Language Arts

I Want My Hat Back: Review and 4 Free Story Extensions

Inside: This is an updated post. It’s a review of I Want My Hat Back and includes suggestions for story extensions, as well as an instant download freebie. This is the first story in Jon Klassen’s Hat trilogy. It’s unusual and entertaining and I absolutely love it!  I Want My Hat Back Jon Klassen Candlewick Press (September 2011) Picture Book/Fiction … Read more

It’s an Elephant and Piggie Fest!!

Inside: Free Elephant and Piggie comic strip template Updated post from 2012 to 2022. Many Septembers ago my Grade 1 teaching buddy showed me this cute Elephant and Piggie comic strip template (you can read about it below). ELEPHANT & PIGGIE BOOKS Before my students started creating their comics,  I read them Watch Me Throw the Ball and I Love … Read more

A Fine St. Patrick’s Day: A book you don’t want to miss

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17 and even if you’re not Irish it’s a fun celebration! In the classroom I always read a collection of St. Paddy’s and leprechaun books and we’ll often do a craft or art activity. Over the next few weeks I thought I’d share some new (to me) St. Patrick’s Day books for kids. This first … Read more

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Bat FREEBIE

Inside: A 7-page labelling/sequencing/writing activity freebie The Old Lady is back! My class adores all the Old Lady books and this is one of their faves! Click the pic to see on Amazon (affiliate link) I made this freebie for you: a labelling-sequencing-writing activity. After a week of reading our big book version of The Old Lady Who Swallowed a … Read more

2 Free Halloween Spelling Games

Inside: Two fun and simple Halloween spelling games Hello! It’s getting closer to Halloween which means it’s time to pull out a few fun Halloween inspired activities. I have two very simple Halloween spelling games for you today. The first one involves sidewalk chalk! Everyone likes learning outside, right? And the weather has been so amazing in my neck of … Read more

Lots of FREE Thanksgiving Activities for First Grade

Inside: A ton of different Thanksgiving activities you can use in first grade! Plus some cute turkey clip art. This year I did a few different Thanksgiving activities in my Grade 1 class and I wanted to share them, ’cause every single one of them was fun and educationally worthwhile! Thanksgiving Math: We did a couple of different turkey math … Read more

Skippyjon Jones: Drawing and Critical Thinking

Inside: Directions for a Skippyjon Jones drawing lesson and critical thinking activity. My class of first grade students absolutely adore Skippyjon Jones. When I started reading them the books a couple of weeks ago they could NOT get enough! If you’re not familiar with these picture books by Judy Schachner AND you teach primary grades or have a 5 to … Read more

Writing Outside: Hello Spring Poems!

There’s something magical about writing outside and, happily, last Monday was absolutely perfect for that. We gathered up our writing supplies and headed out to look for signs of spring. Not only was it our first day back from Spring Break and we needed to get some wiggles out, but it was a glorious day. I think the temperature was probably 15 … Read more