MEMORIAL DAY

SUMMER REVIEW PACKET

Here are a few of the pages I send home at the end of the year to help parents work with their student in preparation for the next grade level.  Children need to keep the skills learned in school sharp, by doing a little bit every day in reading, math and writing.

A MOTHER'S WORK IS NEVER DONE - POEM

This makes a great addition to a Mother's Day Program that you have in your classroom.  Divide the poem and assign each student two lines to learn and to bring in items to show what it means.  "Wipe the nosed, wash the faces" could have kleenix and wipes.  As the students recite their lines they would who their items they brought.  Try to make it cute.  If you have more than 14 student - who doesn't - then one could state the title, one could be a program announcer, some could serve the moms your prepared treats...Be creative.

www.techingheart.net/mompage.htm

This year I decided to make a classroom cookbook for my helpful and supportive moms. I began by asking each child to tell me something their mom makes that is one of their favorites. Some kids are great observers and will give me great detail of how their mom prepares their favorite meals. But most of the time, I had to practically drag the answers out of them by asking them questions like, "Where does she get ____? What does she do first? What does she do next? Describe how it tastes?"

Some additional sites for ideas:
http://www.allfreeprintables.com/mother/index.shtml

http://www.perpetualpreschool.com/mother_songs.html

http://www.thevirtualvine.com/MothersDay.html

WHY GOD MADE MOMS...

This works best with the lower grades.  I left some of the answers that were given by another class.  Make into a class book and send home to each MOM for Mother's Day.

 

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

    

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

    

Why did God make mothers

 1.  She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

 2.  Mostly to clean the house.

 3.    To help us out of there when we were getting born.

    How did God make mothers?

    1.  He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

    2.  Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

    3.  God made my mom just the same like he made me.  He just used bigger parts.

    What ingredients are mothers made of?

  1.  God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

  2.  They had to get their start from men's bones.  Then they mostly use string, I think.

    

    Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

   1.  We're related.

   2.  God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom's like me.

   

   What kind of a little girl was your mom?

    1.  My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

    2.  I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

    3.  They say she used to be nice.

   

    What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

    1.  His last name.

    2.  She had to know his background.  Like is he a crook?  Does he get drunk on beer?

    3.  Does he make at least $800 a year?  Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

    

    Why did your mom marry your dad?

    1.  My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world.  And my mom eats a lot.

    2.  She got too old to do anything else with him.

    3.  My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

    

    Who's the boss at your house?

    1.  Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.

    2.  Mom.  You can tell by room inspection.  She sees the stuff under the bed.

    3.  I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

    

What's the difference between moms and dads?

    1.  Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

    2.  Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

    3.  Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

   4.  Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

    

    What does your mom do in her spare time?

    1.  Mothers don't do spare time.

    2.  To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

   

    What would it take to make your mom perfect?

    1.  On the inside she's already perfect.  Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

    2.  Diet.  You know, her hair.  I'd diet, maybe blue.

    If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

    1.  She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean.  I'd get rid of that.

    2.  I'd make my mom smarter.  Then she would know it was my sister who did it, not me.

    3.  I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

SIZZLING SUMMER ACTIVITIES

You can make sure your students do a bit of reviewing over the summer with this activity.  Copy the activity page for the number of students you have.  Use a paper cutter to quickly make a packet for each child.  Students need to color and cut out the pattern.  Magic Markers are brighter and you can then laminated if you wish.  Attach the activities, making sure students have their names written on the front. Project is ready to go home with a great packet of skill reinforcement.

LADYBUG SUN CATCHER

This is a cute project to decorate your windows.  You can put these with grass or flowers and they add just the right touch.  Students trace the template twice with a white crayon on black construction paper.  Carefully cut out the pieces in the body.  Place a piece of red tissue paper inside the two construction pieces and glue.  Take black sharpie pen and draw dots.  Add a face if you wish.  You are done and ready to decorate your window.  http://okscribbler.blogspot.com/2010/03/daffodil-bulletin-board.html

FAMILY MEMO PAD

Send a small gift home at the end of the year that will remind your students the year.  Give each student white construction paper to draw a picture of their family members.  You might lightly draw a guide line showing where you will staple the Family Memo Sheets.  That way none of the important part of the picture will be covered.  Make sure students use a lot of detail, covering all of the space.  Use markers if you wish the picture to be bright and colorful and you are thinking about laminating it; otherwise crayons give more color choices.  Copy about 12 memo sheets per child.  I put four on a page so each child would get 3 pages.  Have students cut out the memo sheets carefully and neatly.  You need a long arm stapler to attach the memo sheets to the child's picture.  Then send home!

MAY CEILING HANGINGS

The end of the year is near and you want to get one last art project done.  This is it!  This project needs done in several steps.  1. Students color butterfly.  Encourage neatness. Prior to coloring show different pictures of butterflies so students get the idea of how a butterfly looks.   2.  Students cut out butterfly on outside of line, putting name on the back, neatly.    3.  Students draw a picture of their face on a small paper plate.  Encourage lots of detail - mirrors help so students can see their face.   4.  Trace a circle on a large white construction paper a little smaller than the paper plate.  Show students how to draw flower petals around the circle.  Talk about Spring Colors.  Students need to color the petals of the flower.  This needs done with crayon very dark.  It will take time.  5.  Adult helper or teacher put the projects together - see pictures.  Use colored yarn to hang the pictures.Put child's name in the bottom center of the face side with black sharpie.

