Sunday, July 5, 2020

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School!: Ideas, Activities, and a Freebie for this Back to School Favorite


Last summer I added Mo Willems' The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! to my classroom library.  Of course, this addition was a no-brainer.  Willems' books are always super popular, especially Pigeon books.

Just as predicted, my students loved this book.  It is the perfect length for the beginning of the year, when attention spans are extra short and students need a little break from all the procedural training they are receiving.


Since I knew this book would be a hit, I decided to make it the centerpiece of back to school.  I created some basic "Pigeon themed" math and literacy activities, as well as a simple craft.  I used these activities intermittently during the first week and was able to glean some great info about my new students' basic math and literacy skills, as well as their fine motor skills and listening skills. 

One of the Pigeon themed activities was a number/number word/counting mini book. Students traced and wrote the numbers 1-10, as well as the number words 1-10.  Then students illustrated a picture to go with each number.  We broke this activity up over a couple of days.


Students took part in a listening activity.  Students had to complete a picture according to a series of questions/statements that I read aloud.  (If you've every made a glyph with your students, this activity feels really similar.)



Students also put together their first puzzler for the year. This puzzler focused on number representations. Students cut and glued the puzzler pieces to tell what number is represented in the box. By the end, students have a completed picture that they can color.  
I use various puzzlers throughout the year. This the Pigeon puzzler is a great introduction to how to complete a puzzler.


Students loved making their simple, one-page craft Pigeons. All that was required was the Pigeon pattern (I used white card stock), scissors, and glue.  The class Pigeons made a really quick and cute back to school bulletin board.




In addition to these activities, students worked on counting/cardinality, geometry, place value, number bonds, handwriting, the alphabet, rhyming words, sight words, and more. The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! is a perfect springboard for a variety of skills. 



For a math freebie (from the printables featured above), click on the picture below. This freebie provides practice with ten frames, counting, and number identification.


If you have not added, The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! to your classroom library, I highly recommend it. There are so many directions you can go with this book. More importantly, your students will love it and be totally engaged.  What a great way to start the year, by reading a book that students truly enjoy. :)

For more details about the all of the Pigeon inspired activities I used with my students, be sure to click on the picture below. 


Of course (like most), I'm not certain what this year's back to school days will look like. Whatever the setup, I know I'll be using The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! to help me kick off the year.

Thanks for stopping by.




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Please know that all of the recommendations on this site are authentic and come from personal experience.

51 comments:

  1. Where can I find your, Don't let the Pigeon drive the bus or any other Pigeon bundle?

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  2. I love this but can't find the link. I would like to find the one page craft cutting for my students

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    Replies
    1. Hello can I have a link to the craft? Nycthisisme.acct@gmail.com
      Thank you

      Delete
  3. i would like the pigeon one page craft..could you please send to lmepooh@yahoo.com

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  4. Will you please send me the activities at yaya626@outlook.com?

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  5. I would like the pigeon craft as well. tara.carvey@willistonschools.org Thank you!

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  6. could you please send me the pigeon one page cut out...lmepooh@yahoo.com i think i must have deleted it...thanks so much

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  7. Is there a place to download the craft? Thank you! :)

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  8. Can you send me the activities please? Thank you.
    mrbeas-martinez@nowacademy.org

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  9. I would love this activity for my SPED kinder classroom. Can you please send me the activity at judisue.muniz@simivalleyusd.org

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  10. I would love the craft download link! jessicamenke@sd54.org

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  11. I would love the pigeon craft download please for my PK classroom. Thank you!

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  12. Do you have a link for the craft or could you send it to me please? Nmgause@yahoo.com

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  13. I would love the craft too my kids love the book! Please and thank you! jsaenz1@gckschools.com

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  14. I would love a copy of the one page pigeon craft! I’m not seeing a download button anywhere. thebowie5@sbcglobal.net Thank you!

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  15. i would love a copy of these activities. carmel.ocallaghan@gmail.com

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  16. Can I please have the link?

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  17. Hello can I have the link to the pigeon craft?

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  18. I would love the link to the pigeon craft: muciclovie414@gmail.com

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  19. I would love the pigeon craft link. Thank you! Chelsieboudreau@gmail.com

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  20. Did anyone get the link?

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  21. I would love the one page craft link. Thank you! lizbrobst@gmail.com

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  22. Hello may I have the link to the pigeon craft?

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  23. Hello can I have the link to the pigeon craft? mknippel@stjohnslutheran-muk.org

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  24. Hello! My Pre-K kiddos are doing an author study on Mo Willems next week and they would LOVE the one page pigeon craftf. Could you send a link to this craft to isabel_claire@outlook.com please? Any other links you have would be greatly appreciated as well. Thank you kindly!

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  25. Hi- would love this one page craft for my library class- first graders would love this!

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    Replies
    1. Please email me akajfasz@stjoanofarc.org

      Delete
  26. Hi! Can you please send me to cut and paste pigeon page? I can't find a link anywhere to download it. Thanks!!

    esherer@sd308.org

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  27. Can you please send me the Puzzler Pieces and the Listen and Draw worksheet? Thank u. olivia981@gmail.com

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  28. Can you please send the the one page pigeon craft? kimmi.lochner@mtbethel.org

    Thank you!

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  30. Thank you for sharing these fantastic ideas for 'The Pigeon Has to Go to School'! Engaging young minds with interactive activities inspired by books is a brilliant way to foster a love for reading and learning.
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  32. Can i have the link? Kyragib@gmail.com

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  33. Can I please get the link to the one page pigeon craft?
    Dcraiglow@icsnlr.org

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  34. I would love your Pigeon craft for my bird themed classroom please! shannon.marquette@jpschools.org

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  35. Please!!! Would love pigeon craft!!!

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  36. I would love to have the cut/paste pigeon craft! Can you please share? Thanks a bunch!

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  37. I would love the link to the one page craft! Lpenner@g.prsdmb.ca

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    Replies
    1. Were you able to get the link to the craft? If so, could you forward it over to me at anna.fuhrman@stjlutheranschool.org ? Thank you!

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  38. I’d love the link to the craft too pretty please! Brenda.McKenzie@boiseschools.org

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  39. Please send the pideon craft activity. felskel@fsd38.ab.ca

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  40. Hello could you please send the pigeon craft activity to prodriguez@husd.net

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  41. I would love the link to the one page pigeon craft. bethany.livingston@srls.info

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  42. I would love the link to the one page pigeon craft. thank you. 5buds2bloom@gmail.com

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  43. I would love the link to the pigeon craft--tnolin@fpcambler.org

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  44. hello can you please send a link of the pigeon craft and the bundle as well to purchase. i tried looking it up via tpt and could not find these thankyou alisun313@icloud.com

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  45. Please send me the pigeon craft. We are having a mock election next week and pigeon is a runner up ! These will be great ! Thank you. Katie@stonebridgechristian.com

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