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8 Classroom Activities to Finish the School Year Strong

As the school year wraps up, we know how important it is to keep those little ones engaged and excited until the very end. It can be a challenge, but with some super fun and energizing activities, we can make sure the classroom stays buzzing with joy and laughter. So, let’s dive into some awesome activities that’ll help you finish the school year on a high note!

Adventure-filled Scavenger Hunts: Who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt, right? Plan some thrilling hunts around the school or even in the playground. Split the kiddos into teams, hand them some fun clues, and let them unleash their detective skills! It’s a fantastic way to encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and exploration, all while having a blast.

2. Outdoor Exploration: Take advantage of the warmer weather by planning outdoor exploration activities. Whether it’s a nature walk, a visit to the school garden, or a mini science experiment in the playground, outdoor activities provide hands-on learning experiences while allowing students to stretch their legs and enjoy the fresh air.

3. Creative Art Projects: Time to unleash their inner Picassos! Get the kids involved in art projects that celebrate their year and achievements. From memory collages to personalized autograph books, or even a massive class mural of their favorite moments, let their creativity soar. Not only will they have a blast, but they’ll also end up with some awesome keepsakes.

4. STEM Adventures: Science, technology, engineering, and math—time to bring out the inner scientists! Get them engaged in hands-on STEM challenges. Build structures using everyday materials, make and test paper airplanes, or even dabble with simple circuits. These activities are not just educational; they promote teamwork and problem-solving too!

5. Bring on the Games: Who says learning can’t be a game? Incorporate educational games into your daily routine. Play “Jeopardy,” “Scattergories,” or even classic “Bingo” to review and reinforce what they’ve learned. It’s a fun way to keep those little minds sharp while having a blast together.

6. Magical Story Time: Settle down, cozy up, and let the magic of stories transport them to amazing worlds. Dedicate time for read-aloud sessions where you can share wonderful stories with the class. Choose books that ignite their imaginations and spark meaningful discussions. It’s a relaxing way to wind down while keeping the learning spirit alive.

7. Celebrate with Awards: Every kiddo deserves a moment in the spotlight! Create personalized awards to acknowledge their unique strengths and accomplishments. Celebrate academic achievements, acts of kindness, creativity, and teamwork. These awards will make them feel like superstars and give them a boost of confidence!

8. Reflect and Set Goals: Wrap up the school year by reflecting on their experiences and setting goals for the future. Create a safe and open space for discussions. Let them share their favorite memories, proudest moments, and dreams for the next school year. It’s a great way to foster self-awareness and help them develop a growth mindset.

As you approach the end of the school year, keep the energy high and the smiles wide with these engaging activities. Let creativity soar, encourage teamwork, and celebrate those little achievements. Remember, the end of the school year can be just as exciting as the rest of it. So, let’s finish strong and make these last days memorable for our wonderful kiddos!

Check out these ready-to-go activities that will help you get through to that last day!

How To Make A Paper Airplane | STEM Activity & Procedural Writing

A Letter From Your Teacher On The Last Day Of School | End

How To Make Ice Cream In A Bag | STEM Sequencing Worksheet

Graduation Hats | End of Year Crowns | Pre-K, Kindergarten

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Teaching and Learning Activities for Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall

As a teacher, I am always on the lookout for captivating books that not only engage my students but also provide valuable learning opportunities. Sophie Blackall’s delightful book, ‘Farmhouse,’ is the perfect choice to immerse my young learners in exploring past and present, history, and creativity. In this blog post, I’ll share our adventures and the valuable skills and knowledge we’ve gained through our exploration of this remarkable book.

Immersed in Farm Chores: We delved into the world of the Swantak family and their daily farm chores, thanks to the engaging activities suggested in the book. Each student chose a specific task, such as milking cows or picking apples, and thoroughly explored the topic. Through their written summaries and vivid illustrations, my students showcased their understanding of the farm chores, demonstrating their growing comprehension skills.
Comparing Homes: Farmhouse vs. Urban Dwellings: One of the most fascinating discussions we had centered around the comparisons between the farmhouse depicted in the book and our own urban dwellings. Through visual charts we created together, my kiddos gained a deeper understanding of the unique features and characteristics of each type of home. They enthusiastically shared their observations, broadening their knowledge of different lifestyles and communities.
Dressing Up in the Past: Intrigued by the clothing of the characters, we embarked on a fashion adventure into the 1930s to 1940s. After researching clothing styles from that era, the kiddos compared them to the clothes we wear today.
Rhyme Time and Storytelling: We had an absolute blast crafting rhyming sentences using words and themes from the book. These playful exercises not only strengthened our phonemic awareness but also sparked our creativity and storytelling skills. Inspired by the cumulative tale structure found in Farmhouse, my students created their own captivating cumulative stories, intertwining family moments and cherished memories.
Artistic Expressions: From Potato Prints to Personal House Collages: Our classroom transformed into an art studio as we explored two incredible projects. Drawing inspiration from the wallpaper in the story, we ventured into potato printing. With carved designs and vibrant paint, my students created stunning prints reminiscent of the Farmhouse aesthetic. Additionally, we embarked on a personal house collage project, capturing a cross-section of our own homes and including artifacts that hold special meaning for each student. These artistic endeavors encouraged self-expression, fine motor skills, and a deeper connection to our personal spaces.

