A school carnival can be one of the most memorable experiences in a child’s life. I still remember walking through the halls of my school and playground playing fun carnival games like ring toss, duck pond and balloon darts! But how can you make these carnival activities for kids both fun and educational? Take a look at these classic carnival game ideas for kindergarten and first grade, with a focus on math and literacy. Getting Ready For Your Classroom Carnival The first thing you’ll want to do is gather everything you need for your classroom carnival. If you plan on playing some of the clas ..read more

Did you know that Earth Day is celebrated each year on April 22nd? Teaching young children in kindergarten and first grade to take care of our Earth is so important! Let’s take a look at some fun activities and printable Earth Day activities that you can add to your lesson plans in April.  Getting Started With Earth Day Activities Begin by finding out what students know about Earth Day. A great way to assess student knowledge is to use a KWL chart. The stands for What do you know? What do you want to know? and What did you learn? This is a fun way to keep track of what you’re learning al ..read more

Let’s be honest – kids aren’t always nice to each other. If fighting, tattling and arguing have become a problem in your elementary classroom, it might be time to teach a little kindness. Fostering kindness is a great way to promote positive behavior, create a welcoming classroom culture, and instill lifelong values in young students. If you’re ready to get started, here are 30 kindness activities for elementary students that you can try today. Classroom Kindness Activities For Elementary Students 1. Kindness Jar Challenge Encourage students to perform kind acts and write them down on slips o ..read more

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon is a Caldecott medal of honor book that offers a valuable lesson on identity, acceptance, and being true to oneself. The simple message of the book shows students that it's better to be yourself and others will accept you just as you are. It's a great addition to your read aloud activities for back to school, social emotional learning and friendship activities. Take a look at some great ideas to add to your lesson plans with this children's book.  A Bad Case Of Stripes Book Summary A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon tells the story of Camilla Cr ..read more

Teaching kindness is just as important as teaching reading and math, especially in the formative years of kindergarten and first grade. It's one of the most important social emotional learning skills for children to learn. One of the most effective ways to instill this value is through engaging children’s books that demonstrate the power of simple acts of kindness. From classic tales to modern favorites, these books not only entertain but also teach valuable lessons about empathy, compassion, and cooperation. In this blog post, I've compiled a list of some of the best kindness books for kids ..read more

Are you an elementary teacher that's looking for a way to include read alouds into your daily instruction? If so, you need to check out the website Storyline Online. It's a great resource for teachers who are seeking to foster a love of reading and enhance literacy skills in their elementary classrooms.  What is Storyline Online? Storyline Online is a website offered by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation (Screen Actors Guild). It is a free literacy website that features videos of children's books being read aloud by famous actors. You'll find award winning books narrated by celebrated actors. Thes ..read more

Spring is in the air, and with it comes the excitement of Easter! There's no shortage of engaging games and Easter activities for kids to enjoy at this special time of year. From egg hunts to bunny crafts, Easter-themed games, and creative art projects, there are countless ways to bring the joy of the season into the classroom while incorporating valuable learning experiences with Easter ideas. Let's take a look at some fun Easter activities that you can do in your kindergarten or first grade classroom. 30 Awesome Easter Activities For Kids 1. Plastic Easter Egg Hunt One thing you'll definite ..read more

Are you planning your St. Patrick's Day read aloud books for March? The luck of the Irish will soon be upon us so be sure to include some of these stories on your list! You'll find so many great books that you'll want to include. From learning about St. Patrick's Day traditions to some funny leprechauns, these children's books will soon become your March favorites! 15 Best St. Patrick's Day Read Aloud Books ​History Of St. Patrick's Day Books 1. St. Patrick's Day St. Patrick's Day by Gail Gibbons is the perfect book to introduce students to this Irish holiday. The author, Gail Gibbons, is a m ..read more

Reading aloud to children in the classroom is vitally important to their success as a reader. But is it really as simple as just sitting down to read a book? Reading aloud to kids certainly isn't a complicated process but there are a few things to consider before your next read aloud. Here are important strategies to remember when reading aloud to students. WHAT IS A READ ALOUD? Simply put, a read aloud is a time when teachers, parents, or caregivers can sit with a child and read them a story. When teachers are doing read alouds in an elementary classroom, they use this time to introduce stud ..read more

Kids of all ages love learning about animals and their habitats, especially kindergarten and 1st grade. When cold winter days come around it's the perfect time to learn all about the cold and icy Arctic with cute polar bear activities.   Polar Bear Activities As soon as January hits, we're ready to learn about everything winter and that includes the snowy Arctic circle! What better way to integrate science and writing into your week than learning all about arctic animals – specifically polar bears! We begin this mini-unit with a PowerPoint presentation all about polar bears. Th ..read more