Students

Kwanzaa is a commemoration and celebration of African slavery liberation. It is a time of joy, celebration, and reflection on all that has been accomplished during the year. Kwanzaa events are a way for African Americans and others to connect with the past and build toward a brighter future. Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate connection and community among African families. For each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, a candle is lit to commemorate one of the seven principles: unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

There are many ways to get involved in Kwanzaa activities. Some suggestions include the following:

1. Weave a Kwanzaa Mkeka Mat
   A Mkeka is a woven straw mat and is one of the seven symbols of Kwanzaa, signifying the importance of beginning all projects with a strong foundation.

Age Group: Elementary

More Information: Education

2. Make a Kwanzaa Kinara
   A kinara holds seven candles, each representing one of the values of Kwanzaa. All you need for this homemade version are recycled cardboard tubes, paint, and shimmering sequins.

More Information: Crafting a Fun Life

3. Play Kwanzaa Bingo
   What better way to celebrate African culture than with a game of bingo? Students can learn about important Kwanzaa traditions while having lots of fun!

Age Group: Elementary

More Information: Crayola

4. Read a Favorite Kwanzaa Story
   This beautifully illustrated book celebrates family roots and traditions, all while teaching one of the core principles of Kwanzaa – coming together to help others.

Age Group: Preschool, Elementary

5. Make a Handmade Card
   This colorful worksheet teaches students a traditional Kwanzaa greeting (Habari Gani) and the seven principles of this winter harvest festival. The sections can be cut out and turned into beautiful cards for gifting.

Age Group: Elementary

More Information: Education

Science bulletin boards are a great way to promote science in your classroom. They can be used to display information about different sciences, to discuss science concepts with students, or to provide a place for students to practice science skills. Here are some ideas for science bulletin boards that may be of interest to your class:

1. Aboard a ship: This bulletin board can be used to discuss the science of navigation. Students can view the ship’s navigation systems, learn about different types of seas and seashells, and more.
2. A model of the human body: This bulletin board can be used to discuss the structures and functions of the human body. Students can learn about the different organs, how they work, and how the body responds to exercise.
3. A journey through time: This bulletin board can be used to discuss the history of science and technology. Students can learn about the different steps that have led to current scientific understanding and the challenges that still await science.
4. A journey through space: This bulletin board can be used to discuss the history of science and technology in space. Students can learn about scientific findings and challenges. The different steps that have led to current scientific understanding and the challenges that still await science.
5. A journey through the world: This bulletin board can be used to discuss the science of climate change. Students can learn about the different ways climate change affects different parts of the world, as well as the possible solutions that need to be considered.

When it comes to books, there are a variety of genres that can be enjoyed. Whether you’re a reader looking for something light and fluffy to take on the go or someone who enjoys a more in-depth book, there are several books to choose from. Here are a few that are perfect for your Spring read-aloud.

1. Bunny’s Book Club by Annie Silvestro – All summer long, Bunny enjoyed the sound of kids reading books aloud near his home. When winter comes, bunny and his friends start breaking into the library to read books on their own. In the spring, the librarian finds them but, instead of getting angry, gives them each a library card
2. Spring is Here by Will Hillenbrand – Mole tries to wake his friend Bear, who is still in deep winter slumber. Follow mole as he prepares a feast to welcome Bear into the springtime.
3. What Can You See in Spring? by Sian Smith – The bright pictures and easy-to-read texts are perfect for young learners who can also use the pictures to draw parallels to real life.
4. Robins!: How They Grow Up by Eileen Christelow – This informative book perfectly illustrates the miracle of life. Take kids on a journey through the life cycle of baby robins as they watch mommy. Daddy robins build a nest, lay their eggs, protect themselves from sneaky squirrels, and dig for worms to feed their hungry babies.
5. Flower Garden by Eve Bunting
   One of the most beautiful aspects of spring is flowers bursting into bloom. “Flower Garden” is a cute story about a girl planting her first flower garden. Follow her every step, from buying flowers at the shop to digging a hole and enjoying the fruits of her labor.
6. Worm Weather by Jean Taft
   This fun story is silly in all the best ways. The kid-friendly illustrations depict two kids having fun on a rainy spring day. The book is perfect for pre-K students as it has minimal writing, fun rhyming, and sound imitation.
7. When Spring Comes by Kevin Henkes
   This book is part of a seasonal collection illustrating the beautiful changes from one season to another. The gorgeous illustrations are done in pastel, accompanied by simple explanations of all the changes kids can notice around them.
8. Let’s Look at Spring by Sarah L. Schuette
   Non-fiction books are a great way to let students see real-world changes brought about by spring. They can also relate the images to what they see around them. This book is classified as 4D, meaning many pages link to online resources through the book’s app.
9. Busy Spring: Nature Wakes Up by Sean Taylor and Alex Morss
   Two kids explore their backyard garden with their dad in this entertaining story. The kids observe how the warmer weather wakes the garden from its long winter sleep.
10. Happy Springtime by Kate McMullan
    Winter can be a dreadful time, but this fun picture book will help kids put that all behind them. This will fast become one of their favorite spring books as children celebrate the arrival of a new season and list all the wonderful new things that spring brings.

