Featured

Free Teaching Resources for K-2nd Grade

Every month, I share new free teaching resources for K-2nd grade in my Teachers Pay Teachers store, Little Owl’s Teacher Treats. I’m passionate about helping teachers find work-life balance by creating engaging resources that save precious time and energy! These First of the Month Freebies are intended to keep your students motivated and make planning a little easier on you! I’ll update this post with a new freebie on the first of each month. You can also receive updates directly to your inbox by subscribing to my monthly newsletter, or you can follow my store on Teachers Pay Teachers. I hope you enjoy!

Latest First of the Month Freebies

May 2022: Free Memorial Day and Veterans Day Writing Activities | Venn Diagram

America’s Veterans Writing Activities

United States military veterans deserve honor, respect, and gratitude. In this free resource, you will find a Venn diagram to help students compare and contrast Memorial Day and Veterans Day, plus a Memorial Day writing prompt page.

This is a sample from America’s Veterans: Literacy and Craft Activities. The full lesson contains materials for teaching about Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and the U.S. military, with a special focus on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. To learn more, click here.

Note: I am moving overseas this summer, so I posted the freebies for June- August a little early!

June 2022: The Best Animal Dads | Fathers Day Activity

The Best Animal Dads- Free PowerPoint

July 2022: Summer Themed Cootie Catchers

Free summer cootie catchers
Summer Themed Cootie Catchers

August 2022: Back to School Bucket List Activity

Free back to school bucket list activity
Back to school bucket list activity

Free Literacy Resources

Corduroy Book Free Reading Handout
Corduroy Book Companion Activity
30 Days of Gratitude Writing Activity
30 Days of Gratitude Writing Activity
Pre-Primer Sight Words for Google Slides
Pre-Primer Sight Words for Google Slides
Teddy Bear Writing Activities
Teddy Bear Writing Activities
Short Vowel Word Sorts
Short Vowel Word Sorts
Barn Owls Emergent Reader
Barn Owls Emergent Reader
Space Writing Prompts
Space Writing Prompts
Four Square Vocabulary
Four Square Vocabulary
b/d Reversal Posters
b/d Reversal Posters

Free Math Resources

Make a Ten Addition Strategy Puzzles
Make a Ten Addition Strategy Puzzles
Make a Ten Addition Strategy Worksheets
Make a Ten Addition Strategy Worksheets
Fall Fact Fluency- Addition and Subtraction to 10
Fall Fact Fluency- Addition and Subtraction to 10
Winter Fact Fluency- Addition and Subtraction to 10
Winter Fact Fluency- Addition and Subtraction to 10
Spring Fact Fluency- Addition and Subtraction to 20
Spring Fact Fluency- Addition and Subtraction to 20
Summer Fact Fluency- Back to School and End of Year Review for First Grade
Summer Fact Fluency- Back to School and End of Year Review for First Grade
Telling Time Math Center
Telling Time Math Center
Adding Zero Math Center
Adding Zero Math Center
Taking Numbers Apart Math Center
Taking Numbers Apart Math Center
Adding Doubles Digital Math Center
Adding Doubles Digital Math Center
Counting Back to Subtract Math Center
Counting Back to Subtract Math Center
10 More and 10 Less Math Center
10 More and 10 Less Math Center
Comparing with Symbols Math Center
Comparing with Symbols Math Center
Subtracting Multiples of 10 Math Center
Subtracting Multiples of 10 Math Center
Place Value Digital Math Center
Place Value Digital Math Center
Adding Doubles Digital Math Center
Adding Doubles Digital Math Center
Number of the Day Worksheet
Number of the Day Worksheet
Naming 2D Shapes Write the Room Math Center
2D Shapes: Write the Room Geometry Center

Free Science and Social Studies Resources

Helen Keller Writing Activity
Helen Keller Writing Activity
Layers of the Earth Worksheet
Layers of the Earth Worksheet
Rock Science Activities
Rock Science Activities
Map of My Bedroom Activity
Map of My Bedroom Activity

