Party on a Paper

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

While going through our supplies closet, I found a big roll of banner paper. I wasn’t sure how to use it, but I knew it had to possess some serious potential for creativity. I spread it out on the ground and had each kid sit down next to it like they were at a big party table. Then I had them draw the party they were at. The girls instantly started drawing cakes and party hats, while the boys got to work making laser tag scenes (since they were “at a laser tag birthday.”) Since the paper was so long and each kid had plenty of paper, they drew for quite a while! Something about drawing on long paper is just cooler than drawing on regular paper I guess.

Easy Literacy Centers

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Here’s one teacher’s genius idea for literacy centers:

She keeps the signs in a file so she can reuse them if she wants. I love her idea to stamp spelling words in your journal. And she uses the roll-a-word from this post. Overall, this is a great option if you’re looking for a quick, easy way to do centers.

Just Keep Truckin’ (Mid-Year Bulletin Board)

Posted on June 15, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Just Keep Truckin' Bulletin Board Printable Students always like telling someone about themselves. Here’s a bulletin board idea that will do just that. Click here to see my Back To school Bus Bulletin Board (similar idea). First, have the students make their truck (directions on the printable itself and below).

Click here for the free printable PDF: Just Keep Truckin’ Bulletin Board

Decorate your truck according to these directions:

Draw yourself in the window.
Write your name on the door.
Draw each of the following things in the back section of the truck:
1. Your favorite outside activity
2. Your dream birthday present
3. Something you’re good at
4. Your favorite part about school
If you have 2 or more siblings, draw stripes in the wheels. If you have 1 sibling or less, draw dots in the wheels. Use your favorite color.
Color rest of the truck using your favorite color.

Once all the students finish, have each student present their truck to the rest of the class. If your class is large, limit each student to 1 minute to share or allow students to only share their truck with those near them. Then put each truck up on a bulletin board and call it something clever (“Just Keep Truckin’!”, “Travelling Down the Road to Success”, or something…).

Impromptu Bingo

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

A few weeks ago, I was working with kindergartners and needed to come up with something to entertain them for about 30 minutes to buy the other teacher some time to deal with a situation. Here’s what I whipped up: Bingo!

I helped the kids draw squares on a blank piece of paper. Then I instructed them to draw (one at a time) various simple objects. “Hold up a yellow crayon. Now choose any square and draw a yellow banana.” This allowed me to review colors with them, while allowing for structured creativity. When the kids finished drawing the assigned picture, I’d have them point to something round, something flat, something shiny, etc. to keep everyone busy while the other kids finished. In previous similar activities, some of the kids would forget what their picture was of, so as a review, I asked them to point to specific pictures after drawing a few new ones. If I had wanted to review numbers, letters, etc. I could have asked them to draw a green six, or a red letter J, but I only thought of that after the fact.

We played bingo by drawing an X through the box once we played it. The bingo part of the game was a bit trickier than making the board, but everyone seemed to have a good time anyway.

Father’s Day Card Tutorial

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

This is hands down the cutest Father’s Day card… and it’s so easy, you’ll flip. In this tutorial, I used regular construction paper (9″ x 12″), but if you prefer more space to write inside the card, use the double size 11″ X 17″ paper. You need 1 piece for the shirt (green paper in the photos) and some small scraps for a tie and pocket (yellow and brown in the photos). You’ll also need scissors and glue (Elmer’s bottled glue or glue stick). I’ve seen really cute ones with decorated ties or ties cut out of fabric also. But whatever you do, make sure Dad knows you love him. That’s the point of Father’s Day after all. So without further ado, here’s the tutorial:

Fold your construction paper in half (“hamburger style” as kids always say). Then make 2 cuts in it about 1.5 or 2 inches below the fold. Don’t cut all the way across; leave the middle 1/3 of the width of the paper untouched. P1050325

Fold the newly created tabs diagonally towards the bottom (open edged of paper). They should meet or overlap a little bit. If it looks like a mens’ shirt collar, you’re on the right track. Then decorate it! Add a tie, pocket, buttons, pens, pen protector… whatever describes your card recipient.

After the glue dries, gently open the card from the bottom and write your message. Be gentle with the collar area, since it’s the most fragile part of the card.

Here are some ideas for a more educational twist on this craft:

Write a poem about Dad and glue it inside the card
Write about your favorite memory about you and Dad
Write 10 reasons you love Dad
Rewrite the lyrics to a famous song. Sing about how cool Dad is.
Write the ABCs of Dad (A… always kisses me goodnight, B… best baseball coach ever, etc.)

Teacher Memes/Cartoons- 15

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Persuasive Writing Prompts for Elementary School Kids

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Lower Elementary Grades

1. Persuasive Letter

Your school cafeteria is going to serve ice cream for dessert. The students get to pick whether it’s chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. Write a letter telling the school board what flavor you want and why they should choose it.

2. Persuasive Prompt

You want your friend to come over and spend the night, but your parents don’t want to let you because it is a school night. Make a convincing argument to your parents that they should let your friend come over tonight.

3. Three Choices Prompt

You are going on a vacation and you can only have one kind of toy or activity for the whole trip. Your choices are dolls/action figures, books, or coloring pages. Which would you choose? Explain why.

Upper Elementary Grades

4. Persuasive Letter

Your state is going to give an award to the best elementary school teacher. Your principal is trying to decide which teacher will be nominated from your school. Write a letter to the principal recommending a teacher for nomination and explaining why that teacher should be chosen.

5. Persuasive Prompt

Because of budget cuts in the school district, your school is considering dropping one of the following classes from the curriculum: music, P.E., or art. Write a letter either explaining which one the school board should cut or which ones they should not cut and give reasons why or why not. If you think none of these classes should be cut, offer an alternative.

6. Three Choices Prompt

The city has an empty lot and they’re trying to figure out what to put in it. The three choices are a Boys and Girls Club recreation center, an indoor water park, or a skate park. Which do you think they should choose and why would you choose it?

Class Art Project: Wooden Fans

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Here’s a cool art project I recently saw. Each student got a single piece of wood (stirring sticks from Home Depot) and decorated it to represent them. Then they glued them together and then tied fancy string on the bottom before attaching it to a frame. It’s a fragile project, so you have to display it somewhere with little nearby traffic. But it sure looks cool!

This could also be a cool project for individual students. Have each student decorate wood pieces based on different areas of their life (ex- one stick for summer, school, each family member, hobbies, goals, etc.).