Check out these activities that I created to go along with the book…

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Setting High Expectations for Kindergarten Sentence Writing

As a kindergarten teacher, you know how important it is to set high expectations for your student’s writing skills. One crucial aspect of writing is sentence construction, which requires a strong understanding of punctuation, capitalization, finger spacing, sight words, and meaning. Here are the five writing expectations that I set for my kindergarten students at the beginning of their sentence-writing journey.

Punctuation

Punctuation is an essential aspect of sentence writing that helps to clarify meaning and enhance communication.

Capital Letters

Capitalization is another important aspect of sentence writing that helps to distinguish proper nouns and the beginning of a sentence.

Finger Spaces

Finger spacing is an essential aspect of sentence writing that helps students to develop their handwriting skills and to distinguish between words.

Sight Words

Sight words are words that students should be able to recognize immediately, without sounding them out. Displaying taught sight words and using word walls will help your students develop valuable spelling skills.

Does It Make Sense?

Finally, it is essential to ensure that sentences make sense and convey a clear message. To set high expectations for meaning, you can ask questions like, “Does the sentence make sense?” and “Does the sentence convey a clear message?”

By using this five-star writing checklist, you can set high expectations for your kindergarten students’ sentence writing. You can use it to provide feedback that is specific and actionable, helping your students to improve their writing skills over time.

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Fun Classroom Activities for The Speedy Sloth

National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event that promotes literacy and storytelling across Australia. Each year, a new children’s book is chosen to be read aloud in classrooms and libraries across the country. For National Simultaneous Storytime 2023, the book “The Speedy Sloth” by Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie has been selected. This delightful story follows a determined sloth who is determined to win a race against faster animals.

In addition to reading the book, there are many fun and educational activities that teachers can do in their classrooms to further engage with the story. Here are some activities that you can try:

Research and Writing: Encourage students to research sloths and write a report about their habitat, diet, and unique features. This will help them understand the context of the story and appreciate the character of the sloth even more.

Sloth Craft Display Wall: Create a sloth craft display wall where students can write about a time they used perseverance. This will help them identify with the sloth’s determination and how it relates to their own experiences.

Compare Real Sloths: Compare the characteristics of real sloths to the sloth in the story. This will help students understand how the author has personified the animal for the purpose of storytelling.

Write a Newspaper Article: Ask students to write a newspaper article about the events on the race day. This will encourage them to practice their writing skills while also exploring the story in greater detail.

Design a Special Medal: Challenge students to design a special medal for perseverance and grit. This will help them understand the value of determination and hard work, which are key themes in the book.

Design a Sloth Speed Suit: Encourage students to design their own sloth speed suit. This will help them explore the story in a creative way and use their imagination.

Sloth Race: Have a sloth race or reenact the race from the story. This will encourage students to move their bodies and have fun while also learning about the story.

Rhyming Words: Encourage students to match the rhyming words in the story. This will help them understand the rhythm of the story and appreciate the clever wordplay.

“The Speedy Sloth” by Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie is a wonderful book that can inspire children to never give up and keep trying their best. By engaging in these activities, children can deepen their understanding of the story while also having fun and being creative.

Check out these fun activities I’ve created to go along with the story!

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5 Fun Classroom Writing Activities to Try This Spring

With Spring just around the corner, there are plenty of topics that can inspire your student’s writing. From planting seeds to catching leprechauns, here are five fun writing activities to try this March.

How to Plant a Seed Procedure Writing – Spring is the perfect time to start gardening, and planting seeds is a great way to get started. Encourage your students to write a step-by-step guide on how to plant a seed. They can include all the necessary equipment, such as soil, a pot, and the seed, as well as any tips they have learned.