Free Holiday Resources

Halloween Writing Prompts
Halloween Writing Prompts
Mother's Day and Father's Day Writing Activity
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Writing Activity
Leprechaun Writing Activities
Leprechaun Writing Activities
Mooseltoe Craft
Mooseltoe Craft
Pumpkin Predictions Activity
Pumpkin Predictions Activity
Presidents' Day Number Stories
Presidents’ Day Number Stories

Free Classroom Management Resources

Classroom Management Lesson
Classroom Management Lesson
Wearing Masks at School for COVID-19
Wearing Masks at School for COVID-19

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy these freebies- don’t forget to stop by on the first of every month for a new freebie! You can also receive updates directly to your inbox by subscribing to my monthly newsletter, or you can follow my store on Teachers Pay Teachers. Thank you!

Helen Keller Lesson Activities

There are many reasons to include a Helen Keller lesson in your social studies plans this school year. Helen Keller is the perfect role model to discuss during Women’s History Month, with any unit about communication, on January 4th for World Braille Day– really, anytime you want to inspire your students!

Helen Keller lesson
Helen Keller Braille Lesson

Who was Helen Keller?

Helen Keller was an American author and educator who was blind and deaf. Born in 1880, she lost her sight and hearing due to an illness at the age of 19 months. With the support of her teacher Ann Sullivan, Helen Keller learned to read, write, and speak. She became the first deaf- blind person to graduate from college, and she wrote many books and articles about her life. Anne Sullivan continued to work with Helen for over 50 years.

What’s included in this lesson?

This Helen Keller lesson includes a variety of engaging activities to supplement your social studies plans:

Helen Keller Lesson Activities
Helen Keller Lesson Activities

1. Braille Activity

2. Helen Keller Craft

3. What is Braille? Reading Passage & Questions

4. Who was Helen Keller? Reading Passage & Sequencing Handout

5. Writing Activities & Graphic Organizers

6. Word Search

The reviews are in…

***** 5 stars from Alex F: “Our curriculum has a text about Helen Keller but it is brief and does not explain anything about her as a person. This set really helped my students to understand Helen Keller. They enjoyed the nonfiction texts and really enjoyed creating their name in Braille. I highly recommend this product.”

***** 5 stars from Little Rays: “I LOVED the name in braille activity. Looked awesome in the hallway, and the kiddos really enjoyed it. It helped them appreciate more diverse people. Nice resource!”

***** 5 stars from Andrea B: “Great resource! My students enjoyed learning the Braille alphabet and making their own names from it. Great way to supplement any learning about Helen Keller.”

Check out these bundles!

1) Best- Selling Craft Bundle (Helen Keller & Theodore Roosevelt)

2) Little Owl’s Craft Bundle (6 crafts in one convenient bundle!)

_________________________________________________

Follow Little Owl’s Teacher Treats on TPT for monthly updates, including a First of the Month Freebie!

For classroom ideas, find Little Owl’s Teacher Treats on Pinterest!

Ketanji Brown Jackson Biography for Kids

This Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson biography for kids will help you teach your young students about an inspiring, ground-breaking woman. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman to serve as a Justice on the Supreme Court. This social studies resource includes a 1- page biography reading passage, 1-page reading response questions, vocabulary words, 1-page vocabulary handout, 1-page timeline activity, and two writing activities. Perfect for social studies, a read aloud, guided reading, and more!

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Social Studies Activities

The biography page includes a photograph of Judge Jackson* and comes in color and black & white. There are 3 questions on the reading response handout. The two writing activities are 1) “Write 3 facts about Judge Jackson. Illustrate your facts.” and 2) blank writing lines with drawing space and “Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson” heading. The writing pages include primary-lined and single-spaced options. Additionally, there are 6 vocabulary words related to the reading passage, a vocabulary handout, and a timeline activity.

Click here to learn more about this social studies teaching resource!

Ketanji Brown Jackson Biography for Kids
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Biography for Kids *

*This photograph is available through Creative Commons. Credit: “File:Ketanji Brown Jackson (robe photo).jpg” by H2rty is marked with CC BY-SA 4.0.