There are so many fun letter K activities for children during their preschool years! Whether they are learning about counting, shapes, and colors or just playing with the letters, these activities keep them engaged and entertained. Here are a few of our favorites!

1. Sparkle K
   Make the K’s pop! Help your students outline their letters in glue and sprinkle them with glitter. Not only will your students have a blast with the glitter, but this activity focuses on students’ pre-writing skills.

More Information: In My World

2. Letter K Search
   For those fast finishers and students who might just be a bit too quick for a glue tracing activity. Make sure to have another activity ready to go. This Letter K-word search will keep your overachievers working together and focused.

More Information: DLTK’s Sites for Kids

3. Trace Me
   Students will need to practice letter shape for the letter K. This could be used in a preschool classroom for an end-of-unit practice or assessment.

More Information: DLTK Sites for Teachers

4. Coloring With K
   I have yet to meet a kiddo that doesn’t enjoy coloring. So, with this K is for Kiwi activity, students will be able to color the kiwi fruit and trace the words.

More Information: DLTK Sites for Teachers

5. Letter K Puzzle
   Building letters is a great way to enhance students’ practice and knowledge of letter structure. This puzzle allows them to do exactly that! Print it out and laminate it or print it on cardstock and let students go to work!

More Information: Teachers Pay Teachers

Mother’s Day is a day to celebrate the bond between a mother and her children. In many ways, Mother’s Day is a time for children to express their love for their mothers through activities, such as baking cookies or playing tag. Here are a few ideas to help you celebrate mother’s day in the classroom:

1. Handprint Flower Poem
   This sweet poem, written in your students’ handwriting, pairs well with a painted handprint flower stem to make a beautiful gift for mom.

Sample: Etsy

Printable: Canva

Poem Text: Growing Like a Flower

2. Written Thank You Letter
   Practice those letter-writing skills with a simple thank-you letter to mom. Challenge your students to incorporate vocabulary words from your current unit that may fit. Remember to acknowledge that students can have mother figures who may not be their biological moms. Grandmas, aunts, sisters, neighbors, teachers, or social workers could all be thanked in this letter!

Printable: Thank You Letter Template

3. Tissue Paper Flower Bouquet
   Give mom a bouquet that will last, made of these gorgeous crepe colors. The finished product looks polished and requires just a few basic materials like crepe paper, pipe cleaners, and colored construction paper. The tutorial linked below will walk you through the process step by step. Pop the bouquet into second-hand mason jars bought cheap at a thrift store.

More Information: Very Well Family

4. “Thanks for the Good Roots” Flower Pot
   Have students decorate these biodegradable flower pots with their designs, then pop in some dirt and seeds from a wildflower packet for a sweet, functional gift.

More Information: Oriental Trading

Printable: Thanks for the good roots! Gift Tags

5. Coupon Books
   Print off this sample coupon book as a model, and then have your students create their “gift cards” for mom to cash in. Dishes without nagging? Done. Trash duty without asking? Done.

More Information: Tidy Mom

On Earth Day, we all should be grateful to our planet and all the life that resides on it. Many books are perfect for children to read about Earth Day. Here are a few of our favorites:

1. Thank You, Earth by April Pulley Sayre
   Written as a love letter to the earth, this book is meant for younger audiences. It is a beautiful book with real photographs that represent animals, landscapes, and waterways that we all appreciate in nature.

