Tag: resources

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Summertime Math

For some kids, summer break is in full swing, and for other kids, it’s so close they can taste it! Trying to keep students engaged those last few days of school can be difficult, as they just want to be outside enjoying the sunshine. And, honestly, who can blame them?! The sunshine is so inviting! 

If your school is one that is still in session, and you find yourself grasping for ways to keep your kiddos engaged and focused, I’ve got a fun math worksheet you can use! Geared for kindergarten or first graders, this summer themed addition and subtraction practice sheet is fun and educational! And as an added bonus, if you need to occupy a little more time, you can have your students color in the objects as they work on the problems. 

If you’re a parent or caregiver who is desperate for ways to try to prevent the infamous “summer slide”, print this off and have your kiddos do it at home! 

However you use it, I hope your students and/or kids will have fun as they practice those fundamental math skills that will serve them as they continue to learn!

**This download is free, and is for classroom or personal use only. Do not resell it, re-post it, or claim it as your own.**

Summer MathDownload
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End of Year Reflections

The end of the school year is so bittersweet: everyone is ready for summer break, but it’s also the end of something good. Students leave your classroom with so much more than they started with. The growth and change that occurs over the course of a school year is incredible, and is something that should be celebrated. Oftentimes, it’s harder for students to see that growth within themselves, so as teachers, it’s important that we help them realize just how far they’ve come. 

An effective way I’ve found to help students notice how much they’ve learned and changed is by doing an end of year reflection. This gives them a chance to think about what they’ve accomplished over the course of the year, and causes them to reflect back on all the things that have happened since the beginning of school. 

I’ve put together an end of year reflection page you can use with your students as you close out the school year. It’s appropriate for all ages, and is open to written or drawn responses. This worksheet is for personal or classroom use only. It is not to be shared, resold, reposted, or claimed as your own. 

End of Year ReflectionDownload
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Say What?!

Happy as a clam. A picture is worth a thousand words. Every dog has its day. A penny saved is a penny earned. What in the world do these even mean?! Unless you are familiar with these kinds of phrases, they probably sound a bit silly, probably don’t make a whole lot of sense, and might even be confusing. Sayings like these can be idioms, like we talked about last week. Sometimes, though, they are known as proverbs: short sayings meant to convey some kind of moral or life lesson. 

As adults, we are likely pretty familiar with common proverbs and idioms. We hear them and say them without really thinking twice about it; we just know what they mean because we’ve known them for so long. For many of our students, however, these kinds of phrases are unfamiliar, and may sound like gibberish to them. 

Just like everything else, these must be learned. We can’t expect our students to understand them and know what they mean if we don’t expose them to proverbs and other phrases. To help you with this, I’ve created a simple worksheet you can use. On it, you will find a list of the beginning half of several proverbs or idioms, followed by a blank line. After reading the first half of the saying, students can write what they think the rest of the saying is. No doubt you’ll get some funny answers, but that’s the fun of it! 

** This printable is for personal or classroom use only. Do not resell, repost, or claim as your own. **

Say What!Download
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Having Fun With Idioms

The English language can be tricky. It’s a lot of “do this” and “don’t do that”, and a lot of words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings. Or, my favorite– words that sound the same, but are spelled differently and have different meanings, and that’s just how it is, because someone a long time ago made up the rules, so you have to memorize which word to use when. And then, on top of that, we have language devices that have their own rules and uses– metaphors, similes, hyperbole, oxymorons, personification, onomatopoeia, and idioms. It’s a lot to learn, a lot to remember, and can be a lot to teach. 

But… even though it can be a heavy load to learn and teach, the English language can be fun. Language devices, or figurative language, specifically can be fun. They help bring writing to life and can provide depth to writing. There are a plethora of engaging activities you can do with all grade levels to teach these concepts. 

Idioms can be especially fun. Kids often find the sayings funny, so it engages them. Below is a worksheet you can use with your students. It contains a list of idioms, with a place for students to write in what they think it means. The responses students give are always entertaining, and sometimes insightful.