__________________________________________________

*** Follow Little Owl’s Teacher Treats on TPT for frequent updates, including a “First of the Month” freebie!

*** Subscribe to Little Owl’s monthly newsletter to receive freebies directly to your inbox!

Make a 10 Addition Strategy

The Make a 10 Addition Strategy can be a challenging concept for first graders. Every year I had a divide between students who understood it in a snap, and students who looked at me like I was speaking gibberish. I finally hit upon a concrete way to teach making a ten to add after a few frustrating years.

First, your students will need to master fact fluency within 10 (especially the facts that make 10) in order to use this strategy successfully. Here are some free resources to help your students build fact fluency. They will also need to learn to add 10 to single-digit numbers.

How I Teach the Make a 10 to Add Strategy

My students responded well to this simple approach to the Make a Ten strategy (watch the video below to see it in action):

Make 10 Addition Strategy Using Dots
  1. Read the equation.
  2. Write the larger number.
  3. Draw dots to match the smaller number.
  4. Circle the number and dots to make 10.
  5. Write a new equation using 10 and the leftover dots.
  6. Solve the new equation.
  7. Solve the original equation.
How to Teach the Make a 10 Addition Strategy

Free Make a Ten Strategy Activities

Students can easily use whiteboards or math notebooks to practice this strategy. I also have a few free resources that will help you! Click here for 2 free Make a 10 worksheets:

Free Make a 10 Addition Worksheets

Here are 6 free puzzles that are perfect for your visual learners:

More Resources

If you’re looking for more resources to help you introduce the Make 10 to Add strategy, check out this bundle:

Make a Ten Strategy Bundle

The following materials are included in this bundle:

1) PowerPoint lesson for the “make a ten to add” strategy. Students learn to write the larger number in the equation, draw dots for the smaller number, and compose a ten. Then they write new equations using the ten and the leftover dots. The lesson introduces the strategy, provides guided practice, and includes 5 problems for independent practice.

2) 24 “make a ten” puzzle cards. There are 12 puzzles with 2 pieces, and 12 puzzles with 4 pieces. This allows you to scaffold and differentiate your instruction.

3) Record sheets. There are 3 handouts- 1 for use during the lesson, and 2 for use with the puzzles.

4) 22 printable worksheets that will have your students finding ways to make ten and making 10 to add using number bonds, 10-frames, dots, and more!

These materials can be purchased separately here:

1) Make a Ten Addition Strategy Lesson and Math Center

2) Make a Ten Addition Strategy Worksheets

Subscribe for More Freebies

I hope you these materials are useful for your classroom! If you enjoy free resources, be sure to subscribe to my monthly newsletter. I share a new freebie on the first of every month! Thanks for stopping by!

Classroom Elf Activities for December

There are many things I miss about teaching first grade, and celebrating the holidays ranks high on the list. I particularly enjoyed the classroom elf activities we did every December. We always had a visitor from the North Pole and celebrated with lots of literacy and math activities! I’ve gathered a list of elf-themed teaching resources to help you plan this holiday season.

Name the Classroom Elf Graphing Lesson

I usually introduced our elf to the class right after Thanksgiving. I hid the elf somewhere in the classroom, along with a poem, and waited for students to find him. As you can imagine, I had to practically scrape my kids off the walls because they would lose their minds with excitement! The poem instructed students to choose a name for the elf. We worked together to brainstorm names, vote, and graph the results.

name the classroom elf lesson
Name Your Classroom Elf | Original Poem and Graphing Activity

Create an Elf Writing Activity

Create an Elf Writing Activity

This writing and craft lesson was a fun way to encourage creative thinking! Students wrote about the classroom elf or created their own elves to make this lapbook.

create an elf writing activity
Create an Elf Lapbook | K-2nd Writing Activity

Write a Letter to an Elf

We always wrote letters to the classroom elf using this graphic organizer and letter writing paper (sometimes the elf wrote back and left each student a little treat the day before winter break started… depending on how busy the elf was;))

write a letter to an elf
Write a Letter to an Elf | Holiday Writing Activity

Elf Interviews

Now that I’m a stay-at-home mom, I couldn’t resist continuing the elf fun at home with my kids. I recently created this activity and wish I still had a classroom of firsties to give it a try! Students can use the “Elf Name” handout to determine their elf names. Then they’ll make an elf hat and partner with someone to conduct elf interviews. There are two versions of the interview handout to allow for differentiation for preK- 2nd grade students.

