Fuzzy & Fun!! Read Across America Bookmarks

I think I like fuzzy pom-poms almost as much as googly eyes--they just make me smile inside... :0) Not to mention, fuzzy pom-poms remind me of the whimsical trees in Dr. Seuss's books, so I decided to make some bookmarks for the kids.
  

The more that you read, the more things you will know.  The more that you know, the more places you'll go (I Can Read with My Eyes Shut by Dr. Seuss).

Grinched font courtesy of dafont.com and book graphic by The 3AM Teacher.

I have linked a PDF bookmark file.  Just print on colored card stock, laminate, punch, add ribbon (1/8"), and use a hot glue gun to attach the pom-pom.  I purchased my black grosgrain ribbon and colored pom-poms at Michael's.  I think the kids will really enjoy these!

A Great Learning Laugh!

Just discovered the picture book, Things That Are Most in the World by Judy Barret, thanks to Sunny Days in Second's Show & Tell Tuesday. What perfect timing! I was just getting ready to do a lesson on comparative adjectives.  Well, the story is hilarious--as evidenced by the roaring laughter coming from our room at the end of the hall--but what was to follow was even better...

There is an open writing frame at the end of the book for kids to create their own page.  I decided to adapt this a bit and create a three-part writing frame.  First, each student randomly chose an adjective from the basket and wrote the adjective in three forms (e.g. sharp, sharper, sharpest). Then I gave students a model of what they would be doing. Here is an example of what I wrote--A porcupine's quills are sharp.  A porcupine learning to sword fight is sharper. A porcupine sword fighting a sea urchin is the sharpest thing in the world. The object was to build on the original frame. I also showed the illustrations I made to accompany my writing.  

The book and model were inspiration as students began to create. I don't know how many times I have reread these, since just yesterday!  Their creativity makes me smile, laugh, and a few left me with that warm-fuzzy feeling... 

It's hot because it's 100 degrees.  It's hotter because it's 100 degrees and he's running a marathon. The hottest thing in the world is when it's 100 degrees and he's running a marathon wearing long sleeves and sweat pants.

 A duck is lucky.  A duck that is opening a fortune cookie is luckier.  A ducking eating a fortune cookie while crossing a high way without getting hit is the luckiest thing in the world.

 A t-rex is large. A t-rex holding a sky scraper is larger. A t-rex holding a sky scraper with a tree on the sky scraper is the largest thing in the world.

My fuzzy slippers are soft. Wearing my soft socks with my fuzzy slippers is softer.  Wearing my soft pajamas while wearing my fuzzy slippers and my soft socks is the softest.

A cow standing on two legs is silly.  A cow riding on a bike, standing on the seat, on two legs is sillier.  A cow eating corn on the cob, while standing on two legs, on the seat of a bike, is the silliest thing in the world.

We have yet to share as a class, so I anticipate the laughter and fun to continue...

I used an 11"x 17" version with my students, but I have also created a 14" x8.5" version. Click to download either. Have fun! 

Update: The kids decided they wanted to make a book out of their creations. :0)

Sweetheart Subtraction Slide & MORE!

A couple of weeks ago, I was purchasing another set of wonderful writing center task cards from Denise at Sunny Days in Second Grade, and I happened upon her FREE subtraction slide games. I printed out the penguin and Valentine versions and our janitor started collecting water bottle caps in the lunchroom.  I didn't get in gear in time to use the penguin version, but I did get the Sweetheart Subtraction Slide ready ALMOST in time for Valentine's Day (the day after). :0) The kids had to explain how they subtracted the sum of the two dice from 20, and a couple of students who had a bit more difficulty explaining used the rekenrek as a model of their thinking. Denise also has a Halloween and Spring version available for FREE on Teachers Pay Teachers.  With her permission, I have also created two versions you may download for free--St. Patty's Day Sweet Treat Subtraction Slide and Go Green Subtraction Slide.  Simply print on legal sized paper (14" x 8.5"), recycle 22 water bottle caps for each game, and label the caps with the numbers 8-18 (two of each number).  Many thanks to Denise for granting me permission to post these games.  Please take the time to visit her at SunnyDays on Teachers Pay Teachers, if you haven't already! :0)

Enjoy the learning fun your students will have playing subtraction slide!

Let's Go Fishing for a Brain Break!

The kids just loved it when I brought in this brain break fish bowl today! We have been doing brain breaks all year, but now we have a great way to select them randomly with ease.  I loaded the bowl with some old ones we have been using and a bunch of new ones that I brainstormed.  The kids look forward to brain breaks, and so do I.  All of our brains need frequent breaks--some more frequent than others (in reference to myself)...

Pick up a fish bowl, put a catchy slogan on the outside, and fill it with brain breaks.  To purchase the label pictured, along with 32 Fun & Effective Brain Breaks for the Classroom (descriptions and fish cards to put in your bowl), visit my TpT store.

Candy Heart Math FREEBIE!

Enjoy this fun and educational candy heart math activity!  I plan to use bagged hearts this year and a 1/3 or 1/2 cup scoop to yield greater amounts. 

 

Just stop over to Teacher Pay Teachers to download this FREEBIE! Have fun!