Oh Goody!: Teacher Goodie Bags with A Teacher's Gift Poem

It's in the bag! Since I am so proud of all the children, I made a little bag of goodies that would surely make any child's summer bright. I can't believe that they are all graduating. It seems like only yesterday when we welcomed the students to our classroom.

The goodie bags were so easy to put together too! The items were all purchased from the mecca that is Hobby Lobby. They included a kaleidoscope, magnifying glass, rings  for the girls, bugs for the boys, bubbles and colored chalk. All of the gifts were placed in a clear, cellophane bag and tied together with brightly-colored, curled ribbon.

I attached the following A Teacher's Gift poem which I re-worded from an existing poem I found on the Internet. I included all of the gifts that were found in the goody bags in the verse. The clip art sun was found on the massively marvelous free clip art site clker.com and the font used was SchoolHouse Printed A on Mac operating systems.

I have included a card I created using an incredibly cute stamper and crayons that is attached to the bag also.


The first poem is for the girls. The second poem is for the boys 

A Teacher’s Gift 

Chalk to add “color” to your summer fling. 

A magnifying glass to explore everything. 

A ring to add a little bling. 

Bubbles to play with as you dance and sing. 

and a kaleidoscope for some extra zing! 

Have a Great Summer, 

(Your name here)

A Teacher’s Gift 

Chalk to add “color” to your summer fling, 

A magnifying glass to explore everything. 

A creepy crawly for a spooky thing. 

Bubbles to play with as you dance and sing. 

and a kaleidoscope for some extra zing. 

Have a Great Summer, 

(Your name here) 

We're having bucket-loads of fun!

Hey there skater boy!

Wizardly Wonders: Four-Year--Old Graduation Name Tags

 It takes heart, courage and of course a brain for our littler pre-kindergartners to memorize all their  music and lines for the upcoming presentation of the Wizard of Oz!  It is especially important because it is their final farewell as preschoolers. They are off to elementary school and officially recognized as the "big kids".

As we prepare for graduation day, the final touches such as name tags needed to be created. I designed the following  magical name tags that will be placed on the backs of chairs for our little Broadway stars in the making!

The striking images represent key attributes/associations of the main characters in the story such as red slippers for Dorothy and an elfin mug for those squeaky voiced munchkins.

Each of the images were found at Clipart Panda. I love using this site because of its ease of use and crisp, expressive illustrations. Not to mention the price point: free!
 

 

Can you guess which image belongs to each character or thing that happened in the story? 

 

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! On this day think of all of the brave men and women who served to keep America free both dead and living. It's not only a three-day weekend and the "unofficial" start of summer.

What's New?: New Blog Design for Glitter and Gluesticks Forever

Glitter and Gluesticks Forever has a brand new educational-themed look. The colors have a brighter and more kid-friendly flair and the font is bolder and more vibrant. I couldn't have done it without the incredible people at The Cutest Blog On the Block.

This website contains page after page of awesome and free templates, banners and blinkies that are available for Blogger, Wordpress, Facebook and Twitter. I even grabbed the pretty and fluttery butterfly teacher blinkie shown on the right.

Let's get this new and improved blog on a roll!

How Genius!: Creating Little Genius Bags

This weekend, I stepped into my attic and shuddered at the cumbersome clutter of lesson plan boxes. It looked like a scholarly train wreck that needed a major overhaul. With the end of the year drawing near and a garbage bag in tow, I tackled that lesson plan overload with abandon. After I was finished for the day, I was left with a much scaled down array of lessons.

The rest of the clutter will have to wait until next weekend, but for some of the items in the boxes I decided to develop Little Genius Bags.

I call these Little Genius Bags because they are subject specific such as math concepts, science language arts, etc. and can be used during circle time, for transitioning, assessments and to help tutor a child who needs a little one-on-one teaching. They can simply be made by placing everyday learning activities within labeled plastic bags.

Items within my Math Little Genius Bag include:

• Shape Identification and Recognition Flashcards
• Color Identification and Recognition Flashcards featuring firetrucks 
• Foam Dice and Penguin-shaped math mats to be used for one-to-correspondence/counting activities
• Sorting Activities 
• Number Sequencing 
• Car Positional Awareness
• Dry Erase Markers

Isn't it wonderful that my downsizing journey came to be quite a positive and educational trek? So go ahead and create your very own Little Genius Bags too!