interview an elf craft and writing activity
Interview an Elf Craft and Writing Activity

Elf- Themed Literacy and Math Handouts

These printable worksheets contain lots of options for reading, writing, math, and more. No prep required, so they’re perfect for December sub days!

elf literacy and math worksheets
Classroom Elf Worksheets
elf reading and math worksheets
Classroom Elf Worksheets

Elf Math Centers

I loved using math games in my classroom, so I created several activities that review key math skills to keep my students engaged before the holidays. We often used these in small groups, during math centers, to fill extra time at the end of a lesson, or as “early finisher” activities.

Counting to 10

Elf math center counting to 10
Elf Math: Counting to 10 Holiday Math Activity

Ways to Make 10

elf math center ways to make 10
Elf Math: Ways to Make 10 Holiday Math Activity

Subtracting Within 10

elf math center subtract within 10
Elf Math: Subtract Within 10 Holiday Math Activity

Subtraction Word Problems

elf math center subtraction word problems
Elf Math: Subtraction Word Problems Math Activity

Conclusion

There are so many ways to incorporate elves into holiday lesson plans! Do you have an elf visiting your students this December? I’d love to hear your plans for your classroom elf! Feel free to leave a comment or reach me at erika@littleowlsteachertreats.com. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season! For more teaching tips and lots of freebies, subscribe to my monthly newsletter!

P.S. All of the resources listed above can be found in my Classroom Elf Literacy and Math Bundle. They’re also available separately here.

classroom elf activities
Classroom Elf Literacy and Math Bundle

November 2021 Newsletter

Happy November!

Last week I had the pleasure of talking with Jana York, author of U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness. We had a great conversation about mindfulness and its role in our personal and professional lives. Jana embraced mindfulness years ago because it allows her to fully experience the present. “I claim it as my superpower,” she writes in Educating Mindfully: Stories of School Transformation Through Mindfulness. Throughout the past few years, Jana has worked hard to give others this superpower through her work as a Public Health Coordinator, teacher, and author.

To read more about our conversation and access free resources for starting a mindfulness practice in your classroom, visit my blog post. Jana offers great freebies such as Grapeful Eating and Gratitude Clouds. My First of the Month Freebie for November is a 30 Days of Gratitude Writing Activity

Also, I’m giving away a copy of Jana’s book this month! You can enter to win by clicking here– the raffle ends November 7th and I will notify the winner by email. Please feel free to share this giveaway opportunity with your teacher friends!

On another note, if you have purchased the First Grade Math Centers Mega Bundle, I just added a PDF listing all of the activities & corresponding skills and standards. Hopefully this helps you stay organized! Just visit this resource in “My Purchases” on Teachers Pay Teachers to download the update.

November Freebie Round-Up:
Free 30 Days of Gratitude Writing Activity
Free Fall Fact Fluency
Free Grapeful Eating Activity
Free Gratitude Clouds Activity
Free Hot Cocoa Breathing Mindfulness Printable
Free Shopping for Thanksgiving Dinner Math Center
Free Thanksgiving How-to-Draw Activities
Free | The Ugly Pumpkin Book Activity
In case you missed October’s newsletter, you can access it by clicking here. I hope you enjoy November’s First of the Month Freebie! Thanks for reading and best wishes for a fabulous Thanksgiving!

Take care,
Erika @ Little Owl’s Teacher Treats

U is for Understanding Mindfulness Book Giveaway

I’m excited to announce that I’m giving away a free copy of U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness by Jana York! U is for Understanding tells the story of Claire, an energetic second grader with a short attention span. Her teacher, Ms. Sage, introduces Claire’s class to the world of mindfulness one week at a time. Along the way, Claire encounters adverse experiences that any real-world second grader might find familiar: bullies, friends struggling with family issues, personal loss, and more. Through mindfulness, Claire develops self-regulation skills, resilience, and confidence.

