Friday, December 23, 2016

Holiday Fun & Freebie!

I know it's been a million years since I last posted, but I haven't forgotten about this poor little blog! Between teaching and being a mommy, I just don't have much time to spare for anything else! But I really do love blogging and I do want to post updates whenever I can. We have been having so much fun in the classroom, so I thought I'd share some of what we've been doing. 

Gingerbread Celebration

This was my favorite activity and I plan on doing it every year! The parents joined us in the classroom for a gingerbread house activity, and we had a blast! To make the houses, we used milk cartons, icing, graham crackers, and candy (all donated by our awesome parents).

First we read the book The Gingerbread Man. 


Next, I had an assistant model how to create the gingerbread house as we wrote down the steps through interactive writing. 


At last they got to work on their houses! They had so much fun decorating the houses with their families!


During writing workshop, I had the kids write their own how-to using this simple sheet to guide them. This will prepare them for our upcoming how-to writing unit after the break. Click the image below to download the freebie.


Snow Globe Craft

We made snow globes for our parent gifts this year. I got this adorable idea from my co-worker, Debbie. I used Powerpoint to place the kids' faces into the clipart. Then the kids colored their picture and finger painted the snow. Finally, I glued them, laminated them, and put magnets on the back. I love how they turned out! 


Math & Literacy Centers

Here are some of the fun holiday centers the kids have been enjoying...

Tasty Ten Frames - We roll a die to determine how many red counters to place in our ten frame. Then we figure out how many green ones we need to make ten. Finally, we color the ten frame and record the equation. 

Sums for Santa - We roll two dice to determine how many ornaments to place on each tree. Then we add them together and write the equation.   

Add & Cover - I brought in some peppermint candies to spice up this old game! The kids roll two dice, add the dots, and cover the numeral with a candy. 

Count & Color - We choose a card, place it on the mat, and count the candies. Then we write the number and color the ten frame on the recording sheet.


More or Less - This game is played like War. Each partner chooses a card and places it on the mat. They figure out whose number is greater and whose is less. The player who has more keeps both cards. 

Christmas Count - We pick a tree, count the ornaments, and record the number on the recording sheet. 

Count the Room - Students hunt for pictures around the room and count the items in each picture. Then they record the number on their recording sheet.

This cute Shake & Spill Gingerbread Center came from Teaching in Progress. 

Christmas Tree Play Dough Counting - This freebie came from A Dab of Glue.


Gingerbread Lane - We pick objects out of a gingerbread house and identify the ending sound. Then we write the letter inside a gumdrop on our recording sheet.  

Stocking Stuffers - We pull small objects out of a stocking, figure out the beginning sound, and color in the correct letter on our recording sheet. 

Syllable Express - We choose a picture and clap the syllables. Then we sort the pictures into the correct train car and stamp the syllables on our sheet. 

Gingerbread Families - We segment each word, sort pictures by the middle sound, and then write the words under the correct vowel on the recording sheet.  

Elf Hunt - We hunt for hidden elves around the room. We read each sight word and write it on the recording sheet. 

Roll a Word - I modified this game slightly. Instead of using dice, I used a wind-up Santa toy and a grid of words. The kids wound up Santa and read the word he landed on. Then they wrote that word on their graph. 

All of the centers above can be found in my Christmas Math & Literacy Centers on TpT.

 

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

25 comments:

  1. The snow globe came out really cute! Lots of fun activities in your class. Enjoy the holidays with your little one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. May I simply just say what a relief to discover someone that actually knows what they are talking about online. You actually know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. A lot more people ought to look at this and understand this side of the story. It's surprising you aren't more popular given that you definitely possess the gift.

    the voice 2017 Season 12 Winner
    thevoicewinner2017
    the voice 2017 Winner
    the voice 2017 Winner
    IPL Season 10
    IPL t20 2017
    IPL live score
    IPL live match
    IPL Auction 2017
    Fabulous Gadget
    IPL Live Score
    Youtube
    IPLFan

    ReplyDelete
  3. These kind of posts are always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so I happy to find many good point here in the post. writing is simply wonderful! thank you for the post

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi ! This is my first visit to your blog! Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on.
    RRB Gorakhpur Result 2017 Date & News
    RRB Chennai Official Website

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your article is detailed, thanks to it I solved the problem I am entangled. I will regularly follow your writers and visit this site daily.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is great that you describe such things.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your site has a lot of useful information for myself. I visit regularly. Hope to have more quality items.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your blog is well-run. As always, great reading articles.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am grateful to the owner of this site which really shares this wonderful work of this site.That is actually great and useful information.I'm satisfied with just sharing this useful information with us. Please keep it up to date like this.Thank you for sharing..
    website designing company in patna

    ReplyDelete
  10. Holidays that are full of complexity are neither fun nor comfortable. You can enjoy your holidays when you have someone that can write your homework. You can get this from Buy Dissertation Online at very lower prices.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Suggest good information in this message, click here.
    lakesidecarrental.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. 토토 Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning
    this write-up and the rest of the site is also really good.

    ReplyDelete
  13. 바카라사이트 Right away I am ready to do my breakfast, later than having my
    breakfast coming again to read additional news.

    ReplyDelete
  14. 온라인카지노 I like this post, enjoyed this one thanks for posting. « Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is a nice information. I’ve bookmarked your site, and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account to get updates instantly.
    성인웹툰

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is an excellent post I seen thanks to share it. It is really what I wanted to see hope in future you will continue for sharing such a excellent post.
    Kim Bodnia Double Breasted Coat

    ReplyDelete
  17. All the ideas are good but the sketching on the paper is best according to my thoughts, these help the children to grown up mentally, Now it's time to avail HALFCASTE CREAM SET for more information.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This type of information is really helpful and useful. Keep posting are going to be expecting your next blog. Now it's time to avail solar in texas for more information.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your blog is very nice... I like it. Refresh rates of 144Hz and 120FPS or more are suggested for high-performance gaming. Such configurations will substantially alter the visual experience and prevent issues like screen tearing and motion blur. Additionally, you'll notice a difference with regular usage. There are various Monitor refresh rate checker available to check refresh rate of monitor.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I read your post well. It's full of very interesting stories.It's great how you can think of that.

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is a wonderful post since all of these activities are quite important for youngsters!!
    Take My Courses For Me

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thanks for sharing these fantastic ideas, and I'll definitely be a regular visitor to your blog for more inspiration. Keep up the great work!
    If you need assistance with any finance-related assignments, then look no further! We offer professional finance assignment help to make your academic life easier. Our experienced finance experts are here to provide assistance with complex calculations and financial analysis. We're committed to helping you succeed in your studies.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Waterproof Binoculars, the perfect solution for all your outdoor adventures. These binoculars are designed to withstand any weather conditions, ensuring clear and crisp vision even in the rain or near water bodies. With their durable construction and waterproof feature, you can now explore nature without worrying about damaging your binoculars. Whether you're hiking, birdwatching, or enjoying water sports, these waterproof binoculars are your ideal companion for capturing every detail of the world around you.

    ReplyDelete