Cats in Hats!

My classroom is Dr. Seuss themed, so I like to start the year off by having the kiddos make Cats in Hats!  This is a great way for me to see what kind of fine motor skills my new students have, or don't have! :)  It's fun to see how different they each turn out, even with the same materials & directions.

You can grab this project {HERE}.

More Math!

We've moved on to 3-dimensional shapes this week!  So {HERE's} another free resource for you!

My kiddos love to play Memory on ANY topic!  With this freebie, you just have to print onto card stock, or, my favorite, AstroBrights, then laminate and cut out!  

If you end up downloading, leave me some feedback to let me know how I'm doing!  

Mother's Day Thumb Print Heart Keychains!

For the last several years, I have made thumb print heart key chains with my first graders for Mother's Day.  At first, I used clay, but now I am using wooden heart cut-outs.  I found the cut outs {HERE}.  

I put paint on the kids' thumbs and have them stamp one on each side of the heart. 

After they are dry, I add the key ring.  I found the key rings {HERE}.  We'll attach them to the poem and that's it!  You can find this poem {HERE}.

Insta-Inspired End of the Year!

It is crazy to think that we have less than 20 days left of this school year!  

It's time to think about those end of the year projects!  

This resource is a Writing activity that the kiddos can do to #latergram all of their favorite memories from the school year!  Print off as many pages as you want, and attach them to the cover page!  

I plan on starting this later this week.  I can't wait to see what the kiddos think!  

You can find it {HERE}!  

Another Math Resource!

Can you tell we're learning about 2-D shapes in my classroom??!
I've just added a 2-D Composite Shape Challenge resource to my TPT store! 

I needed a way for the kids to show me they understood composite shapes.  In each challenge, they will make something - another shape or an object.  Then they have to tell me how many of each pattern block they used.

For early finishers, there is an added challenge - make the same item in a different way!

You can find it {HERE}! 

Harbor Freight Teacher Finds!

My son wanted to go to Harbor Freight last night to look for some things for his dirt bike. 
I have gotten paint brushes for school there before, and could use some more, so I was happy to take him!  

I found paint brushes!  I found small, skinny brushes, (think water color brushes), that come in a 20 pack for only $1.99!  Check them out {HERE}.

I also bought some medium sized brushes that come in a 36 pack for $2.49!  Check them out {HERE}.

I am most excited about the 3-D dino puzzles I found for $1.99 each!  These are wooden puzzles that make a standing dinosaur when completed....for $2!!  I bought the triceratops, pterodactyl, stegosaurus and brontosaurus!  They didn't have a T-Rex in stock, but I found it {HERE} on their website.  

I added the puzzles to my steam bins this morning, but was a little worried they'd be too hard.

Well, one kiddo completed the pterodactyl like it was nothing!  The puzzles are actually larger than I was expecting too!  Definitely a win/win all around!

The Lorax & Earth Day!

I know I'm a day late for Earth Day but I didn't have school yesterday! :)

I generally read "The Lorax" during our Earth Day unit and the kiddos love it!  

At the end of the unit, I like to have the kiddso make a photo frame with a few truffula trees!  

You can find this activity in my TPT store {HERE}!

The trees above have colored cotton balls as truffula tufts.  Most years, I have the kids use tissue paper squares, wrapped around pencil erasers with a drop of glue.  

The pictures in the frames change from year to year.  Some years it's a picture of the kiddos with Lorax mustaches.  Some years it's the "Unless" quote from the story.  

Either way, the kids love making these!