Free Disney New Year's Printables

If you are looking for a way to keep your kiddos busy this New Year's you might want to try these free printables featuring everyone's favorite mouse - Mickey Mouse! Here is a fun New Year's Activity Page that features a word search and a maze.

You can also have your child make a wish list for the upcoming year with Mickeys New Year Wish List.

Free Counting Coin Worksheets

If your kiddos are working on counting money, you will want to check out these free counting coins worksheets from Math Coach's Corner.

I also love that she gives ideas for teaching about counting money such as making sure that your child knows that amounts of money can have several different representations and making pictures to represent coins.  She recommends having the child write P,N, D, and Q for penny, nickel, dime, and quarter.  I have had my kiddos do this, but I have them write the amounts instead.
Counting Coins Worksheet

Free Phonics Lessons

If you are working on reading skills with your child, and want a free phonics program, you will want to check out Free Phonics Lessons.  The site features over 60 free phonics lessons at a variety of levels with printables, reading lists and more.

Watch a Butterfly as it is born! Plus a freebie!

Here is a great time-lapse video of a butterfly as it is born.

After your child has watched it, they can complete this fun life cycle of a butterfly craft.

Two Minute Math Drills

Addition Facts			Subtraction Facts
+0/+1	+6		-0/-1	-6
+2	+7		-2	-7
+3	+8		-3	-8
+4	+9		-4	-9
+5	+10		-5	-10
Mixed Addition Facts			Mixed Subtraction Facts
mixed +1	mixed +6		mixed -1	mixed -6
mixed +2	mixed +7		mixed -2	mixed -7
mixed +3	mixed +8		mixed -3	mixed -8
mixed +4	mixed +9		mixed -4	mixed -9
mixed +5	mixed +10		mixed -5	mixed -10
Multiplication Facts			Division Facts
times 1	times 7		division 2	division 8
times 2	times 8		division 3	division 9
times 3	times 9		division 4	division 10
times 4	times 10		division 5	division 11
times 5	times 11		division 6	division 12
times 6	times 12		division 7
Mixed Multiplication Facts
mixed times 1	mixed times 6
mixed times 2	mixed times 7
mixed times 3	mixed times 8
mixed times 4	mixed times 9
mixed times 5	mixed times 10

 

Learning About the Human Heart

Valentines Day is a great excuse to learn more about the human heart!  Your kiddos will be surprised how different a real heart looks like compared to Valentine shaped hearts.  You can find a ton of resources for teaching and learning about the human heart anatomy for kindergarten to sixth grade here:

Texas Heart Institute

Snowmen At Night

You can read the adorable book Snowmen At Night on-line for free.  Then have your child write their own version of things that snowmen might do at night.

Here are some more snowman activities to use with the book:

Writing

Making a Snowman Writing Prompt

Math

Snowman Addition

Reading

Counting Snowmen Book

How to talk to your snowman poem

Marshmallow Subtraction Activity

With colder days coming our way - I love this idea for marshmallow subtraction with a marshmallow theme from ABC and 123!  You can print out the worksheet and use it as is like above, or laminate it for a fun re-usable activity. 

Here are some more hot chocolate themed activities:

Hot Chocolate Odd and Even 

Addition Practice with a hot chocolate theme

Hot Chocolate Plural and Singular Nouns


Hot Chocolate Comparing Numbers

Paper Chains for Learning

 

My boys love making paper chains for counting down the days to special events (Christmas, birthdays, vacations, etc.), so I love this idea from the Mailbox for using paper chains for learning.  Their suggestion was to use them to sequence events in a story, but my wheels started spinning with lots of other ideas as well:

Math Facts: Why not have your child write a series of math facts on the chains?  For example write 9 X 1 = 9 on one, 9X2 =18 on another and so on for all the facts of 9s (or whatever fact they are working on).

Steps in a Math Problem: As your kiddos get older, math problems get more complex with more steps.  Why not have them write each step on one of the chains.  The steps of long division would be a great idea for this.

Life Cycles: Why not have your child write each of the stages of a life cycle on each of the chains? (Butterflies, frogs, etc.)

Parts of Speech: If you are learning parts of speech, have your child make noun chains, verb chains, adjective chains, or adverb chains.  As they encounter these in their reading they can add to the chain.

Book Report: Turn a paper chain into a book report with one chain for the title, one chain for the author, one for the genre, several for main characters, and several for their thoughts on the book.

What other ideas can you think of?

Free Handwriting/Printing Practice Worksheets

If you are looking for a way to help your child with their printing or cursive handwriting skills, you will definitely want to check out this free website -because really, who doesn't love free?

First select the type of worksheet you want, then type the text, select some options and print!  Voila!  Your own free handwriting worksheet. 

Perfect for copy work, your child's name, memorizing passages, ???? What will you use it for?

Penguin Chit Chat Template and Tons of Ideas!

Mailbox has this adorable free penguin chit chat template that you can use with your kiddos for reviewing all types of skills. 

Practice Dialogue
They suggest folding a sheet of paper into four sections and having your child glue a penguin in each one along with dialogue.  This is a great language arts/creative writing activity for your child!

Math Review
You can also use the penguins to help the child remember the steps to a math problem such as long division.  You could have the child write each step in a speech bubble for the various penguins.  For example, one penguin could say "Divide" the next could say "Multiply" the third, "Subtract" the fourth, "Bring down". 