U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness by Jana York

Use the links below to earn up to 7 entries in the giveaway, and please share with your teacher friends! The giveaway ends November 7th and the winner will be contacted via email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teachers will find Jana’s book to be a great introduction to mindfulness in the classroom. She uses vowels to highlight the key foundations of mindfulness in a way that’s easy for students to remember:

A– Attention

E– Experience

I– Investigate

O– Observe

U– Understanding

Her book also comes with an offer of 30 free companion activities and interactive worksheets. These activities support the five Vowels of Mindfulness, and readers will notice some of them in action in U is for Understanding.

To learn more about Jana’s book and teaching mindfulness in the classroom, you can visit my blog post here. The post includes free resources for starting a mindfulness practice in your classroom. Thank you so much for your time, and best wishes to you wherever you are on your mindfulness journey!

Mindfulness in the Classroom

As I sit down to write this post about mindfulness in the classroom, a notification pops up on my phone, the dryer buzzes, my baby lets out a cry in her sleep, and I realize I’m a little hungry. I consider going upstairs to grab a snack, but instead I remember the advice I received yesterday: take three breaths. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply. Once, twice, three times… I’m refocused and ready to begin.

A Conversation with Author Jana York

The advice came from author Jana York during our video chat about mindfulness for teachers and students. Jana is passionate about this topic and recently wrote a book called U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness in the Classroom. We met in 2013 when Jana was the civilian Public Health Coordinator and I was a first grade teacher on a little US Army base outside of Tokyo. Jana’s journey into mindfulness began a few years earlier when she collaborated with an Army physician interested in treating post-traumatic stress, preventing suicide, and improving well-being in the military community. Their efforts eventually led them to offer 8-week courses in mindfulness to military and civilians working on the base. I took one of these courses, and I’m a little embarrassed to admit, I didn’t complete it because I felt too busy and overwhelmed with work to give it my full attention.

Exploring Mindfulness in Schools

I bring this up with Jana as we talk, but she’s not surprised. Throughout our conversation, we both acknowledge that life is full of distractions and the constant pull to get things done. She embraced mindfulness years ago because it allows her to fully experience the present. “I claim it as my superpower,” she writes in Educating Mindfully: Stories of School Transformation Through Mindfulness. It’s clear that Jana wishes to give others the gift of this superpower. Her experiences eventually led her to take coursework through Mindful Schools and train to teach mindfulness to grades K-12.

Jana and I agree that students bring a host of life experiences to the classroom that can positively and negatively impact learning and relationships with others. Julie C. was a 4th grade teacher when she took Jana’s 8-week class. Julie says, “Throughout that course, I kept thinking about how beneficial it would be for my 4th grade students, especially in the area of social skill development. I mentioned it to Jana, and she was definitely intrigued by the idea. She found and took the Mindful Educator course at mindfulschools.org.” Julie convinced her principal to let Jana teach the 8-week course in her classroom, and thus began Jana’s interest in reaching students through the gift of mindfulness.

Julie continues, “She taught it, and we followed up with a student survey. It was amazing how students were able to tell us how mindfulness had helped them academically, socially, and physically… Students described being able to focus on classwork and homework more often. They mentioned thinking before speaking in social conflicts, and/or walking away when the situation called for it. They described feeling more calm and sleeping better. I have had parents and students tell me that years later they are still engaging in some of the mindfulness activities.” The positive effects inspired Julie to take the course herself and support students and teachers in other grade levels.

In addition to Julie, Jana introduced high school special education teacher Carmen to the world of mindfulness. Carmen developed a program for high school student athletes, “teaching them concepts like flow, present-moment awareness, and how to be in the zone.” The championship-winning team attributed part of their success to mindfulness techniques! Carmen uses mindfulness strategies in her personal and professional life, and says, “My ability to stay calm and keep my nervous system in parasympathetic mode is the greatest intervention I could offer my students.”

When Jana retired from her role as a civilian Public Health Coordinator, she and her husband moved to Thailand, where she continued to teach mindfulness in the international schools for students from diverse cultures. All was well until the COVID pandemic struck. Jana suddenly found herself on strict lockdown in a foreign country, and a great deal of uncertainty stretched ahead. Determined to make good use of her time, Jana started thinking about a project that had been in the back of her mind for awhile. She wanted to write a story that would make mindfulness understandable and relatable for students. She thought about the 8- week course she taught in Julie C.’s classroom, developed the key framework into an engaging narrative, and collaborated with illustrator Caroline Webb to turn her dream into a reality. Thus, U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness was born.

U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness

U is for Understanding tells the story of Claire, an energetic second grader with a short attention span. Her teacher, Ms. Sage, introduces Claire’s class to the world of mindfulness one week at a time. Along the way, Claire encounters adverse experiences that any real-world second grader might find familiar: bullies, friends struggling with family issues, personal loss, and more. Through mindfulness, Claire develops self-regulation skills, resilience, and confidence.

U is for Understanding: Claire's Journey Toward Mindfulness book by Jana York
U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness by Jana York

Teachers will find Jana’s book to be a great introduction to mindfulness in the classroom. She uses vowels to highlight the key foundations of mindfulness in a way that’s easy for students to remember:

A– Attention

E– Experience

I– Investigate

O– Observe

U– Understanding

Her book also comes with an offer of 30 free companion activities and interactive worksheets. These activities support the five Vowels of Mindfulness, and readers will notice some of them in action in U is for Understanding.

U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness by Jana York and Caroline Webb

In this video, Brigitte of Kindness Classroom reads the first three chapters of Jana’s book and introduces three of the 30 different mindfulness activities!

Getting Started in Your Classroom

Adding anything extra to your teacher workload can feel impossible. Although Jana highly recommends the courses offered through www.mindfulschools.org, she recognizes that enrolling in a course is a commitment many teachers cannot make (Please note: This is not an affiliate link. Neither Jana nor I receive any compensation should you choose to enroll in a course). She suggests starting small and simple. “I think some people think you have to sit on a mat,” Jana says, but she goes on to explain that mindfulness can be quick and easily integrated into our daily lives. Here are a few ideas you can use with your students for mindfulness in the classroom (or in your personal life!):

Contact Author Jana York

Jana is an incredibly kind person with a passion for spreading the message and power of mindfulness. “If it helps even one person,” Jana explains, she’s happy to offer support. She can guide you in the right direction as you get started with mindfulness personally or professionally. Jana can be reached by email at janayork.mindful@gmail.com.

Grapeful Eating

This activity teaches students to find appreciation and gratitude by tracing the path of a grape from seed to present. It is appropriate anytime, and especially during the autumn months when many are celebrating Thanksgiving. Click here to download the directions for free (this is an example of one of the mindfulness activities included with Jana’s book)!

Gratitude Clouds

gratitude word cloud activity
Word clouds are a great way to highlight the good in your students’ lives.

Jana writes, “Word clouds are fun and easy ways to demonstrate similarities and differences on any topic. There can be added value in simple visualization. The use of the ‘Gratitude Cloud’ will help students explore and share their thoughts, emotions, and feelings of being grateful. This activity is especially appropriate during difficult times when it may be hard to see the good!” Click here to download the directions for free, and use a site such as EdWordle to create your cloud.

Gratitude Lists or Journals

gratitude list and journal
Writing about gratitude every day is an important habit for developing mindfulness.

Keeping a gratitude list or journal can be as simple or detailed as you would like it to be. Given the busy nature of modern life, I like to keep things simple. Consider asking students to write one word or phrase of gratitude each day. There are many ways to incorporate this into your daily classroom routine. For example, when students arrive each morning, have them sit at their desks, take out their gratitude lists, and spend a minute reflecting and writing before beginning the day. It’s a great way to start the day on a positive note. Click here for a free gratitude list and mini-journal. As students complete the lists/journals, have them reflect in some way. For example, they can privately reread what they’ve written, share a few thoughts with the class, or choose 3 words to contribute towards a class “Gratitude Cloud” (see above).

