem Worksheet for Memorial Day

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/memorial_day/America_acrostic.php

What does America mean to each of your students? Download and print out this acrostic worksheet for a Memorial Day project, where students will use the letters of "America" to come up with an acrostic poem.

Printables for Winding Down the School Year

These printables are geared toward helping you wind down your school year. You'll find a School Memory Book to print out (choose whichever pages you want to use, with reflections, favorites, autographs, and more); letters from students to next year's class; student certificates of all kinds; graduation cards; graduation certificates;  best at awards; Letter to my Teacher, and more! See a sample Letter to My Teacher, below:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Barron

Quotes for grads!

http://classroomflyer.blogspot.com/2010/05/graduation-quotes.html
Need some great quotes to include in a card for a graduate? Find some here, and while you're at it, check out the printable graduation cards. (Click on link, not picture.)

Last Minute Mother's Day Printable

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/mothers-day-gifts
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2011Q2/msl_0511_mdnewspaper_card.pdf
Here's a great little last minute idea for Mother's Day we found and thought you'd like; students fill in a "Mom's Gazette" newspaper with a drawing or photo, then check off why Mom is the best in the world. Find the printable at the 2nd link above.

                                           HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Kindergarten Advancement Certificates

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Barron

Kindergarten Graduation Poem & Certificate

Here's a cute Graduation Poem and Kindergarten Certificate! Find it at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Brenda-Barron

Print and Make Bunny Ears Hat

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Easter/EasterBunnyEars.pdf

Print out the bunny ears and headband template onto card stock, to make a bunny headband for Easter. Students can decorate, according to directions on the template, with cotton balls, glued onto the inner ear. You will need to print out (or trace) two headbands; attach them with tape at the seam, and fit according to students' head sizes, taping and cutting where needed. Students can also choose to paint or color their Easter bunny headbands! Print out the template at the link below:
http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Easter/EasterBunnyEars.pdf

Eggshell Flowerpots

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/kids-spring-crafts?xsc=eml_crd_2011_03_28&#slide_4
Take a look at this adorable spring or Easter craft for kids, encouraging them to plant a garden in eggshells. It's perfect for classrooms, and students can take their egg cartons home to plant directly into soil. Have fun with this one!

Let Them Eat Pi!

http://www.teachpi.org/activities.htm

http://www.teachpi.org/activities.htm
Just in time for Pi Day (March 14th, 2011), find loads of activities here to explore the concept of Pi in your classroom. I like the one where students memorize as many of Pi's figures as they can - sort of like a Pi spelling bee!

Stuffed Valentine Mice!

http://www.everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Valentines/HeartMice.pdf

How cute is this! These heart templates are folded, glued around the edges, and stuffed with small amounts of crumpled tissue (stuff before completing glue), with
a pretty pink yarn tail! Make one for your favorite Valentine!

Movable, Hinged Polar Bears

BABY POLAR BEAR SHAPE BOOK, WITH PRIMARY LINES

AND MOVABLE, HINGED BABY POLAR BEAR!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Polar-Bear-Shape-Book-with-Primary-Lines-Bonus-Movable-Hinged-Polar-Bear-2236074

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Activities

http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/profbooks/mlkjractivities.pdf

Just in case you need a few last minute ideas to help you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in your classroom, try any of these creative tips and printables.

Penguin Word Cards

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Winter/PenguinWordCards.pdf

Use these adorable blank templates to fill in words you might be learning this winter, and then attach them to your word wall.

http://everydayteaching.com/Holiday/Winter/PenguinWordCards.pdf

A Host of Christmas Crafts

Enjoy the following crafts with your families this Christmas - many make lovely gifts!

MAKE A HOLIDAY STAMP:

http://www.eduplace.com/monthlytheme/pdf/stamplg.pdf

Use this template for your students to design a holiday stamp, either reflecting their own favorite holiday traditions, or inventing a new holiday.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS FROM SCRAP:

http://teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/marilyn-j-brackney/green-christmas/

Christmas can be done inexpensively, as reflected in these wonderful craft suggestions. Scroll down for garlands and jewelry, ornaments and origami boxes - all from recycled materials.

ANGEL PHOTO ORNAMENTS:

http://fun.familyeducation.com/crafts/childrens-art-activities/48085.html

Parents will love receiving these ornaments as a Christmas present from your students, and will quite likely treasure them through the years. Paper doilies are arranged around a digital image and attached to a craft stick; find complete directions here.