Feeling Like the Farm: Farm Feely Box

Students with enjoy this farm-tastic feely box that encourages lil' farmers in training to investigate sights found on the farm through their sense of touch and learn about  physical traits of farm animals and crops (science). It will surely also develop early language skills through identifying and verbalizing farm animal names.

Items Needed to Make Farm Feely Box

Large hat box
Roll of brown paper
Animal Cutouts
Ink pads to create antiqued look
Foundation sponges
Shipping tape
X-acto knife
Glue
Assorted farm animal/fruit and vegetable plastic figurines
Stuffed animals
Fake flower
A variety of seeds (sunflower, cracked corn and soybeans)

How to Make Farm Feely Box 

1. Obtain a large hat box and cut a hole large enough for a child's hand to remove items in the box with an X-acto knife. 
2. Cover box with brown paper and tape with shipping tape. 
3. Find images of farm animals or use a paper diecuts to decorate the box. 
4. Use ink pads to create an antiqued look. To do so, dip a foundation sponge into the pad and gingerly brush over brown paper on the hat box. 
5. Glue the farm animal images onto the box with glue. 
6. Gather a variety of plastic animal /fruit and vegetable figurines, stuffed animals, a fake flower and a variety of seeds. Examples of seeds include sunflower, cracked corn and soybeans. 

How to Teach Using the Farm Feely Box

1. Before showing the children the feely box, ask them if they can name any animals or crops found on a farm. If not, give examples or oral clues such as mooing like a cow to elicit answers. 
2. Tell the children that they are going on a trip to the farm by using their sense of touch. Ask the children what they think their sense of touch is/does. After the children have answered, either explain that the sense of touch helps us discover how things feel or continue with the lesson. 
3. The teacher then places the feely box in front of the children and instructs them that they should close their eyes and pull an item out of the box . 
4. Each child closes his or her eyes and takes a turn pulling an item out of the box. 
5. After the child pulls the item out of the box, he or she should guess what the item is through their sense of touch. If the child is having trouble deciphering the object, have the other students help him or her by giving clues as to what the item is. 
6. Continue until each student has had a turn. 

Extension Activities

• Sort the items by living or non-living things (math)
• Have children describe the physical traits of the animals/crops using adjectives (descriptive language): soft, hard, bumpy etc. (language arts) 
• Using a map, chart geographic locations of states that have large amount of farms (social studies: geography) 
• Think of different foods that are made with the animals and crops in the box (science: Understanding how the raising of crops and animals affects the food chain). 
• Create a mini-farm in your sensory table using yellow yarn or construction paper as hay and animal figurines/stuffed animals (fine motor/creating imaginative play experiences/science) 
• Use plastic farm animal figurines to make animal tracks using paint. (art project)

Side View of Farm Feely Box 

Scaring Up Some Cute: Scarecrow Craft and Circletime Ideas

What's made of straw, likes to scare away crows, and wears good ole overalls? A scarecrow, that's who! A farm unit would not be complete without touching on the subject of scarecrows.

Scarecrows have been used by farmers for decades to scare away those pesky crows and other farmyard invaders. How about adding a scarecrow craft and circle time activity such as the one below to scare up some extra joy!

1. Before Reading the Scarecrow's Wedding, ask students the following questions: These questions and the following lesson invite cognitive reasoning/extracting prior knowledge of scarecrows, (math concepts) develop listening (social/emotional) and communication skills (language arts) and examines the history and use of scarecrows by farmers (Social Studies).

What is a scarecrow? 

What is a scarecrow used for?
Do you think scarecrows really work?
How would you make your own scarecrow?

2. Read The Scarecrow's Wedding by Julia Donaldson.

3. Continue by playing the Roll a Scarecrow Game by using dice in circle time. Each body part of the scarecrow is placed down after a particular number is rolled. See Roll a Scarecrow page below. Subjects: Math: One-to- one correspondence, identifying numeric amounts, Language Arts: Pre-reading using pictorial images of clothing to represent words.

Please click on the following link in order to grab your Roll a Scarecrow Game. If you are not a member of Teachers Pay Teachers, please sign up for free.

 

After creating your Roll a  Scarecrow, continue by making scarecrow crafts. The scarecrow craft comes from the following website: Aussie Pumpkin Patch. Make sure to cut out the pieces for younger children and let older preschoolers cut out just the body. Have children color the scarecrow and glue body parts on or the teacher can use thumbtacks to make a movable scarecrow.