Mindful Breathing

At the beginning of this post, I mentioned Jana’s advice to “take three breaths.” Teaching students to breathe deeply and pay attention to their breaths can have a wonderful effect. You can do this to refocus a distracted group, prepare students for an exam, transition to a new activity, and more. Mindful breathing is also a great personal strategy for teachers! Feeling overwhelmed with everything you need to do during your prep period? Frustrated with a talkative class? Close your eyes and take a few mindful breaths. This doesn’t solve all your problems, but it helps you get in a better frame of mind for tackling difficult issues.

When I taught first grade, I had students take “belly breaths” at the beginning of our Morning Meeting. Students would sit or lay down for one minute while I guided them to take big breaths that filled their bellies. After a few breaths, I encouraged students to focus on something that made them feel thankful. Then I pulled 2-3 sticks with students’ names and offered to let them share. I always reminded them that some ideas are private, and they could pass if desired. This routine took a few minutes but its effects were worth the time. Students were generally calmer throughout the rest of the Morning Meeting, and it allowed us to get to know one another better.

Another kid- friendly way to teach mindful breathing is to call it “hot cocoa breathing.” Ashely Partley of Counselor Station offers free printable instructions for this exercise.

U is for Understanding: Claire’s Journey Toward Mindfulness

Jana’s book is a great starting point for teachers to introduce mindfulness through storytelling. It’s filled with relatable content and offers many discussion points. Check out the video shared above to preview the first three chapters, and visit Amazon to read the reviews!

(Psst: If you’re reading this between November 1st-7th 2021, I’m giving away a free copy! Click here to enter!)

U is for Understanding: Claire's Journey Toward Mindfulness book by Jana York

Conclusion

As Giselle Shardlow writes, “Educators know that children learn best when they are comfortable, safe, and relaxed.” Integrating mindfulness into your daily routines can have long-lasting benefits. With Jana’s advice in mind, take three deep breaths and ask yourself: how can I use mindfulness in the classroom?

Jana and I are here for you! Jana can be reached at janayork.mindful@gmail.com, and feel free to email me at erika@littleowlsteachertreats.com. If you’re interested in subscribing to my monthly newsletter, you can do so by clicking here. I send an email on the first of every month with classroom tips and a First of the Month Freebie! You can also comment on this post with questions or additional ideas for exploring mindfulness. Thank you so much for your time, and best wishes to you wherever you are on your mindfulness journey!

October 2021 Newsletter

Happy October!

I’ll admit it- I’m one of those people who loves fall. It was always my favorite time of year in the classroom, too. By the time October rolls around, you’ve gotten to know your students, established your routines, and you’re gearing up for the holidays. My teammates and I used to celebrate the end of October with Pumpkin Day in first grade.

Each teacher in our grade level planned a pumpkin-themed activity centered around reading, writing, science, math, or art. Our students rotated to each classroom to engage in the activities. I loved this because it meant I only needed to plan one lesson, rather than multiple stations within my own classroom!

There are so many options for Pumpkin Day activities- deciding what to do can be a little overwhelming! I’ve gathered some of my favorite activities on the blog to help you plan, such as this free response activity for The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz:

Free Handout for The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz

Speaking of free resources, I bet you’re wondering about October’s First of the Month freebie! I put together some easy, no prep Halloween writing activities for you this month:

Free Halloween Writing Prompts

These silly writing prompts are sure to get your students’ creative juices flowing! If you’re looking for a more in-depth fall writing project, you might want to check out My Teacher is a Skeleton:

Fall Freebie Round-Up:

In case you missed September’s newsletter, you can access it by clicking here. I hope you enjoy October’s First of the Month Freebie! Thanks for reading and best wishes for a fabulous fall!

Take care,
Erika @ Little Owl’s Teacher Treats

P.S. To receive my monthly newsletter in your email, simply click here to subscribe!

