Valentine's Day

Oh my goodness...I can't believe it's been over a year since I last posted. I am still HERE, but super BUSY! After 14 years in second grade, I began a new adventure in 1st grade.  I really have so much love for my little firsties and they surprise me every day with their eagerness and excitement for learning.

I know this is late, but then again my middle name should have been... LATE.  I just had to share the adorable Valentine bags my firsties made.

The Valentine Bags can be found in the following the 

following resource

 (click below to check it out):

100th Day of School and Valentine's Day

We just finished celebrating the 100th Day of School last week and Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  I thought I'd share a resource that could be used to celebrate both.   This little craftivity goes along PERFECTLY with the book, The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond.  After reading aloud the story, students can draw themselves and then start adding the hearts.  If you are using it for the 100th Day of School, your students can color the 24 hearts included in the resource and then add the hearts needed to make 100.  They could either draw them, stamp them, use a heart hole punch, or even use stickers.  If you are using it for Valentine's Day, then the hearts included will probably do.  There is also writing paper included for students to write an imaginative story about the day it rained HEARTS.  Click the image below to check it out.

   

Check out a few examples here:

 I also created some fun Monster Valentine's to share with your little mon-stars.  Click on the picture below to download the cards.

We also had to create a Valentine's box for my little guy's Valentine's party this week.  He wanted to go with Darth Vader.  I wanted to make a monster.  So, we met in the middle and made a dinosaur. I think it's super cute, but I'm pretty sure I'll be making Darth Vader next year!

Love Monsters

Just one more quick post before Valentine's Day.  I created a Love Monster activity last year that my students just loved.  I realized the other day that we hadn't done our Love Monsters yet.  I knew I couldn't skip them this year, especially now that my classroom theme is monsters and all.  I also had my blank Valentine's bags that needed decorating!!! So...I decided to re-size my monster craft.   Now my monsters fit perfectly on the front of my white craft bags. 

Each monster is definitely a one of a kind.  Here are a few:

The craftivity contains both the larger size monsters and the smaller version.  If you have already purchased this file, please go back and re-download it to get the updated file.  I'd also love to give it away to the first 3 readers who leave a comment.  Simply leave your e-mail and I'll send it your way.  Just a way to to give back to my fabulous followers!!!
 

Pieces of Rock and Valentines Freebie

Valentines Day is nearly here, so I thought I'd make a little freebie for the day.  It could be used as a heart map activity or simply a coloring page.  I'm going have my students give it to their parents as a card.  I thought they could draw picture of their family in the center of the heart.  We're learning about adjectives, so I may have them write adjectives describing their family in the puzzle pieces. 

Click below to grab your freebie.

I also wanted to share a rock activity we did before the holidays.  I can't believe it has taken me so long to share it.  I created it to cover one of our second grade Science TEKS.  In Texas, we follow TEKS instead of Common Core.  One of our TEKS is: Students should be able to observe and describe using a variety of rock examples, including pebbles, rocks, boulders.  I created this fan booklet to give them some perspective on rock sizes.  There is also a creative writing prompt (If I were a rock...) to get them writing about rocks.  I included an example story to spark those imaginations.

As always, the first 3 readers to leave feedback will get this rock activity for FREE.  Please don't forget to leave your e-mail. Have a very Happy Valentine's Day!
 

Valentine's Day Love Birds

This is going to be another really short post.  I wanted to share a little valentine craft before Valentine's Day sneaks by me.  I have had such a busy start to this year, I can't believe it's already February!  This is a little love bird craft for your little ones to tweet about those they love!!!

Here are some pictures from the classroom.  I always love to read their sweet little messages about the people they love and care about.

I'd LOVE to give it away to the first 3 readers to leave a comment. Please don't forget to leave your e-mail, so I can send it your way! It will most likely be tomorrow evening, because I'm off to bed.  It was a VERY long Monday!

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

I recently got the book, Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, and I absolutely loved it!  It has such a great message and is really a heart warming story.  If you haven't read the story, it's a must read!
I knew I was going to have to get to work creating some fun-filled activities to go along with the story before Valentine's Day.

Included in the set:
*  Character traits printable for students to describe Mr. Hatch at the beginning and end of the story. 
*  Story Map
*  Writing activity for students to explain the theme/message of the story.
*  Heart shaped valentine to give somebody they love.

You can get this resource in my TPT store by clicking the image above.

Here are a couple pics from my classroom.

Love Monsters

February is near...and love will soon be in the air.

My plan is to celebrate this Valentine's Day Monster Style.

My little guy got a gigantic potato head for his third birthday.  It was a huge hit!  It gave me the idea to use the same concept, but with monsters for Valentine's Day.  There are several patterns provided for students to create their own unique monster.  Student can use the heart template to write about who/what they love.  Younger students could use the space to illustrate, while older students could write.  There is a template for both.

This fun Love Monster poem is included in the set. 

 It would be a great addition to a Poetry Journal, if your students use them.  There is also an adjective poem.  We are currently covering adjectives in language.  I thought this would be a fun way to reinforce the concept on Valentine's Day.

If you are interested in the craftivity, click on any of the images above.  

You can get it for $2 at my TPT store.

This is an adorable monster that a student did in my buddy's class.  

Is he not stinkin' cute?