Build a Bug




 
We have been learning about insects this week. Today we read the story "I Love Bugs." My kinders then created their own bug. I simply copied various sized circles and ovals on construction paper. I also provided eyes for their bugs. My kinders did everything else. I gave them no rules except that their insect had to have 6 legs and a pair of antenna. They were allowed to use any of the circles and ovals that I copied and arrange them in any way that they chose. I was amazed at how creative they were. They then pretended that they were bug experts and they wrote facts about insects.


 


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Crystal McGinnis
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March Common Core Printables


 I love to teach with a theme in mind. When I think of March I think of St. Patrick's Day, kites, rainbows, and finally warmer weather. I created this pack with those themes in mind. This Common Core Aligned Kindergarten Printables pack includes 41 pages that would be perfect for literacy stations, morning work, or whole group activities. The best part is all you have to do is print and go.
Take a look at the preview. You can get this set at the following link.













 






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Crystal McGinnis
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Kindergarten Common Core Standards Posters


This year my building principal asked us to display our objectives for the lessons that we are teaching. In order to make this happen I created an objective board which displays what we are learning for the week. I created Common Core Posters for each of the Math Common Core Standards that also have a picture to illustrate the standard. I will use these posters on my Objective Board. I will simply look at my lesson plans for the week and change out my posters accordingly. I will also be creating posters for Communication Arts soon.






 




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Crystal McGinnis
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Spelling Word Practice Made Fun




Do you have trouble getting your kids to study their spelling words? I am the mother to a first grader. This year was the first year that she has had spelling tests. I was really having trouble getting her to study her spelling words. She would make up any excuse that she could to get out of it. With that in mind, I created this set of activities hoping that I could get her to practice without the whining. This set could be used with any spelling or sight words. Here is what I came up with.

 
(I am also a Kindergarten teacher so this is how I will use these activities in my own classroom.)
 

 

Write It Fancy!
Take a q-tip and dip it in glue. Write you sight word with the glue. Pour glitter over the glue. Shake it off! Your sight word is now fancy! This is my daughter's favorite.



Sight Word Stamp
 Students stamp their sight words using available stamps. I purchased mine through Lakeshore but they also have foam ones available at Oriental Trading.
 



 
Rainbow Write Your Sight Words
Students write their sight words using a different color for each letter.


 
Q-Tip Painting
 
Students use q-tips and paint  their sight words in the boxes.
 
 
Color Your Sight Word
 
Students write their sight words using a different color each time. This will also help students learn how to read their color words.


 

 
Play-Doh Sight Words
 
Students build each of their sight words with Play-doh. After building the sight word, students write the sight words on the provided recording sheet. (I use recording sheets so that my students are held accountable.)


 
Sight Word Bingo
 
Students play a normal game of bingo. I have my students write in the sight words to help with memorization.
 
 
Sight Word Book Hunt
 
Students look through books looking for their sight words. Once found, students write their sight word in a circle along with the page number where it can be found. This activity works better with the common sight words that can be found in most books.
 
 
 
 
Sight Word Race
 
Students roll the dice. Students write their new sight words the amount of times that equals the number on the dice. Students race a partner to see who finishes first.
 
 
Pencil, Crayon, and Pen
 
Students write each of their sight words using pencil, then crayon, then pen.
 
 
 
Sight Word Race Against the Timer
 
Students flip over a timer and write their sight word or words as many times as they can before the timer runs out.
 
 
 
Sight Word Vowel Hunt
 
Students write their sight words and then use a crayon to circle the vowels.
 
 
 
 
Sight Word Write and Tally
 
Students write each of their sight words and then tally how many letters are in the sight word.
 
 
Sight Word Spelling Practice Activities For ANY Words Perf
 
All of the printables above are included in this little packet that is available in my tpt store. Enjoy!
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Crystal McGinnis
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Valentine's Day



 
Valentine's Day is almost here. I can't believe it is February! Here are a few freebies to use in your classroom next week. I created these add and color themed worksheets to place in my math center. Kindergarten students are expected to add with fluency according to the Common Core Standards, so we are getting lots and lots of practice.
 
 
 

 
 
 
I think that I will use this frog pattern for my class Valentine bags this year. I found these bags at the dollar tree (2 for 1.00).  I like that they had the handle and they were ready to go. I created this frog template to use as a stand-up card, but due to the snow I am not going to get to a lot of the plans that I had for Valentine's day. Since I already had these copied, we will use these for the front of our Valentine bags.
 
 


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Crystal McGinnis
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Groundhogs Day


 
Love these groundhog hats. This pattern was found on TPT. LOVE TPT!!!


 
We wrote about groundhogs after reading some interesting non-fiction stories. We learned some interesting facts including the fact that groundhogs whistle, they are also called woodchucks, and they are very clean animals.

This cute little groundhog craft is made by sticking a groundhog on the end of a popsicle stick and then sticking the popsicle stick through the bottom of the cup. The cup is meant to be the "burrow." The kids can move the groundhog up and down and pretend like it is coming out of its burrow.
I found the pattern for this cute craft here. Thanks Ms. Ricca!

 
These are a few on the groundhog's day activities that my kinders did on Friday. The kids had a good time. Our graph says that the groundhog will see his shadow.  Grrr... 6 more weeks of winter according to my class.

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Crystal McGinnis
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