Fun Review Game
Print out the penguins for fun game pieces.  Write the questions on the back of each penguin and see who can "win" the most penguins by answering the most questions correctly!

What other ideas can you think of?

Free Penguin Chit Chat Template

Grinch Math Game

I have absolutely fallen in love with this Grinch Math Game from Finally in First!  As is, this set is perfect for Luke who is working on his addition facts, but my brain is spinning with ideas for adapting the game with multiplication facts and positive and negative integers for my older boys.  Can't wait to get started!  And.... I love her idea for making the case with a recycled soup container (you could also use a Pringles can, yougurt container, sour cream container, etc.) - or just use one of those cheap dollar store plastic containers.

Snowman Math Game

Making Learning Fun  has this adorable Printable Snowman Game that you can print out for several fun math activities with your kiddos.  Just grab a few cottonballs and a die and get ready to play!  You can play using the directions provided, or try one of these variations:

 1. Write the numbers from 1 to 10 and have your child cover that number when they roll that number.

2. Have your child cover one circle for each odd number rolled, and two circles for each even number rolled.

3. Have your child roll the die, cover that many circles, then tell you how many they would need to roll to cover the remaining circles.

Paper Plates Make Great Venn Diagrams!

If your child is working on comparing and contrasting two of anything (books, math concepts, habitats, etc.) you may want to try using two paper plates for a fun way to present a venn diagram.

Tally Up the House!

If your kiddos are learning how to count and tally - you will love this tally up the house activity.  Simply print out this page, give your kid a clipboard and have them practice counting and tallying around your house.

Count, Write, and Tally

Making Words File Folder

I can't wait to make this making words file folder that I found over at Teacher Bits and Bobs for Tyler, Cody, and Luke to practice their spelling.  Simply print out the forms here, and glue to a file folder.  The moveable letters are made using those super small post-its.  My boys will love the hands on aspect!

Make Your Own Math Flash Cards

Computational fluency is extremely important for learning later math concepts.  Here is a quick and easy way to make your own flash cards.  Print the labels on adhesive labels (Avery 5160) and stick on blank index cards. Each card should have a problem on the front and the problem with the answer on the back.

Addition Labels


Plus One Facts

Facts of 5

Doubles to 9+9

Facts of 10

Near Doubles

2 Digit Doubles

Plus 10 Set 1

Plus 10 Set 2

Plus 9 Set 1

Plus 9 Set 2


Multiplication Labels

x2 Facts

x5 Facts

x2 and x5 Facts (mixed)

x10 Facts

x3 Facts

x4 Facts

x6 Facts

x7 Facts

x8 Facts

x9 Facts

The Turkey and The Pumpkin Reading Comprehension

If you are looking for a little extra reading for the fall holidays for your kiddos, you may want to have them read (or read to them) The Turkey and the Pumpkin which you can find here. The short story is about a turkey who runs away because he doesn't want to be carved for Thanksgiving dinner only to meet a little pumpkin who really wants to be carved for Halloween. 

The Turkey and the Pumpkin.pdf

Here are a few comprehension questions to ask your child after reading:

1. Why do you think Oscar wanted to go to the petting zoo?

2. Why was the little pumpkin originally happy to see Oscar?

3. How did the zoo keeper change in the story?

Alexander Who Used To Be Rich Last Sunday Lesson Plan

Alexander feels very rich after receiving a dollar from his grandmother, but after a series of spending choices, he learns about the value of saving rather than spending money.  This is a great story for teaching your child about economics, spending choices, choices in general, and counting coins.  Here are some ideas to get you started!

Before Reading


ASK: How much money would you need to feel rich? Do you like to feel rich? If so, why?

 Look through the book at the pictures of Alexander. Pay attention to his face and the range of feelings he goes through. Look at the cover and talk about what kind of face he is making and what words might go along with that face.


During Reading


Look carefully at the details in the pictures as you read. Talk about what is happening in the background.


Look at the pictures of Alexander after he spends money. Is he pleased with the ways he spends his money?

After Reading


ASK: For what toy does Alexander really want to save his money (a walkie-talkie)? Why can’t he save it if it is important to him?


Journal:  Name some purchases you have made that seem kind of silly now. Tell about things you have bought in the past that you wish you hadn’t and why you think you made a bad choice.

Reading

Learn about statements and questions with this Alexander Who Used to Be Rich worksheet.

Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Scavenger Hunt

Alexander Who Used To Be Rich Sequencing

Alexander Who Used To Be Rich Reading Response Summary

Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Locate A Sentence

Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Reading Response - Humor

Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Reading Response

Cause and Effect Activity

Fact and Opinion

Main Idea Activity

Check your child's understanding of the book with this Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday Reading Assessment.

Spelling:

Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Spelling Words

Language Arts:

Practice editing with this Alexander Who Used to Be Rich Daily Fix-it.

Math:

Keep track of the money Alexander spent with this math activity.

Fun Way To Teach Your Kids About Telling Time

I love this idea for visually reinforcing how to tell time.  I think I am going to print out the templates here and search for a standard clock that will fit it for Luke who is just learning to tell time to the hour and half hour.  I may start with just the hour and half hour, and then add the other times as I introduce them to him.

Here are a few more resources for telling time:

Telling Time Matching Game

Telling Time Practice Worksheet