SOARING TOWARDS THIRD GRADE

This is a very easy end-of-the-year project to show your class is moving towards the next grade level.  Purchase a bulletin board that could be labeled 'Soaring Towards _____' .  Find clip art that compliments the bulletin board.  Have your students color the clip art neatly, write their name in black sharpie, and you are ready to post a May doorway or hall-wall.

FIRST GRADE IS BLOOMING!

This project could be put in the hallway as early as April and stay until the end of the year.  Each child will get a paper plate with their name written vertically.  They need to think of a word or phrase that shows how they have grown in school this year.  If you think this may take too long, send the assignment home for students to discuss with their parents and write on a 'sloppy copy' paper.  Then students can copy onto their paper plate.  Cut out eight petals for each plate.  Students can choose their color from Spring Colors.  Show students how to run a circular bead around the back, flat area of their plate.  Then show how to crinkle the flat side of each petal and press to the glue.  Or if you are fortunate to have a parent volunteer, have then do this part and then put the wall up for you!  Add any art that has been completed like birds, butterflies.  This is a very striking hallway.

END OF THE YEAR THANK YOU BAGS

 

This is one of the easiest end-of-the-year gifts I have ever seen.  It looks magnificent when completed.  It takes little time and effort.  I used it as my own children's gift to their teachers for the year.  

Go to the dollar store and get the plastic beach/pool bags.  Buy colored tissue paper that matches and compliments.  I used two colors.  Buy curling ribbon that matches the tissue paper.  If you can find plastic child glasses that will match that would be a great touch.  

Prior to filling the bag you need to find out what soda and snack the teacher likes.  A lot of times I knew from spending the year with the teacher.  You might ask the Home Room Mom if you don't know.  

Purchase a 2 liter soda bottle and snack of choice.  If you are not sure get bottled tea and popcorn packs.  Add a magazine like Best Housekeeping, Home and Gardens.....  You can add some sunscreen if you wish.  Fill with tissue paper, tie the handles, add the curling ribbon, attach the glasses - You are done.  Now have your child deliver.  There will be lots of smiles and oohs and aahs.

THANK YOU

This is the probably the last chance your students will get the opportunity to write a letter that year.  What a nice way to practice this skill.  This paper can be used for any Thank You Project, but I chose for the students to thank the school for what they have received.  Before you begin make sure you have a good discussion about what kind of things might be written.  I let the students think back to past grades also.  Encourage best penmanship.  After students are finished (I always had them do a 'sloppy copy' first) with the writing section, proof it, and then let them color.  Encourage best coloring.  Markers give a more vivid color.  Back with colors that are typically thought of for beginning of school - red and green construction paper.  Best part of the wall display was the two pieces of art that we put in the center.  Drawings were of the school-church.   This paper should definitely be placed in the Journal Memory Book.

MY MOM IS SPECIAL BECAUSE

If you need an easy, quick project for Mother's Day this is very simple.  You can back with colored construction paper - MOM's favorite color!

MOTHER'S DAY HATS OFF TO MOM

Have students fill out hat and draw a detailed picture.  Color neatly and cut out the hat.  Do one a day so students don't get in a hurry to finish the project.  Make sure you encourage neatness and care.  Show students how to cut on the outside of the black cutting line.  Give a demonstration by cutting out 2 hats and showing how they fit nicely if care is taken with cutting.  Hold all hats until it is time to put the project together.  You can staple or use the holes shown to tie with yarn. 

TOP 10 REASONS I LOVE MOM & DAD

Easy, quick, Mother's Day or Father's Day Card.  Cost is minimal - depending if you can get envelopes from the supply room or you can make envelopes from brown paper sacks.  Follow directions for ENVELOPE.  Encourage best coloring and handwriting.


ENVELOPE
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/cards/curvedenvelope/template.shtml
Carefully cut out the envelope (you could use a pinking shears instead of a regular scissors to give your envelope an unusual jagged finish)

Fold over the flaps, one at a time, on top of the central square. When you get to the last flap, gently push one edge of the flap under the first flap.

Address your envelope on the other side.
You now have an unusual envelope/letter with curved flaps. If you want to seal it, you can either tape the flaps down securely or put a pretty sticker where the four flaps meet.

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS BULLETIN BOARD

INTERACTIVE BULLETIN BOARD.  This board allows students to review one syllable word families.  It also gets students out of their seats and moving in a purposeful way in the classroom.The bulletin board needs a blue background.  Make 4 inch circles and label with your word families you have studied: ing, ot, ug, ed, ow, ad, in, an, iik, ar, at, ow, ad, .  To make sure you have enough raindrops to fill each petal, write on the back of the circles all of the words that can be made:  ad - b, c, d, f, g, h, l, m, p, s.  This can also be extended to more than one letter gl, br.  Make enough raindrops and attach velcro to each raindrop tip and to the petal.  Make flower stems and leaves, staple the empty petals onto each stem, staple your raindrops all over the sky and you are ready.  Title APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS.  Then let your students "work" the bulletin board.  This could be a CENTER if you do them, or free time.