Spring Activities for Your Elementary Classroom

I miss teaching the littles (but I am loving 6th grade), so I thought I'd repost this post form a few years ago!

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I've got some math tubs ready for next week so that I can pull my guided math groups. Also so I can keep my sanity before a very late spring break. We just finished with our time to the hour and half-hour unit and I want to meet with some groups to re-teach and enrich. I also want to throw some review of ALL THE THINGS because, spiral review. ;)

My kiddos love memory/matching games for place value and this one is from my

 Springtime Math Centers Packet:

I feel like time is so fun to teach! It's awesome to see the kiddos telling you what time lunch starts {only if they raise their hand, of course!}. They are loving this game, "Rock Around the Clock" from my Telling Time Packet:

You play music and the kiddos dance around the classroom, when the music stops, they find a different desk and write any time {whatever time you are working on} they want {digital}. Then, I start the music again {they dance} and when the music stops, they find a different seat and draw the analog clock time to match the digital time. I check them off, they erase their boards, and we play again. :)

The mats are laminated and we use dry-erase markers on them.

This one is also from my Telling Time Packet. Why are kids so obsessed with spinners?  They spin the spinner and make that time on their analog {Judy clock} clock. If you don't have a set of Judy Clocks, you can use the DIY cardstock clock that I provide in the packet.

Here's one of the most popular games that my kiddos loooovvvee to practice time!

Here is a game for teaching/practicing time! I have left the clocks blank so that all grade levels can insert the times that they are working on. In partners, each player takes a turn drawing a card. Then, they write down the digital time on their recording sheet.  Watch out for that fly in that pile! If you pick one, you lose a turn!  The first player to fill up their sheet is the winner!

Click {here} for the game!

Also, don't forget about St. Patrick's Day!

Next week is time to pull out my St. Patrick's Day Unit! 

Here are some of my favorite activities...

This is a differentiated opinion writing:

 This missing addend math game is a HUGE hit!

 The leprechaun application makes me laugh every.dang.time. It is also differentiated!

This estimation math lesson is fun and educational!

This HUGE pack {91 pages} is full of fun, meaningful activities!  It's available in color and black/white! This Common Core aligned St. Patrick’s Day Unit has everything you need to integrate this fun holiday with math and literacy! Each activity has variations to meet the CCSS for kinder, 1st, and 2nd grade.

St. Patrick's Day

Next week is time to pull out my St. Patrick's Day Unit! 

Here are some of my favorite activities...

This is a differentiated opinion writing:

 This missing addend math game is a HUGE hit!

 The leprechaun application makes me laugh every.dang.time. It is also differentiated!

This estimation math lesson is fun and educational!

This HUGE pack {91 pages} is full of fun, meaningful activities!  It's available in color and black/white! This Common Core aligned St. Patrick’s Day Unit has everything you need to integrate this fun holiday with math and literacy! Each activity has variations to meet the CCSS for kinder, 1st, and 2nd grade.

All About St. Patty's Day!

Next week is time to pull out my St. Patrick's Day Unit! 

I have this little craftivity in the Unit. It's a great for the CCSS opinion writing, too!

This HUGE pack {91 pages} is full of fun, meaningful activities!  It's available in color and black/white! This Common Core aligned St. Patrick’s Day Unit has everything you need to integrate this fun holiday with math and literacy! Each activity has variations to meet the CCSS for kinder, 1st, and 2nd grade.

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Side Note:
How about this cute idea for leprechauns?  I love it!
There is the cute, artsy 3rd grade teacher at my old school {Mrs. Coyle} who did these HILARIOUS {made me laugh out loud} 3D leprechauns. I just have to share:

Here is the how to:

Give the students a 12" circle pattern to trace on a 12X18 manila paper.
They cut into the center (vocabulary: radius), overlap until a nose appears.
"Leftover" manila paper is used for the ears. (Make sure they have points!)
Students can choose yellow, orange or brown (9X12) for the hair, etc.
                    Each gets: 9X12 green (for the hat)
                                      4X6 red (for the mouth)
                                      4X6 white (for the eyes)
                                      2X3 blue (for the eyes)
                                      3X3 yellow (for the buckle)

My Favorite St. Patrick's Day Writing

Every year we write a Leprechaun Application and my students are obsessed!  They all want to be a leprechaun. I love using holiday themes to integrate into our writing because my students become so engaged in it.  

After we fill out our application, it's time for the "essay" portion of the application process.  I have my students write an opinion piece on why they would make a good leprechaun.  They have to have an opening sentences, 2 reasons, and a closing sentence.  They turn out SO cute!

You can grab this writing activity and TONS of other core aligned items in my St. Patrick's Day unit!  I've made it 20% off for the next 2 days!

Insta-Graming & Some St. Patty's Day

I love Instagram {you can follow us on Instagram @whattheteacherwants}! I am seriously addicted to posting pics of my cute kids! Of course, I also like to take pics of some of the fun things that happen at school too.

Here's a little peek into my life:

Left- How I like to finish up grades. A saturday afternoon in a quiet classroom. Of course having a yummy lunch and a Dr. Pepper helps. :)

Right - New sparkly lanyards! I found these at target and *had* to get one for everyone on my team! It feels nice to add some bling into my school day!

Left - My cute room mom makes the most amazing door decorations! This is what she did for us for teacher appreciation. Love it!

Right - Me standing with the fabulous Darci Tucker. I met Darci while doing the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute two summers ago and have kept in contact with her ever since. She recently came to Utah and presented her 'Revolutionary Women' program at a teacher inservice in my area. 

Left - Have I ever mentioned how much I love my 5th grade team?? Of course we *had* to pose inside the kissing booth! :)

Right - Rachelle and I met up the other day! It's always fun hanging out with this girl - her personality and happy attitude is contagious! Love her!

And...here's a glimpse into my personal life....

Left - My baby sister got married the other day! She looked gorgeous and the whole day was absolutely perfect! 

Right - My baby girl, Allie, got to be the flower girl at the wedding. She had the cutest little ribbon tutu and lace shirt from Heartstring Things!

Left - As a fun side hobby, I love doing photography! This is my brand new little niece when she was only 1 week old.

Right - My two sweet kids at a little Valentine's photo shoot I did for them. Aren't they precious?!

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Some of you have enjoyed my Christmas and Valentine's Day pennant banners so I made one for St. Patrick's Day too! 

This cute green and shamrock pennant banner is a fun way to add some holiday decor to your classroom. 

Click here to purchase. (Only $1.25)

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Rachelle would like to ask everyone who downloaded her St. Patrick's Day Unit to go re-download. She had an error that has now been fixed! :)

Check back soon for more fun St. Patrick's Day ideas!

St. Patrick's Day Unit {Common Core Aligned}

20% off this weekend ONLY.......

I've finally compiled my St. Patrick's Day Unit! I'm so excited about this unit.  As we started the Common Core last year, I started aligning all of my thematic units to it.  So, this will make you and your Admin happy, happy, happy {love Duck Dynasty}!

I have this little craftivity in the Unit. It's a great for the CCSS opinion writing, too!

This HUGE pack {91 pages} is full of fun, meaningful activities!  It's available in color and black/white! This Common Core aligned St. Patrick’s Day Unit has everything you need to integrate this fun holiday with math and literacy! Each activity has variations to meet the CCSS for kinder, 1st, and 2nd grade.
Included in this unit:

How to Catch a Leprechaun

Planning out our Leprechaun Traps

Leprechaun Trap Note

Shamrock Estimation

Taste the Rainbow (place value game)

Lucky Catch (Missing addend and/or addition game)

Lucky Me Battleship (number recognition)

Leprechaun Application

Leprechaun Writing

The Leprechaun that Came to School Writing

I’m “Beary” Lucky {writing and craftivity}

The Story of St. Patrick {non-fiction book}

The Story of St. Patrick {student book}

All Things Green {brainstorming and spelling}

Our Colored Crayons are Missing! {predictions}

Leprechaun Poem 

Lots O’ Blends {game}

Equal and Not Equal Gold {game}

Click {here} to check it out!  

It will be 20% off THIS WEEKEND ONLY! 

I also change my "Centers for March 2nd" to comply with the ridiculous copyright/trademark regulations that Seuss Enterprises have.  Now, my "Centers for March 2nd" are "circus" themed. I'm using these centers next week! If you bought my "Centers for March 2nd" last year, do not buy this packet! :) Check them out {here}. It's also on sale only this weekend!

I'll leave you with this {and if you have no idea what Duck Dynasty is then I suggest you find out ASAP :) }....

3D Leprechauns

There is the cute, artsy 3rd grade teacher at my school {Mrs. Coyle} who did these HILARIOUS {made me laugh out loud} 3D leprechauns. I just have to share:

Here is the how to:

Give the students a 12" circle pattern to trace on a 12X18 manila paper.
They cut into the center (vocabulary: radius), overlap until a nose appears.
"Leftover" manila paper is used for the ears. (Make sure they have points!)
Students can choose yellow, orange or brown (9X12) for the hair, etc.
                    Each gets: 9X12 green (for the hat)
                                      4X6 red (for the mouth)
                                      4X6 white (for the eyes)
                                      2X3 blue (for the eyes)
                                      3X3 yellow (for the buckle)

What do you think about these little darlings?