Free Number flash Cards with Ten's Frames

I am so blessed to have such a great class this school year, however this past week was super challenging.  It seemed like all of my kiddos were already on break and moved at a snail's pace when doing their work (except when it was time to play, they can sure move fast then!).  I'm so glad winter break is finally here!  *sigh of relief*  This is wonderful!  Then REALITY sets in.  There's lots more to do!  It's my own doing though.  I absolutely LOVE teaching, but it also means work never ends and when I am on break it means I need to catch up on my own personal life and chores that have been neglected, hehe!

I wanted to share 3 craft projects that I did with my class this past week.

This santa project was inspired by Mrs. Lee Kindergarten.  I loved this project because each Santa came out completely different. 

We used white tempera paint to create this Santa Handprint Ornament.  Make sure the paint it THICK and not runny.  You can also use acrylic paint instead.  Paint on white paint onto each child's hand and have them hold the ornament like a ball, gently of course.  We then used permanent markers to add details to our snowman.  I've used window markers as well and they worked perfectly fine.  I usually buy my frosty ornaments from K-mart (Jaclyn Smith Brand).  

Here's the poem I usually include with this gift.  

These aren't just five snowmen

As anyone can see.

I made them with my hand

Which is a part of me.

Now each year when you trim the tree

You'll look back and recall

Christmas of 2012

When my hand was just this small!

We also learned the letter Ll and made a cute ladybug out of uppercase L. Check out my alphabet letter art  page on pinterest for more craft ideas.  

Lastly, in class we are learning our numbers 1-20.  I was getting tired of my handmade number flashcards and finally got around to making some on the computer.  These flash cards include numbers 0-40 with 10's frames beneath each number. I usually use these number cards for whole group or small group instruction. We use these for games, centers, flash cards, etc. There are many possibilities for these cards. All you have to do is print and laminate!  

They look like this:  

I wanted to share them with you!  Click any of the number cards above or click here to get them for free on my TPT page.  If you download them, would you kindly leave a rating and/or comment on my TPT or on my blog :)

Fun Winter & Christmas Craftivities

I absolutely love the holidays!  In fact, I think I've gone a bit overboard on my Christmas decorations this year at home that it's starting to look a little tacky.  Good thing my family enjoys it!  Now that I'm done, I'm in a good mood and I thought I'd share some of the arts and crafts I do in my classroom during the Christmas season.

Have the students color or paint one of those cheapy paper plates and then cut it into 4 pieces.  The size of each piece doesn't have to be equal.  Have the students place the biggest piece on the bottom of the tree and the smallest piece at the top.  Make little snips at the bottom of each piece to create the needles of the pine tree.  Use glitter, sequins, etc. to decorate the tree.  

This tree is just made out of construction paper.  I have the students use  hole punchers to create holes in the tree so it looks like ornaments against the red background.  Place sequins and glitter to give it a shimmery look.

Count down to Christmas bell.   Students make patterned paper chains.  Each day the student rips off one loop.  Once they reach the yellow loop, it should be Christmas day.  

Here's what they poem on the bell says:

Author:  Unknown

Christmas day will soon be here

And I can hardly wait.

I've made this little Christmas chain

To help me celebrate.

Each day I'll snip one loop from it

To help me to remember,

That happy, happy Christmas day

is the 25th of December.

Please help me hang my chain up high

I'll cut one loop each day.

And when I reach the golden loop,

It will be Christmas Day.  

Paper plate Santa.  Use cotton balls for his facial hair :)

This is our Epsom salt winter scene art project.  It's supposed to make you feel like you are looking outside your window.  Students draw a winter scene with their crayons on dark blue or black construction paper.  Then they brush on an Epsom salt mixture.  Remember to allow their artwork to dry on a flat surface.  Do not hang to dry.  After doing this over the years, I noticed that some puddling on their paper is a good thing because it allows for more salt crystals to form.  See below for the salt mixture recipe.  Once the mixture dries on their paper the salt crystalizes and makes their artwork look frosted with snow. 

Epsom Salt Mixture:

Mix an equal part of Epsom salt (look for it in the bath or health section of the grocery store) and boiling water together.  Mix, dissolve,  and let cool.  About 1.5 cups of epsom salt and 1.5 cups of water is enough for a class of 24

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We make snowflakes and find the line of symmetry in the center.  We made these out of coffee filters.  I  usually give each student two filters already folded so they have one for practice and another to glue on to their black construction paper.  Click here for step by step instruction in how to fold the filters to make a snowflake.  

Freebie: Santa, Santa, A 5 Senses Book about Christmas

We've only been back in school for 2 days since Thanksgiving break, but I already feel like I need another vacation :)  I hope it's not just me.

I wanted to share a 5 senses book called:  Santa, Santa.  It has repeating stanzas like in the book Polar bear, Polar Bear By Eric Carle.  Santa describes what he would see, hear, feel, smell, eat, and do during the Christmas season.

Here's what it looks like:

Click here to download this freebie

Check Out Freebielicious!  They are having a Linky Party!

12 Free Christmas Scrapbooking/Craft Digital Papers

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend!  I've eaten a ton of food and need to work off all of those extra calories.    I'll be back at work tomorrow and the count down to Winter break begins! 

Now that the Christmas season is finally in full swing, I wanted to share a gift with you!  I've been learning how to use photoshop and created some Christmas digital papers for download.  The possibilities are endless with digital papers :)

Click here  to download

Let me know what you think?  If you like them please follow me on my blog!  

Check out freebielicious!  They are having a Fantastic Linky Party.  Tons of free stuff: