Arizona Social Studies Strand 3 (Civics/Government) includes a study of the state. For example, in first grade, concept 1/PO 6 says “Recognize state symbols of Arizona (e.g., bird, flower, tree, flag).” Here’s my state profile page (called “My State Rocks!”) that can be used to learn about any state. There’s a space to color in your state on the map and draw pictures of state symbols (tree, flower, etc.).
This craft made me laugh out loud when I saw the picture. Naturally, I had to share it with you. This bunny hat craft is very simple so children as young as preschool could make it with help. There’s even a nice tutorial at Busy Bee Kids Crafts. Enjoy!
Another grammar practice activity! This one’s disguised as poetry and centers around springtime. So grab your bonnet and sit among the flowers while you work on this language arts activity! Click here for the PDF: Grammatical Poetry- Spring. It would be really cute to post each kid’s poem next to a spring or Easter craft… just an idea. 🙂
Here’s what the page looks like:
Click here for more grammatical poetry!
World War 2 confuses me. There are so many players, and so many battles and strategic moves, that it’s easy to get them all jumbled up. I’m trying new things to help keep all the facts straight. Have your kids fill out this social studies graphic organizer and draw each country’s flag in the box. This might help them visualize the “teams” involved.
Click here for the free printable PDF: Countries Involved in World War 2 graphic organizer
It’s official. I love using graphic organizers for teaching social studies. This time, I’m having my students teach each other about the causes of World War 2. Each kid will teach 3 other students. They can use their entire sheet for the first person they teach. When they teach the second person, they have to fold the paper so they can’t see the words, but they can use their drawings. For the final person, they can’t use their paper at all.
Click here for the free printable PDF: Causes of World War 2 graphic organizer
My *awesomely clever* friend pulled this prank on her class yesterday: Her class has attendance clothes pins (that each student moves first thing in the morning to show they’re present). Well yesterday, they shrunk! She went to Walmart and bought the tiny clothes pins and then wrote each student’s name on one. Then she clipped them where the regular sized ones always are. The kids “kind of freaked out!” Love it!!!
I’m lame. I’ll just admit it. I usually forget to plan something cool for April Fool’s. I’m the one looking for a last-minute joke to play so I don’t expose myself as a lame-wad. So here are some of my favorite last minute April Fool’s Day pranks for teachers to play on their students:
Last Minute Pranks (No prep required)
Some prep required
More prep required
Click here for more April Fool’s Day ideas.
The California science standards for 1st grade require students to:
1-ESS1-1. Use observations of the sun, moon, and stars to describe patterns that can be predicted. [Clarification Statement: Examples of patterns could include that the sun and moon appear to rise in one part of the sky, move across the sky, and set; and stars other than our sun are visible at night but not during the day.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment of star patterns is limited to stars being seen at night and not during the day.]
1-ESS1-2. Make observations at different times of year to relate the amount of daylight to the time of year. [Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on relative comparisons of the amount of daylight in the winter to the amount in the spring or fall.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment is limited to relative amounts of daylight, not quantifying the hours or time of daylight.]
This graphic organizer is one way to start teaching these concepts. Click here to get the free printable PDF: Earth’s Place in the Universe graphic organizer
Squarehead Teachers 