Pumpkin Project Instead of Jack-O-Lantern

Maybe you have seen this on Pinterest or maybe not. So I am sharing it because I think it is a great project to do in the classroom.

This project comes from the blog, Growing in Pre K.
Please click on the picture below to link to their blog.

I think this can be done as a class project or each child can bring a small pumpkin for themselves.

Help each child cut off the lid of the pumpkin.
Do not scoop anything out of the inside. Throw the top away.
Spray the pumpkin with a mixture of oil of clove and water, inside and outside. Wipe the pumpkin down. This will help to stop mold from growing on the pumpkin.

Add a little soil and mix it with the seeds inside with your hand. Make sure some of the seeds are near the surface of the dirt.  Add just enough water to moisten the soil.

Then watch the seeds grow.  (Usually you can see a sprout in 5-7 days.) You probably won't need to water the plants because most of the moisture comes from inside the pumpkin.  Too much water will cause the pumpkin to mold and soften.

If the pumpkin starts to grow a little mold spray the pumpkin with a mixture of oil of clove and water again. Wipe the pumpkin down.

Once the pumpkin plants have sprouted the students can take them home and plant the entire pumpkin in their yard and then continue to watch it grow.

Students can write about their pumpkin project.

I have pumpkin shaped writing paper in my TPT product called Shape Templates. Write, draw, color, cut out, staple together. Please click below for more information.

If you are interested in a variety of additional templates, please click on the picture below to link to my TPT store.

Also, on the Growing in Pre K blog is a link to FREE life cycle pumpkin sequencing cards at the Montessori website. Please click on the picture below to print your copy.

Thank you to Growing in Pre K for sharing a wonderful, fun idea! You rock!
Kathy

We Will Never Forget 9/11

God Bless America

We will always remember! One nation under God!

Kathy

FREE Scarecrow Art & Writing

Last year I shared my scarecrow art. This year I have added a writing prompt to it, My Scarecrow's Job.
Please click on the picture below to get your FREE copy. Art and writing directions are included in the download.

This art and writing activity can be completed after reading any book that has scarecrows.
Here is a list of books you can read to your students before completing the art and writing.
Please click on the pictures below to link to amazon.com and read about each book.

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Scarecrow Pete by Mark Kimball Moulton

The Lonely Scarecrow by Tim Preston

The Scarecrow's Hat by Ken Brown

The Scarecrow by Gina Thompson

Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant

Fall is on its way!

Kathy

Laugh Out Loud #10

School has started for almost everyone.
Do you need a good laugh or a good cry?

Well, here is some humor that will surely cheer you up or brighten your day.

These teacher memes are from the blog spanishplans. They are soooooo funny. I had to share them with you.

Please click on the pictures below and it will link you to their post.
Read and enjoy. The year has just begun.
Onward ho!

Have a wonderful week!

Kathy

Word Family Center Work

Teaching word families can become quite boring. So I have decided to spruce up my word family center work. Instead of having the usual onset and rime cards, I have changed my word family worksheets to word family picture puzzles.

There are 2 levels, 6 piece puzzle or 9 piece puzzle. You can use whichever meets the needs of your students.
Here's the brain workout.
First students find and read the picture word hat (using the example from above) in the puzzle. Then they write the missing letter on the blank line that spells hat.
They cut out the puzzle pieces and glue them on the recording sheet to make a hat picture. Great eye-hand coordination practice.
Find and read the 10 __at family words. Pick two __at words and write sentences using those words. Color the picture. The last part they find and read a mystery __at word.
Lots of good practice to hear, see, and use word families in reading and writing.

If you would like more information please click below and visit my TPT store.

    

Power Up and Have a Great Day!
Kathy

Fabulous Back to School Sale

Teachers Pay Teachers
Fabulous Back to School Sale!

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to buy wonderful products for your classroom. TPT has thousands of innovative and creative materials that will excite and motive both you and your students.

GET UP TO 28% OFF!

AUGUST 18 - 19

Be sure to use promo code: BTS13

during check out.

Please come by and visit my TPT store.
All my products will be on sale - 28% off!
Come on over and join the fun!

Please click below to visit my TPT store.

Have a great school year!

Kathy

Character Traits - Library Mouse

Last week I posted about Amazing Adjectives.
This week I'm adding my Character Traits chart.

Why study character traits?
Because understanding and making inferences about character traits improves students' comprehension and inferencing skills.

I reduced my character trait anchor chart to a printable size. You can print it out and enlarge it.  Then use it with whole class instruction. Also, you can print it out and use it at centers. Please click on the picture to link to teachers pay teachers where you can download a FREE copy from Picture Book Reviews With Writing Connections.

The sample above is from the book, Library Mouse. Read the book in its entirety. Then read it again and brainstorm the character traits while you read the book and after you read the book.

Library Mouse is a cute book that inspires kids to write. Sam, the library mouse, lives in a small hole in the library. He enjoys reading all kinds of books.

One day he decides to write his own books and shares them with the library visitors. They love his books and want to meet him. But he is shy and hesitant about meeting them.

Sam comes up with a clever way to solve his problem by using a tissue box. He shows the kids that each one of them can become an author.

The book is available on amazon. Please click on the picture to connect to their website.

Happy Reading & Writing,
Kathy