A little fall tree craft. Great for pre-k, kindergarten and first grade!

Hey everyone!

Fall is here! 

Every year, in my classroom, we do this little craft - a fall tree, which the students and I really enjoy. Thought I'd share some details for anyone who wants to try it!

Materials:

1. Straws

2. Brown ecoline  watercolor ink.

3. Tissue paper : Orange, yellow, red.

4. Glue

5. Watercolor paper

6. Brown watercolor

7. Plastic cups (If you use watercolor you need them to dilute the paint)

8. Droppers (if you can find enough for everyone!)

How to:

A. Give your students tissue paper of all the three colors mentioned above. Ask them to start making little tissue paper “balls” but not too thick. Give them something to put them in. We used plastic plates. When they are done, store them nearby.

B. Hand out one watercolor paper and one straw to each child. You can use brown ecoline watercolor ink or just brown watercolor. Ecoline is ready to use but stains easily (protect tables&clothes!). Watercolor needs to be well diluted with water. Portions depend on how much paint you will use. You need a “watery” result!  Two to three children can share one ecoline little bottle or a plastic cup of watercolor.

C. Explain that first of all they need to “spill” drops of paint onto the paper (dip the end of the straw in the paint and let drops fall or use a dropper) , starting low, then in the middle (tree trunk) and finishing  higher (tree branches). Remind them not to put drops all over the paper.  After they are done, ask them to start blowing the paint drops with their straws! Lines will slowly appear. If everything goes as planned and with a little help, you will be seeing a tree trunk and branches on every paper. Give your masterpieces 5 minutes to dry.

   

D. Now the leaves. During fall, trees have some leaves, but they also drop a lot on the ground. Give the children the little tissue balls they made earlier to glue. They can paste “leaves” wherever they like. We put some on the branches and some on the ground. There it is! A fall tree!

 

That's it everyone! Hope you have fun with this in class or at home!

                                                                                  Dina - The Constant Kindergartener

Thanksgiving Day Social Studies - History Pre-K and Kindergarten (Enriched with more art, math, and literacy!)

Hey everyone!

It's almost Thanksgiving!

The first Thanksgiving story is told in every classroom and every home! This year, I rewrote it in a simple and comprehensive way, for children in pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade. 

The book will help you to easily explain the history of the holiday to your kiddos. The cute age appropriate illustrations keep them interested till the end of the story. This packet also contains printables, worksheets, and crafts to help children learn and remember key facts about the first Thanksgiving.

You can use this in the reading/literacy center, as an emergent reader, for group reading, or as a read aloud. It is also appropriate for a great (hi)story sequence activity.

You can print it or use with your laptop, projector, or Ipad in class.

A Preview:

You can see more about this teaching resource by following the link below :

Thanksgiving Day Social Studies - History Pre-K and Kindergarten

Hope you enjoy this in class or at home!

Happy Thanksgiving!

                                                                                     Dina 

Halloween Writing and Notes Papers! Free!

Hey everyone!

Halloween is close!

I've prepared some Halloween fun writing papers just for the occasion. They are free! The children can use them for projects at school or at home. Also great for teacher's notes and homework.

This pack contains 24 colorful and black&white Halloween themed writing and note papers!

A Preview:

You can download them by following the link below:

Halloween 24 Writing and Notes Papers!

                                                              Dina

Halloween Vocabulary Cards with Reading Activity! For Pre-K and Kindergarten. FREE!

Hey everyone!

I've just finished creating a packet of 24 beautiful Halloween vocabulary flashcards and added 26 Halloween themed alphabet flashcards for you to use in class or at home. Together, they make a beginning sounds reading activity (Common Core,Reading:Foundational Skills). 

E.g.  P-Pumpkin, F-Frankenstein etc.

Vocabulary flashcards words : Bat, cat, ghost, pumpkin, mummy, spider, scarecrow, star, toad, vampire, witch, moon, Frankenstein, monsters, witch hat, witch boots, haunted house, headstone, pumpkin tree, spider web, Jack o' Lantern, candy corn, apple basket, happy haunting .

They are FREE!

A preview :

You can download these by following the link below:

Halloween Vocabulary Flashcards Pre-K and Kindergarten

                                                                  Dina

All about fall! A picture book - reader, worksheets and activities for kindergarten and first grade!

Hey everyone!

It seems like time flies and it's already fall..!

Kiddos definitely observe the changes in nature and in the weather. They also get very excited about upcoming holidays and events!

These facts inspired me to write a little reader -  story for young learners. Every time I read similar picture books to my classroom, (about the seasons and their special days like Halloween, Veterans Day etc), I see how excited and interested the children are in finding out one thing: "What's next for us all?!"

A preview of the story:

(I thought it would be more fun to make a mouse the protagonist of the story. So I came up with..Martin the mouse!)

I also added common core aligned worksheets, graphic organizers, venn diagrams and a special fall craftivity (template included).

You can check this out by following the link below:

Fall Story Book and Worksheets Book

Happy fall and I hope you are having a smooth back to school time!

                                                                  Dina