NonFiction Student Worksheet

Kids often have difficulty transitioning from narrative to expository or fact based writing. Introducing nonfiction can be a lot of fun. Books like "Frog or Toad" by Patricia Lynch that Carolyn of the Wise Owl Factory reviewed on her BookaDay website is a great book to start off with. 

This book helps kids distinguish the differences between toads and frogs. I'd read this book to my students and then have them list the likenesses and differences on the free template that Carolyn has posted.

I'd then ask the kids to use my NonFiction worksheet, to fill in the information they can, then get into small groups to compare their answers. 

On Carolyn's site you can also have your students view a Frog or Toad Powerpoint presentation and a free likeness/difference template. Click on the Wise Owl button to see the review, PPT and template. 

This free worksheet is best used with non-fiction books about subjects, autobiographies, biographies and other fact based books. Students can record facts on the sheets, about the non-fiction books they read and keep them in folders. Send them home at the end of the year as a surprise gift to parents! 

Click on the sheet to download. 

                        

Haiku and Haiga Poetry and Art

The white and purple crocus are the first to bloom in my New England garden. That's my signal to start Haiku poetry with my students. The little crocus flowers look very fragile, but they're strong enough to poke their heads above wintry snowfalls in March. The images in this packet are my original drawings and photos. Websites are given so that students have a visual of modern day Haiku and Haiga.  Instructions are given. These make lovely class displays to welcome spring. Click on the image to download this free lesson.

Connect-A-Blog

If you're looking for a wide range of great teaching ideas, incredible lessons, ready to print worksheets and creative teaching tips for grades K-12, stop by Connect-A-Blog! Get to know the teacher/authors by clicking on their individual author pages where you can learn about the various backgrounds of these dedicated educators.

This warm welcoming site, is advertising free and offers visitors, from around the world, a variety of classroom tested, clever, creative ideas for those wanting to enhance and enrich their students' learning experiences.

Author Project Books and Picture Books!

This is a great FREE project to motivate your students to explore new genre and to read more than one book by an author. They start by researching an author and and writing five facts they learned about the author's life.

Have them choose two books by the author and summarize them briefly, and lastly they should rate the books. When they're finished they can discuss their authors and novels in small groups. Laminate the cards and arrange them in a index card box in ABC order so they're available for students to view.

Click on the cover for more information.

Thanks!

Ruth

Spring Time Poetry Fun!

Testing, testing, testing!! Is it over? If so, have some spring time fun with your students! These 27 poetry activity cards are a relaxing way to encourage them to put their thinking caps on and to write great poetry!  Each card has an example of a type of poem and explanation of how to write it.

Not only are traditional forms of poems included, but you'll also motivate your athletes to write sports' poems, your scientifically minded kids to write invention poems and your grammar gurus, parts of speech poems! Fun!

Click on the cover of my packet for more details. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Here's one example...

Marlis Day's Gypsy and the Skunk

An author who can "walk a mile in her dog's shoes"and get inside her dog's head is Marlis Day.
Marlis tells the true story of a recent late night encounter that she and her dog Gypsy had with  "Pepe Le Pew" AKA skunk! What's quite interesting is that she tells the story from Gypsy's perspective!

 Gypsy, a Jack Russell terrier, an energetic hunter by breed, picked up the scent of a varmint in her territory, thus began the story of "My Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Night" by Gypsy Rose Day. (Love this play on words of Judith Viorst's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day!)

What a great lesson! Have kids write stories from an animal's point-of-view! 

Here's Gypsy BEFORE her encounter. 

You don't want to see the AFTER picture!

CLICK ON Gypsy to read the entire "AROMATIC" story!

For those of you who remember Pepe Le Pew... 

Watch the encounter of him with this pooch 

and think 

of

poor Gypsy!!

Marlis is the author of the intriguing Margo Brown mystery series, the Secret of Bailey's Chase, Back to Bailey's Chase, and more.... all for middle grade kids. 

Our School is Going Green!

I have such fun creating things for kids! This mini-poster is to remind kids to recycle, reduce and reuse. Display on April 22nd, Earth Day or any day, to emphasize the importance of preserving and saving our environment! Click on the poster to receive your FREE copy.

Go Green at the Lesson Cloud!

Don't forget to check out the Lesson Cloud, that's offering many "GO GREEN" activities to celebrate Earth Day and other environmental celebrations that run from February to April. You'll find incredible, creative projects from talented teachers!  Click on the cloud to check it out!

Earth Day Activities

Looking for something different to do with your students on Earth Day, April 22?  These worksheets are designed so your students will have fun as they discuss ways to protect the environment, recycle and reuse.
My design of Jane Yolen's poem "I Am the Earth" has a frame where kids can paste or draw their pictures.  Other activities include Earth Day haiku, April categories, ABC order, scrambled words and more. Jane Yolen's earth day poem with all your students' pictures will make a colorful classroom display. The poem is offered in color and black and white. Click on the poem for the download.

Ireland mini report for St. Patrick's Day

Your students will love working on this mini report about Ireland as a St. Patrick's Day activity. Included are writing, drawing, map making and researching topics. These ready to print, creatively designed worksheets can be used in both social studies and Language Arts classes. Click on the cover page for this FREE download! :)