2. How to Catch a Leprechaun Writing for St. Patrick’s Day – St. Patrick’s Day is a fun holiday that kids love. Encourage your students to write a step-by-step guide on how to catch a leprechaun. They can include any tricks they have learned, such as leaving a trail of gold coins or using a net.

3. How to Catch the Easter Bunny STEM Writing – Easter is just around the corner, and kids love the idea of catching the Easter bunny. Encourage your students to write a step-by-step guide on how to catch the Easter bunny. They can include any tricks they have learned, such as leaving a carrot trail or building a bunny trap. This activity not only teaches students how to write a procedure but also encourages them to use their imagination.

4. Sunflower Growing Journal Writing – Sunflowers are a great symbol of spring, and they are fun to grow too. Encourage your students to keep a journal of their sunflower growing experience. They can write about the planting process, how the plant grows, and any challenges they face along the way. They can also include photos of their sunflowers to make their journal even more interesting.

5. All About Farm Animals Informational Writing – Spring is a great time to learn about farm animals. Encourage your students to write an informational piece on their favourite farm animal. They can include information such as where the animal lives, what it eats, and any interesting facts they have learned. This activity not only teaches students how to write an informational piece but also encourages them to learn about the animals that help produce the food we eat.

March is a great month to engage in fun writing activities. Whether you are planting seeds or trying to catch a leprechaun, there are plenty of topics to inspire your writing. Encourage your students to try these five fun writing activities and see where their creativity takes them.

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Growing Magic Beanstalks In The Classroom

Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes the perfect opportunity for lower elementary teachers to engage their young students in a fun and educational activity: growing beans! One way to make this activity more exciting and relatable for children is to tie it in with the classic fairy tale, “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

Why Grow Beans?

First of all, growing beans is a fantastic way to teach children about the natural world and how plants grow. Beans are relatively easy to grow, and they germinate quickly, which means that children will be able to see the results of their efforts within a few days. This can be a great way to build excitement and engagement around the project.

In addition to being a fun and hands-on way to learn about plant growth, growing beans can also teach children about responsibility and the importance of taking care of living things. Children learn about the needs of plants, such as water, sunlight, and nutrients, and how to provide for those needs in order to help their plants grow and thrive.

Using “Jack and the Beanstalk” to Teach about Beans

One way to make the experience of growing beans even more exciting for young children is to tie it in with the classic fairy tale, “Jack and the Beanstalk.” This story sparks the imagination and curiosity of children, and helps them see the real-world connections to the story.

As you introduce the activity, read the story of “Jack and the Beanstalk” to your students, and discuss the role that beans play in the story. Then show the children the beans that they will be planting, and explain how these little seeds will grow into beanstalks, just like the one in the story.

Throughout the process of growing the beans, continue to reference the story and help the children make connections between what they are doing and what happens in the story. Talk about how the beans need to be planted in good soil, just like in the story, and how they will grow up towards the sun, just like the beanstalk.

CLICK HERE to find the magic bean diary!

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Building Confident Writers: The Power of Kindergarten Writing with Decodable Sentences

Kindergarten is an exciting time for young learners, as they begin to explore the world of reading and writing. Decodable sentences are an effective tool that can help children develop their writing skills at this stage.

Decodable sentences are sentences that follow a pattern and include words that can be easily sounded out by children. They provide a structured framework that helps children build their confidence in writing, while also reinforcing their phonetic skills.

Here are some tips on how to incorporate decodable sentences into kindergarten writing:

Start with simple sentences: When introducing decodable sentences, it is important to begin with simple sentences that only contain a few words. This will help children focus on mastering the basic mechanics of writing, such as holding a pencil and forming letters, before moving on to more complex sentences.

2. Practice sight words: While decodable sentences primarily focus on phonics and sounding out words, it is also important to incorporate sight words into the mix. Sight words are high-frequency words that children should recognize by sight, without having to sound them out. Some examples of sight words include “the”, “and”, and “is”. By introducing sight words alongside decodable sentences, children can start to build a more robust vocabulary.

3. Encourage creativity: While decodable sentences provide a structure for writing, it is also important to encourage creativity in kindergarten writing. Encourage children to add their own words to the sentence, or to come up with their own sentence based on a particular phonetic pattern.

4, Provide positive feedback: Writing can be a challenging task for young learners, but providing positive feedback can go a long way in building their confidence. Take the time to praise children for their efforts, and offer constructive feedback that focuses on their strengths and areas for improvement.

Overall, incorporating decodable sentences into kindergarten writing can be an effective tool for helping young learners build their writing skills. By starting with simple sentences, practicing sight words, encouraging creativity, and providing positive feedback, children can develop the foundation they need to become confident and proficient writers.

