Santa Advent Freebie ...

Greetings from a very chilly {waiting for snow} Arkansas.  The high today was 20 degrees.  I smile as I type that because I recall just a few days ago, complaining that in order for me to make my winter resources,  I needed inspiration.  I was watching movies with the arctic {apocolyptic} type story line, and listening to music about falling snow and Christmas!  None of that really worked.....

Then today.... The National Weather Service issues a lovely snow warning.  I read with anticipation and a wee bit of excitement until I get to the very bottom of the notice.  "With accumulations of 1/10th of 1 inch"  Who comes up with this stuff? :)   1/10th of 1 inch?  That's not even enough to roll around on the ground making snow angels in. :)    But I digress..........      I have 2 pages left to write for my new Snow packet and it will be ready for "Snow -n- Tell..." :)

I wanted to share with you a freebie that I made a couple years ago.  No eye rolls, please...  Even though my original copy was made a few years ago, it is a classic that everyone seems to love.

Santa Advent Calendar
{Click Image to Download}

A free Santa pattern which cotton balls will be glued onto every day leading up to Christmas.   The pattern is unnumbered so you can write on it anyway you choose.  This pattern can also be used as a write on/wipe off type activity sheet. I hope that you will enjoy the activity as much as I enjoy putting it together.

Hanukkah begins on Wednesday, November 27th.    I updated my Hanukkah packet this week. I added some new task cards, a banner, and a calendar set.  Click on the image below to learn more about it!

Click the link below to learn more about the "Year Round Resource from Top Teachers" bundle from
Educents.  You might just find my Hatching Chicks - Life Cycle of a Chicken Unit included! :)

This is most likely going to be a short week for teachers in the U.S.  Thanksgiving is on Thursday.  {I can't wait for some yummy pumpkin pie!}  I hope that you have a great time with your families.  

Until next time...

Year Round Resources from Top Teachers - Mega Deal

Looking for amazing resources for 1st and 2nd grades?  Then this is the bundle for you!   

I teamed up with 19 other fabulous sellers to create this exciting bundle!   The items included in this bundle 

may be used year round.  

I'm pleased to announce that I have a product included in this bundle from Educents.

Hatching Chicks - Life Cycle of a Chicken Mini Unit.
~ Best Seller ~



Includes:
Hatching Chicks Teacher's Guide

Chicken Bulletin Board Pieces
Chick / Egg Matching Game
Hatching Chicks Count Down Pocket Chart Set
Chicken Life Cycle Ring Book
Chicken Life Cycle Diagram
Chicken Life Cycle Wheel
Chicken Memory Game
Chicken Word Wall
Chicken Coloring Pages
Chicken / Egg Card Template
Chicken Life Cycle Posters (20)
Parts of an Egg Worksheet (2)
Chicken Predictability Activity w/ Graphing
Chicken Sink or Float Activity w/ Graphing
Egg Alphabet Puzzles
Chicken Journal / Book Cover
Chicken Journal Observation Worksheets

There are many other products in our bundle to get your kids learning!  

Centers, printables, vocabulary, book studies, interactive notebooking and so much more!

Click on the link below to stop by the next store in the loop....

The deal won't last long so head over now!

Thanksgiving Centerpiece Craft...

Click the image to download a copy of the instructions and pattern

Hello there!

I finally have a chance to sit down and write this post.  It's been a busy week.  My sister was here from out of state for a week, plus I had a bunch of projects to finish up on before deadlines. Whew!  I made it.

Just when I thought that Fall was in the air, Mother Nature throws us a curve ball.  It was 90 degrees here today.  The unfortunate part is that the heat wave like that spawned some wicked tornado storms to the north east.  My heart goes out to all of the people in the areas hit by the tornadoes.

I have been busy working on some new materials for my store.  I have one really big project coming off the presses tonight.  Did you say you'd like a little hint?  Hmm.... "Snow time like the present..." to post some new activities.  Did you get it? :)

Today's post is about a Thanksgiving Centerpiece idea that I had a couple years ago.  You'll have to excuse this Blog post, it'll have just the one picture.   This particular project was featured in a publication, so I just had the one image that was sent to press.  I came up with this idea while I was kicked back daydreaming about thanksgiving leftovers. (No, not really....but it sounds good?)      I thought it would be fun for kids to make centerpieces that go on the table for the Thanksgiving holiday.  This is something that they can make with just a little assistance.

You can use materials that you have around the house (recycled soup can, construction paper, googly eyes, etc).  The materials list is located on the instruction sheet.  Just click on the photo above for the instruction sheet.  It also includes the head, beak, and waddle pattern.

Do you have plans for Thanksgiving?  Do you travel to visit family and friends or do you stay home?   Our holiday is pretty low-key.  We used to have a pretty big gathering where my Mom would spend all day cooking all of this amazing food, and we'd sit down and eat at the end of the day.  I think my Mom has the best stuffing recipe ever!  {I imagine that everybody thinks that about their own Mom's stuffing!}

I hope that you all enjoy your holiday.  I'll have another post before the big T-day to share details on a project I am participating in..... in case some of you are traveling, I wanted to send holiday greetings.

12 days until Thanksgiving!!!

Have an amazing week!

P.S.  I almost forgot to mention that Hanukkah begins on Wednesday, November 27th this year!  If you are looking for last minute activities to share with your students,  I do have a Hanukkah Activity Pack in my store:  

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights begins on Wednesday, November 27th. This packet features Hanukkah themed materials, featuring symbols and terminology. 