Pumpkin Day Activities and Free Resources

I’ll admit it- I’m one of those people who loves fall. I just got home from Trader Joe’s, and it was like a pumpkin spice bomb exploded in that place… and I couldn’t have been happier. Now I’m writing this between bites of apple cider donuts dipped in pumpkin spice coffee. Heavenly!

Does it get much better than apple cider donuts and pumpkin spice coffee?

Late fall was always my favorite time of year in the classroom, too. By the time October rolls around, you’ve gotten to know your students, established your routines, and you’re gearing up for the holidays. My teammates and I used to celebrate the end of October with Pumpkin Day in first grade.

Each teacher in our grade level planned a pumpkin-themed activity centered around reading, writing, science, math, or art (the size of my grade-level team fluctuated from 2-4 classes over the years). Our students rotated to each classroom to engage in the activities. I loved this because it meant I only needed to plan one lesson, rather than multiple stations within my own classroom!

Pumpkin Day is the perfect time to invite parent volunteers into your room. Our parents would direct students to each classroom, assist with hands-on activities, and one year we even had an extra “snack” station supplied and operated by our volunteers 🙂

There are so many options for Pumpkin Day activities- deciding what to do can be a little overwhelming! I’ve gathered some of my favorite activities to help you plan:

1. Literacy

Our Pumpkin Day celebrations always included a read aloud. There are loads of pumpkin-themed books available, but two of the best (in my opinion) are The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz and Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano.

The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz and The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin by Joe Troiano

Both of these stories teach the theme that it’s ok to be different from your peers! The Ugly Pumpkin tells the sweet story of an unfortunate pumpkin who struggles to find where he belongs. Spookley the Square Pumpkin teaches us that being different has its advantages. You can’t go wrong with either story!

There are free response activities available for both of these books, such as this handout that has students draw friends for The Ugly Pumpkin:

And these free no prep printables from Cutesy Clickables by Collaboration Cuties:

I really love The Ugly Pumpkin because it’s not just a Halloween tale; there’s a fun Thanksgiving twist at the end which makes it a great read aloud for October OR November (hint: He’s not really a pumpkin…)! I liked reading it on Pumpkin Day (usually on Halloween) and continuing the fun during the first few days of November.

2. Craft

I’ve spent enough time around first graders to know most of them are all about crafts. With a bit of prep (and maybe a few extra hands in the form of parent volunteers), your students can make this free Parts of a Pumpkin Craft by A Sunny Day in First Grade.

Free Parts of a Pumpkin Craft by A Sunny Day in First Grade

If you choose to read The Ugly Pumpkin, these simple crafts require minimal prep and make adorable bulletin boards:

The Ugly Pumpkin Craft- Squash Friends
The Ugly Pumpkin Craft- Squash Friends
The Ugly Pumpkin Craft- Oh My Gosh, I’m a Squash

Here’s a cute free craft by Grace Noel Designs for Spookley the Square Pumpkin:

3. Science and Math

Depending on the number of classrooms participating in Pumpkin Day, we usually did a science and/or math station. If you can buy a few pumpkins or squash (or ask for donations), there are great hands-on activities you can do! This free handout has students measure pumpkins using unifix cubes and predict whether pumpkins will float or sink:

If you read The Ugly Pumpkin at the literacy station, you might want to do some squash- themed activities. There are lots of squash and pumpkin science & math resources available in this book companion for The Ugly Pumpkin:

Squash and Pumpkin Science Activities
Squash Math Centers- differentiated for kindergarten- 2nd grades

United Teaching offers this free Pumpkin Measurement math center:

And these pumpkin math handouts can be downloaded for free from Keeping My Kinders Busy and Clutter Free Classroom:

Pumpkin Counting to 10 by Keeping My Kinders Busy & Pumpkin Math Activities by Clutter Free Classroom

Conclusion

There are so many ways to make Pumpkin Day one of the best days of the year in your classroom. If it’s not possible to rotate to different teachers, these activities can easily be used as centers within your own room. Please share your additional ideas in the comments, and have a great October!

For more freebies and classroom tips, consider subscribing to Little Owl’s monthly newsletter 🙂