Counting and number sequences can be tough for kids, but knowing numbers backwards and forwards is what allows them to do more complex number tasks. I saw this idea of “before, between and after” and thought it was valuable. So, here’s my take on that concept. This would be great for kindergarten or first grade, depending on your students.
Kids must write in the numbers so that the sequence is complete. Click here for the free printable PDF: Before Between After – Numbers
Check out the graphic organizer I posted over at We Are Teachers! It’s perfect for describing a series of events in a story, history or a science experiment.
Click here to go to the post!
Looking for more free language arts graphic organizers? Click here.
Spring Break. Everyone needs the break, but it’s crazy town trying to get kids back on track afterwards. Everyone wants to tell everyone else how their break went, but there’s not really time! So try this approach: Have each kid fill out this page (writing or drawing, whichever you prefer), and then let kids go share their page with 2 or 3 other students. And move on with life! You can provide an opportunity for everyone to share while practicing some basic skills… all in 15-20 minutes!
Click here to view the free PDF: Snapshots of Spring Break
My friend, Rachel, recently helped coordinate this mind-blowing art project at her school:
I. LOVE. THIS. IDEA.
It incorporates so much good stuff into one project! Collaboration, color wheel discussion, self-portrait and drawing principles, and the list goes on. It’s especially cool to see the improvement kids make in drawing as they get older (there were drawings from all grades in the mural). Although it is a fair amount of work to put together, this art project is definitely something that all the kids (and community members) will love to look at. Finally, the kids who participated can feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that they contributed and that as part of a team, they accomplished something they could never do on their own. Great job, Rachel!
Here’s some information about how you can organize this project.
As teachers, we love finding free resources. So naturally, my heart leaped when I found two articles about hundreds of free art books you can download from the Getty Museum in Los Angeles and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Click here to read the article about the Getty’s books and click here to read about the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s books.
The article also contained links to articles about images being put into the public domain for free use. Hooray for open educational resources! Looking for more openly licensed (free to use!) K-12 content? Click here to check out Open Culture’s section on K-12.
Happy Easter, everyone! As I was making this page, I couldn’t help but smile thinking of all the silly things kids would write on an application to be the Easter Bunny! This will definitely be a fun Easter writing prompt for kids!
Click here to download the free PDF: Easter Bunny Application
If you do this with your class, snap a photo of your favorite and I’ll post it!
Some teachers like to have a theme for their classroom. If you’re into Lord of the Rings, or your class reads Lord of the Rings as literature, you may enjoy these ideas (that I found on Pinterest!)
Encourage your kids to become familiar with your school’s library website
(I could not find the source for any of these photos, so if they’re yours, please let me know!) Any other ideas for a Lord of the Rings classroom theme? Comment below! Thanks!
Don’t forget that April Fool’s Day 2015 is next Wednesday! Have you already figured out activities or your teacher prank to knock the socks off your students? Check out these ideas:
Brownies … or is it Brown E’s?
No Prep April Fool’s Day Pranks for Teachers
More April Fool’s Day Pranks for Teachers
The History of April Fool’s Day (printable)
Squarehead Teachers 