Included:

1. Hanukkah Math Mats and Coin Counters

2. Hanukkah Card Game

3, Dreidel Game (featuring printable Dreidel and instructions)

4. Menorah / Candle Number Match

5. Hanukkah Cut and Paste Little Book

6. Hanukkah / Christmas Venn Diagram (with answer key)

7. Hanukkah Word Search (with answer key)

8. Hanukkah Writing Sheet

9. Hanukkah Coloring Sheets (Dreidel, Star of David, Menorah)

10.Hanukkah Color by Letter Sheet

Veteran's Day Hero Freebie

Thank you Veterans!

Veteran's Day is upon us.  It's a time to reflect, and show respect for the millions of men and woman past and present that have served our great nation.  Without our military service, who knows what our world would be like.

In my eyes, military personnel are heroes.  They put on a uniform every day, and put themselves in harm way so that we may be safe.  I have several family members who have served, or are currently serving in various branches of the service.

Click photo to download @ TPT

I'd been thinking about a project to share with you all day.   It is my vision of an interactive booklet.  It's simple enough for younger children with some guidance for cutting, and can be adapted for even older students.  It's a HERO book.   There are 4 pages to this HERO book, each page has a letter on it.  When compiled the booklet spells out HERO. (See photo above).  H is the cover, E, R, and O have different drawing or writing spaces for students to fill out.  When the booklet is cut out, the letters fit together.

As I was finishing the letter H,  I had a wild idea to include a small "dog tag" which can be attached with a string or ribbon with the name of a special hero.  (That part is optional).

Instructions for assembly as well as a photo of a finished booklet is included in this freebie.  Because the HERO Booklet is somewhat generic in nature, it can be used for Veteran's Day, Memorial Day or as a way to show respect to anyone in the student's life that is a hero to them.  I hope that you will enjoy this project as much as I enjoyed putting it together for you.

Today is the last day to download all of the freebies in the November Facebook Frenzy.  Stop by the Crayonbox Learning Facebook page today (11/11) before 8pm Eastern Time to hop through all of the pages and collect Thanksgiving freebies.

Thanksgiving - What I am thankful for freebie...

Click cover to view the packet..

I am very excited to say that my Thanksgiving Turkey Learning Centers packet was featured in the TPT Newsletter today ! (11-3-13).

 This packet includes:

1) Tally Mark Activity 

2)  Number Cards 

3) 10 Frame Clothespin Game (0-10)  

4) 10 Frame Clothespin Game (11-20) 

5) Alphabetizing Activity 

6) Odd and Even Sort  and 

7) 10 Frame Thanksgiving posters 0-20 (2 styles).  

I have included both full color and black and white for the games. The posters are in full color only.

I am THANKFUL for TPT, and for all of my friends that have supported me along the way. I created this Thanksgiving freebie which is a 3 in 1 packet.  

Click image to download...

This Thanksgiving freebie includes a pumpkin template designed to be a topper and footer for a writing page.  Students will write what they are thankful for on a piece of writing paper.  The pumpkin halves are posted top and bottom.  The complete item can be used for a classroom display.   The packet also includes thanksgiving theme writing page and a worksheet where students will write new words made from the words Thanksgiving Freebie.

I hope that you enjoy this freebie!  I enjoyed creating it for you!

November Currently...

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

This big tree caught my eye because it had several different colors going at one time.

Our weather here has been wacky. One day it's down in the 50's and 60's, blustery/windy, and sporadically stormy.  Then the next day it's 70 with just a gentle breeze.  I love it right about 65-60 degrees.   The leaves will be dropping off the trees pretty soon.  The picture above was taken today.  I was looking at all the different colors that one tree had.  It made such an amazing color palette.

It's time for the November Currently!  I missed last month, so I was glad to be able to participate this time.

I enjoy reading everyone's Blogs and seeing what's new this month! A big thanks to Farley for hosting each month.  It's such a creative and fun way to get to know other Bloggers!  Be sure to click on the link below to visit her Blog.

Listening:   I am currently (haha) to Season 4 of Hell's Kitchen.  I started watching this show a few weeks ago and am enjoying it.  I've learned a few cooking techniques from watching it. :)  

Loving:  I love everything about Fall.  The temps, the smells, the colors...  I also begin nesting in November. I like to bake. :)   Will keep you posted on what

Thinking:  I have a few projects to finish this weekend.  My sister is coming for a visit from Washington. I've not seen her in about 10 years so it will be a nice visit.  I've been thinking about a few products to finish up before the holidays.  One of the projects in particular I am really excited about because it's more "outside the box." 

Wanting:  I want to finish my winter unit... which is one of the units I am most excited about. :)  But it's a secret right now. :)

Needing:  It's that time of year when I need to clear my deck off.  Sweep, and put all of the Hummingbird feeders away and prepare for the cooler, seasonal weather. 

Yummy Pin:  

 Mrs. Field's Pumpkin Harvest Cookies

This is one of my favorite cookies, and recipes.  They are easy to make, and are very flavorful. They are great hot out of the oven as well as cooled off.  They are festive to whip up for parties, and they DO maintain their freshness in cookie tins for at least 2 weeks.  

You can substitute the white chips for chocolate chips and they are good, just a slightly different taste.

I hope you enjoy!!  

Have a great weekend!