CANDY CANE SLEIGHS:

http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-gifts-cards-decorations/christmas-candy-crafts/candy-sleigh-665099/

Yummy! This Santa sleigh is fashioned with two candy canes, and filled with Christmas candy too!

CINNAMON CLAY:

http://crafts.kaboose.com/cinnaclay.html

You can make anything you want with this clay - add some red coloring for a special treat, or mix in red and yellow for your students to mold their own Gingerbread Men. While this clay smells yummy, remind students that it contains white glue and they cannot taste it. If you are particularly concerned, replace white glue with a paste of flour and water instead. 

BUBBLE WRAP BOTTLE CAP ORNAMENTS:

http://www.allcrafts.net/f.php?url=www.pinksunrise.com/craft/rossbotcap.htm

What a clever idea! Add glitter to dimensional bottle caps (plastic caps work best), then cut out bubbles from bubble wrap to give even more dimension to these unique ornaments.

DRAW A CHRISTMAS TREE USING A GRID:

http://www.northpole.com/Academy/Activities/DrawingGrid/DrawingGrid.pdf

Students are given half of a Christmas tree drawing on one side of a grid; proceeding square by square, they will fill in the matching half on the other side.

HANDPRINT SANTA CARDS:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/handprint-santa-673633/

These cards are adorable! Hands are dipped into white paint for Santa's beard and mustache - amazing how well it works! Then add a red hat and white button trim.

PEPPERMINT CHRISTMAS TREE:

http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-gifts-cards-decorations/christmas-candy-crafts/peppermint-tree-661600/

Get the green and white striped mints for this project, where students will build up a candy Christmas tree, complete with little ornaments.

PAPER PINES:

http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/festive-paper-pines-671519/

Easy and elegant, and very appealing! Hang these cut paper pines on your Christmas tree, decorated with "lights" and buttons.

CANDY CANE REINDEER:

http://www.acandycanechristmas.com/crafts/candy-cane-reindeer.shtml

This little reindeer hangs right on the Christmas tree - as long as your students don't eat the candy canes first!

SNOWFLAKE PHOTO ORNAMENTS:

http://h30393.www3.hp.com/printing/app/us/en/dc_snowflake_ornament-landing.aspx

Give this page some time to download. You'll be creating some beautiful snowflake photo ornaments - a great gift for your students to take home for lasting family treasures this holiday season.

HOLIDAY CRAYON CRACKLE CARDS:

http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/cracklecards.shtml

These crackle cards are quite unique, and will make treasured Christmas or holiday cards for friends and family. Any design can be incorporated into the technique.

MOSAIC CANDLES:

http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/mosaiccandles.shtml

Use these mosaic candle designs for many winter holidays - whether making a set for a menorah, for a kinara, for New Year's, or for Christmas.

DRAW A NUTCRACKER:

http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/drawnutcracker.shtml

Step-by-step instructions take elementary students through the process of drawing a Nutcracker Prince. Fill them in with colorful, metallic markers.

REINDEER PUZZLE PINS:

http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/747.html

Turn leftover puzzle pieces into reindeer pins - or magnets; simply attach a magnet strip to the back after following the construction directions here.

CHRISTMAS EVE BELLS:

http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/bells.html

Paper, plastic, or styrofoam cups are covered with aluminum foil and adorned with bells in this wonderful holiday craft. Make some music!

THREE TENORS SNOWMEN:

http://craft.dow.com/proj/609.htm

Shine the light on those three tenors! These adorable singing snowmen are created from recycled socks, fiberfill, beads, and pompoms. 

3-D ORIGAMI SNOWFLAKES:

http://www.original-kids-crafts.com/paper-snowflake-pattern.html

You could use recycled wrapping paper for this project; the gold, silver, or red foils turn out beautifully.

MAKE A 3-D PAPER POINSETTIA:

http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/poinset.html

http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/poinset2.html

http://www.bry-backmanor.org/holidayfun/poinset3.html

Older students can take on the challenge of making some beautiful poinsettias for a holiday treat. Find directions here, along with printable templates to use at the 2nd and 3rd links above.

RETRO ORNAMENTS:

http://familyfun.go.com/christmas/christmas-ornaments/retro-ornaments-807089/

Your class will want to create a host of different colors in these elegant ornaments, created from paper tubes and pipe cleaners, but with oh-so-elegant lines.

