Project-Based Learning Central

Promote student accountability and self-reflection with this simple weekly behavior chart! Students color in the appropriate emoticon and check off behavior descriptors for their day's behavior. There is an area for you (or the student) to elaborate on the details of the day if necessary. Please note there are two versions: one with and one without an area for parents to initial. Please email me at graffkidlit@gmail.com if you'd like an editable version.

This activity is easy AND cute for primary-grade children. Each student brings in an easy-to-mix item such as gummy bears or pretzel sticks. All the materials are added to large bowls, mixed, and served inside a waffle ice cream cone that mimics a cornucopia. Parent letter included. Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

I have done this activity every year, whether teaching first grade or fifth grade. After reading Stone Soup, students make their own soup with this easy and fun activity. Included: *Parent letter to request item from home for soup *Easy-to-adapt materials/ingredients list for teacher *Lesson plan, activity directions/tips Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

***For distance/remote/virtual learning, this project can be easily adapted!*** Instantly garner the trust, respect, and praise from your students' families that helps set the tone for the entire school year! Included are 15 lessons that will guide you and your students step by step in creating digital posters (or old-fashioned paper posters) for rules of areas in your school. Yes, even first and second graders will have researched rules for various areas of your school and built beautiful digit

Give yourself and your students a back-to-school gift that will set a life-changing tone for the rest of your year! This Project-Based Learning Back-to-School Boot Camp will have your students' families elated that their children are in your hands for the coming year, and your colleagues asking you to share what you're doing! These activities have been an instant hit for me year after year, earning the enthusiasm, respect, and trust of my students' families. Families, co-workers, and more import

When I started teaching first grade, I knew I wanted as many hands-on, experiential activities as possible. But as any teacher knows, money is tight, class sizes are increasing, and we need all the help we can get. That's when I came up with the idea to use an online volunteer/supply donation registry to organize what materials I needed for upcoming crafts, post openings for parents to come in and help, or request help preparing materials at home. Starting this registry changed my life and made

This template makes assigning any poem to a grades 1-4 child easy. Students look for things such as rhyme pairs and analyze features of their poem. They also dig for deeper meaning to connect with the poem. Perfect for weeks where you assign poems to guided reading groups. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

This sign includes simple words and clipart to remind students to sanitize or wash their hands after using the classroom bathroom. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

This is a wonderful activity for mixing math, science, and holiday fun. Small groups are each provided a pumpkin. Using scientific reasoning, measurement, and estimation, they explore their pumpkin with this hands-on activity. Includes: *Detailed lesson plan with tips for making the activity smooth. *Student printable for recording data *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

What teacher doesn't dread collecting all those school supplies on the first day? To encourage independence, I put this chart on each child's desk and make them accountable to mark off what they've brought. The chart then goes home with an included letter to parents on the first day of school. Anything not marked is still needed. Customizable for your own classroom needs. Parent letter included. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased

What better way for your students to learn about plant needs, plant parts, philanthropy, and celebrate moms than with this activity? All materials are donated via this easy to adapt parent letter. *Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

I print this sheet on full-sized labels and then affix them to 11" x 13" manilla envelopes for students to bring their work home in every Friday. The envelope is returned Monday and I can quickly scan the label to see if a parent has a question about their child's work.

To shake things up, particularly at the end of the school year, the kids love bringing in board games from home and having a period to interact and play each others' games. This letter to parents provides the details for sending in games for this special activity.

When the school year winds down, I set aside a block of time to recognize students with birthdays in the summer. This parent notice gives those children a chance to feel special, too :)

Easy to adapt for your own needs, this letter lists all the student names in your class for children to reference when completing valentines at home. Please email me at graffkidlit at gmail dot com for the Microsoft Word document if you've purchased the pdf.

This handy letter allows you to get extra help from parents at home to sharpen all those pencils that show up unsharpened. It can also get be adapted when you reach the point where your students break pencils and you need help re-sharpening them.

If you're up for hosting a fun, memorable pajama-day read-in, this parent letter is easy to use and customizable for your own needs. Details what students are to bring from home for this enjoyable activity.

As a way to mix the study of adjectives with guided reading material, students can use this template to search for adjectives within any book.