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The Wonders of Hatching Eggs in the Kindergarten Classroom

As teachers and educators, it’s always exciting to find new ways to make learning fun and engaging for our young students. Hatching eggs in the kindergarten classroom is one way to do just that. Not only is it a fun and interactive activity, but it also provides numerous educational and personal benefits for our youngest learners.

Hands-on learning: Hatching eggs in the classroom provides students with a hands-on, interactive learning experience that can enhance their understanding of the life cycle of chickens and other birds. They can observe the eggs as they incubate and then watch as the chicks hatch and grow.

Science and biology: The process of hatching eggs involves a number of scientific concepts, including incubation temperatures, humidity, and the growth and development of living organisms. Kindergarten students can learn about these concepts in a fun and engaging way through the hatching process.

Responsibility and care-giving: Hatching eggs can teach students about responsibility and the importance of providing care and attention to living creatures. They can learn how to take care of the eggs, monitor the temperature and humidity, and provide food and water for the chicks as they grow.

Emotional connection: Hatching eggs can foster a strong emotional connection between students and the creatures they are caring for, promoting empathy and compassion. Kindergarten students can learn about the importance of kindness and compassion for all living beings.

Teamwork: Hatching eggs can also be a collaborative effort between students and teachers, promoting teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. The students can work together to incubate the eggs, care for the chicks, and learn from each other throughout the process.

Hatching eggs in the kindergarten classroom is a fun and educational activity that provides numerous benefits for our young students. It promotes hands-on learning, scientific understanding, responsibility, compassion, teamwork, and much more. So why not give it a try and bring the wonders of hatching eggs to your classroom today!

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Celebrating the 100th Day of School: Fun Activities for Kindergarten

The 100th day of school is a milestone that students, teachers, and parents look forward to every year. It’s a chance to celebrate all the hard work that has been put in and to reflect on the growth and progress made so far.

Here are some fun and creative activities that you can do in your kindergarten classroom to celebrate this special occasion:

Count to 100: This is a classic activity that is both fun and educational. You can have your students count various objects, like candies or stickers, to 100 or have them work together to form a human chain that reaches 100 steps.
100th Day Crowns: Have your students make their very own 100th Day crowns. All you need is some construction paper, markers, and stapler. Encourage your students to decorate their crowns with 100 items, such as stickers, cut-out numbers, or small drawings.
100th Day Snacks: Encourage your students to bring in 100 of their favorite snack to share with the class. You can have a snack time where everyone gets to sample all the different snacks and talk about why they chose what they did.
100th Day Parade: This is a fun and active way to celebrate the 100th day of school. Have your students dress up in 100-themed costumes and have a parade around the school. You can have the students play instruments, carry signs, and chant “100 days of school!”
100th Day Art: Encourage your students to create 100th Day art. This could be a painting, a collage, or a sculpture. Provide materials such as paper, glue, and craft supplies, and encourage your students to be creative and use 100 items in their artwork.

These activities are just a few of the many fun and engaging ways to celebrate the 100th day of school with your kindergarten students. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it is both fun and educational, and most importantly, celebrate the growth and progress your students have made so far!

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Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Day in the Classroom

Random Acts of Kindness Day is a special occasion celebrated annually on February 17th. The day provides an opportunity for individuals to come together and spread kindness and positivity. In the classroom, this special day can be used as an opportunity to teach children the importance of kindness and encourage them to perform small acts of kindness.

Here are some fun and inspiring activities that you can conduct in the classroom on Random Acts of Kindness Day:

Kindness Jar: Have each student write a random act of kindness that they have performed or plan to perform and place it in a jar. At the end of the day, have the students take turns reading the acts of kindness from the jar.
Kindness Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of kind acts for the students to perform and have them work in teams to complete as many items on the list as possible within a set time frame.
Kindness Chain: Provide each student with a paper chain link. Encourage students to perform acts of kindness throughout the day and add a link to the chain for each act they complete. The goal is to create a long chain by the end of the day.
Kindness Video: Have the students create a video showcasing their acts of kindness throughout the day and share it with the school or community.
Gratitude Wall: Create a wall in the classroom where students can post notes of gratitude for acts of kindness they have received or witnessed.

These activities are not only fun, but they also help students understand the importance and impact of spreading kindness and generosity. By participating in these activities, students will learn that small acts of kindness can have a big impact and that they can make a difference in the lives of others.

Random Acts of Kindness Day is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn about the power of kindness and positivity. By participating in these fun and inspiring activities, students will develop empathy and compassion, and become better citizens who are committed to making a positive impact in the world.