One Singular Sensation: Mom (Happy Mother's Day Video)

Happy Mother's Day! Today's the day to call your mom, give her a hug  and a kiss and tell her how much you love her. No matter the number of miles of separation that may come between you,  a mother's love is always near.

Below is a wonderful video that showcases the power of the most beautiful word in the English or any language: mother. A word so powerful it evokes the emotions of love, tears, and longing for the woman who inspired us and gave us her heart.

I love you mama!

Peep!, Cheep! Baby Chicks Are Hatching and Aren't They Sweet?

Cheep, cheep hooray! Our baby chicks are finally beginning to hatch in the incubator. You can feel the excitement in the air as the students jump up and down with happy glee at the thought of seeing cute and cuddly babies. Stay tuned for more about our feathered friends and maybe even a pic or two...

Howdy! Cute Farm-Themed Calendar Numbers

Howdy! I just grabbed the cutest farm-themed calendar numbers from 3 Dinosaurs. This great mom blog contains tons of awesome printable preschool packs and much more on a variety of subjects. Be sure to head on over to grab your own!

3 Dinosaurs Blog  (Click on Calendar Printables on the homepage)

What Teaching Means to Me

During this Teacher Appreciation Week, I've thought back on one of the reasons why I became a teacher. It's definitely not for the salary, the glory or status. It's for the impact made on a child's life.

Education is one of the defining factors of a child's success in life. Unfortunately, early childhood educators are often thought of as caregivers with educational training, instead of the earliest providers of knowledge to the youngest of children. Yes, we wipe their tears and comfort them when they are fearful, but we are teachers first and foremost. We have the ability and obligation to make their very first lessons as enriching and fulfilling as humanly possible. 

Teaching is a journey that has its ups and downs. Burn out, exasperation and weariness are stepping stones which sadly have befallen teachers through the ages. Just keep in mind that one inspiring teacher that brought a smile to your face or piqued your interest in learning. They are our heroes! 

So, when the day becomes difficult, overly hectic and you feel like giving up, tune out all your frustrations and focus on a child or (children) who have blossomed due to your expertise and care. To them you are the hero! Just imagine that one day, that student may be the history maker or teacher of tomorrow.

It's Egg-cellent: Hen Sitting on a Nest Number Recognition Math Center Game and Another Egg-citing Color Matching Game

Here's an egg-cellent math center that educates children in number recognition, one-to-one correspondence, and matching numeric amounts to their correct numerals.

Items Needed
Chicken coloring page
Markers
Egg and nest clip art
Number stickers
Copier (if needed to enlarge clip art)
Laminator (optional)

How to Make Hen Sitting on a Nest Number Recognition Game 

1. Print out a chicken coloring page. Color, if necessary. 
2. Affix number stickers to hens. 
3. Laminate hens. (optional) 
4. Print out clip art eggs and nests. Enlarge the egg and nest clip art, if needed. 
5. Laminate egg clip art and nest. (optional) 

How Child Plays in Center 

1. Child views the numbered hen sitting on her nest. 
2. After recognizing the number, the child places the correct number of eggs within the nest. Example: if the hen is labeled with a number 3 the child places 3 eggs in the nest. 
3. Child continues until all nests have been completed. 

The other game enables students to practice their color matching skills. The game is made by using an empty egg carton and placing color coding labels or magic marker dots within the egg holes. The child then places a plastic egg into the matching color egg hole (ex. place a pink egg in the pink egg hole) and so on. 

Blazin' Boards: May Farm-Themed Door Display

What's moo? Chick out our newest door display that corresponds to our fabulous farm unit! The children helped develop their fine motor and sensory exploration skills by either feather painting cheeping chicks or moo-velous cows.

Great Barns of Fire!: Tabletop Barn Made From a Cardboard Box

Barn to be wild!

close-up of scrapbook paper roof. 

Plumber's tape door close-up. 

Goodness, gracious great barns of fire! Check out this bodacious barn my crafty diva mom created for our farm unit. She was so sweet and surprised me by making it when I was was lesson planning. It's nice to have the best mom in the world, right?

The Farm-nomenal Farm: Types of Farms Learning Mat

Holy cow! Who knew there were so many kinds of farms out there? From aquaculture (fish/shellfish etc. farming) to dairy farming and everything in between. Take a look and see why farming is definitely something to crow about!

