Five for Friday: Freebies for February

Where did January go?  It is unbelievable how quickly the first month of this year came and went.
Before February gets in full swing, I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching to share some favorite February freebies I'll be using over the next few weeks.
Let's get started...

Groundhog Day Freebies

We'll make these simple and cute prediction groundhogs.  Students can predict whether or not they think the groundhog will see his shadow by adding a sun or a snowflake in the groundhog's hand.  You could also pair this little craftivity with a writing prompt instead of the sun or snowflake.

Click on the picture for a FREE copy of this craftivity.

After Mr. Groundhog makes his prediction, we'll be tracking the weather for the next six weeks with My Groundhog Weather Tracker.  Students will record the groundhog's prediction and the daily weather.  At the conclusion of the sixth week, students will compile their data and analyze it to determine if the groundhog's prediction was true.

You can have a FREE copy of My Groundhog Weather Tracker, by clicking on the picture below.

Super Bowl Freebie

 We'll make my Super Bowl Friend craftivity sometime this week before the big game.  Students will predict which team they think will win.  The helmet colors will reflect their predictions blue/orange for Denver and blue/black for Carolina.  Students will either write about their predictions or they will practice writing their spelling words on the football themed recording sheet.

If you would like a FREE copy of my Super Bowl Friends Craftivity, you can click on the picture below.

Valentine's Day Freebies

Another activity we'll be using in February is my sight word center, You've Got Mail.  Students have to crack the secret code and match it to the correct sight word.  After matching all the cards, the students will complete the recording sheet.  This fun little center is from my Classroom Cupids  {10 Literacy Centers for February}, available at my tpt store.  You can click here for more details.

If you would like a FREE copy of You've Got Mail, click on the picture below.

Another freebie you may want to snag is my message heart graph and pattern printables.
These activities are always a favorite.  Students will sort (by color) and graph candy message hearts.  They will also use the message hearts to create various patterns.
My kids adore working with candy.  It makes math time feel like playtime.

If you would like a FREE copy of message hearts printables, click on the pictures.  

Presidents Day Freebie

In my class, we usually take time in February to do some shared research about George Washington.  After we learn some important facts and details about his life, we create a class bubble map about him.  The bubble map will us with the writing for the craftivity pictured below.

If you would like a FREE copy of of my George Washington {A FREE Writing Craftivity}, click on the picture.

Mardi Gras Freebies

Mardi Gras falls on February 9th this year.  Most of my students do not know what Mardi Gras is.  So I like to do a little something in class for my kids to learn about the traditions involved with this holiday.

We'll have read some books, have some kings cake, and make these Mardi Gras Kids spelling art projects to display in the hall.

We will also do some Mardi Gras themed word problems in math using my Mardi Gras Math {A FREE Math Mini Book}.

If you would like to have a FREE copy of either of these activities to use with your students, click on the pictures.

February has so many fun learning opportunities.  I hope some of these freebies will be useful to you as you start planning for next month.
Thank you for stopping by and thanks to Doodle Bugs Teaching for hosting Five for Friday.

Have a great weekend!

Groundhog, Groundhog, What Do You See? (A FREE Craftivity & Weather Tracker)

I must confess, I am a fan of Groundhog Day.  It's so fun see the Groundhogs' predictions.  (Plural, because my class always compares Punxasutawney Phil's prediction to Chattanooga Chuck's prediction.)  Groundhog Day is a little reminder that winter will not last forever.  It is also a special day to learn about and celebrate one furry and adorable little animal.

This year we started off our Groundhog learning by making this simple groundhog prediction craftivity.  Students made their own predictions whether or not they thought the groundhog would see his shadow.  Students placed snowflakes in their groundhogs' hands if they thought he would see his shadow (six more weeks of winter).  They placed suns in the groundhogs' hands if they thought he would not see his shadow (an early spring).

Last year my students made this same craftivity.  However, I used it with a little half page writing prompt.  Students wrote what the groundhog's prediction was and then if they thought it would turn out to be correct.  The groundhogs held the writing sheets instead of the suns or snowflakes.  We made the project this way because we didn't get to make our groundhogs before Groundhog Day.  (We were out for snow).  This little tweak allowed us to still make our project even though we did not get to it before Groundhog Day (as originally planned).
As you can see, this craftivity is fairly flexible.  I'd say you could make it work sometime a week before or after Groundhog Day.
If you would like a FREE copy of this pattern to use with your students, click on one of the pictures above.


There are some really great groundhog themed read alouds for your class to enjoy.  I think my favorite is Go to Sleep Groundhog by Judy Cox.  I also really love using Gail Gibbons' Groundhog Day.  Since she is all about the nonfiction, her book is perfect to compare to the other books.  It is also a great illustration of various text features.

Since it was the beginning of a new month, we launched our new math and literacy centers.  Along with all of the hearts and Presidents, we are also doing some center work with groundhogs.  If you would like to get more details about my February math and literacy centers, click here.

We will also be tracking the weather for the next six weeks with in My Groundhog Weather Tracker.  Students will record the groundhog's prediction and the daily weather.  At the conclusion of the sixth week, students will compile their data and analyze it to determine if the groundhog's prediction was true.

You can have a FREE copy of My Groundhog Weather Tracker, by clicking on the picture below.  Don't worry if you get a little bit of a late start with it.  You can always go back and complete the days that have already past.

Groundhog Day offers lots of fun opportunities for learning.  Nothing hooks kids in better than cute furry animals.  I hope you can use some of these groundhog ideas with your young learners.
Best.

Fitting It All In Between Snow Days (Plus a Fun Math Freebie)

Thank goodness it's Friday.  I just made it through (I think) my first full week of school since December.  With all of our snow days January was totally choppy, which makes for teaching that feels a bit discombobulated.

I took down our January artwork to make room for some February goodies.  We made Valentine kids to hang up in the classroom.  They turned out pretty cute.  I really love projects that "look" like the kids.  Each student's personality always seems to shine through.

We also worked on a little post Groundhog Day activity.  I was disappointed to be out of school the the days leading up to Groundhog Day.  We missed our chance to do the groundhog prediction glyph that I like to use with my firsties.  

I thought for a few days how I could spin it and still take advantage of some of the fun Groundhog Day learning opportunities.  I decided to go with a simplified opinion writing craftivity, weather tracking to see if the groundhog's prediction comes true, and of course some groundhog themed read alouds.

I'm so glad it worked out.

Finally, we held our Solid Shape Museum.  Each year I have students bring in items from home that represent five solid shapes: cube, sphere, cylinder, rectangular prism, and cone.  

The students present their shapes and then place them in the museum.  We discuss the shape attributes and explore if they can roll, slide, or stack.  When all of the presentations are over, students complete a Solid Shape Museum mini book.

The kids really enjoy this project.  It is also a perfect way to make a real world connection to our math studies.

If you are interested in doing this project with your students, click on the picture below for a free copy of the mini book and a parent letter home explaining this project.

The clip art is from JW Illustrations, Scrappin Doodles, and Pink Cat Studio.

Well, I guess that's about it for now.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Best.