2. My Friend, Earth by Patricia MacLachlan
   A wonderful read-aloud book for ages 3-5 years old. It discusses all the wonders that Earth gives us – from the beautiful rain to the flowers that bloom in spring. Colorfully illustrated and engaging with peek-a-boo pages.

3. Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers
   With bright and bold illustrations, this is a sure gem for any kid wanting to learn more about Earth. This book gives a beautiful message that we are not alone in this world and all of the wonders we should appreciate.

4. What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting Our Planet by Jess French
   This book teaches kids about the impact of small steps that can help to reduce waste. It includes illustrations that help kids to better understand how they can help save the Earth.

5. Trees Maker Perfect Pets by Paul Czapak
   Abigail takes on a pet tree, fido, and learns about how amazing trees are! A heartwarming story that teaches children about the importance of trees.

Mystery books are perfect for children interested in solving mysteries and learning about the world around them. They can become excited about learning about the different world skills that can be learned from mystery books, such as making deductions, investigating, and guessing.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson

This book is about a young girl kidnapped and kept captive by a group of witches. Later, she found out the truth about her captors and freed herself. It is a great book for children interested in mystery and suspense.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

This book is about a young man who is turbulent and struggles with his identity. He is also trying to find his place in the world. It is a great book for children interested in trying to figure out their identity and what they want to do with their lives.

The Secret Lake By Karen Inglis

This book is about a brother and sister duo. Tom and Stella become intrigued with their neighbor’s dog, who continually disappears and turns up sopping wet every time. In this mesmerizing read, you’ll travel through time, making new friends and enemies.

Letter S activities are perfect for preschoolers because they are simple, manageable, and provide many opportunities for creativity and problem-solving. Here are a few examples of letter S activities that your child can enjoy this school year:

1. S is for Sand
   Bringing out the sand buckets is always a fun activity for students. Then, using letter cards, have students draw the letters they see in the sand. They will love to practice building letters with this awesome letter S activity.

More Information: The Learning Ark

2. Letter S Scavenger Hunt
   This letter-learning activity is a great way to practice the sound-letter S makes. By listening and searching, they can connect the letter to life in your preschool classroom or at home!

More Information: Primary Playground

3. S is for Snake
   A great way to practice the uppercase letter S is to build a snake! This fun letter S craft and printable is perfect for your upcoming alphabet activities. Students will love attaching googly eyes and bringing their snakes to life.

More Information: All About Learning Press

4. S is For Snow
   This adorable construction papercraft is toddler-approved! Your students and toddlers at home will love making a connection between their learning and maybe the snow they see outside. It’s great for a take-home snow day activity.

More Information: A Little Pinch of Perfect

Family-Themed Activities for Preschool can be fun and rewarding to keep your children engaged and entertained. By incorporating some fun family activities into your day, you can help your son or daughter feel connected to their family and participate in a fun activity together. Here are a few ideas to get started:

1. Start with children’s story time. This is a great time to get your children interested in family history and to learn about different generations. It can also be a great way to introduce some new family members.
2. Make a family picnic. This is a good way to have a fun and family-friendly activity. You can gather food, drinks, and games and have a picnic lunch.
3. Take a family picture. This is a nice way to capture family moments and remember the good times. You can also do this during a fun activity like tag or coloring.
4. Make a family calendar. It aims to keep track of all the family’s events and plan fun activities.

Veterans Day is a day to celebrate veterans and their service to our country. Many activities can be enjoyed by middle school students. Here are a few ideas:

1. Get involved in a veterans day parade. This is an activity that can be enjoyed by all. Volunteers are needed to lead the parade and ensure everyone follows the same route.
2. Spread the word about veterans day. This can be done through social media, posters, and even in class.
3. Take veterans day pictures. This can be a fun activity to do with your friends.
4. Make a veterans day banner. Banners can be a great way to show support for veterans day. They can be made of different materials and customized to fit the school’s banner policy.
5. Our Favorite Veteran. Using this writing prompt to write about your favorite veteran is great!
6. Interview a Veteran. A great way to get students to interact and understand more about Veterans Day is by allowing them to conduct an interview with an American veteran.
7. Veterans Day Timeline. Have students create a timeline of the history of Veterans Day.
8. Veterans Day Fact Find. Think of this activity as a scavenger hunt for facts!