Number Chart Robots with Bling...
...were just the thing I needed for my 100th Day of School celebration.
I knew kids would be portaging 100th Day Projects twice their size...
...with pieces falling off and needing re-gluing.
So I set up a "Do Now" to give me time to organize their displays.
I showed them my easiest Number Chart Robot up on the SMARTboard. I said they should color the same number-squares that are colored here:
Will you color number 1? No! Number 2? No! Number 3? No! Number 4? No! Number 5? Yes! That's all they needed to get started.
I said, you can color the head one color and the body, arms and legs another color. Or, you can color each square differently. You can even draw a design inside a square before you color it--like a heart or a star--with your pencil.
Who wants a fancier--and more difficult--robot? I named a few kids, and said, "I'll bet you'd like this one!" I handed them a printout of a complex robot to re-create.
Then I handed out blank number charts, and the kids got busy. Some kids huddled together on the floor to try a trickier robot, and to help each other out. A couple of kids messed up the first time, but they all made a robot--and were thrilled to pieces over it.
They were even more thrilled over the bling we added later in the day.
And they seemed pleased with the shabby-grunge vibe they got from sloppy coloring--born from excitement to start the activities of the 100th Day.
I noticed that some kids will focus more on the number
sense with their creative robot variations. Others might concentrate on
story-telling, and burn up a trail on the fancy lined paper included.
And there's always the show-stopper who will groom, adorn and accessorize like it's a red-carpet event. That's differentiation,
folks, and kids eat it up like candy.
We'll do Number Chart Robots again sometime!
Life at Home Printables were so useful to me, I'm giving them away, but only to you--my loyal homies:
THEY'RE FREE THROUGH PRESIDENTS WEEK - and if you do download them, won't you kindly leave a feedback comment - Thank you!
We read Life at Home: Then and Now, as part of our ReadyGen Reading Program. I needed high-interest, differentiated activity sheets, so voila!
A home outline for kids to draw and label activities in a home,
then and now--two pictures of each.
The advanced kids also wrote a sentence on the bottom: I prefer this or that, because... (and yes, one kid preferred using a washing board 'cause then he could sing while he washed--FUN!!)
You could also use this as a unit assessment, or for drawing family members: draw one or more person in each room, or draw family members doing different activities in each room.
I differentiated:
- Group 1 used the house outline
- Group 2 drew a unique house, free-style, using the empty border sheet and inspired by the house outline
- Group 3 drew a smaller picture, and wrote extra on the lined paper provided
One caveat: I always tell the other groups that they can take a house outline later, at centers time. They all want one.
Hey, this also works for Presidents Day--you know, comparing life in colonial times and now. Hmmm...would kids actually prefer life back then?
Valentine's Day Paper Bag Robots sound like heaven to me...
...and to my kids!
A simple card would've been easier for everyone--but not nearly as memorable.
This is an action figure. Kids practiced talking with robotic voices, saying "I...love you for-ever...Mom," while moving their robot heads with their hands.
It was pretty easy. I pre-cut the rectangles to fit the head and the body, and one heart per child (six hearts per 9 X 12" paper). Then I cut scrap rectangles that the kids could cut up for arms, legs, buttons, hats, antennae, etc.
I showed them how to put glue on the top of the bag, and place the head. Then put glue on the bottom of the bag, and add the body. Next, a heart. And finally, the robot details.
Angry Bird eyes, yellow shark fin, and patched up heart, anybody?
In the last few moments of class I improvised a song:
I'm in love
I'm in love
I'm in love with a Love-Bot
One kid spontaneously added a high falsetto tag line, which we all took to like Motown Masters.
I'm in love (Can you feel?)
I'm in love (Can you feel?)
I'm in love with a Love-Bot
That's what Valentine's Day is all about, folks.
Would you like to wear your Valentine's Day Sight Word Craft Heart on your sleeve?
Lincoln and Washington never imagined this:
Presidents Day Neon Money Banks!
...that I can hang from the ceiling on strings!
...and watch them twirl and dance in the heating system's breeze!
So easy to make: I just taped the string through the money bank slit before gluing the last panel shut.
Big question: why do neon Presidents Day Money Banks make me--and my kids--so happy?
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Valentine's Day Crafts are a great way to celebrate!
Sight Word Heart Craft makes a charming necklace, magnet, or keepsake.
Number Chart Robots are sooo cool, and don't forget to glue on some bling...
And write a love message.
Or challenge the gifted kids to tell a story about their 100 Number Chart Robot.
Or write Valentine's Day Free-Style Poems about chocolate, candy, love, hearts, diamonds, teddy bears, hugs, kisses, or friends.
February is National Children's Dental Health Month...so won't you consider Valentine's crafts instead of candy?
Presidents Day Money Bank is a great way to think about Lincoln and Washington.
One teacher told me her kids are placing the money banks on their desktops all month and adding coins. Brilliant!
...fun, cute, and artistic.
This year I'll print the money banks on neon multi-colored card stock, just to see them POP.
...and have kids shake their money boxes rhythmically, as we chant a list of American Presidents' names.
...and do coin rubbings inside a giant heart shape to remind kids to love and respect money--the result of hard work and effort.
For more coin activities for kids, see here.
Enjoy your Presidents Day Money Banks! And, if you'd like the bank plus a few more unbearably adorable President Crafts, take a look:
