Take it and Make it Life Cycle of a Butterfly Craftivity

It's Thursday and you know what that means!

 I went shopping yesterday.  I just happened to be in the mood to see what I could find for my classroom next year.  I have decided to go with a bright rock-n-roll theme for my back-to-school theme using these 4 bright colors.  I was pretty please with the start I made.

 I found these 4 little containers at the Dollar General for $1.

 I added dice and now no more dice on the floor.  I am SUPER excited about this!

(It's just the little things in life isn't it??)

 We've been wrapping up our study on life cycles.  We made caterpillar accordion books that I actually came up with YEARS ago when I was teaching kindergarten.

You will need to do some prep work before you begin.  Use bulletin board paper and accordion fold into 6 sections.

I use a lid for my pattern to trace circles.

Make sure that whatever you use for a pattern is hanging over on the side of the folds.

Cut out to make books before you start with your students.  (A parent volunteer is GREAT for this!)

It's also fun to make them a variety of colors.

 First the students color the pictures.

 Cut out one eye and post on the front next to the fold.  Add a smile.

 Open the book and add the other eye along with another smile.

 On each circle add the stages along with the pictures.

Last page!

The back of the book.

Here is what the book looks like open.

See how it accordion folds?

It can also be left closed as you turn each page.

You can find this craftivity in my TPT store.

Now it's your turn to link up (just grab the first pix at the top and add somewhere on your post) and share something that we can TAKE and MAKE!

Be sure to stop back by Sunday for some BIG news...You won't want to miss it!

 

New unit (Judy Moody) and a freebie!

It was raining CATS and DOGS here this weekend so I didn't leave my house all weekend!  The great part of that was I got TONS of work done on a new TPT unit.

I guess I would be considered a "geek" in some circles...haha

We only have 4 more weeks of school!!  How crazy is that!  This year has absolutely flown by!

In 25 years of teaching, it has been the best group of students I've ever had.  I am going to miss them terribly.  

Now that we've covered all the mandated standards, it's time to review and also have a little fun.  

I was reading a book for fun to my students...one I've never read before, although you might be familiar with it.

I was so captivated by this book.  I immediately envisioned the fun I could have with this book at the beginning of the year.  Before I knew it, a complete and in-depth book study had been born. 

 The ideas seemed to flow faster than I could put them to paper!  I LOVE when that happens.

I've included EXPLICIT lessons plans for all 12 chapters.

 Vocabulary with fun activities

 Technology opportunities as students learn science and social studies activities associated with the book.

Craftivities are also included.    I am offering the turtle craftivity to you as a freebie.  Just click on the picture to get your copy.

Here is a closer look at just a few of the 88 pages in this unit.  Everything you need for a 2-3 week book study is included.  For the first 48 hours it is on sale for HALF-PRICE!  

Click on the picture to purchase your own copy.  I plan on using this for my back-to-school unit.

BAM!  My first 3 weeks are ready to go!! 

Be sure to check back for some GIGANTIC news later this week!  You won't want to miss out.  Here's a little preview...

 

 

Sunshine Makes Me Smile (and so does Thursdays Take it and Make it Linky Party!)

It's time for another weekly dose of

I hope you are finding some useful ideas to take with you and make.  Remember, you can link up any of your own posts that have something to share with others whether it be for home or school, craft, free or paid.  The ideas are ENDLESS!

This week I know we are all getting in the summer mode.  So today, I'm sharing a little craftivity for your students to use.

Just click here to grab your own free template.  This can be used in a variety of ways!

I hope you'll link up any of your new or old posts that have something to share for others to TAKE it and MAKE it.  Please remember to add the picture at the top to your post and link back here.

 

S'more Swap #2

It's time for another S'more Swap with some of my bloggy friends!

Today I am linking up with Samantha aka

My little lovies are in dire need of writing skills since I have THE.LOWEST.GROUP!!!

Samantha's adorable unit was just what I needed to teach (again) about opinion writing.

 

 Here is preview of everything that is included.

 I began by posting the title and we had a little discussion.

 Then all students wrote their name on a sticky note and put their name next to their favorite pet.

 This was the first page each student filled out.

A vote for dogs...

 The ONLY vote for fish...

 A vote for cats...

 Next, we did this step together  as I discussed MY favorite pet...CATS!

 Then we discussed how this led to writing the PERFECT five sentence paragraph. 

 Students then turned theirs into a nice neat paragraph. 

If you would like win your own copy of this adorable writing activity, please hop on over to Samantha's Blog, become a follower and leave a comment.  I have a number already chosen.  If your comment is that number, you will win this unit. Leave a comment by Thursday!

You can also click on the picture of the unit, to purchase your own copy.
Click below to find some more great product reviews!