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Celebrate winter holidays, or a unit about the gingerbread man, while reinforcing shape identification and counting! This low-prep math craftivity uses art supplies found in most classrooms: construction paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue sticks. Simply print out the shape page, and you're good to go! I've included a page with images to assist students who may not have background knowledge about gingerbread houses. I ask students to brainstorm shapes they see in the images, then elic

These open-ended projects address science standards K-2-ETS1-1 and K-2-ETS1-2, Engineering Design. They are great ways to extend children's Hanukkah books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! The Night Before Hanukkah, by Natasha Wing, connects to the first project. Students will use various craft and classroom materials as they follow the steps of the project to design a substitute candle for the menorah. The next project relates to The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimm

These open-ended STEM projects address science standards K-2-ETS1-1 and K-2-ETS1-2, Engineering Design. They are great extensions to children's Thanksgiving books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! You can use little turkey erasers to test out students' creations. How to Catch a Turkey, by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton, provides the backdrop for the first project. Students will use various craft and classroom materials as they follow the steps of the project to des

This bundle includes ALL of my open-ended STEM Challenges based on children's literature for the following holidays/themes: New Year's DaySnowmanValentine's DaySt. Patrick's DayHalloweenThanksgivingGingerbread ManHanukkah

These open-ended STEM projects address science standards K-2-ETS1-1 and K-2-ETS1-2, Engineering Design. They are great extensions to children's Halloween books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! For the first project, you will read the book Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson. Challenge students to design a broom that protects the witch from the wind. Students will use various craft and classroom materials as they follow the steps of the project. This can also be

These 18 pages of Christmas-themed alphabet review can be stapled together into a student booklet or printed and handed out separately. Perfect for center work, morning work, early finishers. Nice to have on hand during the hectic holidays. Skills include: * identify and color Christmas-themed pictures containing 1 of 6 target letters: C, B, S, L, P, and R. * two variations - capital letters only, and mixed capital with lower case letters * fill in the beginning letter of each Christmas word * f

This bundle contains 4 of my gingerbread themed products, including 2 STEM projects, skills worksheets, and center activities! Perfect for the winter holiday season, during a gingerbread man folktale study, or any time! Save time and money with this engaging bundle.

For this print-and-play activity, you'll need two dice per student (or group of students), plus crayons, markers, or colored pencils. Each student will roll two dice, count the dots (or subitize), find the number on their paper, and color in that part of the picture. Play continues until all numbers have been rolled and colored in. If students roll a number they have already rolled, you can have them color in one of the Christmas Tree ornaments.

These Valentine's STEM projects are great extensions to children's books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! The first project can use  The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond. In this story, Cornelia Augusta catches paper hearts that rain from the sky. Challenge students to design something that will help Cornelia catch more hearts. They will use various craft and classroom materials as they follow the steps of the project. This can also be presented as an invitat

These open-ended STEM projects motivate children with a literature-based challenge. Each student's project will be a unique product of their own problem-solving strategies, just like real engineers! No cookie-cutter results here! Plan for several days (or longer) to allow kids the time to establish, design and implement their ideas. The projects are great extensions to children's books about St. Patrick's Day, and also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! Project #1's read-aloud is

60 pages of fun math and literacy gingerbread man activities that can be used for centers, small groups, homework and early finishers. Extend any gingerbread man story, or incorporate into a holiday or Christmas theme. Included in this pack: Gingerbread PatternsGingerbread Addition BumpGingerbread SoupGingerbread RaceGingerbread House Roll and DecorateGingerbread Size SequencingGingerbread Missing Numbers 1-20Gingerbread Race to 20Gingerbread Roll and Say/ReadGingerbread Letter BumpGingerbread C

Celebrate Hanukkah while reinforcing shape identification and counting! This low-prep math craftivity uses art supplies found in most classrooms: construction paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue sticks. Simply print out the shape page and you're good to go! Students first color all of the shapes and cut them out. Then they cut along the dotted lines to separate the words. Next, students glue the trapezoid at the bottom of their page as the menorah. The rectangles are glued perpendicu

This is a quick and easy activity to reinforce making connections to a text after reading Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto. Also makes a great tie-in to a unit on traditions and culture, or holidays around the world.

50+ pages of math and literacy Christmas activities that can be used for centers, morning work, small groups, homework and early finishers. Christmas themes include Santa Claus, Christmas trees, reindeer, Christmas presents, snowmen and more. In this pack: Christmas Present Bump using 1 dieSnowman Bump using 2 diceChristmas Tree Bump using 3 diceChristmas Tree Roll and ColorChristmas Tree Roll and Decorate with recording sheetChristmas Race to 20Christmas Roll and Say/Roll and ReadChristmas Tree

These easy, versatile Halloween centers make practicing number sets and words fun! Just print and laminate the mats (or put them in plastic sleeves). Pumpkin patch math mats:Students use pumpkin erasers, orange pompoms, or other manipulatives for pumpkins. Students use playdough to form balls or apply cookie cutters.Students use a dry erase marker to draw pumpkins.Follow the Seesaw link to find the math mats pre-loaded online.Trick or Treat math mats:Students use mini erasers, pompoms, real cand

These gingerbread-themed word family activities cover each short vowel separately, using easily decodable cvc words. Differentiate for beginning learners with the basic activity, and challenge advanced learners with extra words that don't fit the word families given. Use any or all of the activities below to provide fun ways for your students to practice word families. Each short vowel comes with three versions: beginning, challenge, and blank (for you to add your own target words). There are al

This pack contains 4 Hanukkah themed gameboards for BUMP, a game my students love to play! You will need dot dice, blank dice, and connecting cubes in addition to these gameboards. I buy blank foam dice at Dollar Tree. Alternatively, you can use a cube-shaped block or box. Letter BumpEncourage identification of letter names and beginning sounds with this entertaining game! You supply a blank die labeled with the letters on the gameboard, and 6 connecting cubes per player (each player is a differ

These Bump games keep kids engaged in math and literacy through the winter. This pack contains 18 winter-themed Bump games, with an "I Can..." task card for each one! Includes Gingerbread Man, Hanukkah, Christmas, Snowman and Valentine's Day. You will need dot dice, blank dice, and connecting cubes in addition to these gameboards. I buy blank foam dice at the dollar store. You can also use a blank wooden cube to write letters on. Letter BumpEncourage identification of letter names and beginning

This meaningful, easy and inexpensive student-made project will give families and students a fun way to connect throughout the year! Some families make a tradition of opening their memory holder on Valentine's Day and reminiscing after a year of filling it with memories. The holder can be as simple as you desire; even a paper bag can work in a pinch. Materials needed for this project: One container per student (jar, can, box, or paper bag)Cardstock or paper to print memory cards (2 pgs per stude

This New Year's STEM project is a great extension to children's books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! Students gain skills by working on an authentic, real-world challenge for an extended period of time. We start with a class discussion and create a chart of how my students celebrate New Year's. Then I read a book about a New Year's party or celebration, such as: P. Bear's New Year's Party: A Counting Book by Paul Owen Lewis New Year's Day (Celebrations in My Wor