You know how you find all of these cute projects to do with toilet paper tubes, but would have to save them for 5 years to get all of the tubes you need? Easy fix! Use card stock, in any color, cut it to size and roll it. Staple the top, bottom and middle. Now you have the tube you need!
How to make the best After School Program for your students.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
One Line Drawing Art Project SUPER FUN!
Click the image for a great site with lots of fun art projects.
I love this project because it is easy for all grade levels. Basically it is ONE line that does not cross over itself. Straight, squiggly, curvy, whatnot, just cannot go over another line and should fill up the page. Once the page is full, draw some geometric shapes and chose similar colors to color each shape.
To me the circles looked like planets. If you are doing a space theme have the kids draw circles in different sizes and tell them what colors to do for the different sizes and they could cut them out and glue them onto a piece of dark blue construction paper. Use yellow or white crayons to add stars!
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Teaching about Charity and Gratitute
I've talked about having an attitude of gratitude before. This is one of the best times of year to teach that.
One of my most successful activities with kids has been "The Giving Jar".
I took an ornament from a local giving tree and shared it with the children. It was for a 13 year old girl who wanted art supplies for Christmas. The kids decided that they wanted to help me buy her some items. They asked if I had a box or jar where we could collect the money.
We started "The Giving Jar". We talked each day about helping people and discussed ways to do that. We talked about how we should be grateful for all of the wonderful things we have that most kids don't. (These were some pretty poor kids.) And we discussed how if we work together, even a little gesture can become something big and wonderful. The kids asked their parents if they could do odd jobs around the house for change. We had about 25 kids at the time and in a few days we had over $200 dollars. They decided we needed another ornament and so I picked up two more of kids who wanted books and a coat. It was amazing to see kids come in with the entire contents of their piggy banks and all of their saved up birthday money. I went out and bought items in my usual money saving style and we got each of those three kids an amazing Christmas with much more than they had asked for. The kids also included pictures, notes of encouragement and I saw a couple sneak money in! I love those kids.
Give kids the opportunity to be charitable, and they will.
One of my most successful activities with kids has been "The Giving Jar".
I took an ornament from a local giving tree and shared it with the children. It was for a 13 year old girl who wanted art supplies for Christmas. The kids decided that they wanted to help me buy her some items. They asked if I had a box or jar where we could collect the money.
We started "The Giving Jar". We talked each day about helping people and discussed ways to do that. We talked about how we should be grateful for all of the wonderful things we have that most kids don't. (These were some pretty poor kids.) And we discussed how if we work together, even a little gesture can become something big and wonderful. The kids asked their parents if they could do odd jobs around the house for change. We had about 25 kids at the time and in a few days we had over $200 dollars. They decided we needed another ornament and so I picked up two more of kids who wanted books and a coat. It was amazing to see kids come in with the entire contents of their piggy banks and all of their saved up birthday money. I went out and bought items in my usual money saving style and we got each of those three kids an amazing Christmas with much more than they had asked for. The kids also included pictures, notes of encouragement and I saw a couple sneak money in! I love those kids.
Give kids the opportunity to be charitable, and they will.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Puzzles Puzzles Puzzles -Free Printables
I just got this great email from Activity Village...........
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Friday, November 8, 2013
Holiday Printables
Sometimes you just gotta give 'em a coloring sheet! It's not my favorite. I like activity sheets , activities and games that teach and enrich. But, sometimes a fun coloring sheet that goes along with a theme is a perfect time filler, especially when they can help decorate a bulletin board or make the room more lively. Coloring is fun, improves motor skills of little ones, can be a creative outlet, and is an easy activity. Just don't depend on it day after day. Please.
www.Reading-With-Kids.com has a great Thanksgiving page loaded with activities, puzzles, cards and even coloring sheets.
I haven't gotten to explore much of the site yet, but it looks like a fun one with lots of good resources. Add it to your favorites!
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Teach them Gratitude
One of the fitting themes for this season, is to facilitate an "Attitude of Gratitude". There are many ways to do this.
- Be an example!
- Always the BEST way to teach something. When you ask them to do something, say "Thank You, I appreciate that!" Once they have done it.
- Allow them to see you thanking people for every little thing that is done for you.
- Thank the custodian for getting the garbage.
- Thank the school secretary for bringing you a note.
- Thank parents for ______ when their child is picked up.
- Mention how grateful you are that someone did something or another for you today.
- Write Thank You notes
- I have my students discuss and decide on a person in our lives to thank each week. I make a large card that they all sign and present to that person.
- They want to write cards to their teachers, principal, custodian, the mail man, local police, veterans, parents, etc.
- Do a service project.
- We have done several over the years, including cards for Veterans, visiting a nursing home and singing carols, collecting change to buy a child from a giving tree presents, helping the school facilitate the canned food drive, etc.
- Teaching Manners
- Once of the best ways to show gratitude is to be respectful. Teaching students about common courtesy and manners is important because sometimes they don't even realize that they are being rude.
- Thanksgiving is a great excuse to review table manners.
- Have students use PROPER table manners at snack time, giving them the opportunity to ask for something to be passed, waiting until everyone has their food, or cleaning up after themselves.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Free Resources - Garage and Rummage Sales
Most yard sales and rummage sales donate their items to Goodwill or other charities after the sale. If you see things that could be used in your classroom, ask the manager of the sale if they would mind donating this or that to your afterschool program, if it doesn't sell. I have actually never gotten a no. Once in a while they will just give me the items on the spot. Especially at a rummage sale, where they are probably raising the funds for some kind of charity. Give them your number and they can call you to come pick up your items after the sale. Don't be too picky. If you asked for books, take all of the kids books. You can always donate the leftovers yourself.
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