Types of Farms Learning Mat 
Subject: Science (Agricultural Science): Identifying many kinds of farms and recognizing the animals and plants which are developed/farmed there.

Items Needed to Make 
Dark blue card stock
Lime green card stock
Light green printing paper
Green marker
Glue or glue runner
Scissors
Sun and cloud sticker
Pencil to draw hill shapes
Laminator (Optional)
Laminating sheets (Optional)
Clip Art from Clker.com or a Word processing program

To Make

1. Draw 2 large hill shapes and 2 small hill shapes from light green printing paper and lime green card stock. 
2. Glue the hills onto dark blue card stock with glue or a glue runner. 
3. Use a green marker to draw small lines to create grass on the mountains. 
4. Place a cloud/sun sticker in the upper left-hand corner of your dark blue card stock. 
5. Laminate. (Optional) 
6. Find clip art for various farms such as a barn and a cow for dairy farming or a chicken and a chicken coop for poultry farming etc. Cut out clip art using scissors. 
7. Laminate. (Optional)

How to Teach with  Types of Farms Learning Mat 

1. Place the Types of Farms Learning Mat in center of circle. 
2. Tell the children that you are going to be learning about many kinds of farms. Ask the children what they think a farm is. 
3. After giving them a few moments to answer, instruct the children that a farm is a place where people called farmers grow plants and raise animals for food. 
4. Continue the lesson by identifying the many types of farms. Hold up the barn and tell the children that it is a dairy farm where milk is made. Ask them if they think a chicken or a cow helped make the milk. After the correct answer is told, place the cow next to the dairy barn. Continue with all of the animals and farming types you had printed out or until the children's attention span has waned. 

Other Uses for the Types of Farms Learning Mat 

Play dough Mat: Have the children create sheep, cows, pigs and other farm animals using play dough. 

Math Mat: Use a die and have the children roll it. Have them count the dots and place the amount indicated on the die such as rolling a five and putting five chips on the mat. This helps foster one-to one correspondence skills. 

Positional Awareness Mat: Early math skills are developed through placing farm animal figurines or shapes on top of the hills, next to the hills, by the barn etc. 

Hay You! Straw to Meet You!: Creating Haystacks/Straw Out of Cardboard Boxes!

We're Down On the Farm during our latest unit! Since we're hog wild about anything related to agriculture and the country life,  I decided to create some good old-fashioned hay stacks to liven up our farmer's market dramatic play center. These haystacks are so life -like they would surely make even Old Farmer McDonald smile. See the following directions to create these haystacks that will have your children searching for a needle in the proverbial haystack too!

Items Needed

2 small cardboard boxes (I used the boxes that our hand soap came in.) 

Yellow acrylic paint 

Glue or glue runners 

Yellow card stock 

Fiskars crimping tool (Available at craft stores)

Scissors to cut various papers 

Yellow yarn

Yellow construction paper 

Light tan crayon (I used Crayola Crayon's Tumbleweed.)

Tan yarn 

To Make Haystacks

1. Paint haystacks with yellow acrylic paint. Let dry. 
2. Use Fiskars crimping tool to crimp small pieces of yellow card stock. 
3. Cut crimped card stock pieces into long strips with scissors. 
4. Glue crimped card stock onto sides of box with glue or glue runners. 
5. When finished with previous step, glue yellow yarn on random areas of the box horizontally to create a three-dimensional look. 
6. Tear yellow construction paper into strips and glue in a desired pattern onto your box. 
7. Draw zig-zag patterns on desired areas of the box to develop a more rustic haystack. 
8. Glue tan yarn in a cross shape around the entire box to finish your haystack. 

What Haystacks Teach Children About Farm Life 

Science: That hay is a crop that farmers grow and is used on the farm as feed for animals and for gardening purposes. Describe early methods of hay production and harvesting. 

Language Arts: Teaches children words such as bales, harvesting, hay loft, fodder (animal feed) and other hay-related vocabulary. 

Social Studies: Talk about the importance of hay in early American farm life and how it shaped life on the farm. 

Math: Talk about the "bale" form of measurement. 

Dramatic Play: (Language Arts/Role playing): Children create imaginative play experiences while using farm-related language. 

Gross Motor: Students pick up and stack hay barrels.