The last day of school is upon us and we can't WAIT for summer! On the last day of school, I always take a picture of my kids. They may not love it, but I treasure these photos! It's so fun to compare to their first day of school picture. They always change so much! It's crazy! Today I'm sharing my free last day of school signs with you. There are 5 different colors and they go from preschool up through 5th grade. I also have first day of school signs, which you can download right … [Read more...]
Picture Puzzles Using Duplo Blocks
My boys have been loving these picture puzzles I made for them using Duplo LEGO blocks. They are SO easy to make! I came up with this activity for an All About Me theme and it was a huge hit. It took me about 5 minute to make, but they've been played with so much that it was worth it! How to Make the Picture Puzzles: Print a picture of the child. Make sure the size is not too large and it will fit the amount of Duplo blocks you have. We made our puzzles 8 blocks high. Lay the … [Read more...]
How to Make Jello Playdough
Looking for a fun sensory activity? Try making jello playdough! It smells amazing and it is so smooth. This may be my favorite playdough we have ever made! Here's what you need: 1 cup flour 1 cup water 1/4 cup salt 2 tablespoons oil 1 tablespoon cream of tartar 1 package of Jello (sugar-free or regular) Mix all the ingredients together and cook over low on the stove. Stir frequently. I used a whisk to get rid of the clumps and then cooked for 5-7 minutes, … [Read more...]
Preschool Graduation Songs
Are you looking for preschool graduation songs? You're in the right place! It's the end of the school year, which means preschool graduation is upon us. If you are a teacher or homeschool parent looking for some sweet songs to sing with your students, then I have something that you will love. I came up with five songs that are sung to familiar tunes and I created a free printable for you. You can print the songs out and sing them together with your class! Children love music, so singing … [Read more...]
Sight Word Practice Cards – First Grade
Sight words are important to practice, but finding the time to create activities to practice them isn't always easy. I want to make this easy for you, which is why I've created sight word practice cards. These cards are a way for a child to practice reading, writing, and reading the word in a sentence. A few weeks ago, I created a set that had the pre-primer and primer words from the Dolch sight word list. Today, I'm sharing the set that contains words from the first grade set. Sight … [Read more...]
My Life-Changing Trip to the Dominican Republic
A few weeks ago, I returned from a life-changing trip to the Dominican Republic. I went with an organization called One Child Matters and had the opportunity to see firsthand the work this amazing organization does on a daily basis. My eyes were open to extreme poverty, social injustice, human trafficking, and so much more. I've been on trips around the world and have witnessed extreme poverty before, but this trip just broke my heart. Seeing these sweet kids and loving on them for a short … [Read more...]
How to Set up Slime Stations
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to Amazon. Last week, I had the opportunity to help hundreds of kids make slime! It was awesome and I loved teaching them the simple steps to make slime. Making slime with a lot of children is not always easy, so today I want to share my tips and tricks for doing this with a large group and using slime stations to minimize the chaos. Our school plans a STEAM night every year. We invite numerous clubs and organizations that are related to … [Read more...]
The Best Alphabet Books for Preschoolers
One thing I always try to incorporate in my lesson plans is children's books. Books are so powerful and are very useful with connecting with children. I've found that using books for teaching the alphabet is so helpful for little ones. There are so many great books out there, but today I want to share the best alphabet books for preschoolers. I believe that children don't need to practice memorizing the alphabet letters and that a "Letter of the Week" program isn't very effective. The … [Read more...]
Spring Scavenger Hunt
Spring is here and we're so happy about this! We're just starting to notice signs of spring popping up...the grass is getting greener, the buds are forming on trees, and plants starting to pop up. Last fall and winter, I created nature scavenger hunts for kids and I've had requests to create one for spring! So today I'm sharing the free printable for a spring scavenger hunt. This activity is quite simple, but let me break it down for you... Just print out the printable, add it to a … [Read more...]
16 Spring Crafts for Kids
Spring is here and we are so excited about it! This is the perfect time to do some spring crafts with kids. There are so many cute ideas, but today I'm sharing 16 spring crafts for kids. Spring is the perfect time for a craft for insects, birds, raindrops, life cycles, rainbows, and more! Check out the fabulous ideas by clicking the links below. Ladybug Craft from Teaching Mama Spring Mural from No Time For Flash Cards Fingerprint Flower Magnets from Rhythms of Play Flower Suncatcher from … [Read more...]