Q-Tip Letter Painting (Preschool, Kindergarten Activity)

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I recently saw this photo on a blog and thought I’d make you a printable to go with it!

Here’s my free printable PDF: Q tip painting letters Use this letters page for your kids to trace with q-tips and paint, crayons or markers. To make things smoother for an entire class doing this activity, have kids write their name on the back before they start. If you’re doing this with a small group or single child, you can also help them practice fine motor skills by having them line up beads along the lines of the letters. After your tracing activity is complete, cut up the letters and place them around the room on objects that start with that letter/sound. Enjoy!

Dinotrux (Awesome Kids Book) to Become a Movie!)

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Author/illustrator, Chris Gall, is my neighbor’s brother. Since I first met him and learned about his books, I’ve been impressed.

My favorite book, Dinotrux, has been a huge hit with our second graders. Dinotrux is a 32-page book that takes place in a fictional prehistoric age, when the world was ruled by Dinotrux, creatures that were part trucks, part dinosaurs (with species like the Craneosauraus, Garbageadon and Tyrannosaurus Trux) plowing and bulldozing their way across the terrain. I recently learned that it’s going to be made into a DreamWorks CG movie (potentially as early as 2018)!!

So if you haven’t had a chance to read it to your class, snag it from the library! You can use it to teach the value of writing, i.e. movies, TV shows, songs, and most ideas start out as writing!

Hand Print Paper Wreath Craft

Posted on December 25, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

This idea was submitted by a second grade teacher (Thank you!). She’s been making them with her class for years, and says it’s one of her favorite holiday crafts for kids. You’ll need:

lots of green construction paper
some red construction paper
1 paper plate per child
scissors
glue

The paper plate is the base for the craft. Cut out the center of the plate (have students write their name on the back of the paper plate at this point). Then have students trace their hands on green paper and cut the hand prints out. Glue these on the paper plate, curling the fingers in a bit by rolling them. After you’ve layered the green hands to your preference, use the red construction paper to make berries and a bow (click here for the bows & berries template). There you have it!

This craft can be fun at family parties and other gatherings where you have guests of varying ages. Having different sized-hands on the wreath adds some variety. This can also be a fun craft for grandparents to do with their grandkids, etc. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Addition & Subtraction Worksheet

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

This worksheet deals with simple addition and subtraction. Based on the answer (even/odd), kids either color the light bulb red or green. Too cute! Click here for the worksheet.

12 Days of Christmas Math (Multiplication)

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I saw this idea and thought it was a genius way to incorporate the holiday season into math practice (multiplication facts specifically). This worksheet has kids total up the cost of everything in the song “12 Days of Christmas.” Here‘s the worksheet, and here‘s the full lesson plan. This would be great for any class 3rd grade and up (with varied amounts of scaffolding), or for practice with your kids at home. Merry Christmas!!

Even More Christmas Crafts for Kids!

Posted on December 22, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Some of these are just too cute not to share! They’re pretty simple, so with the right scaffolding, a wide variety of ages can do these crafts. Enjoy!

Trace your hand on craft foam and start decorating!

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Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids

Posted on December 21, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I loved these fun Christmas tree craft ideas for kids! Click on the image to see the original post:

No source available

Sledding In the Snow (Grammar Practice)

Posted on December 20, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

You guessed it! More fun winter cartoons from my dad! And another fun story for your students to correct (the grammar mistakes) as they read. Click here for the free printable PDF: Sledding in the Snow- grammar practice Merry Christmas!