** This download is free, and is for personal or classroom use only. Do not sell, post, or claim as your own. **

IdiomsDownload
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Count, Tally, & Graph

Much of what we teach our students is taught in layers, starting with foundational skills and knowledge, then we move onto the next level of difficulty, then the next, and so on. You can’t expect a preschooler to be able to do multi step equations when they are still learning to count, nor would you assume a third grader can tell you the differences between types of cells when they don’t even know what a cell is. It just wouldn’t make sense, and would lead to frustration on all sides. 

Skill building is especially important when dealing with math. Sometimes as adults, we don’t realize how much we already do know, because working through the processes and methods we’ve learned is almost automatic for our brains. We know what addition is. We know what it means to make a tally mark. We understand what a graph is and how to make one. 

This week in preschool, my daughter learned how to count objects, tally them up, then make a graph. It is such a simple skill for my older kids (and for me), that it made me pause and realize that she’s just learning how to do those things. And you know what? That’s exciting! She’s learning new concepts and figuring out how to do things, and I love it!

So… if you teach preschool or even kindergarten, and you are working on graphing (or will be soon), I’ve got a fun worksheet you can use! Below is a download for a transportation themed Count, Tally, and Graph activity. Feel free to print it and use it in your classroom. 

** This download is for classroom or personal use only. Do not sell, repost, or claim as your own. **

Count, Tally, & Graph TransportationDownload

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Springtime Find & Count

Springtime is my favorite season– the world is waking up after a cold winter, the trees blossom, and tulips and daffodils poke their sleepy heads out of the dirt. It is simply glorious! It feels like a breath of fresh air, and the sunshine brings so much joy.

Students can feel it, too. There’s a little extra excitement and happiness in the air, and it’s just so much fun! Bringing the feeling of a new season into your classroom is a great way to engage students and get them excited about learning. And as I’ve said countless times before, when fun and learning meet, magic happens. 

To help you bring the magic of Spring into your classroom, I’ve created a Springtime Find & Count page you can print off and share with your class. The file includes both black and white and color versions for all printing needs. 

This download is for classroom or personal use only. Do not resell, re-post, or claim as your own.

Springtime Find & CountDownload
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Spring Break Savers

Spring Break season is upon us, the weather is starting to get warmer, and the end of the school year is creeping up. School breaks are essential for students and teachers alike. The break from the rigors of school work gives everyone a chance to rest, relax, and mentally get ready for the next chunk of the school year. While the breaks are nice, it sometimes leaves parents trying to find ways to keep their kids engaged and entertained. Below is a list of fun, engaging, and educational activities for kids of all ages!

  • Using sidewalk chalk, make an obstacle or challenge course on the sidewalk or driveway. Include different movements (spinning, jumping, hopping, etc.) to keep kids paying attention to what comes next!
  • Head to your local library and check out a few books to read together.
  • Create a “Spring Break Challenge”– kids must complete 8/10 tasks to receive their reward (that can be whatever you choose). Give them two tasks they must do– tasks that are essential life skills– then provide them a list of other options to pick from. Tasks can include things like write a letter then correctly address it and mail it, learn to sew a pillow, learn how to mow the lawn, make a treat for someone you know is lonely, do a sibling’s chore without being asked, make a meal for the family, and so on.
  • Take a walk around the neighborhood and take pictures of anything interesting you see. Go home and learn more about the things you took pictures of.
  • Have kids draw up plans for their dream backyard.
  • Have each child learn how to do one new thing, then have them teach another family member how to do it.
  • Using a muffin tin and water, freeze small plastic animals or figures. Have the kids imagine they are scientists on a rescue mission to save the animals. Let them experiment with different ways to melt the ice– using syringes, medicine droppers, scoops of water, and so on. 
  • Go outside at different times of the day and observe the different lengths and positions of shadows. Learn why this changes throughout the day.
  • Let kids use their imaginations and creative thinking to create an obstacle course out of everyday things. Let them think through things as they come across problems.
  • For older kids, give them each $5, and send them around the store to purchase something for a family member. This gives them a chance to think of someone else, and helps them pay attention to costs of items compared to what they have available to them.

Breaks can feel overwhelming at times, but there are plenty of low cost or free activities to keep your kids engaged, entertained, and active during times away from school. Try some of these activities and let us know what you think!