SNOWFLAKE TEMPLATES:

http://www.noelnoelnoel.com/famfun/crafts/snowfl/snwflk.html

Along with five different snowflake pattern templates to download and print out here, also find step-by-step directions.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

- Charles Dickens

Find more: http://everydayteaching.com/flyer/CF_Dec7.2010.html

Online Hanukkah Games

Hanukkah Match
Star of David Sliding Puzzle
Dreidel Slide Puzzle
Hanukkah Word Jumble
Dreidel Spin
Hanukkah Story for Kids: What's Inside?
Tic-Tac-Toe 3 Dreidels in a Row
Hanukkah Cookie Puzzle
Menorah Interactive Jigsaw

Printable Hanukkah Coloring Pages:
http://www.lil-fingers.com/coloring/hanukkah.php

More for Hanukkah: Crafts!

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/holiday_hanukkah_crafts.htm
http://familycrafts.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=familycrafts&cdn=parenting&tm=7&f=00&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/chanukah/word.html
Most of these crafts are easy, require few materials, and are decidedly fun to create! Try window sparkle candles, a glittering Star of David, and a milk carton dreidel at the 1st link, or Cupcake Menorahs, Gelt Bags, Dreidel Magnets, Hanukkah GIft Bag, and coloring pages at the 2nd link.

Winter Driving Tips

As the holiday season - and winter weather - approaches, we are posting these tips for your own use and safety, from the wonderful NPR duo, Click and Clack:
http://www.cartalk.com/content/features/WinterDriving/
Drive safely!

Holiday Mail for Military Heroes

The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are organizing a Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. You and your class can send holiday cards to soldiers, families, and vets. The deadline for collection is December 10th. Mail your cards to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456

http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.53fabf6cc033f17a2b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=3f8dab0de3d64210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

Hanukkah Resources

Here are several fun and informative resources for those of you learning about Hanukkah, or celebrating it in your classrooms. Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec.1st, and ends on Dec. 9th this year.

THE HISTORY OF HANUKKAH:

http://www.history.com/topics/hanukkah

Discover the history of Hanukkah, along with its traditions and foods in this History.com resource, with online videos.

HANUKKAH DIFFERENCES GAME:

http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/chanukah/games/diff1.html

In this online game, a small boy is spinning the dreidel. Students must locate 10 differences between the two pictures before clicking on the answers.

HANUKKAH CONCENTRATION:

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/114163/jewish/Chanukah-Concentration.htm

Match up all the versions of menorahs, and reveal a hidden picture of an actual menorah in this global Hanukkah concentration game.

HANUKKAH WORD SEARCH:

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/114178/jewish/Chanukah-Word-Search.htm

Running in every direction, find terms associated with Hanukkah here for a celebration of the festivities.

HANUKKAH DIORAMA:

http://www.joi.org/celebrate/hanuk/cutouts.shtml

http://www.hanukat.com/html/activities/dioramb1.GIF

http://www.hanukat.com/html/activities/dioramb2.GIF

http://www.hanukat.com/html/activities/act3bw.PDF

Print out the characters to make a shoebox diorama (or tissue box, any box...), either with the first link, or the Hanukat version at the next three links above.

HANUKKAH JIGSAW:

http://www.thekidzpage.com/onlinejigsawpuzzles/jigsaw-puzzles/25-piece-jigsaw/110105hanukkah1.html

How many moves will it take your students to complete the menorah puzzle, online here? There are twenty-five pieces to place, and the timer is running!

HANUKAT FORTUNE TELLER:

http://www.hanukat.com/html/activities/fortune.GIF

Follow directions here to download and print out a fun, folder paper Hanukat fortune teller for Hanukkah.

Who Brought the Turkey?

Want a peek into the real "first" Thanksgiving? Who attended? How long did it last? And (drum roll please!) DID THEY EAT TURKEY? Find out!
http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2010/11/22/131516586/who-brought-the-turkey-the-truth-about-the-first-thanksgiving

Farmer's Market

http://www.eduplace.com/activity/k_8_act1.html
Here's a good Thanksgiving activity for younger students, where they will set up a play Farmer's Market, using magazine food cut-outs. Farmers will set prices, devise strategies to sell their foods, and buyers will have play money and try to negotiate prices. For elementary (rather than PreK students), have prices in dollars and cents, and practice giving change. Need some printable play money to use? Try the link below:
http://www.moneyinstructor.com/play.asp