Little Voters in Training: Exciting 2024 Election Printables for Kids!

I'm excited about a product that I finished tonight and since it's on sale for $2.40 at the moment, I wanted to highlight it here. I think I'm extra excited because I'm usually making things like this last minute.

Here's everything that's included...

I love asking my kids to interpret data collected and I often do it by asking them to include one true and one false statement about the data like I did on the Tally/Graph page. Often this is tough for some of them at first but through modeling for them and for each other, they become quite adept at doing it.

I have the short reading passage above, So You Want to be President, (that I'll be reading to my students) and then doing the second version of the sheet here: Chit Chat with a Chum.  Yep.  The answers are verbal only.  Of course if you have independent readers, your students can complete the one with written responses.

Who doesn't love wearing a crown?  I've included a girl and bot version here AND colored as well as black and white options. To be clear, I have my students color their in. I include color for myself OR if I feel like giving one to a colleague so they ca join in the fun, I'll print the colored copy our for them.

If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan of open-ended questions such as Which One Doesn't Belong?  I made this one up for Election Day and I've included 10 possible responses to get you thinking. I'm always surprised at what the kids think up! 

The Lift the Flap says True and False Election Statements.  I promise you there is no Fake News here! Pretty basic questions such as, "If you are 16, you can vote in the election."  Kids sort the 8 statements and glue under the correct flap.

I love the sense of community that a class book offers. Each student contributes a page to the book and then we put it in our class library.  This is from my November Class Book packet. We do so many class books that each child gets to bring 2 home in June.  The above can be differentiated by the paper picked.  For the last page, I often add a photo of my class.  While I include a colored cover ready to be printed, I usually ask a student to complete the cover. I like to give options, though!

The poem VOTE TODAY is from my November poetry packet.  I love using poems to support the curriculum.  My entire September Poetry Packet is free and you can see all 22 of them in an earlier Blog Post as well as grab some other free poems. The Pick-a-Prompt can actually be used up to 3 times if you ask kids to pick a new one each time.  Always prove to be very insightful.  You can see my September Pick-a-Prompts here if interested.

I like my "crafts" to be quick and meaningful. This fits the bill! It makes a nice display and won't take your little ones all day to complete. 

If you want to grab my September/October Make a Word Packet for FREE, please do!  So helpful when you want to reinforce our Fundations lessons!

I just realized that I forgot to add the Word Search!  Eek.  I'll add it tomorrow when I have the time. I always like to make two options of the word search: with and without diagonals so you can differentiate for your class.

So all of this for a just $2.40 during the TPT sale...Yea!  I'd vote for it!

Have a great day!

Quick and Easy Valentine's Day Craft

Are you short on time and a little patience this time of year?  I am! There is so much I want to squeeze in to create those special memories in First Grade.  My class loves crafts.  But some take soooooo long and need so much direction from me.  So, I created one that can be done quickly and independently (When I'm meeting with Reading Groups) in about 30 minutes.

Cute? I think so!

There aren't that many pieces to copy and hand out.  Yea! And it can be used again for other holidays! That is what I love most! 

I wanted to make a visual for myself to think about all other color possibilities. Possibilities are endless.

I try to include a simple coloring page for really busy teachers and to let my students take home and give to siblings.  That's always fun!

Quick question: What do you use for Valentine's "collecting" in your classroom?  I know some teachers have kids make bags. I send home this Make a Valentine Box at Home letter with my students. I love seeing what they create at home with their families.  Grab the letter if you want!

                 

Here's a Valentine's Day Clear the Board game that's free, too.  Fun to play! 

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it!  If you want to see my two favorite books to read this time a year and a must-watch quick video/song with a powerful message, click on links!

Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Day  and the awesome LifeVest Video.

Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch

Enjoy!

Using Crowns and Headbands In My Classroom

I'm a crown and headband kind of girl!  Always have been! When I was little, it wasn't really dress-up without a tiara or two on my head! My love of headbands and crowns has extended to the classroom. I use them monthly and invite other optional opportunities for kids to make and bring home.

Why Use Crowns and Headbands In Your Classroom?

• a quick, easy, yet meaningful "hat" that highlights a specific day or holiday to celebrate
• an activity that promotes classroom community and school spirit
• perfect for a quick Do-Now as kids arrive in the morning
• reinforce curriculum
• helps kids practice fine motor skills with coloring and cutting
• sparks conversations in class and at home which strengthens the home-school connection

How To Make Crowns and Headbands

• print out the crown you want 
• use crayons or markers to color in the crown
• cut out
• glue onto a sentence strip and size to head
• staple it

I use 2-3 crowns a month BUT I often out out the ones I didn't use during centers that kids can make and take home if they want. For example, we celebrated coding in September in school and I did a lesson on it but I didn't offer a crown to make. Some kids picked it during centers and brought it home to make while a few decided to make it in school.  

I've packed lots of crowns into each monthly packet. The best part? Many of them can be used ANY time of the year! Gotta love that!

Spooktacular October Crafts

So many crafts, so little time! Unless it's QUICK or supports the curriculum in a meaningful way, I'll pass. Here are some that made their way into my October/Fall classroom this year.

Creepy Pair of Underwear has been a favorite the last few years. The writing activity that goes along with the craft is related to Jasper's saying: "I'm not a little baby anymore." It also ties in beautifully with my The Power of Yet theme in my class. The kids aren't the only ones who love making Jasper and his creepy underwear. I get a kick out of these every year. Fun!

Aren't these bats and pumpkins adorable? They are from this TpT Seller. What I love: I can use the editible template to make my own math problems. Most students solved "Add 1 more" and "add 2 more'" but a few solved addition to 20 problems.  They solved the problems one day and colored them in. The next day, they made them. The Pumpkin was super quick. The bat has more cutting but a pretty fast craft too.  (In her packet, she also has a cute ghost.)

The Fall banners have a small writing activity on them and look sweet around the room.  The best part? They are FREE from this seller. I sprinkle around the room but you can also string them together.

NOTE: I don't know either seller above. I use their products and wanted to share.

A 5 minute crafts that also looks adorable and supports Fire Prevention Week?  Yes please! 

You can read about my Fire Prevention Week activities.

I do put out some simple OPTIONAL crafty type activities during Friday centers and we usually make something Spooktacular during our Halloween party.

This week during centers, I have a cute paper color/cut/glue craft that my husband found recently. And it's FREE. Check back to see it on Friday...if the kids pick it.